Kinda Worried!!! Advice Please!

okihusker · Jan 4, 2007

I have been a nurse for 11 years going on 12. I was a RN in the military for 10 years. Your personal experience will depend on the team you work with. This includes your fellow RNs, your chosen specialty, your managers, ancillary staff, and team of physicians. However the biggest factor is you and where you allow yourself to be placed in the food chain.

I would be lying to you if I were to say I never hated my job or considered leaving nursing. When I reflect on the moments it generally was related to being around a miserable bunch of people. When I reflect on the great moments, I was around very positive and supportive people.

The other aspect of nursing to reflect on is that fact you will be working with people that make life or death decisions daily and therefore they will be callused and have a very strong personality.

As I was getting out of the military with A CCRN and 10 years of ICU, I had several interviews. I made it a point to interview the facility. I asked about retention, vacation policies, professional development, and requested a tour of the unit. I chose the place I am currently working at now and I have very good job satisfaction. In my tour, the people were warm and friendly and the manager that walked me through seemed to be very well liked and respected by the staff. Some of the other places I toured had cold atmosphere and at one other facility, the staff seemed very avoiding of the director. All this helped in my decision process as I had several job offers.

I hope this helps.

mamason · Jan 4, 2007

I was reading some posts on another board and became alittle worried.....any advice you can give me is really appriciated. Here's my story...
I will "hopefully" begin Nursing school Fall 07 or Spring 08. Anyways, I am really interested in this field, HATE 9-5 office jobs, love moving around when I work, and also need to have different obsticles in order for me to not become bored with a job.
Furthermore, I am entergetic and VERY much a people person! I can't say I have an undying urge to "help" people, but I do love people and would enjoy helping and caring for them.
I was recently reading some nursing threads on another website (that I was directed to from a thread on this site) and the things people were saying about their jobs were AWFUL!!! They pretty much said it was the worst decision they've ever made. Some people even said it changed them as people and ruined their once good marriages b/c they became so depressed and angry.
The major reasons these people seemed to hate their jobs was b/c of the way they were treated by pt. family members, md's, and managers. They said if you have a good attitute you are a target and you will be broken down to be one of them.
Sooooo....my question is if this is true?
Is Nursing so awful?
If you had to do it all over agian would you be a Nurse?
Are you treated like dirt by everyone?
Do you "truely" enjoy your job?
If so, why do you enjoy it?
Why is there so much negative talk about nursing?
Thanks for your answers!!!!!!!!!!

No...nursing isn't always awful. Sometimes it feels like after a really bad shift.

Yes, I would do it all over again. I still love nursing.

No, I'm not treated like dirt by everyone. Just a select few.

Yes, on a good day, I truly enjoy my job.

I enjoy the teaching aspect with the pt. Knowing that the pt will make a full recovery and knowing I was part of that makes it worth while to me.

There is negative talk within nursing because we become frustrated with our working conditions. We come here to vent, because if we vented at work, we might be out of a job.

kickin'_wing · Jan 4, 2007

I'm not a nurse yet, but I work in the nursing field as a nurses assistant. From my experience, I can tell you that if you love helping people, then nursing is for you. Nursing can be an incredibly stressful field, especially if you're a student ( and I know, because I am one) but if you keep in mind your primary goal of helping your patients, then it will be a career that you will love. It might take a few job changes to find the right employment that fits your life. You can do anything with nursing - you can work in human resources, you can travel the country, you can volunteer and travel the world. Nurses are so needed right now. If you go into nursing, the world is your oyster.

Halinja, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2007

You can find people who hate nursing, and those who love it.

When I talk to my SO about it (because it comes up every once and while), he brings up a very valid point. Not everyone loves their job in other fields. As a matter of fact, we're both not sure but what most people would NOT say that they love their jobs. Some people work in rain and snow, doing hard physical work, in dangerous conditions. They do it because they have to have the money to provide for their families. They don't do it because they love it. Some people work in boring repetitive jobs, because that's what they can get.

I think in nursing you have the flexibility to shop around in different areas until you do find something that makes you happy...most of the time. That makes it kind of a unique field. The guys picking up garbage, or logging, or even fixing downed electrical lines in the middle of a storm may not have a lot of options. We do. I think that's cool!!!

WanaBaNurse · Jan 5, 2007

LOL!!! Halinja.....my husband used to be a logger and loved it! He's a builder now, but when he has had a bad day he goes out and jumps on some logging equipment and takes it out on our land...LOL!!! I just thought that was funny.

Anyways, I do agree with you. There are many faults in every job, but I do think you need to wake up in the morning (or afternoon) and look forward to the day (or night) ahead.

As my father has always said "Live to work. Don't work to live". Sometimes easier said than done, but it's hard to argue that point with a man who came from a forgein country at 18 learned english, put himself through college, and has done every job under the sun to find what he enjoys....

nursehellokitty04 · Jan 5, 2007

dont worry, it is called venting but i know i get upset sometimes but who doesnt, i do know this i have been a nurse all my life and i dont see myself doing anything else i love it! now there are times where i want to scream!! But thats normal it is a high stress job, but its nice to do something good for people though just go with it you will know by the end of your first semester if this is for you

best of luck

allantiques4me · Jan 5, 2007

Wanabenurse,honestly,I have been in the medical fIEld since i WAS SIXTEEN YEARS OLD,iVE ALWAYS KNOWN IN MY HEART i WAS MEANT TO BE A NURSE.I took afew years off to raise my kids,it seems like when i came back to nursing it was horrible.Nowadays it seems like its all about money.Not truly caring for the patients.In my heart I feel I am doing what God wants me to.I sort of shopped around for a job until I felt i was really making a difference in peoples lives.I now totally love my job as a nurse again.Youll just need to find your niche in nursing.I used to love LTC,now Im in a totally differnt area of nursing and wouldnt trade it for the world.You might find youll need to do the same.But the door is wide open after you become a nurse.Im sure you will find an area that you love!!Good luck and dont give up!!Im sure youll do well.