Is nursing "worth it"? HELP!

serenity1 · Mar 17, 2011

Ah...the million dollar question. It depends on your definition of "worth it". I have had great and awful days. Thought about going back to school for something else already, but I really don't think I could do anything else. If I left nursing, I'm sure I would come back. I have had weeks where I was sure I was done with nursing, only to have 1 patient be so thankful or sweet or just awesome, and that makes it "worth it" for me. When I focus on patient care and not on the other stuff--politics, other nurses, crazy changes, I am very happy to be a nurse. So, you have to figure out what about nursing will make it worth it for you and if the other stuff that goes along with it is acceptable. Hope this helps....if you truly want to be a nurse, don't let anyone convince you otherwise. :)

LilDolphin · Mar 17, 2011

My husband has a saying for me that he tells me to repeat when I'm on the phone with him as Im heading for the car and it goes: "throw your hands up in the air and say 'Weeee!' b/c now your roller coaster ride has come to a stop for tonight" And to me, that is what nursing is like, a roller coaster ride. I have my ups, downs, twists, turns, and bumpy rides but like the fool that I am I just can't get enough of those roller coasters! Nursing is the EXACT same way! I haven't been a nurse for near as long as most nurses on here and no, I'm not a RN, yet. But it doesn't take long once you hit the floor to have your fair share of laughs, joys, heartache and tears and yes, There will be blood! LOL I hope this answers your question as it "Is it worth is?" For me, Absolutely YES!

nancylvn · Mar 17, 2011

you don't really know what you get yourself into until you become a real nurse, with a license and big responsibilities. Yes it's stressful at times, but nursing is very rewarding and after you've been doing it for several years you will find that nursing is addicting! I know of many nurses who should already be retired and they don't want to leave the profession because they are just so in love with it. When you get into school you will know whether it's for you or not. Good luck!....

Vietguy · Mar 17, 2011

I was in your situation before, I didn't get accepted in my first year of applying, then in my second year I applied about 10 nursing programs and finally got accepted and I had to move out of state for a nursing program. Now I am a RN, I think you just need one reason why you should be a nurse...make other people lives better.....try to apply to other state nursing programs and apply as many nursing programs as you can...

Good luck

NPinWCH · Mar 18, 2011

I love nursing. That doesn't mean I loved being a nurse every day. Some days I cried from sadness, anger or frustration, but that didn't mean I was ready to give it up. The good usually out weighed the bad and I've learned so much.

I think it's worth it, but then most things in life that are worth something require you to work hard for them.

BrookeeLou_RN · Mar 18, 2011

When it is good..It is SO WORTH IT! That is what gets everyone thru the days when it is not so good. Tonight I took my 6 yo grand-daughter to dinner and in the car she says" Grandmom, I am so happy you are a nurse,, cause it makes me feel so safe!" That was so worth it!

Chin up · Mar 18, 2011

Life is full of ebb and flow. We all love the flow and tend to question, doubt during the ebb. Both are needed and what makes us who we are. To a lesser degree, the same happens in nursing, as in any other profession. Our high points are high and our low points, seem at the time, to be very low. Being human we grumble, complain and seek out like minded to commiserate with us. This is how many of us cope, it does not mean we are unhappy, hate our profession, or think it is intolerable. It just means, on any given day, we want others who know what we do, and what we go through, to tell us they understand and it will be okay.... we are in this together. Peace!

harleypinkno15 · Mar 18, 2011

Hello everyone:)
I have had nursing in my mind for a long time now. I was aCNA for 2 years , and really enjoyed it. I loved my residents and felt good about what I did for them everyday. All of my prereqs are done, and now it's just a matter of getting accepted to a program. I did not get in last year, and have been rejected by 3 schools so far for this year:confused: Its just so competitive! I am starting to feel so discouraged. Not from the rejections, but from what I have read about the burnout, disrespect, stress, and nursing not being "worth it" on this site. I know this is a place for us all to come and share with each other, to vent, and to connect with people in that same situations (which I think is GREAT and I really love it!) but it really does make me wonder. In addition to that its said there no jobs out there for us once we are finally done...its scary! I love the idea of caring for people and its what I want to do, but it seems soooo many nurses feel disrespected and over worked which is not what I want from my career. It never occurred to me until recently that as much as I wanted it, nursing may not be "worth it" in the end...
So, to all of you nurses out there...what do you think? I know everyone has bad days, weeks, months and this is where you come to vent, and maybe that is what I've been reading day after day...but overall, is nursing as a career make up for the heavy responsibility, disrespect, stress, etc?

My dear let me tell you if it is truely a calling for you to be a nurse please take head to it. Not for any other reason but because you truely care and desire to become an extremely important part of the medical profession. Nurses are truely front line in caring for patients. You must however take it seriously and realize that often times your decisions determine the outcome of a persons well being and with that in mind also realize it is a huge responsibility. I admire you for having been a nurses aid. I have always respected my NA's and cared what they had to say especially if they too where committed to what they chose to do. There is more to learn than people realize to become a nurse. I have a friend right now who is attending nursing school and she cannot believe what it takes and has even a greater respect for me than she once had. Nursing is so rewarding and I cannot tell u how many times I have felt that even after an awful day and we have all had them. You are only unappreciated if you are expecting to receive the appreciation from anyone other than the people you serve. I urge you to go with it if it is truely what you want. If you are a good nurse and committed to your profession it speaks in volumes. It takes sometime however to find exactly where you belong in the field. Best of Luck to you. I hope this helps.

AnaCatRN · Mar 18, 2011

Nursing can be tough, and there are days I thought about giving up. I applied for two years in a row with nothing to show but rejection letters. I had astounding grades and experience as a certified medical assistant, telemetry technician, and CNA. I never gave up, and the third round of applications got me in to my top pick school. It is really super competitive out there, and sometimes it seems they will use any little thing as an excuse to reject qualified applicants! If it's what you really want to do, then keep applying. Perseverance is a necessary character trait for nurses, anyway. As far as being disrespected and feeling it's not worth it after you become a nurse, I think that can be solved by finding the right position for you (and try to never take it personally if it does happen - difficult, I know). It takes time, and it's trial and error sometimes, but once you find your niche in nursing (and the right work environment for you), the bad days don't seem so bad, and you shouldn't have problems with disrespect. Nursing is what you make it. That's the amazing thing about nursing. We help people, and that's the best part, but nursing is so versatile and flexible. You can do just about anything, anywhere with a degree in nursing. As long as you know what kind of nurse you want to be and what will make your career fulfilling for you (know what's important to you), you'll be fine. It just might take a little time and frustration for you to figure all of that out, but you'll get there. Don't let anyone stop you from reaching your goals.

fancyhen · Mar 18, 2011

No one else can answer that question for you. It's unfortunate that so many nurses are unhappy with their choice of profession but, in my experience, they are the minority. Most nurses would like to change things about their individual jobs perhaps, but wouldn't change being a nurse.

It's not just a job. It's something that you "are". LoL. My family is very proud of me and depends on me for so many answers to questions about their health, babies, medications etc. and they depend on me and trust me to give them answers they can trust.

There are so many different types of nursing specialities that you can't really get bored unless you allow yourself to be bored. You've always got to be open to learning because you can learn new things every day. I've learned some of my best life lessions from situations that didn't make me happy when I was going through them. You grow as a nurse and as a human being.

Jobs are tight right now in certain areas of the country and that makes nurses uneasy and feel like they've been lied to. I've been a nurse since 1984 and have seen the economy work both ways....several times. Jobs were hard to find and then they seem to be everywhere. A new graduate may not get their ideal job immediately but that isn't a guarantee in any profession. In my area of the country there is still a shortage and work for those who want it.

I love being a nurse and can't imagine doing anything else. I've worked in Med Surg, Psych, Maternal- Child Health, Corrections,Community Health and Performance Improvement. I've managed to enjoy every single job MOST of the time. There are always bad days and frustrating situations but you get past it.

So if your passion is becoming a nurse don't let others discourage you. Any experience is what you make of it. Good luck.

dreamgirl333 · Mar 18, 2011

I agree to some of the previous posts. There are always ups and downs being a nurse. I've been a nurse for over 6 months now, and yes sometimes I feel overwhelmed and think "is nursing really for me?" But at the end, the thought that you help others or made a change in someone's life, it's worthed for me. Just one patient came and thanked me, already made my day. I feel appreciated.

Whether is worthed it for you or not, only you can decide and you won't know until you experience it. Like I said, everyday it's not always a sunny day being a nurse, there are times when it's a gloomy day, you just have to make the best out of it. Good luck!