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

Specializes in PCCN.

all i know is after 3 yrs in the hosptal setting, i totally regret my decision to be a nurse. nothing like the threat of being sued for negligence cause you cant possibly do the job with the loads we have. i am so sorry i chose this field. i like caring for people, but i cant do it due to management being the cheap bastards they are. sick people have a better chance if they stay home than if they come to where i work. what a shame i wasted 10 thou on a useless education. oh well, lesson learned the hard way.i would work in dr office setting, but cant afford 9 bucks an hour to live on, since i am still paying my school loans. and i feel too old to go back to school for something else. i should have stuck with rad tech- at least you only get 1 pt at a time.:madface:

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Specializes in med&surg.

This is a very long thread and I read almost all of the posts. Since I am re-entering the nursing field after 10 years absence, I need to know what other peoples' thoughts about their profession. I do not want to comment on any of the negtive posts cause I think they have every reason to vent out the bad and the ugly part of their career based on their true feelings and thanks for sharing those feelings with us.

However, after 10 years absence, 8 years owning my own business and made about 200k yearly, nursing is still a very, if not the most attractive profession to me. For all the reasons that Rick listed in his post and for my own personal reasons.... Business is all about profit, for money, sometimes you do what ever is needed to make the money, ethical or not. It's exciting at the begining, but makes you wonder after a while, is money really the only thing in the world?

Nursing is a totally different story, you save people's lives for someone who cannot do it for themselves, at least at the point of time of their illness. For that, it is soooo priceless, I will do anything for that to get the satisfaction/achievement regardless what work condition might be. In fact, I am planning to do it the rest of my career years until the retirement age. On the other hand, there will be a huge nursing shortage in the next few decates, so, I am in!!!

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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

Exactly... that's why I just quit my job yesterday. I was having trouble in a new position, terrible disorganization, understaffing, bad equipment, too many patients and too little orientation.

The head nurse said she'd allow me to have more orientation time, so I was to follow the charge nurse around for a couple of shifts and learn more about my job.

My epiphany came when she removed a bed pan full- and I mean full- of mushy, corn-filled BM.

I realized: I don't want to do this anymore. Ever. And I don't want to waste any more time trying to convince myself otherwise.

I spoke to the charge nurse, who didn't really need me that night, and then to the head nurse. I walked out after an hour on shift, and feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I feel fantastic. I have no job, no plans, nothing: but I'm free.

Maybe an office job... maybe case management, or back to school to be a nurse legal consultant. I'm smart. Anyone who can get through nursing school has got to be. Don't go into nursing thinking you're going to love it. To me, it's not worth any amount of money to empty one more bed pan, be attacked by one more confused patient, clean underneath one more fat roll, or get eaten alive for one more med error because I'm trying to take care of too many patients in too little time.

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Hi jrwest. Its Heather. I haven't talked to you in a long while. Just wanted to see how you are doing. I call a while back and left a message. Give me a call .. It would be nice to talk to you. ;)

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Well, I've been accepted into nursing school and sonography school for this fall. All of you nurses that regret becoming nurses and have worked with sonographers--would you recommend that I choose the sonography program? Do sonographers seem happy with their jobs?

Thanks!

jollyjenny

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
Well, I've been accepted into nursing school and sonography school for this fall. All of you nurses that regret becoming nurses and have worked with sonographers--would you recommend that I choose the sonography program? Do sonographers seem happy with their jobs?

I'm not yet a nurse, but I had spoken to an acquaintance when I was taking prereqs who's been a NICU nurse since the dark ages and she highly discouraged me going this route. She said a fellow RN had gone back to school to get licensed as a sonographer and if she had it to do over again, that's the way she'd go and told me to do the same. Obviously, I didn't listen so far!

Good luck!!

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Well, I've been accepted into nursing school and sonography school for this fall. All of you nurses that regret becoming nurses and have worked with sonographers--would you recommend that I choose the sonography program? Do sonographers seem happy with their jobs?

Thanks!

jollyjenny

I HAD to post when I saw this!

This was exactly what I struggled with 3 1/2 yrs. ago......I decided on nursing because the sonography school was MUCH farther away from where I live.

I'm now a new grad R.N. my first job in the E.R. didn't fair so well and I quit. I've interviewed for a psych position that I hope I get, but if I don't get it I'll be forced to enter the wonderful world of med/surg (ugh!).

I don't personally no any sonographers, but I bet there job is less stressful, they're probably not running around like a chicken w/ their head cut off all day! OHHH and they don't have to worry about possibly making a med error that they can be sued for or god forbid kill a patient....

......I say go for sonography.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.
I HAD to post when I saw this!

This was exactly what I struggled with 3 1/2 yrs. ago......I decided on nursing because the sonography school was MUCH farther away from where I live.

I'm now a new grad R.N. my first job in the E.R. didn't fair so well and I quit. I've interviewed for a psych position that I hope I get, but if I don't get it I'll be forced to enter the wonderful world of med/surg (ugh!).

I don't personally no any sonographers, but I bet there job is less stressful, they're probably not running around like a chicken w/ their head cut off all day! OHHH and they don't have to worry about possibly making a med error that they can be sued for or god forbid kill a patient....

......I say go for sonography.

Wow, this thread is OLD, I read most of it and it is SO NEGATIVE!

I would like to point out the positive things about my job. I work in NICU and PICU, too lately. For those of you who hate BIG corn-filled poops, why not try the smaller patients?? Preemies don't eat corn!

I have a very flexible schedule. I am paid very well, IMO. Where I live, RNs have the highest pay in the US. Who do you know that can work about 2 (8 hour) days a week and make $40,000 a year?! I'm so glad I don't have to work M-F full time to make that money. In my per diem job, I only have to work 1 weekend a month, which is nice. I find nursing very flexible when you have kids.

I enjoy helping babies and kids and their families. The majority of families are very appreciative of a nurse's help.

I hope, if I ever get sick, i don't have nurses like the negative ones here taking care of me!!

Try to find a nicer nursing job if you don't like running your butt off up and down floors and taking care of bed-ridden heavy older people with huge poops! Go into management, get a better degree in nursing, try something new other than LTC and Med-surg! Nursing has a lot of different opportunities.:uhoh3:

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I hope, if I ever get sick, i don't have nurses like the negative ones here taking care of me!!

Try to find a nicer nursing job if you don't like running your butt off up and down floors and taking care of bed-ridden heavy older people with huge poops! Go into management, get a better degree in nursing, try something new other than LTC and Med-surg! Nursing has a lot of different opportunities.:uhoh3:

Kimbalou,

I'm glad you've found your niche and are happy! .....working only 2 (8) hr. days a week must be nice.

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Good GAWD---I am just a nursing student-to-be, and I have to say that the majority of these posts are frightening to say the least. I am just curious, all those that are extrasordinarily unhappy, have you had jobs, other than nursing, that you enjoyed? I am sincerely hoping that negative experiences comes from negative thinking--not that I am challenging anyone to change my mind. So far, the hardest job that I have ever had (I am 31 and have worked in a few different industries) is raising two screaming little girls. But then again, I live in the state of great nursing shortage and excellent nursing pay. The payoff here is excelent benefits along with being able to take care of my family. this is not the first time that I have thought about becoming a nurse. But after having my second child at home, I just knew that I wanted to become a nurse. I imagine that med school would be wuite the experience as well--but the kiddos and location make that an utter impossibility. Sorry that many of you have had nothing but negative experiences. Sounds like it is time for you all to explore a different side of life. :)

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Good GAWD---I am just a nursing student-to-be, and I have to say that the majority of these posts are frightening to say the least. I am just curious, all those that are extrasordinarily unhappy, have you had jobs, other than nursing, that you enjoyed? I am sincerely hoping that negative experiences comes from negative thinking--not that I am challenging anyone to change my mind. So far, the hardest job that I have ever had (I am 31 and have worked in a few different industries) is raising two screaming little girls. But then again, I live in the state of great nursing shortage and excellent nursing pay. The payoff here is excelent benefits along with being able to take care of my family. this is not the first time that I have thought about becoming a nurse. But after having my second child at home, I just knew that I wanted to become a nurse. I imagine that med school would be wuite the experience as well--but the kiddos and location make that an utter impossibility. Sorry that many of you have had nothing but negative experiences. Sounds like it is time for you all to explore a different side of life. :)

I'm a new grad R.N. and although I may seem negative "at times" (more like totally frustrated) I don't mean to "offend" anyone. I'm totally hoping that I will find an area of nursing that I'll be very happy doing for the long haul and I'm still looking. Also, if you click on a thread that says "No i wouldn't recommend nursing" you will probably hear some negative comments.

As for MY attitude......I use to be all happy and excited about nursing as well until my med/surg clinicals and nursing instructors beat that attitude right out of me!

I was being naive' apparently and got totally blindsided!

Speaking only for myself YES I've had jobs in the past that I liked, but they didn't pay well at all.......Now that the pay is good I would still like to be happy and I think I deserve it......

.........As I was writing this I got a phone call offering me the job I wanted to try next in Psych (my second passion in school).......I took the job for less pay then the E.R., but I WANT to be happy!

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I usually just lurk and enjoy reading the valuable information, but I find that I should chime in on this one. I agree that everyone has the right to voice his or her opinions both good and bad regarding nursing; however, I'm concerned that nursing students and future nursing students are hearing mostly negative experiences.

I have been a nurse for 11 years. In that time, I've worked as an LPN, ASN, and BSN. I'm currently one year away from completing my MSN. I have worked in various areas of nursing: geriatrics, orthopedics, med/surg, family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, and nursing education. I'm currently working for a community college teaching med/surg (lecture and clinicals) and OB/Peds (lecture and clinical). I would be less than truthful if I said that I enjoyed every area of nursing in which I've worked, but I can say that I have learned a lot and became a better nurse through all my experiences.

As nurses, we do have to deal with management, short staffing, mulit-tasking, and heavy workloads, but every profession has its obstacles. My husband has an MBA and works as a GM for a large company and although he loves his job, he has bad days. I feel that nursing is the most diverse profession out there and although it isn't easy, it is extremely rewarding. I always tell my students that you may not get a lot of thank you's, but you have to know that you're doing something good and rewarding.

To me, nursing is so much more than cleaning BM and it's unfortunate that that seems to be the focus for some of you. It's all part of the learning process. It is part of the fundamentals that makes us good nurses. It would be impossible to be a good, effective manager without experience as a floor nurse and how can we go on to be legal consultants or educators without significant knowledge of patient care.

I see nothing wrong with aspiring to take on different roles in nursing. I feel that that is what makes nursing so desirable, but IMHO you have to learn to give the bed baths, clean BM, be comfortable with medications and treatments before moving on to the next level and being successful at it.

Nursing isn't for everyone and there is nothing wrong with admitting that it isn't a good fit. I wish everyone the best of luck with their decisions and chosen occupation.

Katrina

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