I am considering going back to school for nursing. I've been a CNA for 11 years and have worked in various aspects of nursing. I enjoy the patient contact and the caring/helping part of nursing.
Not to mention the flexibility that I have in this field.
I have many concerns, though. The high patient loads, the politics, the backbiting, the sad and depressing things that I will encounter, etc. What if I make a mistake? This is someone's LIFE!
Are all of these feelings normal?
Would like to hear from other registered nurses who would or would not considering nursing again.
Gee, I didn't necessarily think that SarahKat was saying that minimum wage jobs are more stressful than nursing. I mean, maybe she was, but I didn't read that into it.
But since that seems to be the debate here, consider this:
To me, the most stressful thing about minimum wages jobs isn't just the job itself, but the difficulty of surviving on such low wages.
I'm sure it still doesn't compare to the daily stresses of life or death decisions, but nurses usually make a living wage -- at least most of the time.
Thank you, lizz! I just hope people out there try to understand what I was trying to say. I wasn't trying to really put down people who answered in the negative, but to say look at what you are doing and if it isn't rewarding then do somehing else in nursing. I hate to see nurses leave the profession because I know that a lot of them have put many years in to it and don't want to waste it. Mike
Brita01, I agree with you that unsafe staffing levels can be a very bad situation. I don't think you are bitter because of this, only that you are concerned with patient safety. This can be very frustrating. My post was directed towards others who in my opinion just don't measure up to nusring standards because of their petty complaints. Now I don't mean that any in this thread are in this category because there have been many other types of threads over the years pertaining to this topic. In other threads most of the complaints had no merit in my opinion and these people would be better off looking for something to do other than nursing. Like I said before, if you find something very stressful in nursing, there are many areas less stressful but in need of skilled people. Just my two cents worth. Mike
PS, most of the time I get ignored by people so my opinion isn't really worth much!
I might but I can't say for sure. It depends on how far back I go to make this decision. If it was high school or even shortly afterwards I would go to medical school and have more control over my patients care. But now I am happy that I am on my way to CRNA school where I will have more control than I do now.
To clarify my comment about the stress of working at the Magic Kingdom on New Year's Eve (I mean all night until 3 am)...
I was 22, I just wanted to be able to have fun, had to work, instead of getting to party I got to run around like a chicken with my head cut off getting more sodas, making sure there was a constant supply of dogs and buns, and burning myself on the convection oven. Meanwhile I was surrounded by 75,000 people laughing, joking, having a good time. All for $6.35/hr.
Granted it's not life or death, but to the "guests" at Disney (who have spent a small fortune) everything is a big deal. I was conscientous in my job there. I made sure to smile at everyone, greet everyone, make sure everyone had an enjoyable experience. I took pride in my work, even at a barely livable wage.
Again, I understand the difference in life and death situations and food service, but stress is stress and working with stress for low pay is stressful stress. I did enjoy my job, because I am the kind of person who believes attitude is a choice -- it doesn't just happen to you. But I saw many people crumble under the pressure there (and in other menial jobs I've had) because they let the stress suck them under.
I am prepared for the stress involved in nursing because I am aware that there will always be stress in any job (and outside of work as well).
I really didn't mean to compare food service and nursing, I was simply asserting that stress is a bit more bareable when you're making a livable wage (and doing something you are interested in).
Would I go into nursing if I had to do it all over again??????
HELL NO!!!!!!
I attribute my mistake of going into nursing and wasting 20 years of my life in it as a case of temporary insanity!!!!
Luckily I have finally come to my senses and have returned to school to pursue a profession where I will receive the respect as an educated professional I didn't receive as a Masters educated RN and will escape the emotional and verbal abuse I encountered by my superiors and physicians while working as a RN!
There is so very few professions that give you the flexiblity to change specialities. I would highly recommend to anyone who is just tired of feeling like a doormat, to explore the big wide world of other specialities.
Would I do it all over again, you bet, BUT I wouldn't have stayed in one spot too long. It's been great to step outside my comfort zone and see more of the nursing world.
Interesting point. The shortage in my state is projected to grow from 12,000 positions to 120,000 positions in the next 20 years, with 800,000 positions nationwide.
Hopefully, that means there will be even more options.
Would I go into nursing if I had to do it all over again??????
HELL NO!!!!!!
I attribute my mistake of going into nursing and wasting 20 years of my life in it as a case of temporary insanity!!!!
Luckily I have finally come to my senses and have returned to school to pursue a profession where I will receive the respect as an educated professional I didn't receive as a Masters educated RN and will escape the emotional and verbal abuse I encountered by my superiors and physicians while working as a RN!
I wonder what profession that would be?
Perhaps you're right. But, I'm in my 40s and have worked in a variety of professions. What you described happens in a lot of them.
Just my personal opinion, but I don't think any profession is completely immune from this sort of thing.
Unless, of course, human beings aren't involved. :chuckle
I could not imagine doing anything else besides nursing, but I am frequently told by patient's that it takes a special person to be a nurse. I do have several patients who tell me that some nurses are very rude, uncaring, etc. I have to assume the reason for this may have something to do with burnout. I love nursing. for so many reasons. My favorite thing is taking care of patients. I do get frustrated when I can't spend the time with a patient or family member that they need to be consoled, informed, educated, or whatever the case may be. However, the good news is that there are so many avenues in nursing that one can take. Home health, hospice, administration, hospital, long term care, supervisory, public health, office nursing, legal nursing, case management, etc, etc, etc. Job security is another excellent benefit of being a nurse. Pay is not bad either. There is no perfect job, but I love being able to make a difference for the better.
It certainly gives those of us who are busting our chops to get into nursing school a moment to pause.
AND -- I'm not too worried about it. I can tell you, the IT/Business world isn't any cup of tea. I've certainly run into a lot of unpleasant people, and witnessed a lot of bad karma.
Some have pointed out the backbiting, disrespect, insults from others. I've learned how to handle difficult people (that works most of the time). I think of the interaction as a scene in a play, and this is their performance. Then I look at ALL my choices of how to respond and offer my performance. Beautiful thing is since I'm consciencsly thinking about how I'm responding, I don't get "over-determined" by anothers performance therefore avoid knee-jerk reactions and a lot of stress. Somehow this works for me.
Anyway -- I am entering into nursing for many reasons, including flexability, job stability, opportunity, a calling, and ready to try something totally different. I love the fact that I can get more education and it results in more opportunity. I've invested a lot of time and effort in constantly upgrading my computer skills, only to watch them become obsolete within a year's time. Now that sucks.
And a Nurse's potential in politics ... incredible. Some of you who are leaving should run for office. Even if you can't win, the people skills gained from running a campaign would serve you well no matter what you do next.
I totally respect those who are leaving. Change is good.
It certainly gives those of us who are busting our chops to get into nursing school a moment to pause.
AND -- I'm not too worried about it. I can tell you, the IT/Business world isn't any cup of tea. I've certainly run into a lot of unpleasant people, and witnessed a lot of bad karma.
Some have pointed out the backbiting, disrespect, insults from others. I've learned how to handle difficult people (that works most of the time). I think of the interaction as a scene in a play, and this is their performance. Then I look at ALL my choices of how to respond and offer my performance. Beautiful thing is since I'm consciencsly thinking about how I'm responding, I don't get "over-determined" by anothers performance therefore avoid knee-jerk reactions and a lot of stress. Somehow this works for me.
Anyway -- I am entering into nursing for many reasons, including flexability, job stability, opportunity, a calling, and ready to try something totally different. I love the fact that I can get more education and it results in more opportunity. I've invested a lot of time and effort in computers, only to watch my skill become obsolete in a year.
And a Nurse's potential in politics ... incredible. Some of you who are leaving should run for office. Even if you can't win, the people skills gained from running a campaign would serve you well no matter what you do next.
I totally respect those who are leaving. Change is good.
Great post Mr_D. It's refreshing NOT to hear the "you must be burned out and all jobs have their draw-backs" line often posted on this type of thread by people who are not yet nurses.
I've been thinking of getting a BS in computer science in order to leave nursing.
Is this a bad idea? I'd really like a drastic change. Staring at a computer screen all day and not dealing with people very much sounds good to me.
I'd appreciate anything you'd like to share w/ me, re: working in the computer field. Please PM me if you wish.
Sheri257
3,905 Posts
Gee, I didn't necessarily think that SarahKat was saying that minimum wage jobs are more stressful than nursing. I mean, maybe she was, but I didn't read that into it.
But since that seems to be the debate here, consider this:
To me, the most stressful thing about minimum wages jobs isn't just the job itself, but the difficulty of surviving on such low wages.
I'm sure it still doesn't compare to the daily stresses of life or death decisions, but nurses usually make a living wage -- at least most of the time.
Just some food for thought.