Is It Worth It?

cantwait4sunshine · Jan 25, 2006

Good question- in my opinion even though most nurses have their crabby moments, I think most nurses are happy with their career choice. I think if a nurse realizes it is not the right career, he/she will move on. One great thing about nursing is the variety of opportunities. I have worked in many specialty areas and I am very greatful for a change of scenery every few years. I feel like I made the right choice, because even though the work is tough and the hours long, I can't think of any other career that would be as rewarding. Certainly there are times, especially when I'm dealing with a particularly rude person, I wish I could do something else, but keep in mind rude people are everywhere. The times that I feel truly effective are the best, and the little thank you's from patients and coworkers are very rewarding.

mom and nurse · Jan 25, 2006

Was it worth it....yes. Having the RN license gives me many opportunities to do things that I would not have been able to do....there's more job flexibility. (I once counted 150 job listings for RNs one Sunday in the paper...that's before I decided to go back to school to get a nursing degree). Also, not all patients are ungrateful. The majority of patients I've worked with (and their families) are very grateful for any assistance you give them.

Am I always happy with my job....No. But I know that if worse comes to worse, I can look elsewhere (something which I have no intention of doing anytime soon) and try a different area of nursing.

Nurses also tend to have a cohesion with each other that I don't see in other professions. We may get on each others nerves at times, but we have a certain bond...... :)

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2006

I've read through a lot of these posts, and it seems eight out of ten nurses absolutely hate their jobs. Others say it's terrible but they trudge along for humanistic reasons.

If they absolutely hated their jobs so damned much, I honestly think they would have left the profession a long time ago. Very few nurses talk about their lighter moments of successes, joys, and triumphs. Most of the nurses who come to these forums usually vent their frustrations and hatred; therefore, much of the stuff here is going to be skewed negatively.

HappyJaxRN · Jan 25, 2006

Hey there,
I've read through a lot of these posts, and it seems eight out of ten nurses absolutely hate their jobs. Others say it's terrible but they trudge along for humanistic reasons.
I know this topic has been done to death, but please answer me this question: if you could go back, would you still have gotten into nursing?

Yes. Without a doubt. No matter how bad it gets; the good always foreshadows the bad and makes it WELL worth it. This is what's in my heart. I'm a nurse for life. And proud of it. :)

HappyJaxRN · Jan 25, 2006

If they absolutely hated their jobs so damned much, I honestly think they would have left the profession a long time ago. Very few nurses talk about their lighter moments of successes, joys, and triumphs. Most of the nurses who come to these forums usually vent their frustrations and hatred; therefore, much of the stuff here is going to be skewed negatively.

Yeah....:yeahthat:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2006

If they absolutely hated their jobs so damned much, I honestly think they would have left the profession a long time ago. Very few nurses talk about their lighter moments of successes, joys, and triumphs. Most of the nurses who come to these forums usually vent their frustrations and hatred; therefore, much of the stuff here is going to be skewed negatively.

I agree with the above.

Yes, I would go into nursing, but I would have gone into 15 years prior rather than "finding myself" :rotfl:

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Jan 25, 2006

:nurse: YES :nurse: yes :nurse: yes !

I would do it all over in a heartbeat !

Go For It !

mom23RN · Jan 25, 2006

Hey there,
I've read through a lot of these posts, and it seems eight out of ten nurses absolutely hate their jobs. Others say it's terrible but they trudge along for humanistic reasons.
I know this topic has been done to death, but please answer me this question: if you could go back, would you still have gotten into nursing?

I don't think I would. I mean it's nice to have something to "fall back on" but I'm not even in the nursing field anymore. I am doing something that my nursing degree helps with, but I only worked for about 6 years after school and haven't been a nurse for over 5 now. Seems kind of silly that I went to school all that time and am not really using it.

But.... just knowing that I could get a job as a nurse again is kind of reassuring.

Templar1961 · Jan 25, 2006

Thank you all so much for your replies. That's very encouraging!

prmenrs, RN · Jan 25, 2006

I would do it again. In fact I'm still doing it.

I think if you conducted a poll, at least 7 people in the general workforce aren't particularly crazy about going to work (whatever their job might be) in the first place.

Work is work--a 4 letter word. If it was fun, they'd call it fun!

Mulan · Jan 25, 2006

I don't think I would. I mean it's nice to have something to "fall back on" but I'm not even in the nursing field anymore. I am doing something that my nursing degree helps with, but I only worked for about 6 years after school and haven't been a nurse for over 5 now. Seems kind of silly that I went to school all that time and am not really using it.
But.... just knowing that I could get a job as a nurse again is kind of reassuring.

If you don't mind sharing, what type of work are you doing? I would like to find something else to do myself. :)