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

Nurses General Nursing

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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 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...

"When I was a kid I wanted to be John Lennon."

"Karl, don't be a goof."

Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I grew up in a small town where a lot of women were either nurses or teachers. What I knew of nursing was: get a degree at the local community college (or the state college 10 miles away if you were really ambitious), get a job at the hospital down the street, and work there until you retired or died. I wanted to get out of town, so I dismissed nursing out of hand. If I'd known about travel nursing, I would've studied nursing right out of high school, gotten enough experience to become a travel nurse, then gotten out of town.

Specializes in nurseline,med surg, PD.

Probably yes. I have had jobs that I have loved and jobs that I have hated, and I have met so many interesting people, both bad interesting and good interesting. It has been a privilege to be able to help people at their deepest levels of need. I have done CPR, listened to their fears, held their hands as they died. I have taught children to speak, given emotional support to families who had to watch their loved ones suffer. Nursing has been a lot of things, but it has never been boring.

Honestly if I didn't have a kid, I would have went to med school.

I wanted to be a plastic surgeon.

I like being a RN though.

Specializes in Cardiology.

Yes. In the summer of 2001 I was 33 and working for a software startup that failed. My choices were to pursue a job offer with a larger software company, or fulfill a lifelong dream of going to nursing school. I only needed two prerequisites, so I decided to take them, get a feel for school and follow my heart.

My first day of classes was Sept. 10, 2001. I slipped back into the classroom like a comfy glove and went to bed happy and at peace. The next morning, I woke up to a shattered world and the tragedies we commemorate today. My night class was cancelled, hubby was stranded 800 miles away in Chicago, and everything was imaginable horror. Glued to the TV, seeing first responders and medical personnel at their finest and bravest, stirred something in me. I wanted to be like them, to do what they do, saving lives with grace under pressure. There was no way I could sit at a desk 40 hours a week, ever again.

I graduated in 2004 with my BSN and have worked FT in several areas of cardiology since then. When I started school, 33 felt really old, but by 40 I was a seasoned RN still young enough to consider grad school. I chose against that because I wanted to spend more time on my art and music. Now at 47, I just accepted a PT 2/12 day position with a PRN gig in my old department. It's awesome, if I have an art event I only have to work 24 hours a week, but I can easily pick up a shift or two if I need FT pay.

There's a lot of dues paying, nursing school was the hardest thing I've ever done out of multiple degrees. The process of becoming a nurse is both humbling and empowering. But it has led me to work that I love while offering the flexibility to pursue my other interests. No regrets.

Cannot imagine myself doing something that did not involve Nursing! I would choose it over and over again!!

Specializes in Surgical and Cardiovascular ICU.

Probably not! I'ts been really my only career other than a few odd jobs in High School and College. I can't complain too much, I spent a few years in the Military, then landed in a pretty good Hospital with decent pay and benefit's. It's given me the flexibility have off four days a week and spend time with family, boat, fish and do some other things I enjoy doing.

After 23 years though I can't say I really enjoy the career, I never look forward to going to work! I'm a bit of an introvert, like working alone and with my hands and being creative. Love watching the shows on HGTV, House Flipping etc... I probably would have enjoyed a career in Landscape Design, Interior Decorator or Carpentry! I've also looked at the retirement benefits offered to Police and Firefighters with great pension plans after 20 or 25 years and thought that might have been a better career choice.

Specializes in medical surgical.

Probably not. I am currently a NP pursuing PMHNP BUT with corporate hospital settings the norm it is all about the metrics and patient satisfaction scores. I am a helping person by nature. I am not a good fit now in this new metric oriented setting. I am literally thrown patients all day. I may still be with a patient and am being asked by management to move faster and faster. I come home emotionally drained. The problem is that I still care about the patients.

Specializes in Ped ED, PICU, PEDS, M/S. SD.

Never

As long as I win the job lottery again.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

The only reason I might not would be the current job climate. I've always felt with the constantly changing and improving science and nursing practice, and the variety and mobility nursing traditionally offers, it's still perfect for me. Especially the part about not having to wear pantyhose and heels every day. :up:

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