any nurses out there who LOVE their jobs?

[pie123]

Nothing.

[bluesky, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by pie123

I'm a nursing student employed on a very busy medical surgical unit. I don't like my job very much, and I'm not sure if it's because I am a student and still have questions about things that seasoned nurses are knowledgable about, or if medical surgical nursing just is not for me. Our floor is hectic on a daily basis. I don't mind working hard, but it seems that the acuity of the patients is such that the nurse is run ragged all day, and I can attest to this, because it happens to me also. In the beginning, I was thinking, "If this is what nursing is about, maybe it's not for me." Then someone told me that not all areas are like this. The upside is that I really enjoy all of the learning. I know that there is stress in every job, no matter what you do, but man, this is wild!!! I think I would be better suited for a specialty area. If I have been on this unit for a while already, will it be necessary for me to remain there for another year after graduation? I hope not. Most times, I dread going to work, and I'm not even a nurse yet! Now that's bad. Plus, there seems to be quite a bit of negativity: complaining about the manager, the patients, the MD's, each other, the nurse's aides, and whatever else. Is there a nurse out there who really enjoys their job? If so, what is it that you do?

No replies to this thread yet... that speaks volumes! :)

I'm still a student too so I can't say.

[zenman]

Run like hell before you wreak your health! Best unit I ever worked on, but didn't realize it at the time was a rehab floor...knee, hip replacements, few CVAs, etc..

[Helori]

Granted their are more days that I go home complaining about my job than telling everybody how great it is, but that's just venting!

I work on a M/S floor too! I started there right after I graduated and a big part of the reason was because I hated my M/S clinical so much (long story). But, I felt like I hadn't learned a thing and knew that I couldn't be a nurse without a solid M/S background so I thought I work on the floor for a while then try to transfer. Three years later and I'm still there and am not even thinking of transfering. Trust me there is nothing better than knowing that you helped someone and they are thankfull for what you did.

Keep in mind their are many different types of nursing if M/S isn't for you. Also, the people you work with make a HUGE difference (every single day, no matter how bad, I know I will laugh at work). And when you are just starting it is sooooo stressfull. Like I said I've been on the floor 3 years everytime I think "Okay, now I know what I'm doing I can handle anything", I have a day that makes me want to run and not look back!!!!

[LuvsOB]

I LOVE my job. I work L & D and it's great. I've been a nurse over 10 years and I still love it. Sure some days are hard and sometimes management/other staff bugs me, but overall it's great and I would not want to do anything besides nursing. I do plan to be a CNM but that is still in nursing.

[suzanne4, RN]

One of my favorites was working in the OR and being a member of an open heart time. But got tired of the cold and snow, so now I own my own school in Bangkok teaching nurses. And I love it!!!! See if you can actually float to a few different areas to see what they are like. I did that all of the time when I was a student, and it prepared me for quite a few things. I would suggest it to anyone.

[barb4575]

I am a RN BSN faculty member and I love being back with students again...now as far as some of the other aspects of academia, I just have to realize that I am there for the students and have to try and stay clear of the politics involved.

I started in Med-Surg and have gone back to it many times over my 21.5 years of being a RN. When I worked agency last summer, I changed my view on recommending working Med-Surg for one year after graduation. I figure if I have a tough time managing the case load with my experience and education, how can I prepare new grads to do so? I am still working on that task I might add. The bottom line is that I don't want them to quit in their first year of experience and I saw how the other staff nurses oriented their new grads...they were coming to me, the agency nurse for support. If I had to be a new grad today, I would find a teaching hospital that provided an intensive ICU orientation/preceptorship and would work there. I left Med-Surg years ago to work in ICU so that I could manage my caseload and take care of my patients without working two hours overtime charting.

Good luck in your search,

Barbara

[ksb13]

I love my job, I have worked in home health for 12 years and still enjoy it. Before this I did psych nursing for 8 years, and loved it until the last year, then knew it was time for a change. Home health is perfect for me. No office, lots of flexibility, you get to KNOW your patients, and I work with the most wonderful people. It isn't for everyone. For ever nurse we have currently working, at least 2 have applied, started orientation and then said "Nope, no way"......but for those of us who DO love it, it is great. I don't miss things at school that my child is in, I can start earlier and finish earlier if I want, and I have met some of the most wonderful patients and caregivers. I work in a rural area, so I get to see the first flowers in spring, the leaves change in the fall, and as a bonus..... I work in a county that has Kentucky Dam and KY Lake.......so lots of beautiful lake areas to see....... For me, this is what I plan to do until retirement....... Oh, just an added note...we have a retired 70year old nurse who works for us PRN, 1-2 days a week.......she says she can't just stay home, and this is perfect for her also...... and I have a the best supervisor around. So, yes, I am happy and love my job. Find what you really enjoy and then enjoy it.......

[jadednurse]

I love my job! Telephone triage nurse/Disease Manager w/ a private company. Good pay (comparable the the ICU position I held previously), excellent benefits, great working environment and very little stress!

[jschut, BSN, RN]

I do love who I am working with (my patients in LTC), but not who I am working for (So I am changing jobs VERY soon).

But I would suggest looking elsewhere until you find something you enjoy doing....

You'll find your niche someday;)

Good Luck!

Julie :)

[debRNo1]

Originally posted by pie123

Our floor is hectic on a daily basis........................................ Plus, there seems to be quite a bit of negativity: complaining about the manager, the patients, the MD's, each other, the nurse's aides, and whatever else. Is there a nurse out there who really enjoys their job? If so, what is it that you do?

"they" say every nurse should do a year of med-surg !!!???

Well my anniversary is rapidly approaching 1/6/04

I was an LPN then an RN in LTC, I have done every position available in LTC when I became a "nurse manager". This was not for me~ Now Im back on the floor a busy busy hectic floor and for the most part I do love it !!! Isnt this insane that I and many others thrive on the chaos and hectic enviroment ?

When I contemplate leaving I have to remember that i really do love the floor and the actual hands on of being a nurse. As far as the negativity that goes with the territory I think~We have a little running joke that when things get really bad one of us will say to the other, "have I told you that I LOVE my job?" You can further add to that comment by saying, "I LOVE NURSING !!!!"

Theres a place in heaven for EVERY hard working nurse !!!!!

I'm not going anywhere anytime soon I do love my job

deb

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

"they" say every nurse should do a year of med-surg !!!???

I beg to differ with "they". More about that in a sec. I love my job; I'm working NICU with the lower acuity patients until I feel more comfortable and move to sicker babies. I went there after pretty much burning out on Med/Surg/Telemetry for 10 years.

As far as needing 1 year experience, I haven't seen that be true. The hospitals I've worked in have hired new grads into pretty much every kind of ICU, Telemetry, Oncology, NICU, OR, ED, L&D. They may post the position as needing experience but that may not be the reality. It never hurts to ask! Many of the hospitals in our area even offer internships to those areas (my position was an internship and was great).

Once more about loving our jobs. I really really liked my previous positions, especially Telemetry (love deciphering those complex strips). I just got tired of being overloaded. I told people I would do it forever if they would just reduce the workload (patient load), I would even take a pay cut if I knew I would never have to care for more than 4 patients. Wondering how this whole mandated ratios thing is going to work out in California, but that's another topic. . .