If you had to do it over again would you?

[Tally4970]

I am 37 years old and working on my nursing prereq's. I am hoping to actually start the BSN program in the fall. This is a complete career change for me (I currently only have an AAS degree). I picked nursing for several reasons; helping people, having a field that has a lot of possibilities, job security, interesting/learning something new, using my mind, having a skill, marketable, feeling of bettering someone life, etc... After being on this site, now I am doubting some of those reasons. So my question is if you had to do it all over again would you still pick nursing? Why, why not? What would you pick if answer was no...

[cardiacrocks, BSN, RN]

Good morning, well this question is difficult for me to answer because, I just graduated in June. I was offered 3 different positions before graduation. I excepted one, on a tele step-down unit. I work in a trauma one hospital, large facility, VERY busy floor i'm on, VERY!!! Some days I leave thinking did I choose the right floor, the right career, the right hours, I question everything. Other days I leave with a good sense of it all, myself, my patients, my job choice. I LOVE taking care of patients. I am learning and growing on a daily basis. Basically what I detest is, being short staffed, having everything throw at you all at once, some patients family members, the list goes on. I make a decent living, I work with some excellent nurses, the job market in my area for nursing is booming (upstate, NY and PA). I do have my BSN, I actually have another bachelor's degree in another field, psychology so I feel that serves me well as well. I plan on going on to either become a FNP or administrator. So with all this said, I do not care for bedside nursing, however, I would do it all again. I have a good sense of autonomy and pride everyday, I know I'm making a difference. I love figuring things out and taking on challenges, although some days it's just plain exhausting. Good luck in your choice, you won't really know the answer until you are actually doing it. You have to follow your own gut and what you feel is right for you, don't let others predict what you want to do in your future. :)

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I absolutely would. Yes, nursing has its negatives, but so does every other job. I'm a second career nurse, so I went into this with my eyes wide open. I hate working short, and some of the politics, but I enjoy working with people and learning something new every day. I'm paid very well, so no issues there. I'm very happy with my decision to become a nurse.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I don't know. I believe I went into with all the right reasons, but it has been hell at times! Funny thing is, it is really easy now, but back when I was a new nurse trying to make a difference it was so stressful and a hostile work environment due to bullying and lack of team work between coworkers and my own fears of making a mistake and performance anxiety. I used to fret whether to call a dr or not and sad to say I pestered many dr's in the beginning, but they were really kind and would even thank me. But now with confidence I know it's not necessary to call the doctor in many situations the patient will be just fine!

I know I've made a difference and helped many people and cared for family friends, neighbors, classmates, etc and crossed paths with people in a way was at time God sent. Maybe when I get to heaven, God will show me all the difference I made and that this was his plan for me, but it sure hasn't been easy.

So now when everything comes easy and pretty stress free, what gets to me is the micromanagement and cutbacks in healthcare. It really bothers me the way nurses are pushed around, yet the sad truth is, when I talk to others I find my place is still better than most places out there! Still we are being put in needless danger of injury because the hospital refuses to spend the money on lift equipment. Over the years I've watched coworkers be injured and disabled and live in chronic pain because of the refusal to spend money on lift equipment! I've been injured myself and I don't want to live in chronic pain, yes I've recovered but it could happen again.

If I could do things over I would have gone on to school when I was younger and a new nurse and become an NP, I think I would be happier because I could use my brain and not my body and actually be respected, at least more than floor nurses are! Now I don't want to go back to school and be saddled with more student loans and have to worry about paying them off in my retirement from my social security. I'm more concerned about getting my house paid off and saving for retirement. There are plenty of older nurses my age and even 50's going back to school to get out of bedside nursing and I guess time will tell if they succeed or end up with the regret of falling behind financially. Truth is many of the older single nurses struggle to pay their bills and live on the edge, many were single mothers and never got ahead because of that. You'd think nurses make a living wage, but so many I know are struggling to pay their mortgages, taxes, etc and can't get ahead or save money for retirement. One of the nurses went back to school, didn't finish, owed the hospital like $30,000, was let go and I don't know how she is making it!

[MJB2010]

No. It was a second career for me and I graduated in the 2009-2010 glut where new grads were not being hired in my state so I moved for my first job. Being a new nurse is a killer both physically and mentally and as an older new grad it was very hard to land a position. My first nursing job was awful. Short staffed, high stress, dangerous conditions, and mean coworkers. Physically I was in very good shape for my age when i graduated (mid thirties) but the mental stress has taken a physical toll. Now that I have also had a good job with good staffing and coworkers I am ok. But the stress and toll it has taken on me has aged me quick! With healthcare and medicaid medicare cuts the staffing seems to be where most places like to save money in my current state and it is only getting worse. Nursing is not what it used to be. I would never do this again nor would I recommend it for anyone else. My first year of nursing was so bad I would not wish it on anyone. But the only way to get to the other side is to get through that first year.

My advice, get yourself a job as a tech or aide at the hospital you wish to work at. This experience helped me tremendously when starting as a nurse.

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

I didn't become a nurse untill I was 30, if I could do it over I would have began pursuing a nursing career after I graduated high school, so I could be done with school. I went the longer route of becoming a CNA, now RN working part-time and working on my BSN. Wish I would have just done it all at once years ago.

I like my job that I have now, I have been in some pretty crappy places were I felt I could not provide safe nursing care, where I am at now it is all about the kids, they try to keep safe staffing levels, I actually get to sit down during my shift.

In the short time I have been a nurse I have been able to really advocate for my patients, I have been there and comforted a scared little old lady as she was dying, providing the pain relief and holding her hands, I have held a crying scared child and been able to calm them.

I just wish I had started earlier, but I guess there were life lessons I needed before I became a nurse

[schoolnurse09]

Yes I would, for all the reasons you mention. I got my BSN at age 36. I worked til last June, now I am 55, mostly retired..subbing as a school nurse once in awhile. My husband was career military, we had three college educations to pay for. The beauty of a nursing career is the flexibility, portability, and there is something for everyone.

[Wise Woman RN]

No, no, no... I would have followed my heart and studied molecular biology.

[NoviceRN10]

Nope, I would not become a nurse if I could go back in time. Like some previous posters said it is stressful, ages you prematurely, and is hard on your body. It only took me 2 months to jack up my back. I would love to go back to being a SAHM/princess .

[nursel56]

Yes. With the only qualifier being the difficulty in finding employment. I now appreciate much more the security that gave me with the ability to live in some really nice places in California because I knew I could get a job wherever I went. I like having my mind challenged all the time. I treasure the moments when I knew I "made a difference" and the person communicated that. The one license can take you to an enormous variety of different environments and specialties, too.

[guest449786]

Absolutely not! It's not worth the supposed "job security" and "high pay". I would have completed a master's degree in the field I was already working, which has nothing to do with healthcare. Nursing is overrated and until more men join the profession, or women realize their worth, it is a profession I would not pursue. I am now too old and do not feel up to going back to school for a fourth degree. I made a lot of poor choices in my life and nursing is definitely at the top of that list.

[missladyrn]

Heck no! I look and feel so much older than I actually am. The stress and hours of nursing will put you in an early grave. Becoming a nurse has been the worst thing I have done for my health. No time for breaks or to pee. Starving by the time I get home. Sneaking into the bathroom for a bannana or protein drink. I am too tired to exercise, and my feet hurt too much. My whole body aches. My job has become my life. I would do something else, anything else if I could start over. I love science, math, and history I also love being a student. I think teaching college would be a lovely job but it takes a lot of school to get there.

[allforthekidds]

Yikes!! I'm now just applying to nursing schools and this thread has me nervous:uhoh21: Ever since I was younger (I'm 34 now) I either wanted to be a veterinarian(not anymore) or work as a labor and delivery nurse. I would eventually like to become a midwife. I'm wondering if those who said they would not become a nurse again really wanted to be a nurse to begin with or was it because of job security/high pay or was there a passion for it and then got burnt out?

I will still pursue my passion and I will just have to trust in God and the path that He takes me:)