If there are so many negatives to nursing, why would anyone choose this field?

Anita126 · Mar 19, 2001

We do it because in spite of the hours, the frustrations, the shortages.....every now and then you connect with someone in a very special, totally human way. By your nursing care, your words, your touch, or maybe just your presence....you make a difference for that person. That's what it is really all about.

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stefeb · Mar 19, 2001

I'm a Respiratory Therapist considering the nursing profession. I've been out of the hospital environment for a few years, and have been in the LTC/Marketing arena.

Must admit to having second thoughts about decision after reading the messages on these boards.

I miss direct patient care, and felt nursing would provide me an opportunity to provide a higher level of care.

TracyRN · Mar 19, 2001

To be honest, I don't think that nursing has a significantly higher degree of job DIS-satisfaction than most other professions. I have many friends in fields from stay-at-home moms to teachers to truck drivers. Each person has valid complaints concerning his/her working conditions and pay. Consider this: this web site is strictly for nurses. The people who come here are nurses, nursing students, or want to consider becoming nurses. We aren't going to discuss the pits of other jobs, we're going to take the opportunity to blow off some steam about our own profession.

Personally, I love nursing and couldn't realistically come up with a job I would rather do. Okay, sometimes I fantasize about how easy I had it back in my waitress days... but, hey!! If life had been so great, why'd I get my butt into 3 years of mind-blowing school to get an ADN?

Go and check out some of the humor on this site. Alot is nurse-specific and may go over your head, but it proves that we do have some fun at work.

Here's a suggestion: if you don't have anyone close to home to talk to about the reality of nursing (since we tend to mainly discuss the negatives here at this board), find some e-mail friends to ask specific questions regarding your concerns. Many of us here have listed e-mail addresses on our profiles... maybe you can make some good contacts.

Tracy

Hardknox · Mar 19, 2001

We go into nursing because we love the ART of nursing- just as the above posts stated. If administration and managed care let me do what I do best I would be the happiest person in the world, and for the first 10 years of my career in nursing I was!!!If you think you would like to be a nurse, go for it. Maybe by the time you finish your degree, people in the field will have helped changed the work elnvironment into a better place to be- for patients and nurses

Mumzy9697 · Mar 20, 2001

You hear the negative, unfortunetly more than the positive. Going into nursing, I think is just that feeling of wanting to be a nurse. When my patients say "thank You Lissa" at the end of a shift, or when I see one of my patients on the street and they tell me "you were one of my best nurse's" when family send you cards every Christmas, even though your patient has passed on. All the staffing, hectic, scary shifts of working just disappear. I am so proud to be a nurse and try to keep all the BS behind me.

Chris-FNP · Mar 20, 2001

For the money!!! Oh wait, that's definitely not it.

;-)

Chris-FNP

LisaPRN · Mar 20, 2001

Would I do it again?...NO!! If I knew what I was getting into ahead of time, I would have chosen a different career. I encourage my daughters to chose something other than nursing as a profession. I work in the ER and we don't get the thank-you's or appreciation that a lot of the floor nurses or ICU nurses get. They have more time to develop a relationship with the patient and their families. But, I wouldn't leave ER for the world. The autonomy you get working there is unmatched in any other kind of nursing.

Chris-FNP · Mar 20, 2001

LisaPRN, if you don't like the ER...go to the floors where you say everyone gets so much respect. But, you say you like the ER for the autonomy. And, you don't like nursing? Uhh, ok. I don't understand what it is you hate about nursing.

Chris-FNP

Tiara · Mar 20, 2001

The practice of nursing is not the problem. The issue is this is 2001 not the dark ages. Technology has moved forward at a fast rate but the treatment of nurses hasn't changed in years and years.

JennieBSN · Mar 20, 2001

Originally posted by hug4mom:
Hi.
I'm a mom in my mid-thirties and am considering going back to school for my RN degree. I've heard sooo many negatives. Low Pay, no respect, unsupportive coworkers, short staffing, endless paperwork, etc. etc. etc.
Now I'm not sure after hearing all of this.
Help! Would you do it again?
Thanks for your reply!
Laurie

I would absolutely do it again. I LOVE it! Hate the b.s., of course, but hey...every job has it's bad points...even the greeter at Wal-Mart has a bad day. The only thing I'd do differently the second time around, is I'd grow my big ol' brass ones (if you catch my meaning) a lot faster. I had that nice, thin-skinned, timid new grad thing going on, and ended up leaving a wonderful job because I didn't stand up to my evil co-workers who ate their young as a hobby! All in all, despite the stress and endless paperwork (thanks, all you blood-sucking lawyers), it's a pretty cool job if you've got the guts!

nursedude · Mar 20, 2001

If I was still into being used and treated like .... Hmmmm.... I can't think of what it is that they treat nurses like...

Anyhow, Nursing is a good profession if you able to make many sacrifices and live with them. I'd say that if you have an addictive personality and your into personal sacrifice - you'd do great!

Perhaps, if you want a career (as opposed to a job) you might consider computers, or law or business. If you want a job, consider nursing, auto-technician and drywall installer...