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...
It is very discouraging to read some of the posts. I look at it this way though, if you went to a site for teachers or cops, they would say ALL the same things! It is a job so there will be good and bad parts. It's that way for every profession. It good to know and hear both though. It will let you make an informed decision that way! Information is power! The bottom line is, what do YOU want to do. What will work best for you. What are you willing or not willing to put up with in a profession. If some of the things listed are deal breakers for you then at least you found out now. If they are not and you are still interested, I say go for it. I know people that own their own business and say, if only I didn't have the worry, etc...then you hear people say, if only I could have my own business....sometimes it just seems like the grass is always greener. I hope you don't get discouraged if it's something you really want. I too am struggling with my decision, because of the responses but I just try to keep it in perspective.
Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.
Its really not that way for my husband though, and he is a cop. He is not worked to death like we are and the stress is just not nearly the same. I've been a nurse for 22 years, husband has been a cop for 16 years.
Specializes in OB, Women’s health, Educator, Leadership.
Its really not that way for my husband though, and he is a cop. He is not worked to death like we are and the stress is just not nearly the same. I've been a nurse for 22 years, husband has been a cop for 16 years.
Could the difference be male vs female oriented profession? Although their are unhappy male cops out there I believe nurses on the whole are unhappier and that if more men were involved that would make a difference.
Its really not that way for my husband though, and he is a cop. He is not worked to death like we are and the stress is just not nearly the same. I've been a nurse for 22 years, husband has been a cop for 16 years.
Then your husband might get a kick out of this story. At a State Trooper Stop to check seat belts, a Trooper came over to my car. He notice I was wearing my uniform and he ask me where I worked. I told him that I was on my way to a nearby State Psych hospital. With a shutter he said "Better you then me at least they give us guns. What do they give you to protect yourself?" I said, "A set of keys." He laugh and as he wave me through he said "I will pray for you tonight, Grasshopper."
I have been an RN for 9 years, an LPN for 1 yr before that, and I was a CNA for 7 years before that. Currently I am working on a cardiac step down unit at a well-known teaching hospital. Having been in the field since age 19 I can tell you that I honestly would not want to do anything else. Yes, nursing is stressful, but I know nothing else I could do would be as rewarding for me. I am an ISFJ personality according to the Myers-Briggs personality test, aka "The Protector", and taking care of other people really does something for me. That being said, I do not feel as if everything in nursing is perfect. I absolutely can't stand how nursing is being hijacked by the corporate customer service-oriented culture--that is my main complaint. The politics of health care can also be really annoying. If it is nursing school that is stressing you out, don't feel alone! I was an experienced CNA when I went to nursing school and I had to take Phenergan the entire time to keep myself from constantly throwing up from stress (the nausea magically disappeared when I passed my NCLEX, of course). If you really enjoy working and taking care of people, then nursing is a great job. It is extremely difficult and stressful at first, but with time you learn to manage everything and at one year you will look back and you absolutely will not believe how much you have progressed and how much you have learned. Keep in mind that people come to AN to vent an awful lot, it does not mean that we all hate our jobs every day. Just some days, as in any other job. Best of luck to you.
I posted on this thread earlier and it was negative.
Went back to work today as a prn nurse in a hospital after 3 months and it was awful!!!
An attending "ordered" me to change a patients admitting diagnosis. Totally out of the scope of nursing, but he was steadfast.
Now, of course, I didn't and couldn't, but my point is where will this end?
You want to be a nurse? Fine, just know you will be healthcare's b*tch until you can figure a way out. Yes, the sky's the limit for options but initially you have to suck it up hard. And I have been a nurse for 15 years.
My advice - get away from the bedside ASAP. Let the flames fly!! Don't care. If I can save one person from this soul sucking life, I have done my job. Get in then GET OUT!
Specializes in OB, Women’s health, Educator, Leadership.
With a shutter he said "Better you then me at least they give us guns. What do they give you to protect yourself?" I said, "A set of keys." He laugh and as he wave me through he said "I will pray for you tonight, Grasshopper."
Thank you for your response. I do think there is good and bad to every job. There are things about being a cop that other people can not imagine! Just like there are things to do with nursing I can't imagine. Bottom line is that they are jobs and not everyone is suited to being a cop, a nurse, a whatever... But there still are people who do enjoy their jobs. To each their own in every profession. It's nice to hear you still enjoy it. I am grateful to hear all the viewpoints, I feel like I can make an informed decision at least!
I don't regret my nursing as a career choice, but what I should not have done is job hop. When I was much younger, both age-wise and career-wise, I wanted to experience a variety of nursing specialities, which is retrospect, now that I am closer to retirement age, was not a good choice. I truly love nursing, but maybe I should have been an auto mechanic or someone like Chip Foose of West Coast Customs and restore cars.
Merlyn
852 Posts
I would be come a mortician. I love helping people and I would love embalming people, making the presentable for family