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

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

I would be a pharmacist.

[nicky8146]

Yes, I'd do it again. The only thing I do not like about nursing is some of the most foul people have decided to become nurses too. People that are rude and treat others like crap. As a nurse, treating your coworkers and others bad just makes me worry about how you treat the people you are providing nursing care for. If someome is willing to treat their coworkers poor, I'm sure they are even worse to their patients. Why in the world would anyone who doesn't care how they speak and treat others become a nurse? That is the foundation of nursing and is absolutely unacceptable. That has been the only thing that has made me double think If I want to continue working as a nurse or not.

[YumCookies, BSN, RN]

If I had a second chance to do it all over again, I would've gone into engineering or computer science. I loved and excelled in math and science in school - I think I would've done well in it. Nursing isn't what I expected going into it, however, I've learned to enjoy it and it's not a bad gig.

[DoeRN]

No way and I'm working on my exit plan now.

[ShirlinDC]

Do you mind sharing with us why you feel your decision was a mistake? Do you really see going into nursing a mistake? Was the career field a mistake or the schooling you received?

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

There is nothing more satisfying than knowing that you have made a difference. I love helping people. Would do it over again with no regrets[/quote

But we kid ourselves and do a disservice to ourselves when we equate nursing as the only way to care for someone and that we should just go along and put up with the bad working conditions because we care when it is harming our own mental and physical health. While you didn't mention this problem, others have. For awhile we were allowed to order hover mats which are wonderful and greatly protected our backs, but since the corporate takeover these were taken away from us, yet the patients aren't getting any smaller.

Honestly, people can lighten the spirits of others in many other jobs such as retail cashier, waitress, secretary and housekeeper, all these jobs involve caring for others and with a positive and friendly personality can lift people's spirits. We have a couple wonderful people from secretary to housekeeper to CNA whose kindness and personality lift the spirits of patients, families, and coworkers alike. I just wish they were better paid and more appreciated for their efforts!

[Wolf at the Door, BSN]

NO WAY. Considering I am unemployed experienced ICU RN. My personal life also took a hit.

Mechanical Engineering.

or

Coroner.

[c27_AEMT, BSN, EMT-I]

I wish I would have done it before 30. It makes me sad to see all the negative experiences...I think my best decision besides becoming a nurse was choosing to work with an organization that really values its nurses. I see where some of my classmates are and it just makes me sad that they were unable or unwilling to work outside the relatively small area we went to school in. There really are some great organizations out there who value their nurses and have amazing career opportunities.

[prmenrs, RN]

I honestly don't think I had a choice in the matter. I announced I was going to be a nurse when I was four, and never waivered. If I had it to do over, I would have studied a LOT harder, and maybe done it better.

Overall I'm happy w/my 42 year career, and blissful in retirement (which means: never having to say, Oh,crap, it's Monday!).

[LongTermCareNurse]

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.

[LongTermCareNurse]

Never feel guilty for being honest. Nursing is not always our own choice.

[tigkaskit, BSN]

Ehhh. Probably. Because I have no idea what else I would do. I make really good money in a (mostly) cake job. I use limited childcare due to working nights. Working weekends and holidays suck but our per diem rate is SO much less than my current rate that I just can't make that switch.

Overall, my part time schedule just works for our family right now, and no other job can do that. I frequently wish I could afford to be a SAHM, but at the same time, I'm glad I can't. It gives me some sort of purpose/identity outside of my kids.