Nursing Job Conditions?

Katnip, RN · May 13, 2005

I'll answer the second question first. It's easier. No I was not required to learn a second language in nursing school. Learning one at some point in your life might be helpful, but not required for most jobs.

Second, I think you hit the nail on the head. She sounds unhappy and burned out. Most nurses like most other working women manage to have a life outside nursing. Where does she work? A hospital, LTC, doctor's office, dialysis center? Working conditions are vastly different in different facilities.

I work 3 12 hours days. I can work overtime if I want. In this state, you can't really be forced to take on OT, but with 4 other days off, I'll pick up an extra shift when needed if I feel like it.

My family is very understanding about my having to work holidays. We rotate them, so I have to work Christmas every other year. That's really the biggest holiday for our family, but the kids are old enough to understand. Even if they still believed in Santa I know of many families who have one or both parent who works major holidays and they come up with creative ways to deal with it.

Don't let one person's burnout keep you from doing what you want.

pricklypear · May 13, 2005

Your neighbor sounds totally burned out!! I know many nurses feel that way about their profession, though. Personally, I think it's whatever you make of it. Yes I have a "normal" life just like anybody else!! I work nights, so that sometimes screws things up, but lots of people work nights. Sometimes it can be a little stressful, especially at first, when you come home thinking about your day, maybe questioning your abilities. You will find bad attitudes at work - doctors, other nurses, other diciplines. But I think the same goes for lots of different types of jobs. Once you look through this board, you will find plenty of nurses who love their profession. Not all love their jobs, but that is not hard to fix! Don't let this one person's feelings discourage you!!

No, I was not required to learn another language. But if you have the opportunity, Spanish would not be a bad choice. I live in Kansas, so it's not a huge issue here, but it's very difficult to take care of someone you cannot understand. I'm originally from, and went to college in AZ, and it was an everyday problem there in the hospitals, and in community health.

suzanne4, RN · May 14, 2005

As stated above, your neighbor has more of a problem with burnout than anything else. Anything that you do will have good days as well as bad days, but the good should far outnumber the bad, and if they don't, then definitely look for somewhere else.

You should be able to pick where you would like to work, not the other way around. Sure, to get a specific unit, you may have to work off-shift for awhile, but go for something that you want to do. The only time that this becomes a problem is if you are in a small town and there is only one facility to pick from.............

Just do well in school and you can do whatever you want...good luck with your studies............... :)

Sarah09 · May 14, 2005

((((CyberKat)))) My neighbor works in a hospital. I think it's safe to say that is burned out from her job. :stone

((((Pricklypear)))) I've been a lurker to this board for a few weeks now, and I have seen many posts from people that say how much they love what they're doing. I read and think of how much I am looking forward to it. That's why I was pretty surpised to hear my neighbor saying how horrible it is.

I also want to go to graduate school to become a Nurse Midwife, and she said that it's a waste of time. She said "You might as well become a doctor, the education for both a Midwife and a Doctor is very hard, and you'd make more money as a doctor for doing similar work." My grandfather has also told me to do this, "The difference between a doctor and a nurse is only 4 years of education." I think there are certainly differences between the two. I would make more money as a doctor, but I like nursing and that is what I want to go with. He'll have to deal with it.

My interest in the health occupation has interested me since I was young. It mostly stemmed from a personal experience. My grandmother was on dialysis for a long time before finding a suitable donor. I remember visiting her in the hospital and I had a great respect for those health professionals that took care of my grandmother. Since then I have wanted to be a variety of things--a brain surgeon here, a veterinarian there, a pharmacist. Nursing is something I have decided on in the past few years. However, my interest has always been in health. I find it very interesting (I love Discovery Health and reading about new medical breakthroughs) and I also want to have a career that helps people. If I was going into this for the money, I'd become a doctor (I'm 18 so I still have a lot of time to decide). My reasons for going into Nursing are the right ones. It also gives you the freedom to work in several different areas of medicine until you go to graduate school, where you tend to specialize in something.

Sorry if I got into a ramble. Thank you for your responses! :)

Sarah

Sarah09 · May 14, 2005

As stated above, your neighbor has more of a problem with burnout than anything else. Anything that you do will have good days as well as bad days, but the good should far outnumber the bad, and if they don't, then definitely look for somewhere else.
You should be able to pick where you would like to work, not the other way around. Sure, to get a specific unit, you may have to work off-shift for awhile, but go for something that you want to do. The only time that this becomes a problem is if you are in a small town and there is only one facility to pick from.............
Just do well in school and you can do whatever you want...good luck with your studies............... :)

Thanks for the advice, Suzanne. :)

stidget99 · May 14, 2005

I think that if you frequent these boards you will get a straight-forward idea of how the real world of nursing is. Nurses post their frustrations....many people venting about this or that. But then again, there are a lot of positives/humor. Same goes for students ... some positive, some negative. I think that no matter what your chosen profession is, there will be some ups and some downs.

What it boils down to is this...you have to answer these questions:

Why do you want to be a nurse?

Are you willing to make the necessary sacrifices both during school and after graduation?

Do you usually see your cup as half-empty or half-full? (I think that you need to see it as half-full in order to be a nurse.)

Sarah09 · May 14, 2005

I think that if you frequent these boards you will get a straight-forward idea of how the real world of nursing is. Nurses post their frustrations....many people venting about this or that. But then again, there are a lot of positives/humor. Same goes for students ... some positive, some negative. I think that no matter what your chosen profession is, there will be some ups and some downs.
What it boils down to is this...you have to answer these questions:
Why do you want to be a nurse?
Are you willing to make the necessary sacrifices both during school and after graduation?
Do you usually see your cup as half-empty or half-full? (I think that you need to see it as half-full in order to be a nurse.)

Oh, I have read posts about nurses "eating their young," how difficult Nursing school is, the stress of the job, the nurse/patient ratios, and many other things. But I have also read posts about how this is the most stressful career they have chosen, but also the most rewarding. Health careers/Medicine is something that has interested me for my entire life. I also did well in Biology and Advanced Biology in high school, so I think I can handle it in college too. (They always say to find something you're good at!) I also want a career that is rewarding and helps people. (I also want a career that will allow me to make a decent living for myself. I was born when my mother was 17 and I saw how she struggled while I was growing up. I don't want to have to go through that.) I think that the job will be quite stressful, but at the end of the day, it will be worth it knowing that what you're doing is helping other people. I think I'm going into this for the right reasons. :)

pricklypear · May 14, 2005

I also want to go to graduate school to become a Nurse Midwife, and she said that it's a waste of time. She said "You might as well become a doctor, the education for both a Midwife and a Doctor is very hard, and you'd make more money as a doctor for doing similar work." My grandfather has also told me to do this, "The difference between a doctor and a nurse is only 4 years of education." I think there are certainly differences between the two. I would make more money as a doctor, but I like nursing and that is what I want to go with. He'll have to deal with it.
Sarah

I think you'll find the mentality of Nurse Midwives and OB/GYNs are totally different. You'll find when you get into school that there is the Nursing Model of care and the Medical Model of care. They are very different. I think a lot of MDs and PAs think nurses are nurses because they couldn't get in to med school. Or advanced degree nurses wanted to take a short cut. So not true!!If you want to deliver babies, you just have to decide which model of care you believe in. By the time you finish your BSN, you will know. By the way, I don't think it's uncommon for new grads to go straight to L&D after graduation. It's so specialized that I don't think the "year of med surg" would really apply.

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · May 14, 2005

Sarah,

I get alot of the same attitudes from people. I am starting nursing school in June and, like you, have only one real professional interest.....medicine. I know, OK..I THINK, that I would not be happy working by myself in some research lab forever without ANY patient contact. I know I want to help people to some extent but sometimes wonder if I am going to the other extreme of TOO MUCH patient contact. But, like you, I will never know until I try. I respect the experience of nurses who have been in the profession for a long time, but have realized that if I were to listen to every single opinion out there I would never, ever make up my mind!! I have decided to shut all the opinions out and am resolved now to let myself form my OWN opinions once school starts. There will always be those who love it and always those who hate it. Like you said, you are going in for the right reasons. Focus on that and make up YOUR OWN mind!!!!:)

Also, I can so much relate to you wanting to find a stable job that pays well and seeing your mother struggle. I too lived a childhood where I watched my mother struggle and now vow that that kind of life will never be my reality. So much so that I think this is why I am scared to have kids. I feel like my security would disapear!:stone

Good Luck in whatever you decide and remember, listen to your own inner voice first!!

Janice