If you had your time over again >>>

[Sabby_NC]

Would you choose nursing as your said career?

I am interested to see the responses from you all.

I would do exactly as I did and seek nursing out as early as I did in my life. Nursing has given me a very secure job, a LOT of satisfaction and taken me to areas in nursing I never thought I would be in.

Yes this lady is well contented and remains in love with nursing.

Funny really because from the moment I could walk and talk I wanted to be a nurse.

I remember cutting up my brother's teddy(I thought he was sick) and took out his voice box. I sewed him up with single black wool stitches. Oops maybe I WAS meant to be a surgeon!! LOL My Mum was NOT impressed but heck I was hahahahaa

So tell your stories and would you 'sign' up again?? :)

[NurseyPoo, RN]

Absolutely YES! Except I wish I started sooner. I was a late starter in my thirties. My poor legs and feet are soooo sore after every shift I work it takes me an extra day to recover. I exercise on my off days so I can't imagine how it would feel it I did not. I woke up today and feel like someone used my body as a punching bag in my sleep.

[charlies]

no...not a chance

[sandlewood_nurse]

Thats a tough one ......

When I first came on the board, I was really stressed out. Nursing school was great until I was in clinical. Even though I got B+s and As academically, I was always insecure and not confident in clinicals due to bad experiences with a few instructors, and even students. I'm a very laid back person, but I work hard. I just don't like being harassed, and I learn best in supportive environments, not when I'm getting yelled at, intimidated, or feel as if any moment I will do something that will jepordize my graduating, such as not being able to perform a skill perfectly on the first try.

I found that when I was put in situations where my instructors/preceptors were supportive, calm, and spoke to me, and gave me criticism in a respectful way, I learned much faster, I performed much better, AND I ACTUALLY LIKED NURSING.

I don't know if I would go into nursing or not. Yes I went into it becasue I wanted to do something to help people, and that was the first thing that came to mind. So I am glad I followed through, and finished it. NO, I don't like the work environment, the stress, the highschool attitude (and lack of professionalism among few nurses that ruin it for the rest of us), the high workload, etc etc.

In nursing school, I thought I would graduate, work really hard for a year, then go back to school to become a practitioner, get an MBA, or Law school, possibly even dentistry. I also thought at times, just do a fast track accounting or something where all I have to do is punch numbers, and I don't have to spend so much time with my coworkers. Then I realized how wrong that was, considering the fact that I used to love working in team environments, and I always worked well with others, until I got into nursing that is.

At this point, I'm going to take a stab at Mental Health. That is an area I've always wanted to work in, even before nursing school, and so many people have told me I'd be really good at it. It was my favorite rotation in Nursing school. Therefore if in a year I'm in psych, and I'm enjoying it much more than m/s or the OR, and the environment is better, then it will have been the effort. Otherwise I plan to finish my degree, and look for alternatives.

Its really sad, that nursing has to be this hard. Nursing is hard enough as it is, the stress of having people's lives in your hands. Why do we make it harder for each other than it needs to is beyond me.

[MIA-RN1, RN]

Yes I would do it again in a heartbeat. My current job isn't the best and I don't see myself staying there for a long time...but being a nurse is really in my soul.

When I was a little girl, I was never really sure what I wanted to do, and in highschool I just knew I was going to be a rockstar...

The first time I chose nursing school I just figured it was a quick fix. I was a 20 year old single mother. I knew it paid well and that I could do it in two years and go thru a program that would foot the bill. About halfway thru the second clinical semester I got pneumonia and withdrew. Then went back to constant migraines and withdrew again. It wasn't til in my early 30's that I realized that I have worked around medicine all this time--animal hospital and high school clinic, and that I was totally intrigued by medicine. And nursing was something I wanted to do more and more. Then my husband got sick and I began to look into lots of alternative healing, got my reiki certification, and realized that I wanted to help people and that I suddenly desperately wanted to be a nurse. Plus, I knew that I had to have a fallback plan and a degree to go with it in case I have to support us. Thus I went to nursing school and fulfilled my dream and here I am almost a year after graduation.

I am glad that I didn't finish it in my early 20's because I was just not mature enough to appreciate the art and science of what we do. Now in my late 30's, it feels right to me.

[Sabby_NC]

Thanks for your imput everyone. Interesting read.. :)

[Djuna]

As much as I agree about the flexibility and broad options nursing has to offer, I would not choose to be an RN again.

You learn a lot about yourself as you get older and I have come to the realisation I don't like people very much, that I am easily frustrated by what I consider utter stupidity by patients and I cannot stand people not taking responsibility for their own health decisions.

I still enjoy my job, I'm still challenged and I really like my colleagues so I'm not miserable in my career, but I would not choose nursing if I had my time over again.

[nickola]

Although I love what I do, and have worked a variety of specialty areas, & I'm very good at what I do, I doubt I'd be a nurse again. Too little respect, too little pay. I would probably be a dermatologist!!

[effegal]

I too always knew I wanted to be a murse. When I was little I asked for nurses & doctor kits for Christmas Nursing has given me so many experiences that I wouldnt have had.

[emsboss]

Simply....Yes...I went into paramedicine while in H.S.....Should have went right into nursing. Yes, it is hard at times, coded/lost a 14 y/o last week, but the rewards outweigh the cost.

[charlies]

Thanks for your imput everyone. Interesting read.. :)

I just wanted to add a little more 'imput' to my previous post...

doctors can KMA, lol...

[Purdue_Nurse]

No, I wouldn't. There are a lot of other careers out there that I feel would suit me better. I didn't grow up always wanting to be a nurse like some previous posters, I didn't decide on nursing until my second semester of college. I don't feel I took enough time making that decision.

[danissa, LPN, LVN]

.......would probably follow my first plan and join the police. First plan changed, however with the arrival of 3 kiddos. now..just love being a neonatal midwife, but may re-consider and become a geisha girl, just for the hell of it! SO LOVE the red lippy! :lol2: