Is becoming a nurse really that bad?

SwansonRN · Oct 2, 2012

No, nursing is not that bad. I think those nurses are unhappy in their jobs and are being unfair. Yes, there are things that are crummy about this job, but in my opinion it's worth it. I got a job the day after I graduated, I get paid well, and I get 4 days a week off. I also have a lot of fun, learn every day, and touch a lot of peoples' lives. If you want to be a nurse, go for it!

englishgeek · Oct 2, 2012

I have learned that in many cases, it seems like it's the people. I think many people are just unhappy and when a job fails to provide that happiness, they blame the job. I think you can be happy anywhere, as long as you choose to be happy.

ArmstrongLPN · Oct 3, 2012

I work as a PCT at north hills hospital here in dfw. And im going to school for nursing because i want to PLUS they're paying for it. BUT i keep getting talked out of nursing by most of the nurses on my floor (PCU) and when i rotate the nurses on med-surg too. So is nursing really that bad? I want to be a nurse and work in L&D but they really freak me out with all this dont be a nurse talk.

If a career in Nursing is really what you really want to pursue... Then go for it! People will tell you many things but you have to experience it for youself. You are a PCT... As a former Tech from L&D I know you have seen and heard that there is good and bad in the field but all I can say is at the end of the day, though all the disappointment of my facility I know I have tried my best to assist for the the best outcome... And even if it wasn't the best outcome that I have foreseen, I tried my best! That being said DO IT! If that's what you want to do. And if all else fails theres always Nurse Practitioner to move on to. I wish you well in you studies. Greg

RN1Each · Oct 3, 2012

I graduated in 2011 and now work in a Telemetry unit at a local hospital.

I tell everyone that asks that for me becoming a Registered Nurse really changed my life, for better and for worse.

Better: At 36 years old, the pay is fantastic compared to any other job I ever did (including military service and logistics management); and I now work no more than 3 or 4 days a week, unless I choose to...I have all the overtime I want; I have autonomy in my day-to-day work; and nearly every other nurse I partner with is really helpful and genuine. If I don't like the work I'm doing, I can simply transfer or seek out new work at another facility.

Worse: Nursing is usually critically understaffed most of the time, and as a result, we sometimes (oftentimes) have high patient ratios. In addition, the very high acuity and unpredictability of my particular floor have had detrimental effects on my ability to work. I have PTSD from my military service, and coupled with the aforementioned issues I actually had to go out on disability for 6 months. I'm now back to work, but I can only work in administrative nursing for the time being. However, I'll never blame my work as the root cause of the problem; most of the other nurses I work with deal with the same stressors I do...they just happen to process it a little more effectively than me. And even with these problems, there's still MANY jobs in nursing for me; something I'd never see if I still worked in logistics.

workingharder · Oct 3, 2012

I'll not address the question of whether the career is worth it in this post. I did want to inquire about the hospital paying for your education. Getting a freebie is always cool but, in life, "free" usually has strings attached. I assume you will sign a contract to work for the hospital after the completion of your education and licencing. It has been my experience that when a majority of staff have negative views of their work (or career) it comes down to a problem with management and corporate philosophy. In that case you may want to consider if being legally obligated to work at a facility in which the other nurses seem to have a negative view of their environment is worth tying yourself to that facility for however many years your contract specifies.

If this is truly what you want for your life than go into it with eyes wide open. Read your contract carefully. The hospital is essentially providing you with a student loan. If you leave the company early is the payback prorated or will you be required to pay back in full?

I would suggest that you bank as much money as possible in the event that you come to agree with the views of the other nurses and need to leave the hospital's employ.

Whatever you decide, I wish you well.

jonz77 · Oct 3, 2012

My daughter got her degree in theater and I was pretty happy about that. I always told her, don't be a nurse. NOt because I was unhappy with my work, I've always had some good experiences but it was hard work and it's taken it's toll on me physically over the years. I've been a nurse for 32 years and I've seen many changes but the one thing that never seemed to change was the patient load which...over time can be taxing on anyone, whether you're unhappy or not. I never wanted my daughter to feel that kind of fatigue but...One summer she wanted a summer job away from waitressing or fast food so I said, we have a aide position open for the summer, come try it. No direct patient care, all you do is help get people to the dining room, etc...That was a few years ago. Now she is working on her BSN in nursing and has plans on becoming a CRNA. The point is....if it's something you really want to do...then do it with your eyes wide open, if it's your passion then no matter how difficult the job is, or how tired you are...you'll still feel you're in the right place.

Tonjia58hd · Oct 3, 2012

I agree with all the other comments made to an extent; but it could also be that you are so good at what you are currently doing that they do not want to have to deal with a new replacement. I am going through that experience right now. Everybody trying to talk me about of go to nursing school which I have been wanting to do for a long time so I gave up and applied for 2 different vacancies where I am at (I work in a law firm) the one position I got turned down for I could kind of understand, they needed a very seasoned person to jump in there and get them up to speed because of the mess the last person in that position left them in; however, this latest opening, I was very qualified for and was even told by the attorney that I was more qualified than any of the resumes received but they like me in my current position, I did an excellent job, and they didn't want to have to train 2 people, so obviously, this is a "dead end" for me and no one else wants my job and so to keep me from leaving, they just praise me more and tell me how bad nursing is, that I shouldn't do it.

So see, sometimes, they may not want to have to deal with a new person, you do too good of a job and it irritates me to no end how people because of their own selfish agendas, will try to pull you down and keep you from advancing.

All I can say, is, if that is what you want and you are able to get funding, etc. to achieve it, don't let no one talk you out of it! God bless!

aureliarye · Oct 3, 2012

I am in my 2nd semester of Nursing School after working for a major Telecommunications Company for 31 years. I made the same money when I retired as I will as a new RN. There is crap in every job. It has always been that way and it won't change. I hated that job! I stuck with it because it took care of my family. Will there be all kinds of crap to deal with in Nursing? You better believe it. You have seen what nurses do. You work with them every day. If you think it is worth it, it is. I have always wanted to be a nurse and this is my time to do it.

SCSTxRN · Oct 4, 2012

I love being a nurse. I concur that there is crap in every job, but nursing -unlike so many professions - has different niches so that if, for example, direct patient care isn't your thing - you can do administration, insurance audits, etc. If you need adrenaline, there's ER, ICU. If you do.not.do.well.with.high.crisis, there's LTC and Home Health. If you like heavy duty rules, there's OR. I find that psych is my schtick - but it ain't for everyone.

I love being a nurse.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Oct 4, 2012

The thing about nursing that you may not see is the load that you get from management, the policies, and the company line because every hospital is a business being run by a company that forgets there are real human beings involved.

FMF Corpsman, MSN, RN · Oct 4, 2012

So is nursing really that bad? I want to be a nurse and work in L&D but they really freak me out with all this dont be a nurse talk.

There is a saying, "Love what you do, and never work a day in your Life." I was fortunate and I loved what I did. After a career in the Military, I transferred to civilian life, worked, studied, and ended up with my MSN. Unfortunately, wounds and illnesses caught up with me and after 35 years, I was forced to retire medically and now I miss it terribly. It takes hard work and dedication, but if you are willing to work for it, you can have a wonderfully rewarding career in Nursing, if that's what you truly want. If it isn't what you want, it isn't worth the work, because there will be hard days with heart ache, sore feet, an aching back, day's you'll be so irritated with your co-workers you could just spit fire, day's you'll just want to go home and cry and then you'll have days that make some of those days seem like the good days, BUT, then you'll also have great days too. It depends on where you work what will make a great day, but there will be plenty of them as well. If they were all bad, all of these fine people, including myself wouldn't put all of the years in that we put in. Good luck.