Is it worth it???New Nurse

[marleysnh]

First off, I've never failed anything in my life...then the NCLEX...I'm working on my third try and for inspiration I google pros and cons of nursing... Why do people do this? All I read is tired, underpaid, undervalued, overworked women who hate their life. Nursing school was the first obstacle I've ever really met and I passed but I'm wondering if this is worth pursuing. I'm going to figure out and pass that test no matter the time or cost, but why do we work so hard to achieve a job that makes everyone so negative??

Thanks

[Red Kryptonite]

First, you're looking at a self-selected sample who chose to go online and post negative things. You can't access the opposite self-selected sample, so you get a skewed picture. Also, people with strong negative feelings are always more eager to report, skewing it even more.

Second, people tend to filter what they find through the lens of what they want to find. Search threads here about nurses loving or liking their jobs. The negative threads usually outnumber the positive ones, true, but there are plenty of nurses who like their jobs and are willing to say that.

Third, people who speak or write negatively of their jobs tend to be negative people in general. Some people could be paid ice cream taste testers and still hate their lives! (If anyone from Haagen Dazs or Ben & Jerry's is reading, I am willing and available. FYI.)

Fourth, there's a large, possibly critical mass of people like me in almost every profession: I like my job fine as far as jobs go, and if I have to have one, the one I've already got will do. Some days I love it, some I hate it, but most of the time is just kind of rolling along in neutral.

You're feeling negative about the test and you're wallowing, and that's okay for a little while..... just as long as you move on and keep trying.

[vanilla bean]

First off, I've never failed anything in my life...then the NCLEX...I'm working on my third try[...]Nursing school was the first obstacle I've ever really met and I passed but I'm wondering if this is worth pursuing.

OK, so if I am to understand you correctly, NCLEX is the SECOND obstacle you've ever had in life (the first being nursing school) and you're ready to walk away from it because it's proving a daunting challenge? NCLEX IS daunting to nearly all of us - even those of us who have overcome multiple obstacles in life.

If you want to be a nurse, then buck up and do what it takes to accomplish your goal. If you want to use random negative online posts from people you don't know to justify walking away, then you can do that too. But you should also know that there are plenty of nurses who love what they do, and you may too if you give it a chance.

[ixchel]

I'll venture a guess that you are on the younger side and that this is a first career for you. Most workers in most jobs feel underpaid and overworked, and they'll complain to others who get that. I've been in a few different industries, and while nursing is probably the hardest, it makes me feel the most awesome.

I'm going to share some honesty with you. You need to brace yourself. Your first 6 months on the job are going to push you to the edge - so close you'll hope for a gentle breeze to knock you off. Don't get me wrong - you'll have days after awhile where you triumph and you'll feel such joy over pieces coming together that you'll start to be okay again. But that takes awhile. Be prepared for this to get harder before it gets easier. For me, the wait to feel successful again was worth it. There was a time I was afraid it wouldn't be, though.

Good luck to you, love. I hope you find success!

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

Yes it is worth it if you really want it. I always wanted to be a nurse and wasn't going to let ant negative comments online change that. Six years later I still love being a nurse.

[KeepItRealRN, BSN, RN]

Well if you don't take and pass NCLEX than your nursing degree is completely worthless. Without the "RN", the only use for a nursing diploma is to line the bottom of a bird cage. What kept me going in my hours of darkness back in the day was knowing that along with the fact that I would still have to pay back loans for said worthless piece of paper.

It sounds to me like you don't really want it, and that someone is paying your bills.

[Libby1987]

No doubt you have to possess some toughness, resilience and a strong work ethic but the negativity I often read here throws me off as well.

I work with people who love parts of their job, like it most days and have some rough days. That's pretty average for anyone with responsibilty of any type.

[RNperdiem, RN]

It is through failing sometimes that we build the resilience to survive setbacks. Any job where you are not underemployed will sometimes be overwhelming, and you will have to deal with having a lot expected of you and some days will kick your butt.

Think of this as a test of your grit and determination. You can't succeed in nursing without those.