Is nursing always so hard?

CHATSDALE · Jun 23, 2008

before you commit yourself to taking all the classes and the grind of clinicals take a look att yourself...

is this really what you want in your life, what other jobs have yu had did you enjoy the work, did you find it fulfilling

there are many jobs and you spend a lot of time at work during lifetime and it is important that you go to work with a smile

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 23, 2008

I have thought about nursing as a career, among other choices, and wondering if I would make a good nurse. I had a weak stomach, and still don't know how I would feel about seeing blood and having to draw blood.
I saw an ad in the paper for a chance to become a CNA. I took the class, graduated and an now a nursing assistant. I still have yet to take my class to become certified.
I have never done any kind of nursing work before and felt like I was so slow starting out. When I was mentoring with someone, I gagged at the smell of a dirty brief, now I can change them no problem, without the gag reflex.
I only worked for about a month and at least once a week, I cried because I found it so difficult and so overwhelming. The last day before I quit, I was overwhelmed and exhausted and made the mistake of saying I wanted to smack a patient, even though I would never do anything that would jeopardize my job.
There were times I felt like I would be a kick ass CNA and that this job would be a piece of cake. Other times ( a lot), I felt like I couldn't handle the job and wondered if something else would be better for me. I've gone through a lot of jobs before cause I haven't really been challenged enough at them. With nursing, there are a lot of challenges, and I feel like I got in over my head with nursing.
I learned a lot of patience with my job, more than I thought I had. A lot the the nurses and other CNA's told me I was doing a really good job and I even had a couple of patients ask me if I was gonna get into nursing cause they thought I would make a good nurse.
I also suffer from depression. I also am an emotional person. Would I still make a good nurse, I wonder? Also, how is nursing? Does it get easier or do the routines get easier?

I am a bit confused, you stated that you took the class and graduated, but have not taken the class to become certified? Or did you mean that you didn't take the exam to become certified and you are working? And, who heard you when you said you felt like smacking a patient? Yes, you do have to be careful what you verbalize to others, because of the high incidence of patient abuse. I say to myself or to trusted parties on occasion "Oh, I felt like choking that woman!", but didn't really mean I would actually do it-we speak that way out of frustration. Plus, some patients are just not nice, no matter how we extend ourselves. But, do not say things like this, because it can be misinterpeted-once words leave our mouths, they can be hard to retract.

Routines get easier in nursing but the process of actually becoming a nurse (especially an RN) can be very hard, but rewarding if this is really in your heart. We have to train ourselves to be empathetic, but not sympathetic; which are two different things altogether. I have friends who are bipolar and are excellent nurses. They are in treatment, many taking medications and are successful while stable. Good luck to you!

golfergirl17 · Jun 23, 2008

Hi, I still have to take the certification exam and am supposed to take it on July 5.

I realized after I said that, that I made a mistake of saying it.

I realize that when I said that, that I made a big mistake saying that cause someone went and told my boss what I said and it got misconstrued.

hisblueskies · Jun 23, 2008

Working as a nurse or as a CNA is one of the hardest jobs you will ever do. There are constant changes, constant challenges and you have to be able to go with the flow. I can't tell you the number of times I felt overwhelmed my first year in nursing. I have worked with many nurses who are taking psychological drugs and they were excellent nurses so don't let that hinder you. It boils down this - do you get personal satisfaction from helping people - even people who can be very difficult. If you can say yes than nursing may be right for you.

angel337, MSN, RN · Jun 24, 2008

i would not suggest nursing as a career to just anyone. it really takes a certain kind of person to be able to handle the things that we put up with on a daily basis. i think you should shadow a nurse for few days in the hospital on a busy med- surg floor so that you can get a realistic picture of what its like. of course there are other areas that you could shadow, but i think floor nursing is the best start because it can be the most challenging. i personally like..not love....being a nurse and most of that is because i work at a good place, but unfortunately most nurses work in places that are consistently understaffed and unsupportive so that is one reason why there is such a shortage. good luck in whatever you decide but explore the career thoroughly before you jump in.

golfergirl17 · Jun 24, 2008

How would I be able to shadow a nurse? I think that is an awesome idea.

Fiona59 · Jun 24, 2008

You will get all sorts of cheerleading on this forum about how you can do anything if you want it bad enough and yes most people can.

But I work with nurses just a few years older than you who went to university with doubts, spent four years getting a degree and are $50k in debt and hate their jobs. They are stuck because they have to pay off the student loans.

You are still young, consider other areas of healthcare that don't require patient care, that don't involve the shiftwork and everyother weekend that nursing requires. If after a few years the desire to become a nurse do it then.

Looking back, sure I could have been an RN by the time I was 22 but I wasn't emotionally mature enough to do the job. I became an LPN at 40 but it took me two decade to decide I had the strenght to do it. Now I wish I had become a records coder or a transcriptionist because there are lots of days I'd like to slap a patient or co-worker. I know it happens in every profession but I'm just tired of being treated like a maid by some patients.

angel337, MSN, RN · Jun 24, 2008

You will get all sorts of cheerleading on this forum about how you can do anything if you want it bad enough and yes most people can.
But I work with nurses just a few years older than you who went to university with doubts, spent four years getting a degree and are $50k in debt and hate their jobs. They are stuck because they have to pay off the student loans.
You are still young, consider other areas of healthcare that don't require patient care, that don't involve the shiftwork and everyother weekend that nursing requires. If after a few years the desire to become a nurse do it then.
Looking back, sure I could have been an RN by the time I was 22 but I wasn't emotionally mature enough to do the job. I became an LPN at 40 but it took me two decade to decide I had the strenght to do it. Now I wish I had become a records coder or a transcriptionist because there are lots of days I'd like to slap a patient or co-worker. I know it happens in every profession but I'm just tired of being treated like a maid by some patients.

fiona you are so right and i think it is very important for nurses to be honest about the reality of nursing, especially at the bedside. it is hard, hard work. the happiest nurses i know do not do patient care. they do case management, in patient teaching, clinics , insurance companies. but the nurses at the bedside are hit the hardest.

Fiona59 · Jun 24, 2008

Angel: ain't it the truth. But to get to those positions that are the happiest you have to make it through nursing school, qualify for the credentials and work at the bedside to gain the experience and seniority to move away from it to become "happy".