Is nursing really worth it??

Tait, MSN, RN · Jan 14, 2009

Nurses out there, is it worth it in the end? Yes

Would you do it all again if you could? Absolutely

What is the hardest aspect of the job? Keeping my confidence.

What keeps you in it? Being a comfort in the hardest aspects of a persons life. (Call me a bleeding heart if you like, I don't mind)

Tait

StrwbryblndRN · Jan 14, 2009

I would have done it at 18 years old if I did not have such a discouraging family. I decided at to go back and my only regret is I did not do it sooner.

I love the wide variety of people and all their idiosyncrasies. That is what keeps me going. If you are quick to judge and can't stand others PITA peronalities then it would be hard. There are other aspects to nursing that may keep it intersting for you, I just found my niche and am having fun with it.

The hardest part is trying to satisfy what the pt needs/md orders versus what the pt wants in a timely manner and still come out smelling like roses.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2009

I regretted not ]becoming a nurse in my 20s--I did not want to regret it in my 30s--I am so glad I went into nursing- I can use my hands and my mind and my heart. Every shift I learn something new, I am with families at some of thier darkest times/scariest times and happy times. I feel I have an impact on my pts and thier loved ones.

Not to mention----I get paid pretty well for the work I do. I have flexi]ble hours, a nice insurance plan-jo]b security- free gym mem]bership and un limited supply of pens and band-aids!!

I can honestly say that I feel lucky to ]be a nurse. I feel blessed. School was hard and it was a sacarifice on my family. I am so glad I stuck it out. I have no regrets .

RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2009

I love being a nurse but do find it frustrating to have 90% of the jobs out there in the hospital setting where you are required to work evenings, nights, weekends....etc. The Monday thru Friday day job is hard to find and they tend to not pay nearly as well. I am trying to find one of those jobs now. I work in the psychiatric Emergency Room now and work all over the place as far as hours. It gets hard on my health, and not great for trying to find time for asocial life and my partner works days normally and so it's hard when I am working and miss things. And working the holidays sucks too!! So the job and being a nurse I would say yeah be a nurse but be willing to sacrifice your schedule and time. There are other jobs in the hospital that have more normal hours you could look into if this is discouraging...PT, OT, Resp. Therapy, etc.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Jan 14, 2009

Thanks to the OP who posted this also. I'm a student, and I too get discouraged when reading other post about how hard nursing is, and how nurses hate it so much that they quit their jobs, or is thinking about switching careers. I'm sure nursing has its ups and downs, I'm just glad to read that some nurses like to be nurses, its very encouraging.

lpnflorida, LPN · Jan 14, 2009

Nursing is absolutely worth it. The main frustration I have is with more with family members than patients. Some of the medical families are the absolute worst. Somedays I simply want to say why not take your loved one home you seem to have enough energy and expertise as you know everything.

pink85 · Jan 14, 2009

I feel it is worth it. I learn something new everyday. Especially from my patients. How exciting is that? If medicine is your passion then go for it! I have been a nurse 10 years and I still love getting up and going to work everyday. I am very lucky! I think the hardest thing about it is that everything always falls back on the nurse. I told one of my fellow nurses not too long ago that we should not be called nurses, our job title should be 'patient care manager'! If a patient doesn't get their food tray, PT doesn't come, pharmacy doesn't send their medicine, etc... it always comes back to the nurse. If there is a job in the hospital or on your floor that needs to be done and their is not a specific person to take care of it.... assign it to the nurses! but, like I said I love being a nurse and would do it again!

jjjoy, LPN · Jan 14, 2009

I told one of my fellow nurses not too long ago that we should not be called nurses, our job title should be 'patient care manager'! If a patient doesn't get their food tray, PT doesn't come, pharmacy doesn't send their medicine, etc... it always comes back to the nurse. If there is a job in the hospital or on your floor that needs to be done and their is not a specific person to take care of it.... assign it to the nurses!

So true! There's nursing care and then there's everything else! I think the powers that be, and that includes nursing educators as well, should acknowledge that nurses aren't just providing and supervising nursing care, but that they are also overall patient care managers... and that that is NOT the same thing as providing nursing care; it's in addition to nursing care.

In many cases, the nurses end up stuck dealing with all of these management issues (submitting food orders, restocking medicines, making sure physicians have properly documented, etc) and don't have time left to provide NURSING care. I think it's wrong to stretch the definition of nursing to INCLUDE management issues... "eg. it's a nursing responsibility to fax orders to pharmacy." It's that facility's administrative CHOICE to add that to the job description for bedside nurses, but it's not an inherent responsibility of nurses. Assessing patients, administering treatments, preventing avoidable complications, educating and comforting patients... THAT is the inherent responsibility of nurses. IF a medication isn't available and IF a wrong food tray is delivered, the nurse needs to deal with it, but in a well-staffed, well-run facility, the nurse could immediately turn the problem back over to pharmacy or dietary and get back to focusing on nursing.

Off-topic, I know.

Is nursing really worth it? That's a very subjective question. Is it worth it to YOU? I can't say. To me? No. I was miserable in the clinical environment and now work in health care data management. I'd like to think if work conditions were better, I'd have found nursing not so miserable. But I probably still wouldn't like it as much as do my current job. So it wasn't worth it to me to push through the difficulties.

However, nursing IS worth it for many. And many do manage to find jobs with good work conditions. I hope you find some clarity for yourself on this question!

RNperdiem, RN · Jan 14, 2009

There is nursing as a concept and there is nursing as work. Work means getting your hands dirty sometimes, giving up your time to an employer, tolerating frustrations.

It is not unlike the difference between the noble and abstract concept of "parenthood" and the real daily grind of "childcare".

lifelonglearner63 · Jan 14, 2009

Harsh,its unfortunate you feel this way. The patients family are pivotal in providing good nursing care. Difficult at times, absolutely. The patients family can not be looked at as the enemy,you must try to see thier perspective...fear, lack of knowledge, minimal resources,difficulties coping. Try stepping back and taking another look, maybe you can help them get to where they need to be to be a resource for the patient.Make them aware, you are an advocate...gently.

lifelonglearner63 · Jan 14, 2009

It is soooooooooooo worth it. Like any profession, not all areas are for all nurses. The opportunities are endless. I have always found that if a nurse is unhappy then they haven't found thier passion.

"Do what you love & love what you do" (27 year experience)