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All valid ideas, of course. I have another one- There are three rules in life. Number one is to be kind. Number two is to be kind. And number three is to be kind- Henry James I have been in every position there is in nursing, and the ONE thing that has always been a constant for me is being kind to others. I've had supervisors who were nice to us and we produced some great outcomes and top notch patient care. Then I've had supervisors who should not be allowed within 10 feet of a license- the most cutthroat and vindictive- and I've sadly watched so many peers make the decision to get the heck outta Dodge. We can do many things to demonstrate to our staff that we care about them; however, the thing that is absolutely free, no planning, and portable, is Kindness.

"You've been staring at that screen for the past 8 hours. Normally I wouldn't say anything, except, the screen has been off all day"

Is your resume up to date? It's downhill from there

Let me guess.....pureed again?

Hi, Allison! I am so sorry you are feeling down with all the negativity about nursing. Let's see if I can help a bit. First of all, please pardon typos. I fell yesterday at work and landed on my hand, so my fingers aren't working right today. Anyhoo I have been a RN for 24 years this March. I will not lie when I tell you I have had some bloody awful times, but that will happen with any career where you are working with personalities that should not be allowed around people or animals. That being said, here are some things I like, and in some cases even love, about being a RN: 1. I get to be a role model and mentor to young nurses and future nurses like yourself, and have an influence in how they will develop their worldview ofnursing 2. I have found that in the end, nurses stick together and take care of each other. There will always be those bad apples who in nursing only because they have to pay the bills, but what you learn in nursing about resilience and assertiveness helps you get around those people. 3. My long time working in mental health and geriatrics and dementia (I'm a Psych Nurse) has resulted in my being looked at as an expert by other nurses and providers and I am frequently consulted by them. 4. When I am with a patient, and I know how they started out , and then I see them doing well, it reminds me of why I answered this calling. 5. Nurses can move up to working in advanced practice (RNP, CNS, CNL, midwife) and work alongside physicians as trusted providers (for my own care, I only see RNPs unless absolutely needed otherwise). 6. With any specialty you choose, you will learn some skills that you would never get in the civilian world. As a psych nurse, I can actually guess the diagnosis of someone before the doctors even figure it out. I have doctors asking me for my input and advice on what to do. As a new student: 1. Find your mentors early in your instructors, classmates, and even nurses you meet outside of school. 2. Make your clinicals about your relationship with your patient, not your instructor. 3. Try to have an early idea of what kind of nursing you want to do and work towards that goal. 4. If you run into nurses in your clinicals and classes who are not "getting it", take notes and remember their behaviors or methods are going to teach you what NOT to do. A lot of my own leadership skills in nursing resulted from my being around nurses who wanted to treat me badly and showed me what NOT to do. 5. Be proud of your skills and knowledge, both in clinicals and in practice. You're doing something that not many can do. And lastly.......Keep coming back here to keep in touch with us. I for one will be one of your supports from afar, so feel free when you need an ear. You will be great and will grow into your nursing skin. Best of luck and Aloha! Karen

The VA hires newly licensed RNs into the New Grad "Residency". You can go on usajobs.gov and look through announcements throughout the VA.