Is nursing a good career choice? I've heard so many horror stories!

Published

I am a long-time lurker on these forums but just created an account. I just graduated with a BA in Health Science. For the longest time I've been switched back and forth between an MPH in epidemiology and an accelerated BSN. Actually, throughout my undergrad I've been aiming for an MPH by taking on as many research projects as I can. I worked on 2 with the government and 3 at a teaching hospital. I worked as a volunteer in 4 units in the teaching hospital for 2.5 years. But, now I am SERIOUSLY leaning much more towards a BSN. I have actually been very excited on finally landing on a choice. I love research and will continue to pursue it as a nurse, but I don't think I could do only research for my life. I like the idea of physically treating, monitoring, etc. However, I have read some AWFUL things about nursing online. People HATE their job so much and it seems like most end up leaving it. I know it is ultimately up to me to make the decision, but based on what I enjoy/my interests (listed below), what are your opinions on nursing as a career choice?

- I'm good in fast-paced environments. In fact, one of the projects I worked on at the teaching hospital was a clinical project and I worked in the same area as the nurses. I always volunteered to help the nurses out with anything ontop of my project (so I could be busier). Ended up doing all the triaging, writing down pateints' medical information for doctors, assigning rooms. I voluntarily relieved the RNs from their patient flow duty while I was on shift :p

- I am EXTREMELY interested in pathology of diseases. I love learning about new diseases, how they interact in the body, what they do to you, and different treatments/medications

- Have a lot of experience with pediatrics and plan to work in peds... great with kids

- Efficient. I work my but off to do things quickly but effectively.

Some things that worry me:

- Social anxiety (severe)

- Not great with vomit/feces

I have also heard different stories about the scope of an RN. Could someone help clarify this? Some claim that RNs only do the "dirty work". I know the scope of practice differs by region. I live in Ontario and from what I know we have a much wider scope than many places (RNs may soon be given the authority to prescribe! Maybe by the time I graduate... lol).

Sorry this is long, but thanks in advance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Since you live in Canada and I'm in the US this may be why I'm confused, but as an ER nurse I find it surprising and I'm even a little bothered by the fact that they were allowing a volunteer to triage patients. I mean that as no disrespect to you, given that I don't know you, but triaging people, if you were truly triaging them for treatment, in an acute setting takes the skill of an RN, and not even a new grad RN. What kind of area was this in? I know you said it was at a teaching hospital, but specifically what area or unit? I also find it surprising that a nurse would let a non-medical volunteer completely take over her workflow given the liabilities and risk to their license.

Beyond that, here's the thing about public forums. It's the nature of the beast (i.e. people) to generally talk about the bad things. For example, google any local restaurant in your area and you're more likely to see bad reviews than good, because if people have a bad experience they're way more likely to go tell people about that than they are a good experience. In addition to that, with this being a (if you're careful and prudent) anonymous forum, people feel that it's a safe space to come a vent about the crap day they had, the horrible patient family member, the awful patient in room 1, etc. There are people here they can find common ground with, because most of the time your bf/gf/mother/father/dog/whoever is at home when you get there will probably listen but they probably just won't "get" it when you've had that crap day (unless they're in the medical field too) and want to vent about it or are worried you messed up and you don't want to talk to a coworker about it. But if you look beyond the general board, or dig deeper into it, there are good things there.

Oh, and there is vomit and poop in nursing. Quite a bit of it. Especially with peds.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Since you live in Canada and I'm in the US this may be why I'm confused, but as an ER nurse I find it surprising and I'm even a little bothered by the fact that they were allowing a volunteer to triage patients. I mean that as no disrespect to you, given that I don't know you, but triaging people, if you were truly triaging them for treatment, in an acute setting takes the skill of an RN, and not even a new grad RN. What kind of area was this in? I know you said it was at a teaching hospital, but specifically what area or unit? I also find it surprising that a nurse would let a non-medical volunteer completely take over her workflow given the liabilities and risk to their license.

Beyond that, here's the thing about public forums. It's the nature of the beast (i.e. people) to generally talk about the bad things. For example, google any local restaurant in your area and you're more likely to see bad reviews than good, because if people have a bad experience they're way more likely to go tell people about that than they are a good experience. In addition to that, with this being a (if you're careful and prudent) anonymous forum, people feel that it's a safe space to come a vent about the crap day they had, the horrible patient family member, the awful patient in room 1, etc. There are people here they can find common ground with, because most of the time your bf/gf/mother/father/dog/whoever is at home when you get there will probably listen but they probably just won't "get" it when you've had that crap day (unless they're in the medical field too) and want to vent about it or are worried you messed up and you don't want to talk to a coworker about it. But if you look beyond the general board, or dig deeper into it, there are good things there.

Oh, and there is vomit and poop in nursing. Quite a bit of it. Especially with peds.

It was an outpatient specialty clinic at the hospital and no case was really an emergency. Most of the time it was "first come first served" except in cases where I was told otherwise or the patient was missing at the moment because they are somewhere else in the hospital having tests done. It wasn't difficult stuff but it kept me busy.

Okay, thank you. I understand that most people on the internet are really pissed off or are really happy (little inbetween) just wondering if I would be a good fit given my interests / traits I mentioned :p

Thank you

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sorry, I didn't mean "first come first served", I meant most patients were seen based on appointment time except if they had other medical tests, were requested by doctors/nurses to be seen immediately, or were late/early.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Sorry, I didn't mean "first come first served", I meant most patients were seen based on appointment time except if they had other medical tests, were requested by doctors/nurses to be seen immediately, or were late/early.

Oooh ok. Then triage is definitely not the correct word for what you were doing. You were checking them in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you are interested in both careers, why not do the accelerated BSN first and while working as a RN do the MPH in epidemiology?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If you are interested in both careers, why not do the accelerated BSN first and while working as a RN do the MPH in epidemiology?

I love epi but I think what I want to do most is get an MSN to become an NP. Just worried about getting a high GPA in nursing school in order to get into a Masters. I have great study habits as already shown in my undergrad degree, but still worried. I have considered getting an MPH afterwards and I may still do that, thank you. It's just getting the high GPA needed for BOTH the MPH and MSN that is concerning me right now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If you are interested in both careers, why not do the accelerated BSN first and while working as a RN do the MPH in epidemiology?

Thought about that and i might do that but i guess im mostly wondering about whether, based on the info i provided, i will like nursing. I LOVE learning about medicine and pathology, will I get a lot of this in nursing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

To make it through nursing school you have to deal with feces and vomit and sometimes the dreaded GI bleed.

Have you thought about how you will deal with shift work? Nursing school does shifts and new grads do shifts.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
To make it through nursing school you have to deal with feces and vomit and sometimes the dreaded GI bleed.

Have you thought about how you will deal with shift work? Nursing school does shifts and new grads do shifts.

I've never done shift work before, so I'm not sure. But my regular bedtime is 1-2am. I went to bed at 5am last night. So you could say I'm a night owl lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Five eight hour night shifts will take down the hardiest of night owls.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I've never done shift work before, so I'm not sure. But my regular bedtime is 1-2am. I went to bed at 5am last night. So you could say I'm a night owl lol.

You'll have to either force yourself to adjust that bedtime during nursing school or learn to live on no sleep (which I don't recommend). I get it, I'm a night owl and the early hours during the nursing program sucked, but you do what you gotta do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion