If you had to to do all over again...

[jessiern, BSN, RN]

Would you still be a nurse?

I'll answer first: No. Not because I don't love caring for others. Not because I don't love being a nurse. I do love it. But there are so many problems with the field in general, and I just don't see any solutions.

I have so many patients, I can not care for them all the way I want to. And I find the patients that take up most of my time are not the sickest...they are just the needest, or the harder to please. So I end up spending all day trying to pacify them and family, --Because we most have good patient sat scores-- while the patients that really need my attention suffer without complaint.

If I complian about the situation, I am written up for having a bad attitude as managment tries to smash any resistance. So, I guess I'll cont to come home at the end of 12 hours and eat my first meal of the day. Probably even pee first the first, maybe second time. And no, every shift isn't like that. But there are getting to be more and more frequent.

My hours are cut when the floor is slow, but I am made to feel guilty if I'm not eager for every hour of overtime offered when we are busy.

I thought as a nurse I would get to spend time with my patient, get to know them better. Really be able to help them. But endless paperwork gets in the way of that.

I just feel like nurses takes everything out of me, and in the long run I'm not making the difference that I wanted to.

[antidote]

I agree with you for the most part. Would I become a nurse again? No. But for the same reasons you've said. But you know, I look at it this way: we all knew (somewhat) what we were getting ourselves into. And for us to back out for reason like that, we don't deserve to be nurses.

I think that I'd head for another route out of nursing. Something like PA, Physical Therapist or maybe (if I was feeling risky) head right towards becoming a DO. Over my few short years of learning about medicine and the health care field, I think that I've seen many people in action, and have had many situations where I could question alternatives for myself.

[Jules A, MSN]

Jessie, I can't imagine being a nurse when I was your age. It wouldn't have suited me at all. You should really be proud of your accomplishments. Maybe you could check into hospice nursing for example if you want to spend more one on one time with patients and families? I'd hate to think nursing is losing someone with your caring nature.

Since I started nursing as my second career, yes I would do it over. :)

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I love nursing but I don't love the conditions we work in. The cross your fingers and hope it turns out alright method of care doesn't sit right with me. As a newbie I didn't know enough to protect my patients. As an old battle-axe I can protect my patients but I see current focus is on customer satisfaction and not on customer safety. I would not recommend nursing to anyone with a service calling, but would recommend it with some cautions if someone wanted to make lots of money in a short time.

[Mulan]

No.

...

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

Yes I would--I am a new nurse though and have that great " I love nursing-I love my job" attitude--I hope I never loose it.

I feel doubly blessed because even though I never thought I would want to be an ICU nurse, I found myself there and things must work for a reason because I could not imagine myself anywhere else.

I have 3 pts max. I have no CNA, just me and my fellow Rns all day. I work with a great team of nurses who will help me with what ever I need yet dont look over my shoulder and question my every move. I can spend ample time with all my patients, I can take the time and read their H&P, labs, progress notes etc etc. I feel like I learn something every shift.

I talk to my classmates who took jobs on Med Surge floors and I cringe, I know I could not handle 8 patients yet alone an 8 patient med pass. Part of me feels guilty because even though my work is hard and my patients are challenging, I truly love what I do.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

It is hard for me to say whether I would do it again, because although I have been a licensed practical nurse since 2006, I have worked in various positions over the years as an aide in psych, home health, medical assisting and others. I was not fooled or deluded into thinking that nursing was going to be what is illustrated on idealistic television programs and such, but I did not know how directly the crap that does go on would affect me. I think that it is more amplified at than I expected it to be.

Can't answer that question honestly...but the circumstances we deal with do leave a bad, bitter taste in my mouth.

[rnmomtobe2010]

I love everyone's honesty.

[BlueEyedRN]

The only thing I would do different is to become a nurse sooner. :) I love being a nurse. I never wanted to be one until I was a mommy and thought it was a possibility. It is definitely crazy hard, but I love the challenge. I love knowing so much about how our bodies work. I love knowing that if an emergency arose in our home, I would have some idea of how to deal with it. I love how cool my husband or kids feel when they tells other people what I do. :) I love that I can work and still be a full-time (though sleepy) mom. I love being there for people at the worst moments of their lives and knowing that I helped make it bearable for them. I love getting to know about the lives of other people. This is my opportunity to give back for all that I've been blessed with. It is frustrating, depressing at times, and sometimes I want to pull my hair out, but it is worth it in the end.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Yes I would. But I understand your frustration well.

[leslie :-D]

despite all of its atrocities and injustices, i still can't imagine doing anything else.

leslie

[jessiern, BSN, RN]

despite all of its atrocities and injustices, i still can't imagine doing anything else.

leslie

Yeah, I guess I feel that way too. It is strange to love something, but hate it so much at the same time.

And if I were really serious about finding something else, my husband would support me in it. I just get frustrated with it all at times.