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

[nurse2bnoob101]

back then the economy was really good. Rent was cheap, food was cheap. The 70s was a great time to live in America, so you have to take that into consideration. Now rent is much more expensive, the wage isn't enough to warrant the rent, and also tuition has increased as well.

[Suspiria08]

It's my biggest regret in life, becoming a nurse. I should have known, when I was a patient care tech and I came to work one day and the nurses were crying because they froze pensions. But now, I have this menial, subservient job that gets no respect from the public, little respect from doctors, and None from other RNs. Plus I have $30k in student loans to make it difficult to get out. You get no thanks - and because it's "women's work," you get derided for even speaking up about it. You're supposed to shut up and do your job with a smile and pretend you like it, like a slave, like a prostitute. It's true - I hope anyone checking out these boards wanting to be a nurse will look at the sections on "nurse burnout" and learn how nurses REALLY treat each other. There's no support, just reinforcement that you have no right to complain. I HATE this job! Please, listen to reason - become a doctor, stay a tech, anything - just don't sell your soul for money to be a nurse.

I never used to drink at all before becoming a nurse. Last year, in the liquor store, I saw a worn out 40-something lady in scrubs with no wedding ring, buying a tiny bottle of vodka - and a lottery ticket. THAT is nursing for you.

[Suspiria08]

My husband did the same - now his student loans are paid and every day he makes way more money and gets boat loads more respect than I do. Wish I had buckled down and done MD. oh, I do know a RN who became an MD at a Caribbean medical school - graduated in 2009 and still waiting for acceptance into a residency program in the US. Hah, good luck with that.

[Suspiria08]

Best of luck to you!!! There's a light at the end of the tunnel...!

[Natasha A., CNA, LVN]

If I could do it all over again I would have became a Functional Medicine MD. I'm passionate about health and wellness. Do I have regrets? No, I went to an inexpensive school with no student loans to take out. I've had some joyful moments from patient interactions on the job as well as my school professors.

However, the nursing burn out rate is very high and nursing does come with learning how to manage people which can be a challenge.

On the otherhand, the great thing about nursing is its recession proof so you will always have a job and there are many avenues to different specialties. You can also become a nurse entrepreneur.

[GaleSRN, BSN, RN]

I absolutely would do it again. For the past 40 years it has been the best decision I have ever made. The climate has changed, I know, but it fit my personality and my lifestyle. I think it still would. However, I would have gone for my NP. ( I am too old to want to bother with school any longer!)

[nurseprincesss]

I would not sadly

[brad30]

Not a chance. The only way for me to make reasonable money in nursing is to work night, weekend option. That will be fun with kids on the horizon. I started to go to school again but quit. I do not see light at the end of that tunnel, for improving my nursing education. I am done following the blind pathways through education like all the other lemmings. These pathways promise high demand experience and high paying careers if you but only double or triple your debt. Four years later, the market is saturated and you're accepting low ball offers to get that experience. Education is the true crime of our generation. Who else has 50000+ in student loans, pays too much for rent in a gentrified city, gets paid what RNs have been payed for decades and loves it? There is no return on investment for certifications or increasing ones skills, only by working the hours that no one wants to work. I am not mad at the system, I am disappointed that I was such a fool and allowed myself to get dooped. Now, I am stuck.

[brad30]

I agree with brandy. The nursing field is made up of either unhappy people that are stuck or those that are living an illusion. And the latter make perfect employees 🤑😷🤮

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I agree with brandy. The nursing field is made up of either unhappy people that are stuck or those that are living an illusion. And the latter make perfect employees í ¾í´‘í ½í¸·í ¾í´®

Who peed in your Cheerios? Sorry you're so unhappy. I'm not -- nor am I living in an illusion.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Not a chance. The only way for me to make reasonable money in nursing is to work night, weekend option. That will be fun with kids on the horizon. I started to go to school again but quit. I do not see light at the end of that tunnel, for improving my nursing education. I am done following the blind pathways through education like all the other lemmings. These pathways promise high demand experience and high paying careers if you but only double or triple your debt. Four years later, the market is saturated and you're accepting low ball offers to get that experience. Education is the true crime of our generation. Who else has 50000+ in student loans, pays too much for rent in a gentrified city, gets paid what RNs have been payed for decades and loves it? There is no return on investment for certifications or increasing ones skills, only by working the hours that no one wants to work. I am not mad at the system, I am disappointed that I was such a fool and allowed myself to get dooped. Now, I am stuck.

You are right about higher education being a big scam for millions of people who are mired in student loan debt that many will carry for the rest of their lives. I've read at least half of college grads work in jobs that don't require a degree. I make more as an ADN RN than coworkers who have bachelors working as CNA's! Some of the new grad RN's have around $100,000 in student loan debt from realizing too late that a bachelors was a waste and then getting a second accellerated BSN or direct entry RN in order to simply make a living wage. Also if you don't pay off your student loans by retirement the govt will garnish your social security!

The government is doing a massive disservice pushing bachelors degrees for everyone. Instead they should increase the minimum wage to help the many low income people and realize the majority of new jobs are low paid. They should also restore bankruptcy protection for student loans. The student loan forgiveness program has proven to be another bait and switch scam. I'm just so grateful my student loans are paid off and that I'm getting closer to retirement every day! I feel sorry for the younger generation.

[Buckeye.nurse]

The poll isn't working for me

Anyway, just wanted to comment that YES, I would choose nursing again. Anytime I ponder what I'm doing in 20 years, it doesn't always include my specific bedside job...but it still involves nursing, and it still involves hematology-oncology.