why so many negatives about nursing?

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I was reading another thread about someone wanting to leave their job to pursue nursing, and all the comments consisted of negativity about the nursing career. Is nursing really that awful? I'm still in undergrad and thinking about pursuing a second-degree BSN and working as a psychiatric nurse. But from what I see, all the nurses on here seem to hate being a nurse. Nursing seemed like the best choice for me having a psychology degree....but now I'm starting to reconsider with seeing all the negativity. So, why are there so many negatives about nursing?

Specializes in Forensic Psych.

It's a hard job. Very hard. Not everyone is into hard work. Some people don't mind hard work...they just don't like THAT kind of work.

Some people go into nursing school with a totally incorrect vision of what the field is like, and I can't blame them for being disappointed and resentful when they realize they worked their butts off for an illusion.

Some people go into it solely for the money. They fail to realize that they will pay dearly for that paycheck.

And the list goes on.

I haven't even graduated and I know nursing in the acute care setting is not for me.

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Specializes in Nursing-Anesthesia.

@Jessy_RN.....And there you have it folks, summed up to perfection. The idea behind this thread was to examine all the negativity in the "REAL" nursing world for students who were inquiring. Real people, real situations, real concerns, and harsh truths.

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Specializes in PCCN.
Have Bern a nurse for almost 2 yrs , left my previous job. I know I did a great job but what scarred me most was the few ungrateful pts I had. Part of other reasons of course. I was called into the office for or complaint of not looking happy holding a urinal for him to pee. It's all good, really. I just choose to not be degraded. Nursing has lost it. I enjoy working with the old lady's with manners, every other patient was there for pills pills pills. Docs gave up and just prescribed it to avoid their nagging. Her I am every 2 hrs pushing morphine for someone there with a headache. It became so unethical. I had to take a break. Wow.

I went into nursing because I come from a family of "be successful" nursing has wiped me out if any even find the energy to do my everyday things. Smh

AYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYMEN!!!!

For those who say we should shut up and enjoy the " large amount" of pay we are getting- Tell me that you are happy and rolling in the dough after 10 years.Like other poster said " make sure you have a smile on your face while holding that urinal". Let them know how happy you are to serve them.Let that drug seeking pt know you are HAPPY to sedate them into oblivion so they are happy with service- even if you end up losing your license for over sedating them.Let that pt know that you will drop everything- even the code cart for another pt, so their me me me needs can be met first.

Someone else mentioned that non nursing jobs paid way less. Well, that's because when you punch out after work, you are done working. There is no liability. Nursing otoh, you are liable for what, 2 yrs after the fact???Even if you have insurance, it still could make a bad name for you. And all it takes is some disgruntled family member or pt. And heaven forbid you make an actual error! We make more because we are liable for everything!!!

Jaded?? Well, yeah, duhhhhh.Who wouldnt be after being abused for any length of time.

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Specializes in critical care.

Out of curiosity for the nurses who have replied - what keeps you in nursing?

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Specializes in ICU.
Out of curiosity for the nurses who have replied - what keeps you in nursing?

Money. I want to go back to school, but don't want to live entirely off of student loans to do it. I also have a huge contract to pay back if I leave before I work for this hospital for 2 years, which is very common for new grads now. I like my improved standard of living, too - I'm not living in the cheapest apartment in town and I can eat more than ramen. I can actually eat out and have nice food fairly often, which is a lot more than I can say for when I made under $20k per year. Nursing isn't the highest paid occupation in the world by any means, but it beats the heck out of making minimum wage. I don't have the qualifications for anything else other than basic entry level customer service without going back to school again, which brings me right back to the money issue. Higher education isn't free.

And... I actually do like my job. I would like it a lot more if I was working in a bigger hospital with better pay, better coworkers, higher acuity patients, and more help. I walk in with a huge smile on my face when I get two truly critical patients and not walkie-talkies who should really have moved out already, and the level of satisfaction I have when a patient has been circling the drain all night but he/she is still there in the morning because of things I have done is amazing. I don't know how people who mostly just pass medications to walkie-talkies keep their sanity. I would have been out by now, no matter what it cost me, if I had a job on a med/surg floor.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, Neurology, Rehab.
I wouldn't ignore the threads. They offer an insight to nursing that is very real. Nursing isn't for the faint of heart...it's a tough, brutal job with rewards scattered sporadically. You will be responsible for everything but have very little power to change anything. The promise of Big pay and easy jobs are long gone.

Many areas of the country have as high as 47% unemployment of new grads. The average job search is about 14 months. I know someone will come along and give anecdotal reports of how everyone in their graduation class had a job within 2 month of graduation...but the reality is there is a plethora of new grads out there all vying for the same positions in hospitals and there are very few spots that are open that will orient a new grad.

There is NO NURSING SHORTAGE right now. It is a lie that is being perpetuated by the media and hospitals. Hospitals use this as an excuse to cut the bottom line and say...."we are looking for help but there is a shortage" that ia a line of manure. That they had to cut staff because of Obama care is another line of manure for if more people have insurance...they will have more money in their pockets because more people are paying for their insurance to reimburse the hospital and therefore more money is in the hospitals pocket....which will not translate anywhere near nurses pockets.

You are going to work hard for your money. This is no gravy train. Nursing is demanding. Nursing is hard. Contrary to popular belief.....nursing involves grunt work like pill passing and bedpans....you WILL work holidays and weekends and you WILL have to do shift work....regardless of whether or not you like nights and patient excrement.

I love being a nurse....I have been one for 35 years. But I expect to work hard and I don't shy away from the "menial jobs" for that is my job.

Being a nurse means...

You will never be bored.

You will always be frustrated.

You will be surrounded by challenges.

so much to do and so little time.

You will carry immense responsibility

and very little authority.

You will step into people's lives

and you will make a difference.

Some will bless you.

Some will curse you.

You will see people at their worst...

and at their best.

You will never cease to be amazed

at people's capacity for

Love, Courage, and Endurance.

You will see life begin...and end.

You will experience resounding triumphs

and devastating failures.

You will cry a lot.

You will laugh a lot.

You will know what it is to be human

and to be humane.

copyright © melodie chenevert rn, mn, ma

ESME12: Thank you for this informative and honest look at nursing!!!!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, Neurology, Rehab.

ischel: I am so glad AN has helped you to realized you needed to start BSN from the very beginning. how fortunate that you had the wisdom to recognized that. Best wishes to you, I know you will do well in your career whatever you choose!!

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Out of curiosity for the nurses who have replied - what keeps you in nursing?

I'm actively getting out of it by getting another non nursing degree.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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The economy crash in 2007/2008 EVERY industry was impacted. The Media said there was a "Nursing Shortage" so everyone flocked to Health Care, only to find out there are minimum jobs for New Grads. Nursing has its down falls like any other profession. If you talk to a Lawyer they will tell you their stress. If you talk to a Engineer they will tell you their stress. Every profession has the "Horror Stories" about their career. At the same time I know nurses who wouldn't trade their profession for nothing in the world. I am in pre-nursing and I Will Not Let the "Real" comments about nursing get to me. I take everyday at a time. I know there will be stress, I know I may not find a job for years, I know if I get a job I will feel inferior and like a "Deer in Head Lights". Hell there is no guarantee that I will even graduate from nursing school but I am walking on faith not by Sight. Do not let the "Real" comments about nursing Disappoint you let them Motivate you. Everyones Journey is Not the Same.

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I don't hate the art of nursing; I love it. I love educating and caring for patients. I love learning new things every day. However, I will admit that nursing is not what I imagined it to be. Still, I can't see myself doing anything else. It's the politics of nursing that has many nurses feeling discouraged. Twelve hour shifts typically become thirteen to fourteen hour shifts, lunch breaks are seldom actually taken, working short-handed is commonplace. It can run you ragged.

Workplace behavior alone can make a person wish they had chosen another career. Rarely is anyone turned off by the actual work of nursing itself. I, too, was quite surprised to see how nurses act on the job. Very rude awakening.

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Specializes in PCCN.

Why stay in nursing?

Main household earner. Only insurance carrier.All the responsibility

Too old- if I went back to school for radiology, or any job for that matter, no one would hire me as I would be over 50.

I have even looked at other rn jobs. They want BSN, and I cant afford to pay for the rest of the degree.

I go to my job every day with dread; It's like being cornered.Believe or not, it's not my co-workers who are a problem at all. It's the patients, plain and simple, and their entitledness.

At least you younger people have a chance to go into something different.Nurses are just an expendable commodity.We are not given enough time in the day to be the " caring" nurse. Nope- make sure you turn those beds over asap so they can have more volume.

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Honestly, all the "negativity" applies to ANY profession/job/etc. I'm not a nursing student yet, but I've been working with the public long enough to know that people are typically greedy, impatient, and rude. It's the ones that end up being really nice and patient and kind and understanding that make it worth working with the public. They exist, although being few and far between.

I have no illusions about nursing being unicorns farting rainbows that smell like roses. But, I will say it's better than "helping" someone waste money on some more stuff to clutter their house with more stuff they don't really need, aka hoarding.

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