Nursing Starting To Scare Me

[nessa_chambers]

Hey guys. I'm a student nurse who will be starting nursing school next week. I'm been excited about it since forever but recently I'm starting to wonder if I've made the right choice in choosing nursing as my career. Reason being that I've come up on a couple videos and stories about the nursing career overall. One of those being the whole "NURSES EATING THIER YOUNG" trend. This I've come to discover causes alot of good nurses to quit and seek another career or become depressed and miserable. This was proven as a research was conducted which shows that nurses are twice as likely to be depressed compared to the general public. While I may believe that this is the career specially chosen for me I can't help but think twice about it. Do I really want to be doing something for the rest of my life that is going to make me feel miserable, depressed, helpless and not good enough? I've also come to learn that teamwork and empowerment is very uncommon as alot of nurses tend to bring eachother down for the sake of being praised by those above them, so the second you mess up there are those waiting to report you. All of this makes me wonder if this is really the case and it is kinda scary. I want to be happy with my career and that's the picture nursing painted when I applied to nursing school, pictures of happy smiling nurses but now this picture is slowly starting to change. Any advice?

[Szbeylik]

Hey guys. I'm a student nurse who will be starting nursing school next week. I'm been excited about it since forever but recently I'm starting to wonder if I've made the right choice in choosing nursing as my career. Reason being that I've come up on a couple videos and stories about the nursing career overall. One of those being the whole "NURSES EATING THIER YOUNG" trend. This I've come to discover causes alot of good nurses to quit and seek another career or become depressed and miserable. This was proven as a research was conducted which shows that nurses are twice as likely to be depressed compared to the general public. While I may believe that this is the career specially chosen for me I can't help but think twice about it. Do I really want to be doing something for the rest of my life that is going to make me feel miserable, depressed, helpless and not good enough? I've also come to learn that teamwork and empowerment is very uncommon as alot of nurses tend to bring eachother down for the sake of being praised by those above them, so the second you mess up there are those waiting to report you. All of this makes me wonder if this is really the case and it is kinda scary. I want to be happy with my career and that's the picture nursing painted when I applied to nursing school, pictures of happy smiling nurses but now this picture is slowly starting to change. Any advice?

I hate to tell you this... But it's mostly true. Most nurses I know hate being nurses. It depends on where you work too, though. Beside nursing is the hardest and most taxing branch. There are lots of other options that might not be so dreadful. Also depends on the hospital. For profit hospitals tend to be worse.

[nessa_chambers]

Thank you for your comment. Is it ok if I ask how nursing as been for you?

[Wuzzie]

One of those being the whole "NURSES EATING THIER YOUNG" trend.

For crying out loud this needs to stop being propagated! Here's the way it is. Some people truly suck. Some truly sucky people become nurses. Therefore there are some truly sucky nurses in the force. Just as there are truly sucky engineers, pilots, taxi drivers, teachers, librarians, store clerks, accountants and custodians. They by no means encompass ALL of the people in these positions. You will likely run into nurses of varying levels of suckiness but most will just be normal people. Your focus should be on school right now not what-ifs. If nursing is what you want to do then do it. Get off the internet and put your nose in your books. All this stuff you're worrying about is a roadblock to you reaching your goal. If you happen to encounter a sucky nurse just tell yourself "well that's a sucky person" and put them on ignore. Seriously. Not everyone you meet in life is going to be awesome you just need to learn how to deal in whatever way works for you. I personally prefer the death stare. YMMV.

Disclaimer: I am in NO way eating you. Nurslings are friends not food.

[nessa_chambers]

Haha I get you. The thing is I'm very thin skinned but knowing this will probably prepare me for what's to come. I just hope I'm not one of those to who leave it. Anyways, thanks for your advice I just think now is the most important time to think about stuff like this but nursing is something I really want to do so I'll just keep focusing on the pros from now on

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree with Wuzzie. You're going to meet some suckie people no matter what career you choose. So choose the career in which the work itself appeals to you -- then deal with whatever suckie people you meet along the way.

Nursing is hard, often stressful work. But so are a lot of a other jobs. So pick the career you want and learn to be strong enough to deal with whatever hardships come your way.

Good luck to you.

[ayejay09]

I was not eaten as a new nurse. However, I was confident but asked questions. I also learned not to take any crap off of anyone. You say you're thinned skinned, you might want to toughen up. Not only do nurses eat their young, but doctors, families, and patients will yell at you. It's just a fact of the job. But don't be afraid to be a nurse. You might just have to find the right specialty for you. I thought I wanted to be an ER nurse. I even have co-workers tell me I would be great for it. But I think Med-Surg is my calling. It's ever changing and challenging at the same time. I love being a nurse and wouldn't change it for the world. =] Good luck in nursing school!