Pumped about my future career but am scared..help!

Nurses Career Support

Published

i am starting school this fall for my pre-req's. i know, i know, i have a loooooong way to go but i have heard some scary stories and am becoming concerned. i have wanted to be a nurse for a long time and have worked in the medical profession for 5 years. mostly med secretary and assistaing nurses, dr's, x-ray, pt, basically a fill in so i know what to expect, sort of. my concern is this... do nurses really get treated that bad by their peers and others? doesn't that make your job more stressful and does it ever make you reconsider becoming a nurse? i understand that no matter what job you have there is always back biting and kiss ups and crabby people, believe me. my head has been whirrling and churning with going to school and eventually (hopefully 3 years) becoming a nurse. but i am wondering..is it worth it if you're overworked, underpaid and treated badly by your co-workers?? i have seen this statement several times "the elders eat their young." if i wanted to be eaten by my elders i'd go back to working in an office with a bunch of burned out crabby people who throw more work at me when i'm already stressed and treated poorly. i am going to school to not only further my education for my family, kids and self but to also have a real career and not just a job. i want to care for people and do something that means something. to have a career where i feel satisfied. i don't care about hard work and challenges, that is what i thrive on but to have all that nit picking and status cliques is making me really worried. can anyone give me the real skinny on this profession? is it really that bad or is this just daily stress type stuff?? i'd really appriciate it.

a concerned student. :chair:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D/Mother-Baby.

Hello SoulShine75,

Although I am not yet a nurse, I can only tell you not to worry and be sure that this is what you want. The things you describe are not unique to the nursing profession. In Corporate America, you see the same issues. I can tell you this for a fact because I have been in the business world for over 5 years and I see a lot of what you describe. No profession is safe from the miseries you describe. You must find exactly what it is that you want from nursing and let that be your guiding light.

I myself understand what I am facing in my future as a nurse, however, my deeper desire to help others and be a part of their lives at their best and worse is what drives me each and every day. I face the crap at work now and I've overlooked it every time. I try to find the sunny spots in what I do. I am strong and very determined and I do not let the misery of others get me down. I keep my head up with a smile :specs: and think of the good I am doing; it makes me feel better. Do the same and you shall be fine.

I am done with my pre-reqs and waiting to apply this Fall for the nursing clinicals; I can't wait!

You are not alone. Keep reading the posts in this forum since they are very inspiring; bad or good I want to be a part of this beautiful profession. Note that this profession limits you to whatever you limit yourself.

Take care and best of luck in whatever you do. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Everything but psych!.

Bad news always travels faster and further than good news. Don't believe anything you hear, and only half of what you see. I firmly believe that education is never lost. If along the line you change your mind, there are always other avenues.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Bad news always travels faster and further than good news. Don't believe anything you hear, and only half of what you see. I firmly believe that education is never lost. If along the line you change your mind, there are always other avenues.

Thanks for the encouragement. I understand that misery loves company and that is in a lot of different work settings. I just know that this is what I want and I don't want to go in it with a bad taste in my mouth. Thanks for listening and replying.

:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Bad news always travels faster and further than good news. Don't believe anything you hear, and only half of what you see. .

I agree. You do hear alot of negative stories, alot of horror stories. But you are soo right, there are so many bad things that go on in every career. I am not yet a nurse, either , hopefully will start in the adn program in f05 and maybe even go on to get a bsn. I've been in school now for a BS and a MA and DO feel as though alot of it has been 'wasted' but I suppose everything happens for a reason. Good luck to you, I think if it feels right , do it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Endocrinology.

i feel the same way you do. i'm a new lpn, still looking for a job. i actually said in an interview a few weeks ago that i believe teamwork is the #1 foundation for the care of the patient.

i won't settle for an environment that is toxic and will make me hate nursing so soon in my career. just know that there is a place out there that needs a good nurse like you.....patients need you. you're not working for the other nurses and cocky doctors, you're working to care for the patients......even if you have to verbalize that once in a while to straighten people out.

there is a forum on this board called "success stories in nursing". here's the link> success stories in nursing - allnurses.com - nursing discussion board for nurs

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Soulshine75, Please note that many people who are nurses on this board come to this site so they can vent their frustrations. You have to know that nursing currently does have many issues and many nurses are not happy with the state of affairs they see around them. Many people go into nursing to care for patients and have patient contact but anymore nursing is a business. The bottom line is "move em' in and move em' out". Nurses are hard pressed to do all their work in one shift. We would all advise you to read this board and read the good and the bad and decide if this profession is for you. Note though I worked in coporate America for 14 years and there was the same backbiting etc that goes on in every profession - not just nursing. If you are meant to be a nurse - nothing will stop you. Just heed all advice on this board and go into nursing well-informed and with your eyes wide open and you will be fine. Good luck...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well Said!!!

Soulshine75, Please note that many people who are nurses on this board come to this site so they can vent their frustrations. You have to know that nursing currently does have many issues and many nurses are not happy with the state of affairs they see around them. Many people go into nursing to care for patients and have patient contact but anymore nursing is a business. The bottom line is "move em' in and move em' out". Nurses are hard pressed to do all their work in one shift. We would all advise you to read this board and read the good and the bad and decide if this profession is for you. Note though I worked in coporate America for 14 years and there was the same backbiting etc that goes on in every profession - not just nursing. If you are meant to be a nurse - nothing will stop you. Just heed all advice on this board and go into nursing well-informed and with your eyes wide open and you will be fine. Good luck...
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks everyone for the kind words and encouragement. I know this is what I want to do with my life. I am 28 and have worked in the corporate world as well as the medical field and in both cases there was a negative side. It's what you make of it that matters. I worked in a nursing home when I was 18 as a na. It was the hardest, most gut wrenching, depressing job in the world and it wasn't because of the patients. It was because of the work load I had thrown on me and the inexperience I had. I was left alone to care for 10 (skilled, tubes etc..) pt's on my first day. I was horrified that these poor people didn't have the time and care they deserved and I vowed to never ever put myself through that agony again. I left every single day in tears and sometimes cried in the pt's rooms because I couldn't lift them alone ( no one was around to help me.) Since then I had a very bad view of the medical field. I went on to corporate america and realized I was just as much a pee on there as anywhere. I floated around trying to find my place and ended up getting experience as a medical secretary, med assistant, pt asst, x-ray ast and realized that I loved it afterall but there was something missing. I had a job, not a career. I'm ready to devote my time to working towards a career for my family and for myself. I have sacrificed everything for my husband and kids, now it's my time and I'm getting excited about it. So..thank you for reminding me why I chose this career in the first place. To care for patients!

Thanks,

Christy:p

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment