the pros & cons of being a nurse

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i came across a post, some saying they regret becoming one, some saying the love what they do. this post was from a while back, so im trying to get new imput on it. how do you feel about it? what is your daily rountine like? etc. etc.

all opinions welcomed and appreciated :D

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I scheduled my NCLEX examination for December 28, 2005. I am not officially a 'licensed nurse' until I possess a license, so I cannot yet appropriately respond to your question.

However, I think this is a good thread to bump back to the top of the stack for some renewed dialogue. :)

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Specializes in Correctional Nursing, Geriatrics.

It all depends...some days I think I should have gone to truck driving school instead !! Other days I am very proud to be part of the profession. As a rule, most days are good. It usually is not the work or the actual patients that get you down, but some of the idiots you are forced to work with, the lazy nurses, the "super"nurses, and the administrative crud that goes on in most places. These are the downers! Otherwise, it is nice to think you are helping people (even criminals--I work in a correctional facility). Somedays are cake...you think, "I can't believe I'm getting paid this much to do this job"...other days are the PITS...you are screaming "I DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH TO PUT UP WITH THIS NONSENSE!!!":rotfl: :banghead:

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I've also noticed this. I work as a Registrar in an inner-city hospital ER. Triage sees the patients first, then we call to our offices to interview them, or interview them at the bedside. Almost all of the nurses enjoy what they do. As for the rest that wouldn't say they "enjoy it," they are neutral. There are only a couple I can think of whom hate it, but they seem to be the type of people that would hate most anything they could be doing.

Everybody has really good days, everybody has bad days. Mistakes are made, administration wants to cut staffing or other resources, patients are a bear, etc. I think it's important for us all to keep in mind that this board is a place that we can all come to to vent. There is a lot of negativity to be found, but that's mostly people venting, I think. The majority of nurses I talk to, their good days by far outweigh their bad, and many are also quite happy with their salaries and benefits packages.

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Although I thought I was going to be sitting at the desk eating bon-bons (because nursing school really glamorizes the profession) I do enjoy my job. I love working with the patients. but sometimes it is the coworkers that can make your day really bad.

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Specializes in OB, ortho/neuro, home care, office.

I love my job most days, well actually I can honestly say I love my job everyday. There are days I get frustrated, but I can NEVER even think, "boy I hate my job" Even when I have extremely trying patients, I don't think twice about the profession I chose. I just become sticky sweet and do the best I can to make their day better. If not just for the patient, but for the nurse who follows me :) Now, take all of this with a grain of salt, I've only been a nurse since May :rotfl:

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I've been a nurse for 13 years and in the ER where I work, you see a lot. I do like my job very much. I love working (for the most part) with the patients and staff. However, since I went into nursing in my 30's, I have had other jobs and realize that I didn't like them. So...I think in all professions, you have to realize there are good and bad days.

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On a scale of 1-10 pros and cons

cons:

working holidays, weekends ......... 7

cleaning puke, bm, mucous ......... 6

disgruntled family members ......... 6

arrogant doctors, staff ......... 6

low pay ......... 6

upper level management ......... 6

no respect ......... 9

pros:

saving a life ........... 10+

seeing a newborn @ 2.8lbs,

turn into a thriving healthy baby ......... 10+

seeing a vent pt, breathing on

their own and no longer requiring

assistance ......... 10+

a recovering CVA pt, ambulating ......... 10+

good co-workers who carry

their own load and then assist

you when they can ......... 10+

gratitude from pts, or family ......... 10+

appreciation from other medical

feild workers ......... 10+

I am sure you can think of more, but when I add my scores up, being a nurse

out weighs not being a nurse!!!

just my honest opinion

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Specializes in everywhere.

I agree with nursepenny, the pros often outweigh the cons. I really enjoy seeing my patients improve, to see the joy in their eyes when they make the baby steps toward returning home.

Dealing with nasty coworkers, administration, and all the paperwork are downers, but in the long run. I'm proud of our profession.

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Specializes in Transplant, homecare, hospice.
i came across a post, some saying they regret becoming one, some saying the love what they do. this post was from a while back, so im trying to get new imput on it. how do you feel about it? what is your daily rountine like? etc. etc.

all opinions welcomed and appreciated :D

I love taking care of people. I enjoy every aspect of it. I've done other things in my life. I knew I wanted to be a nurse ever since I can remember doing anything.

I love being involved with someone's recovery and figuring out what's wrong with them or even sustaining their life...because of something I've done.

I love meeting new people and learning about their lives.

The only thing I don't like about nursing...well 2 things...One is the politics involved, which sometimes can get out of hand and then sometimes, the stress can be hard. May have a lot of patients who have high acuities and only one of me. Everyone works as a team on my floor...so if it's bad, it isn't for long.:)

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Well, I think I'm burning out already and I'm only a nurse since the end of June. I don't think it's for me... I'm not a patient strong enough person to deal with it all, which is my problem. A lot of times at work I'll have a kid screaming or getting upset over something like the pulse ox probe, and I'll just be thinking, "why don't you just SHUT UP, this is NOT that big a deal!!!"

I think my expectations were too high, of what nursing would be like and of my own capabilities. I don't know what my problem is. I seem to lose a lot of my compassion on the job... not in how I act to the patients but in the way I think, for sure!! I get extremely fed up with parents, with patients, etc., even though I KNOW they are under stress/anxious(parents), or don't really understand what's going on (kids). There are some kids I do love. But seems to me like there are many spoiled brats too. Go ahead and flame me please... I really know I deserve it. I'm being serious. But to all the parents who say... "I don't know HOW you all do this job!!!" I'm saying, well, I don't either know how these nurses stick around... they are amazing people which I will never be!! I may just need to get into another field of nursing. I do love most kids, but maybe I'm just not meant to take care of sick ones.

But I think if you are able to keep a positive attitude towards the profession and be realistic about the difficulty and stress of it, especially at first, then you will do well and end up enjoying it. Go into it with your eyes open and really research the positions you're applying for, and don't just take your first job offer because you're so excited! (that's what I did)

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I scheduled my NCLEX examination for December 28, 2005. I am not officially a 'licensed nurse' until I possess a license, so I cannot yet appropriately respond to your question.

However, I think this is a good thread to bump back to the top of the stack for some renewed dialogue. :)

good luck on the exam! :yeah:

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