If you could redo it....would you choose nursing?

[ICURNPA92]

Would you redo choosing nursing or the medical profession?

Curious to the feelings of others

[EvilNurse73]

Overall no. BUT, I'm finally in an awesome, basically stress free nursing job now. It took me 9 years to get to this point and I had to take a 50% salary cut, but it's worth it. I had to take this job for my own mental health. I could not take another day in the hospital. I freaking hated it with a passion! So I got out.

There's a nursing shortage for a reason.

[blondenurse12, MSN, NP]

If I had to do it over, no I wouldn't become a nurse. I'm not really sure what I'd do but not nursing or medicine. I went into nursing because many of my family members are in medicine and I have the demeanor for it (people find me comforting or something). I worked in the ER and then ICU before becoming a NP. I have been slapped, kicked, peed on, bit, called a murderer, threatened, and I have chronic back pain that I get to shell out hundreds for OMT/massage therapy/gym memberships to control. Now patients just see me as a pill dispenser and will threaten me with bad press ganey scores if I don't give them whatever stupid thing they want. It's hard to not be bitter. Not all patients are bad but more and more of them are, it seems.

[nursemcsleepy, BSN, RN]

I would have gone into audiology. I like patient care and never want to change that aspect of my job, but I do want more autonomy.

Or since I'm applying to NP schools, I might have gone straight for PA.

[Gary Mendoza]

No, I wouldn't. I started college as a computer science major and the only reason I changed was because IT jobs were in very low demand and people were fighting over jobs. So I switched to nursing for the job security, which it has provided. I was happy with nursing for the first 3-5 years, but it's where I don't like it anymore. I love nursing, but I don't like all the crap associated with it anymore (no pun intended).

[live4ward]

Wondering what it is about the healthcare climate that you mention? thinking about career change late in life from psychologist to nurse and curious ----

[FNPNurseCA]

There is some good insight on this from a fresh perspective on adailydoseofwellness.com. This girl made a career change in her late twenties to nursing and explains why it was the best decision for her. Just to hear two sides to it... Some positive perspective on the topic.

[canadawali]

Yes, Nursing is one of those things that gives hope to someone who is a complete stranger yet over the treatment phase can become a great friend.

[nursebey, LPN, LVN]

ty for this comment! been feeling like Im crazy for making good money but feeling like the job is stressful and unhealthy.

[HappytobeARNP, MSN, APRN]

I would choose nursing again. There are plenty of jobs. I can change specialties anytime I want. The pay is good. I can go to school to further my career. Nursing is what you make it. If you're unhappy with your job and you choose to stay there anyway that's up to you but you don't get to complain about it. There are too many positions and life is too short to be unhappy. Put forth the effort to get what you want out of nursing and it won't disappoint.

[K9lover, ASN, RN]

I would not go into nursing. I am in nursing because my parents wanted "a nurse in the family." My older sister was to enter nursing school, but ended up getting pregnant and married, so I was told I was going to do it. I have now been in long-term care since 1975 as a CNA, LPN and now RN. But I truly wanted to be an author or do something in the literary field. Now I am afraid it is going to be too late for me to start. Oh, well. You have dreams but sometimes life gets in the way.

Wow, your parents sure exhibited a lot of control. My dad wanted me to be a cop but I was never pressured like that.

[nurse2bnoob101]

hmm im a useless bum right now and see nursing as a ticket out of poverty

[LongTermCareNurse]

Back in the '70's they did. Parents were much stricter then. And once you turned 18, you were expected to be on your own in the world. Back then, no one would have dreamed of moving back home with our parents. I have been independent since I turned 18.