Is Nursing the hardest job out there?

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Do you know anyone personally that has a job without building pressures and stress, making enough money to pay a mortgage?

Not necessarily. It would be unwise for one to quit a job, even if unsafe, when one can't find a job because there are too many applicants- and the facility very well may choose to go with the cheapest (aka new grad) option.

That's why we have more nurses than jobs continuing to graduate?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
That's why we have more nurses than jobs continuing to graduate?

The competition for jobs plays a big part in why people won't leave a job until they have another lined up.

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Long story short... the hospitals are fine, nursing schools are good, the pharmaceutical companies are great insurance companies are also great ---it is us working people that suffer. Big business and government are closer togeather and more powerful than EVER.

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The competition for jobs plays a big part in why people won't leave a job until they have another lined up.

I think we're talking in circles because that seems to agree with my statement that the existence of unsafe nursing positions (understaffing) is related to over supply of nurses - competition.

The reason why I originally brought up unsafe nurse positions was to separate those out from the majority of nursing positions that are not necessarily bany more hard/stressful/pressured work than my other friends and family out there making a living.

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Long story short... the hospitals are fine, nursing schools are good, the pharmaceutical companies are great insurance companies are also great ---it is us working people that suffer. Big business and government are closer togeather and more powerful than EVER.

I'm fortunate in that I have yet to suffer on the job, which on the flip side makes me chuckle when I hear posters suggest schlepping over to HH where they're always hiring until they can get into one of those competitive short staffed hospital positions..

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Personally I don't think nursing is the hardest job out there ! However, getting your masters as a nurse is a must! Why you ask?! Because if you work in a fast paced unit, that requires physical force; or to act fast; adjust to daily policy changes, and walk/run for 12 hours, sometimes without breaks. I cannot imagine myself working in such units as a 50-60 year old, and retirement age will probably be 75 for me 🙈🙈. I also know some amazing nurses who are in their late 50s and they function better than us young nurses! It's hard to predict how we will age and what we can and cannot handle as a bedside nurse! Desk job careers are ageless: you can function at any age! This is my way of thinking about my future . You can probably tell I'm worried about my career and aging terrifies me. I feel weak now in my 20s I can only imagine how much I can handle in the future lol🙈

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Specializes in Critical Care/Vascular Access.

I think it depends on how you're looking at it. If we're talking about just physical work, then no, it's obviously not the hardest job out there although it can be physically demanding. If we're talking about just brain work, then no it's also not the hardest job out there, although it does require some degree of intelligence (though I've known many surprisingly dull nurses). If we're talking about just emotional demand, then no again it's not the hardest job out there although it does drain you emotionally as well. If we're talking just about personal endangerment, then no it's not that either.

When considering any single factor, nursing is certainly not the hardest job out there. What I think is particularly unique about nursing is how it involves all those factors more so than another other average American job. Nursing tests you physically, intellectually, and emotionally among many other things and also often even puts you in danger, sometimes literally life threatening. I think very few other jobs in this society require the application of so many different aspects of the individual's being at one time.

Kind of funny this post came up today, because I was just commenting this morning on how hardcore hospital nurses really are. Last night as my ICU skillfully and efficiently juggled deliriously combative post ops, toxically drunken belligerents, slowly dying brain bleeds, precariously teetering vital signs, profusely bleeding pulled lines, and uncomfortably hovering family members I just stopped for a second and thought, "damn, we nurses kick ass."

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Personally I don't think nursing is the hardest job out there ! However, getting your masters as a nurse is a must! Why you ask?! Because if you work in a fast paced unit, that requires physical force; or to act fast; adjust to daily policy changes, and walk/run for 12 hours, sometimes without breaks. I cannot imagine myself working in such units as a 50-60 year old, and retirement age will probably be 75 for me ������������. I also know some amazing nurses who are in their late 50s and they function better than us young nurses! It's hard to predict how we will age and what we can and cannot handle as a bedside nurse! Desk job careers are ageless: you can function at any age! This is my way of thinking about my future . You can probably tell I'm worried about my career and aging terrifies me. I feel weak now in my 20s I can only imagine how much I can handle in the future lol������

You are smart and thinking along the right lines although the working until you are 75 even at a "desk job" frightens me, lol. So many people get to be old and are unprepared and while we can't ever hope to prepare for everything to at least have a plan for the inevitable is wise and will end in you being better prepared than those who don't. Floor nursing is difficult to do well in the later years and imo I would much rather retire when I'm on top of my game. I bet you are also saving for retirement now aren't you? Kudos. :)

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Personally I don't think nursing is the hardest job out there ! However, getting your masters as a nurse is a must! Why you ask?! Because if you work in a fast paced unit, that requires physical force; or to act fast; adjust to daily policy changes, and walk/run for 12 hours, sometimes without breaks. I cannot imagine myself working in such units as a 50-60 year old, and retirement age will probably be 75 for me ������������. I also know some amazing nurses who are in their late 50s and they function better than us young nurses! It's hard to predict how we will age and what we can and cannot handle as a bedside nurse! Desk job careers are ageless: you can function at any age! This is my way of thinking about my future . You can probably tell I'm worried about my career and aging terrifies me. I feel weak now in my 20s I can only imagine how much I can handle in the future lol������

There are many, many nurses out there who have moved away from the bedside without a master's degree. Many. A master's is definitely not a 'must' for a desk job.

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As the wife of a public school teacher, I'd say my job/ career is a breeze compared to what he deals with every day. You could not pay me to do what he does.

It is insane the load that is put on teachers these days...it may be hard to understand unless you know one.

I would have no problem if one of my kids chose to become a nurse. I would discourage any of my kids from becoming a teacher. It is THAT bad.

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Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.

I think asking if nursing is the hardest job out there is difficult to answer. We have to define hard.

Is it the physical labor.. Check. Nursing has that but I can think of other professions that can be more physical -- waitress and ditch digger come to mind.

Is it the book knowledge..check. We have a lot of that, but MDs, lawyers, engineers etc also have a high bar of learning to pass and maintain.

Where we really stand out is in how much Customer service work we perform....Check, Check and Check. This is our biggest task as a nurse. We have so many people to please....patient, doctor, family of patients, supervisor, quotas for the floor.....the list goes on.

This is why creating a supportive culture on the floor is so important to the survival and longevity of the nurses on that floor. Catty behavior, aggressive patients, non supportive managers drive nurses from the floor.

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Being AT work is stressful for sure. What I love about nursing (besides the making a difference and all that stuff) is when I clock out, I'm done. Don't think about work again until I head back in.

My husband has a much physically easier job related to computers. He is never done working. He's in charge some some computer systems, so he's checking on those from home two or three times every evening, and sometimes has to drive in to fix them.

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