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I went back to school at 30 and finished at 34. I had a husband and three children. You can do it. Some employers will reimburse or pay for your education. DON'T GIVE UP!

Dear Scarlet. As a Christian I want to remind you of something I'm sure you know. Work as to the Lord. I worked in Psychiatric nursing for over 25 years. First as a Nursing Assistant then as an RN. Was it hard? Indeed so. But there was rarely a dull moment. There were times I felt unappreciated and had no idea why I continued. Then it dawned on me. This was my ministry. It started when I was a little girl. I was the one who kept all the children on a bench in church at a time when we had no nursery. It was that realization that changed my perspective. Once I realized it not as a job but as a calling I no longer focused on me but rather my patients and their families. After retiring, I became a school nurse for ten more years. I am now retired from that as well but am active in my community on CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and sub for the nurse at my grandchildren's school. You and Neezy are right. Quitting is not the solution for those of us who have nursing in us. Find you strength and then rely on it. I wish you both well.

I am a very senior nurse and while when I read the beginning of your letter I was ready to do just as you suggested. Fortunately I read to the end. I believe you are a nurse in your soul and that you can find your place in this field. BUT, you have to find out why you feel such despair before going to work. If this is depression as a former psych nurse I encourage you to seek help. Depression is no different than any other illness except that it's your mind involved. Seeking help is strength not weakness. I believe you may have a lot to offer. You are very well spoken, and appear to be a compassionate person. I wish you well and will pray for you.

Writing nurses notes.

When I worked on a post op floor, I covered my uniform (Yes it was before scubs were so popular and available). After I retired and became a school nurse I did wear scrubs and went on errands at the store, sometime choir practice etc because I had no time to change. As a nurse I believe you know what good practice entails and hope that if cooties were a problem you would find a way to change you clothing. BTW, my kids usually got me way more 'germy' than my patients.

In addition to many of the comments I've read, I will make the following suggestion is the facility where you work allows it. In many cases, our patients may be in a compromised state. I found using a blood pressure cuff made the vein pop and therefore easier to stick. It took me a while to realize this because we used tourniquets in clinicals. Don't give up on yourself. You have time and will be fine given the right opportunity.

I am a retired RN. I worked in Psychiatry for over 25 years, Neurology for a couple and completed my career as a school nurse. I have worked with doctors who were rude and condescending but found that my response to them usually caused them to treat me with respect. You are not responsible for his (or her) bad manners or lack of decorum. But when you show your own competence, it goes a long way in causing others to has a new found respect for you and your role as a nurse. Above all try not to take work home or home to work.

I made 33,000 as a grad nurse in 1984. This job is only offering 31k. You are worth more than that especially in NYC. Remember we are working on our word. Looking for a way to back out of a contact isn't a good way to begin your career. Your words are your bond.

I'm really disappointed in this content. To imply that opiate abusers are people with low levels of education perpetuates the notion of who abusers are. People with varying levels of education and finances abuse drugs. The type of drug abused and method may be different but there is no 'typical' abuser. As as nurses we must work to stop stereotyping our clients.