Please share with me the brutal honesty of what I can expect in the field of nursing. I'm a career changer leaving corporate america after 13 years. --My story isn't one that is filled with childhood aspirations and daydreams of being a nurse--heck I wasn't passionate about my 1st career. I chose it my default, and now the only thing I'am sure of is the fact that I want and need a new career. Nevertheless, I chose nursing because I need variety on a daily basis to stay stimulated and challenged. I also enjoy helping others and more importantly, I need a reasonable income with employment opportunities all over the country (Yeah, I like to move a lot as well)--.
I have recently been accepted into a 2 year nursing program starting in the Fall of 2009 but I'm becoming increasingly apprehensive about moving forward with this change--wondering if "I left the pot only to jump into the frying pan".
Here is where I need your help --Help from those of you who have completed the grueling 2 or 4 year nursing programs --passed the state test-- obtained the license --and completed the job interview --and now you are either happily or unhappily gainfully employed as an RN.
Please share with me what it is really like to be a nurse with brutal honesty in 15 words or less. I have listed the categories, I'm most interested in but welcome any and all feedback.
$$ vs job responsibilities
Daily Stress
Patient interaction
Peer interaction
Family of patient interaction
Management/Administration
Family/work Balance
Any regrets?
Thanks to all of you who share-----I will keep you posted on my final decision.
the job i have now i make way more money that i should. my last job you couldn't pay me enough.
daily stress
depends on the job. the job i have now is pretty much stress free. my last job the stress wrecked my life basically, it even ruined my days off.
patient interaction
this is the best part of nursing! i love patient interacting, even with the difficult patients and families. i just love it.
peer interaction
i've been lucky to have goof peer interaction; have yet to work in a place where nurses eat their young
family of patient interaction
see above
management/administration
i work nights so i dont have to deal with them. i have never had too many problems with management, the only thing that stands out is they are so far removed from the bedside they forget what its really like.
family/work balance
i work nights and this really works well for my family. its hard on the body, but good for family life. as with any working mom, there are issues.....but overall me and my family are happy.
any regrets?
not for me. if i find that i am not happy, i change things.
hmmm...do you mind sharing what you did before that was so stressful? thanks for the info!
please share with me the brutal honesty of what i can expect in the field of nursing. i'm a career changer leaving corporate america after 13 years. --my story isn't one that is filled with childhood aspirations and daydreams of being a nurse--heck i wasn't passionate about my 1st career. i chose it my default, and now the only thing i'am sure of is the fact that i want and need a new career. nevertheless, i chose nursing because i need variety on a daily basis to stay stimulated and challenged. i also enjoy helping others and more importantly, i need a reasonable income with employment opportunities all over the country (yeah, i like to move a lot as well)--.
i have recently been accepted into a 2 year nursing program starting in the fall of 2009 but i'm becoming increasingly apprehensive about moving forward with this change--wondering if "i left the pot only to jump into the frying pan".
here is where i need your help --help from those of you who have completed the grueling 2 or 4 year nursing programs --passed the state test-- obtained the license --and completed the job interview --and now you are either happily or unhappily gainfully employed as an rn.
please share with me what it is really like to be a nurse with brutal honesty in 15 words or less. i have listed the categories, i'm most interested in but welcome any and all feedback.
$$ vs job responsibilities pay is way too low
daily stress severe
patient interaction some good, some bad
peer interaction
runs the gamut from bad to good
family of patient interaction mostly to be avoided whenever possible
management/administration they are aliens in disguise.
family/work balance very difficult
any regrets? yes and no
thanks to all of you who share-----i will keep you posted on my final decision.
Just recently someone who has just about had it with nursing was telling me their story. They have been working in long term care for 20 years, reaching point where they can't take it anymore. The first thing that got them down was a patient death at their facility that did not involve this particular nurse in anyway. However, the nurse still found it very disturbing because there was some question about negligence by the staff at the place where she worked something she thought would never happen. Then there was a incidence of narcotic diversion and this nurse fell under suspicion but was later cleared. The quilty person was caught and there was a court case and this nurse was called as a witness and had to make several trips to court. I don't know if you know how that goes but you can go and sit all day at the court house and they can come and tell you to come back the next day. This can happen over and over again. Shortly after that court case finally finished this nurse found out she had gotten tuberculosis from a patient. At first she handled it pretty well but then she started having a lot of side effects from the medications and there were signs of liver damage. All her family members had to be told and tested. Do you have any idea of the emotional stress that comes with all that? She is well now and fit for duty and is working part time. In a way she is lucky because she never recieved an injury to her career or body that could not heal. She was telling me however that she is pretty burned out. I think this is a pretty typical career and in nursing you will most like go through several upsetting episodes, your career and your health will likely be put at risk and you should be aware.
Nevertheless, I chose nursing because I need variety on a daily basis to stay stimulated and challenged. I also enjoy helping others and more importantly, I need a reasonable income with employment opportunities all over the country (Yeah, I like to move a lot as well)
I am not yet a nurse (just a pre-nursing student), so take this for what it's worth. I am also fully aware that I may get chewed out for this, but...
While job security and good income is a very important reason to go into ANY field, nursing is much different. There are so many emotional and mental hardships that nurses encounter on a daily basis. You have to be strong in mind and body. You will see death, and the darker side of humanity. You may end up hating your job and hating the decision you made if things get too overwhelming. You could be stuck paying back thousands of dollars in financial aid, only to get even more FA to fund a new career. Nursing is not for everyone.
There are plenty of other careers in the health care industry that not many people are considering (like surg tech, for example) that make excellent money, and have the job security you're looking for. And you would still be helping and caring for people, too.
Of course you are going to do what you want regardless of what anyone says, but I would encourage you to look at the big picture; look past the job security and pay, and see what nursing really has to offer - the good as well as the bad - and then make your decision. What you find out may surprise you.
I think the hardest parts of nursing are too much to do, to little time and too few resouces to do it, lack of respect from mgmt/docs/subordinates/families.
And- the many obstacles nurses must deal with in order to just get the basics for their pts at times.
Overall, I think I am paid adequately, and I'm glad I'm an RN.
This is my number one gripe. Basics, like ordering a lab or having a stat test done............take more push and shove from the nurse than it should have to.
I often think to myself, what if this person had a nurse who didnt care or was having a bad day, didnt want to deal witht he BS. They wouldnt jump through hoops to get something that should be automatic done.
OK, I'm off my high horse now.
But, gee, I should be able to get simple/basic things done for my pt. without it taking so much time and effort.
Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU, Psych, Med-surg...etc....
I have been an RN for 29 years this year. I have worked in Long Term Care, Psych, ICE, ER, Peds, Med-Surg, Ortho, Oncology, Home Health... you name it...I have been floor Nurse, charge Nurse, manager, DON, Supervisor....I have made good money, and not so good money. I have worked 8 hour shifts, 12 hour shifts, 16 hour shifts, days in a row, weeks in a row, and seeming years in a row. I have missed family gatherings, events and happy occasions, as well as sad ones due to my work. I have sprained and strained things, but fortunately was careful (wash those hands!) and never caught anything. I have experienced stress, downright fear, heartbreak, happiness, joy, friendship, comradery, blessings, hope, faith, love and have become a better person for it. I have aged...but become more youthful in my thinking. I have grown in so many ways. I have learned so many things that books and school can never teach you. I have had times when I could not understand why I chose this career path, but more often, understand fully why, and wouldn't do anything else. The work is hard. Most of the time thankless. You are with patients more than family at times. You give of yourself until you think you have no more to give, then you give some more. This is the greatest profession. Seek out opportunities to learn and new experiences. There is someting new every day and so many areas to explore. I am so thankful and proud to be a nurse.
I know for a fact that I do not get paid what I deserve. I bust my butt from the time I get report until the time I leave, often with only one bathroom break in 12 hours adn no lunch. What drives me is my concern adn regard for my patients. However, to recently learn that those with much less years of experience, no certifications in their specialty,less education, and quite frankly, less work ethic than myself, in my same unit and organization are being paid more than me is enough to make me sick. Go Banner!!!!
Please share with me the brutal honesty of what I can expect in the field of nursing. I'm a career changer leaving corporate america after 13 years. --My story isn't one that is filled with childhood aspirations and daydreams of being a nurse--heck I wasn't passionate about my 1st career. I chose it my default, and now the only thing I'am sure of is the fact that I want and need a new career. Nevertheless, I chose nursing because I need variety on a daily basis to stay stimulated and challenged. I also enjoy helping others and more importantly, I need a reasonable income with employment opportunities all over the country (Yeah, I like to move a lot as well)--.
I have recently been accepted into a 2 year nursing program starting in the Fall of 2009 but I'm becoming increasingly apprehensive about moving forward with this change--wondering if "I left the pot only to jump into the frying pan".
Here is where I need your help --Help from those of you who have completed the grueling 2 or 4 year nursing programs --passed the state test-- obtained the license --and completed the job interview --and now you are either happily or unhappily gainfully employed as an RN.
Please share with me what it is really like to be a nurse with brutal honesty in 15 words or less. I have listed the categories, I'm most interested in but welcome any and all feedback.
$$ vs job responsibilities
Daily Stress
Patient interaction
Peer interaction
Family of patient interaction
Management/Administration
Family/work Balance
Any regrets?
Thanks to all of you who share-----I will keep you posted on my final decision.
I have an idea, worry about getting through school and dont stress out over the frustrations of others. Everyone is going to paint the most extreme situation. I know I have. You are an intelligent person, figure it out on your own.
I envy you in a way, I dont have the guts to work in corporate American. I was never a business man. Sometimes I wish I was. Look at your past experience as a plus and what your nursing career as something to add to it.
You know what, get your BSN after your ASN and then go into administration. Tons of nurses become nursing managers, but they really dont know how to manage people. If you have some experiene in corporate America, then you might consider that. No, I dont think management is the enemy like some, someone has to be in charge.
Being in charge doesnt mean that you should know how to do everyones job... Being in charge means that you make sure everyone is doing their job so everything flows smoothly. Nurses forget that. But then again most nurses dont make good managers because they never had to really lead anyone. This goes for MDs, PAs, NPs as well... with the exception of private practice MDs , PAs, NPs,.... THey are what American is all about.
Ok, my biggest complaint about nursing is that too many nurses are a bunch of whiners.... I would chose another word to use, but I will get in trouble again. Some refuse to be team players, only out for themselves. Like when we have an admission, some nurses dont jump right in and help, they just sit back and do their own thing. Everyone gets tired now and again, understandable, but you have some nurses who never lend a helping hand. Makes me sick. That is my pet peeve, and their isnt anything you can do about it, but dont take it home with you .
I have rambled on before on how I dont make and serve coffee for family members.. I still dont. The only exception is when I am going to get a cup of coffee for myself, which is rare. and then I only get one cup for someone.... I only have two hands. But our facility does not supply coffee for family members, they have a vending machine for that.. so if every patients family wanted coffee and nursing had to pay for it... Well I dont work for free...
Unreasonable requests: A patient asked if we could take a collection up so his wife could get a bus ride home. No, I didnt give any money, call me heartless, but what nerve of this man to think we are their for collections. On the other hand, if I have extra food i brought into work and I know a family member doesnt have alot of money, I will offer and give them some food, hell even a subway sandwich, if they dont look like the type that will try to sue you... SOme people will find any reason to sue you , so I am wary of that.
Yell back and loud at Physicans: Some are decent human beings, others are not. If one is loud and voicetress, then yell back loud right at them. Get close to their face, but not close enough for assualt, but dont touch them... and God forbid if they touch you . Many trully believe they are better than the rest of humanity, and see nurses as nothing more than maids, so when they yell, they dont consider it to be anything out of the ordinary, because that is how you treat people lower than you .
Know your stuff: Nursing is both knowledge and common sense about the knowledge that you have. Remember that LPNs and CNAs work under your supervision, they will try to test you from time to time, understand what they can and cant do. Most are good people, some are bitter, not many, but some are bitter about how they do almost as the RN does but without the pay.. Dont get into the discussion with them.. I hate Pity parties. I really do.
Specializes in Cardiac, Hospice, Float pool, Med/Peds.
I make great money... I am casual so I can pick my hours which works well with the kids and all their activities... I can work tons or non at all... My husband has great benefits so that works out for us...
Nursing has its ups and downs. Somedays I am so busy that I don't feel like I got everything done. Other days, I feel bad for getting paid what I do for what I have done... I tell myself that the 'slow' days make up for the other days for sure...
Nursing to me is not just a career. I am a RN all the time. It is who I am just as a mom and wife... The hardest and best job in the world...
WantAccel.BSN, BSN, RN
216 Posts
hmmm...do you mind sharing what you did before that was so stressful? thanks for the info!