Positive Aspects of Nursing?

Published

Hi all,

I'm new to the board. So let me just take a second to introduce myself. I am a BSN student, getting ready to graduate in May. I also work as a nurse tech. Until recently, I had this nice little career path. A couple of years in the ICU, then off to anesthesia school! I have recently found myself dreading going to work, and dreading graduation. I have recently began 12 hour clinicals, and hate being away from my husband that long. Between going to bed early and coming home exhausted, I feel like I have no time for the two of us. I cannot imagine doing that all week! I read the horror stories of new grads being overwhelmed with all of the responsibility and hating their jobs. Can someone remind me why I chose this profession? I love caring for others but is this really worth it? I already feel burned out, and I have not even begun!

Specializes in ICU, Psych.
Thanks guys so much for your support. I have talked to my advisor at school today and am feeling much better about my future. Was just feeling a little down and needed to "whine". Thanks again!

Thats what life is, a mix of joy and pain. Great to hear that you are feeling better now.:wink2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
Thanks guys so much for your support. I have talked to my advisor at school today and am feeling much better about my future. Was just feeling a little down and needed to "whine". Thanks again!

I don't think you were whining at all! That is why a forum like this can be so valuable. There is always someone out here who understands what you are going through. Unfortunately, it makes you vulnerable to all sorts of feedback, supportive or not. It sounds like you are already a very wise person by using the resources available to you. Good luck in your future and in all you do!!

:mad::mad::mad:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you came to nursing to make money, then there is money to make. But if you don't care about the people you are taking care of, then do the rest of us new nurses a favor...don't clog up the job market.

I'm sorry to sound harsh, but that's the truth.

Can you think of a doctor saying another doctor "don't clog up the job market"? Do you think all of them going into medicine out of sheer desire to help people? And why nurses can't treat each other with respect, as other health care professionals do?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in mostly in the basement.
Can you think of a doctor saying another doctor "don't clog up the job market"? Do you think all of them going into medicine out of sheer desire to help people? And why nurses can't treat each other with respect, as other health care professionals do?

Or even more importantly, why not-even-yet nurses can't treat each other with more respect......Must feel empowering to have all the right answers before even taking NCLEX. Or graduating for that matter....;)

Hey Lauren,

Glad you're feling better. Self-doubt is par for the course on this long road you've embarked on. Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders. It's hard, but time will tell and show you where you belong. CRNA is a great goal---let life and its inevitable surprises lead you down your correct path whether it be APM or not.

The never ending med surg/specialty argument? Not so much. Med/surg truly can be a good foundation for any nurse but these days there are tons of successful nurses who've never worked one day on the floor and do just fine. Frankly, I wouldn't have lasted one month doing med/surg---or anything lese above the first floor of the hospital for that matter. What a waste that would have been because, I'm kinda good at this! People are different and some people do need that particular foundation. To each his own but there are no wrong choices.

It doesn't metter where you clock in everyday when you're working. You just remember that you will be an RN who hopefully works somewhere where they can learn and flourish.

PS. Don't be discouraged if you may need to move around a bit to find that right place. Always better to search out your path that to stay stuck because "that's what's always been done' and 'you're supposed to do it this way.'

Good luck!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in mostly in the basement.
Many of my classmates are focused on getting into a particular unit (surprise--most want to go to the ICU), but I am taking the advice of every RN that I have worked with since starting my med/surg clinicals. Going directly to ICU actually limits you if you later decide to move elsewhere.

Sounds like your career is all planned out but perhaps you ought to talk to some other seasoned professionals. I don't know, maybe some ICU nurses? I think the advice you've received about ICU limiting you might have been a bit misleading.

Also;

The reason that you hear many new nurses complain about thier positions is because they sign on with employers without investigating thier options

While I also generally advocate to beware the enormous sign on bonuses, I'm still pretty sure that many new nurses complain about things like hazardous ratios, poor orientation times and just general newbie anxiety. Many would have to investigate undercover in order to get the real scoop on some of that. Forget about when there are limited choices to begin with. Sad that you feel most new grad angst is self induced by their own poor choices.

.

Congrats on your strong self-confiidence. A healthy self-esteem is almost always an asset. I look forward to your postings in the first year section this summer.:specs:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Or even more importantly, why not-even-yet nurses can't treat each other with more respect......Must feel empowering to have all the right answers before even taking NCLEX. Or graduating for that matter....;)

Hey Lauren,

Glad you're feling better. Self-doubt is par for the course on this long road you've embarked on. Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders. It's hard, but time will tell and show you where you belong. CRNA is a great goal---let life and its inevitable surprises lead you down your correct path whether it be APM or not.

The never ending med surg/specialty argument? Not so much. Med/surg truly can be a good foundation for any nurse but these days there are tons of successful nurses who've never worked one day on the floor and do just fine. Frankly, I wouldn't have lasted one month doing med/surg---or anything lese above the first floor of the hospital for that matter. What a waste that would have been because, I'm kinda good at this! People are different and some people do need that particular foundation. To each his own but there are no wrong choices.

It doesn't metter where you clock in everyday when you're working. You just remember that you will be an RN who hopefully works somewhere where they can learn and flourish.

PS. Don't be discouraged if you may need to move around a bit to find that right place. Always better to search out your path that to stay stuck because "that's what's always been done' and 'you're supposed to do it this way.'

Good luck!!!

This is reassuring since, while I myself do want to try med/surg, it scares me!

And ICU does seem a great place to hone skills for CRNA work.

My own plan is to start in med/surg; but I have huge doubts about my own ability to tolerate floor work, esp med/surg work, based on the descriptions of it that I've heard. It's a shame floor nursing has become so stressful.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion