No I wouldn't recommend nursing

Nurses Career Support

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It surprises me how many students are going into nursing. I had my BSN since 1992 and have worked in the hospitals since then. Nursing is back-breaking labor with the reoccurring role of cleaning poop. There is no way my back can last another 20 years until retirement. Pick something else to go into.

Manuel

:uhoh3: I've just changed careers after 16 years of teaching preschoolers to high schoolers (no difference in behavior, let me tell you) to become a nurse. I am just waiting for the application. I must admit, all careers seem to be a dead end. I guess we just deal with it. I didn't get breaks, lunch, or good pay ($2000/month)! Now I have the same to look forward to in nursing? Thanks folks! Actually, I kind of agree with the idea that nursing, like other careers is selfless, even if you don't like what you are doing. I hope I've made the right decision, I don't want to think I left a job of cleaning poop for another job of cleaning poop and listening to whinning!?! LOL (anyone)?:chuckle

I am torn between nursing and teaching. What didnt you like about teaching? I am definitely going to change my career

I have my drawbacks about nursing as well

What made you choose nursing

I have not read all the posts in this thread b/c it's so negative *and I realize that is the point of the thread* so I'm not sure if anyone on here has said this but if you have so much to complain about then switch careers. Imagine the level of "care and compassion" you must have if you are walking around so bitter. I feel that in most cases if a patient has a nurse with a poor attitude then the healing process can be affected. The point of going into nursing isn't to help yourself, it's to help others IMO. Hence the title of "caregiver". Thanks for making all my hard work and dedication in nursing school sound like a waste of time. :angryfire

I know that professions like nursing and teaching are all about helping others, but the fallacy that 'you don't matter, only the patient, student, whomever matters' is part of the reason why so many people who do these professions burn out. Yes, these professions are a calling and not for everyone, but it is terribly unrealistic and unfair to expect these people to be superhuman and not need to have something for themselves out of the job they do. This attitude that the job is so much more important than the individual allows the system to keep treating workers poorly. They can pull out the 'sanctity' of the job card when the workers ask for better conditions, and justify not supporting workers. The sad part is that the workers often agree! I chose to go into nursing because I like working with people and I find the field of medicine to be absolutely fascinating. But I will not subscribe to the 'I am doing something that is so much more important than my needs are' philosophy. It does nothing to help make nursing a respected occupation that treats its workers well. And if I am overworked and burned out, that doesn't help the patients.

Wow, this is all really terrifying! Is this pretty much how it is in every department, or are there some areas that are better than others?

I know that professions like nursing and teaching are all about helping others, but the fallacy that 'you don't matter, only the patient, student, whomever matters' is part of the reason why so many people who do these professions burn out. Yes, these professions are a calling and not for everyone, but it is terribly unrealistic and unfair to expect these people to be superhuman and not need to have something for themselves out of the job they do. This attitude that the job is so much more important than the individual allows the system to keep treating workers poorly. They can pull out the 'sanctity' of the job card when the workers ask for better conditions, and justify not supporting workers. The sad part is that the workers often agree! I chose to go into nursing because I like working with people and I find the field of medicine to be absolutely fascinating. But I will not subscribe to the 'I am doing something that is so much more important than my needs are' philosophy. It does nothing to help make nursing a respected occupation that treats its workers well. And if I am overworked and burned out, that doesn't help the patients.

And in some cases that may be true but like I said above, that is my own opinion. Burnout may not help the pts but neither do bitter medical professionals. My point is, is that if you hate it so much and feel that you're being treated unfairly then switch careers. I tend to put others before me as it is my nature to do so, so doing something so very important for others is more important to me than complaining about the job I chose. nobody is putting guns to our heads to be nurses. It is a choice.

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
It surprises me how many students are going into nursing. I had my BSN since 1992 and have worked in the hospitals since then. Nursing is back-breaking labor with the reoccurring role of cleaning poop. There is no way my back can last another 20 years until retirement. Pick something else to go into.

Manuel

would I recommend nursing?

yes.

would I say it is glamourous/easy/financially rewarding?

no.

why would I chose such a career?

because I am passionate about what I do regardless of the drawbacks and I hope others are as well.

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
I have not read all the posts in this thread b/c it's so negative *and I realize that is the point of the thread* so I'm not sure if anyone on here has said this but if you have so much to complain about then switch careers. Imagine the level of "care and compassion" you must have if you are walking around so bitter. I feel that in most cases if a patient has a nurse with a poor attitude then the healing process can be affected. The point of going into nursing isn't to help yourself, it's to help others IMO. Hence the title of "caregiver". Thanks for making all my hard work and dedication in nursing school sound like a waste of time. :angryfire

Right on my friend. Regardless of the downfalls of your profession, to persuade someone against choosing it and advocate for students to pick another profession based on your personal dislikes.........it is very discouraging and I did not read the entire thread either because of the negativity. I don't want to hear it. I have read the same complaints spread out on hundreds of threads.....I know what I am getting into. There is no need to focus so intently on the less glamorus side of nursing when there are so many good reasons to be a nurse.

YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOUR PROFESSION.....or go back to school for something else. Nobody is forcing you to stay. Everybody has their gripes and I understand that.....but this is an awful thread.

Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

WOW.....at almost 50 years of age, I have been taking all the prereqs and classes I could take outside of an RN program and looking forward to (finally) starting a program in the Fall of '06.

I just completed my bachelor's degree in '99 in Information Systems....after 5 years in corporate America, sitting on my butt for 7+ hours a day, growing 2 dress sizes from the inactivity, answering e-mail all day, preparing hours of documentation no one reads after you've created it, and working on projects that often amount to nothing after months of work, having to work weeks of "mandatory overtime" with no OT pay because I am salaried, surviving 2 layoffs and watching GOOD people lose their jobs because someone didn't like them as much as they liked the slacker in the next cube, I recognized I need to be doing something else.

It was my 23 year old daughter who finally told me one day -- "Mom, you need to feel you're making a difference." BINGO! The lightbulb went on....so I started looking in to healthcare thinking it would fill the void to be" making a difference" at the end of a day/week/month, etc., AND have some job security.

This thread has blown me out of the water. I am hoping that the majority of the posters are just the unhappy people in the profession and that the happy ones just haven't had time to reply!!

I have spent the day questioning my judgment about nursing. And that's funny because my best friend from high school and maid of honor at my wedding 28 years ago is the one who persuaded me to go into nursing as she's been a psych RN for years and I had been considering resp. or radiology tech.

It has been interesting to read the many reasons for unhappiness. One of the complaints has been abuse by management and the fact that nurses often don't band together. A hospital in our community went union; while the nurses I have spoken to admit it has HELPED ease their loads, I got the feeling that a lot of them still resented the union and heard that they were considering going non-union after a recent strike. They didn't get enough votes for that apparently, but I think it shows the disparate opinions within the profession.

I am so sorry to think there are so many unhappy people in this field. I don't know if I can take another career with so many miserable co-workers!! ARGH!! :crying2:

Specializes in ICU/CCU, Home Health/Hospice, Cath Lab,.

I have to disagree. I would and have reccomended nursing to multiple people who have asked and some who have not. I realize that one purpose of these boards is too vent and I hope it has helped everyone who has written. I mostly like nursing, sometimes i love it. I find it stimulating, both physically and intellectually.

I have rarely encountered actual abuse by other staff member, physicians, or family members (although I am male, which might cut down on some overt abuse). I often come into contact with infectious agents, but I practice basic safety and have never (knock on wood) needed to be tested for any contamination.

I work agency and get between 3-4 days off a week. I can schedule vacations inbetween contracts and can almost always get needed days off. also as agency they tend to schedule me less on holidays than regular staff :rolleyes:

I am paid very well -- I used to be a teacher for 3yrs, loved the job but now I am sending half what my teacher pay was to the IRS (before deductions) so I can't complain.

I currently work ICU and love it, but have also done home health/hospice (pretty good) cath lab (loved it, but not good for your skills), telemetry and med/surg (wouldn't reccomend -- workload too heavy). And where else can you stay in the same field but completely change what you do? I would suggest for those who feel down in their chosen nursing path, to try one of the specialty areas for a while and see if that helps -- I can only talk about the cath lab, but for a nice relaxing change of pace it can't be beat.

Hope this helps any who were getting discouraged :)

best regards,

Pat

Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

Thanks Pat....I appreciate the encouragement....you brought up a couple of points I neglected to mention....

Among the other reasons I want out of Information Technology and the business world: I HATE being stuck working M - F; when I graduated from high school many years ago, I worked as a dispatcher for a large sheriff's office. It was my first exposure to flex-type scheduling where I was working 4-10s. I didn't mind the oddball hours at all except my schedule was rigidly Th/Fr/Sat/Sun. Several years ago I had a job working from 0700-1900 alternately working 3 or 4 days/week; I LOVED it! Now I'm stuck, M - F, 8 - 5, and no options for any alternatives. I am miserable. And let me clarify -- I am well-liked, have had a number of promotions, and do a good job in addition to be dedicated and giving 100% at all times.

One other point you brought up -- it feels like I am SO stuck in this career. As mentioned, I got my degree later in life and don't have a lot of alternate work experience (lots of LIFE experience!:rolleyes:). It makes it really difficult to consider other things I might be doing with this degree, in addition to the fact that I am considering a move near family in a small town out west. Other than medical facilities, the other main form of employment are casinos. Sure, I can see me now as a cocktail waitress! Nursing seems to offer any number of opportunities to move into alternate career paths.

My friend who recommended I pursue nursing as opposed to resp. or rad. tech wrote to me: "Go for an RN if you're going to spend 2 years in school anyway. More opportunities; more options; more rewards." I have, however, had a number of nurses I have met in the ensuing years warn me away, but I often consider the source.

I'm glad to hear someone echoing my friend's sentiments. Thank you!

is nursing that bad? i am so discouraged i just dont know what to do. what about resp thearpist?:o

Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

One of the reasons I was warned away from Resp. Tech (from someone in the field) was that there was a very low ceiling or opportunities for advancement and very few options to do anything else....and many of the nurses I spoke to said they felt it was simply a gross job!! But then the resp. tech I shadowed said he could never be a nurse....he couldn't imagine dealing with "poo poo"!! His words, not mine! :rotfl:

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