If you had a reset button, would you choose nursing again?

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I often hear conversations with nurses old and new discussing whether or not they would choose nursing as a career again if they had the opportunity. Some even have children in college now whom they haven't quite steered away from nursing, but strongly suggest they may want to choose an alternative career path. For me nursing wasn't my first career choice, but I'm glad I ended up here, and would definitely choose it again,

Specializes in ICU.

I sometimes wonder how I would have fared in a different career. I used to work in sales when I was younger, and I was pretty good at it, and it was enjoyable. Having no clue what to do, after 2 years of completing gen ed's and most of the physical therapy prerequisites, I decided I needed to make money more consistently ASAP, so at the age of 20 I enrolled in a LVN program. Decided I may as well take the RN bridge program at the same school (2 semesters), then decided I may as well get my BSN. I feel like I'm too deeply embedded into this career to make a change now, so I figure the next step is CRNA.

I sometimes do wish I had more of a cleaner white collar job with a little more predictability and no lives at stake. A 9-5 that would allow me to hit the gym before work and grab drinks with friends after work sounds very appealing to me. I agree with the poster who said they have a 80/20 love hate relationship with nursing.

I enjoy critical care, and I genuinely do feel like my nursing judgement improves patient outcomes. However, I do get worn out by things like family members asking for soda while we're coding a patient (I know I look young, but do I look like a waiter?), cleaning up bowel movement/bathing patients (I'm a nurse, but I am human after all), and dealing with family members who treat me like the help because they just read WebMD.

Seeing as how I have friends with master's degrees who work as baristas at Starbucks, I am very thankful for what nursing has done for me. I have had steady paychecks throughout most of my twenties, and for the last few years I've grossed > 100k (Thanks California unions!).

Maybe after grad school my decision will change, but if I had to do it all over again I probably would have done engineering, computer programming (hobby of mine when I was an adolescent), or something more business and sales-oriented. Hell, even being a firefighter sounds appealing because at least most of the time I would be hanging out with a bunch other dudes and wouldn't have to bathe people. Chicks also dig guys in uniforms. I did shadow a CRNA though, and I could definitely see myself enjoying it.

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Specializes in L&D/postpartum.

I don't particularly love nursing, but I love the benefits nursing has given me. I was able to become a homeowner at a young age and have always been able to support myself. Seeing friends struggle really gave me perspective. I have the freedom to move anywhere when I need to. If I do self-scheduling I travel during blocks of time off, and have been all over the world. I'm thankful to do L&D and enjoy it for the most part, but it's really the stability and life freedom that keeps me going.

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Probably not. I would have went for SLP or PT. Those are seen more as money makers and not just another cost to employers. All of the ones I have worked with get the respect and flexibility that I strive for. Plus (at least thus far), their job market is not as flooded as ours is.. Then there is the whole role of a SLP or PT that I find very interesting. There is no PERFECT job.

Nursing hasn't be terrible overall, but things are changing and nursing is becoming less appealing every year.

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Tough to say. I've had jobs I loved and other jobs that haven't worked out so well.

Nursing has kept a roof over our heads and food on the table, but my pay has never been stellar. It's so wrong for people who do not save lives to make so much more than nurses. And the benefits have generally been decent but not stupendous.

The hours have sometimes been brutal and I regret working so many shifts that interfered with family life.

Nursing has kept me employed as I've aged. That is, I have always been able to get another job if I needed to. I don't know that that would have been possible in other lines of work.

So, would I do it again? I hope not. I hope I'd go to Law School or Business School, start my own biz, learn something that would make LOTS of $$$$. Sorry if that sounds selfish or uncaring. Living pretty much check to check is not good.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Yes I have had a full, enjoyable career-It was 26 years on the 21st August

I can hardly believe it

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Yes, but only because I was in a career/financial spiral before I got involved in nursing. If I could go back in time, I would have taken the path to becoming a physician.

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Specializes in Pschiatry.

2nd year nursing student. Too far in to quit. NO I would not do this again. With me it's the politics involved in nursing. I love the nursing aspect just hate the politics that go along with it.

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Having reflected on this question many times over the 50 years I have been a nurse, yes, I would choose nursing again without hesitation. Nursing has allowed me to be with a person at some of the most important and critical times of his/her life and in a way that I could make a difference for the better in that life. It is an incredible, awesome sense of responsibility and reverence I bring to each patient experience that allows me great satisfaction in this profession. Its the feeling that I do make a difference and that changes me each time, making me a better person as a result. I've worked in critical care, general med-surg, school nursing, and finished my career as a nursing professor in a college and graduate program. I am lucky!

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Specializes in ED MS.

No, Nursing is killing me.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

This is my second career, and so far it's been fairly interesting after a few years. I'll get back to you after a few months back on the floor.

I have the math and science chops to do med school or pharmacy, I'm just not sure I'd be happy with the debt and/or restricted role that both would entail.

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Specializes in kids.

Yup! I have been blessed to have a variety of jobs within nursing. I know I have made a difference. I know that nursing has been very good and made a difference for me!

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Specializes in Surgery.

I didn't want to be a nurse, I wanted to be an artist. Fate chose differently, so I try to find and express the artistry of nursing...

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