Is being a nurse ever boring?

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

SmilingBluEyes said:

If it is, you are not doing enough with your career. Or at work. :rotfl:

I work hard but that doesn't mean it is not boring, as work can become repetative. :uhoh21: Plus I feel my whole life and career on hold because of my plans. In fact first time I have not felt in control of my career.

[SmilingBluEyes]

But a career can be more than work itself, is what I am driving at, madwife. I certainly mean no offense, but as I invest a lot in my career knowledge base, (lots of options there such as reading books, attending stimulating conferences and seminars) I find it anything but boring.

It also probably helps I only work 1-2 shifts per week. I don't get burnt out or bored at all that way.

[SharonH, RN]

ZASHAGALKA said:

Oh just try saying 'I'm bored' or 'It's slow' mid-shift and see what happens.

I don't recommend you try this, but next time you are near a hospital nurses' station, loudly proclaim 'wow, it's slow' and see the looks of horror because you jinxed them.

Timothy.

LOL! Yes, saying "It's slow" is always a bad idea. You will pay dearly for saying that. I'm glad you learned your lesson. :chuckle

[mysticalwaters1]

mysticalwaters1 said:

I work on resp/medsurg floor 3-11pm and time FLIES! It is never boring. If anything I get frustrated with the many duties we are suppose to do. But I never found it boring yet. I used to work at walmart as a cashier and in early morning not many customers and be bored trying to find something to do. With medsurg I'm lucky if I can even finish my work! However I do hear on the night shift 11-7 they have some down time and get bored. I don't know if that's because they do our 24hour chart checks on like 8-10pts and it being night shift when people normally sleep there.

I better clarify or night shift will eat me alive! As my one coworker says "what do they think we sit here eating BON bons all the time!" I meant I was told by a float nurse she gets tired 11-7 and they have 24 hour chart checks so she makes time for it and gets sleepy sitting down doing it. I meant when that nurse is used to sleeping at 11-7 and changing her format for work going back for her kids the next days. So really I guess it's lack of sleep for THAT nurse.

[don_rhonda]

SharonH, RN said:

LOL! Yes, saying "It's slow" is always a bad idea. You will pay dearly for saying that. I'm glad you learned your lesson. :chuckle

LMAO! I get in lotsa trouble by complaining how quiet it is...especially on night shift where we are a limited staff of 2 RN's and 1 CNA in our local rural hospital. I am known for jinxing the shift, and they always (in manner of play) give me all the heavy duty work that comes out of the jinx! :chuckle

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

SmilingBluEyes said:

But a career can be more than work itself, is what I am driving at, madwife. I certainly mean no offense, but as I invest a lot in my career knowledge base, (lots of options there such as reading books, attending stimulating conferences and seminars) I find it anything but boring.

It also probably helps I only work 1-2 shifts per week. I don't get burnt out or bored at all that way.

No offense taken. I agree re the career thing but I work 5 days a week and get tired, plus I take lots of work home as I am part of junior management, which means as well as hands on I have staff to manage. So you ask yourself why am I complaining I am bored. I need a challenge and I don't feel I get a challenge at the moment, it is nothing to do with studying I have spent the last 16 years studying. Seminars/conferences are very very expensive here in UK around $600-700 for a recognised one, sometimes your hospital will pay for them but a lot of the time you need to fund them yourselves.

[mommatrauma, RN]

I think there are tedious parts to every job...Boring is not the right word I don't think...There is always opportunity to learn something new, there is always opportunity to do something new...There are so many different types of nursing that if one isn't appealing to your senses you could try another...However, there is always, the frequent flyers...and the paperwork...and the meds...Which can all be tedious things to deal with at times...Of course I would much rather be helping someone get their chest cracked for a GSW to the chest than my 18th pelvic exam of the night....but its kinda give and take...there will always be parts that you get tired of dealing with, but for everyone one of those parts there will be 2 or 3 that gets you going again...you just have to find the right balance...