Question about nursing

as a perdiem labor/delivery/GYN nurse I LOVE what I do...I do it when I can/when I want and on my terms. I love most of my patients and the families....hey what is better than seeing new life brought into the world? so yes, mark me down as a nurse who loves what she does. I am no pollyanna; management and administration and many patients/families make life very, VERY difficult for many of us. But I do like what I do-----------maybe the difference is, I don't work fulltime at it. My family is my primary job; my work my "time out" from day to day family work/homeschooling. I dunno, nursing is what I made of it and I like it fine.

I LOVE my job also. I am 31 and have been practicing for almost 9 years now. I am in Cardiology and NOW work in the office of a busy practice with 2 CV Surgeons and 6 Cardiologist and 1 NP. I worked in the hospital for almost 5 years. I LOVE the hospital setting but hated the hours and not being able to have a flexible schedule. I have 2 kids. I worked evenings with our first child so my husband could be there with her in the evening and me during the day while he was finishing his Engineering Degree. Then I had our son and we moved all within a month of his birth. I stayed at home for 6 months and then went back to working at the hospital on Sunday AM only. I still got calls to come in at night, evening and on my days off. It is sometimes hard to juggle both but a lot of us do it. With our recent move to a new state for my husband's job, I stayed home with the kids for 1 1/2 years. I missed working and looked into part time. Hospital was not being flexible and you still had to do holidays and such. But then I was called from my Resume by my current employer and they offerred me the job right away. It is full time, but when I found out about the job and benefits and pay, it was too good to pass up. 2 1/2 years later, I have gotten good pay raises and this year got a bonus for my dedication to my job. I even started the first Cardiac Nurses Society in my area. So, I stay pretty busy and am working on going back to school. I LOVE my job, but at times, the hospital setting is stressfull. Lack of nurses, difficult pt loads, holidays, weekends, etc. But if you go into it with an idea of what hours you can do, discuss it with your employer and see if they are willing to work with you on a schedule. I know 2 nurses who went back to work under their terms. They only work the days they say they can and no other days. If the hospital wants you enough, they will work with you.

GOOD LUCK in your decision!

Thanks for your input gdnurse & smilingblueyes !

I really liked working but I too have a family and my family

comes first. I am actually expecting again too but not for

6 months. The plan would be after I finish school my husband

would stay home until the kids go to school. I always wanted

to go to school and get an education and I have always been

interested in being a nurse on the maternity ward. I have made

a few attempts before to go to school but with working full time

never completed. Now I can go and not have any excuses as my

husband works early hours and will be home to watch our son.

Thanks again for your stories they definately make me feel better

after hearing all the negative input from other sites !!

Tracy : ^ )

I LOVE my job also. I am 31 and have been practicing for almost 9 years now. I am in Cardiology and NOW work in the office of a busy practice with 2 CV Surgeons and 6 Cardiologist and 1 NP. I worked in the hospital for almost 5 years. I LOVE the hospital setting but hated the hours and not being able to have a flexible schedule. I have 2 kids. I worked evenings with our first child so my husband could be there with her in the evening and me during the day while he was finishing his Engineering Degree. Then I had our son and we moved all within a month of his birth. I stayed at home for 6 months and then went back to working at the hospital on Sunday AM only. I still got calls to come in at night, evening and on my days off. It is sometimes hard to juggle both but a lot of us do it. With our recent move to a new state for my husband's job, I stayed home with the kids for 1 1/2 years. I missed working and looked into part time. Hospital was not being flexible and you still had to do holidays and such. But then I was called from my Resume by my current employer and they offerred me the job right away. It is full time, but when I found out about the job and benefits and pay, it was too good to pass up. 2 1/2 years later, I have gotten good pay raises and this year got a bonus for my dedication to my job. I even started the first Cardiac Nurses Society in my area. So, I stay pretty busy and am working on going back to school. I LOVE my job, but at times, the hospital setting is stressfull. Lack of nurses, difficult pt loads, holidays, weekends, etc. But if you go into it with an idea of what hours you can do, discuss it with your employer and see if they are willing to work with you on a schedule. I know 2 nurses who went back to work under their terms. They only work the days they say they can and no other days. If the hospital wants you enough, they will work with you.

GOOD LUCK in your decision!

I have been a nurse for more than 20 years. I was an LVN for 17 years, went back to school and got my RN. I have been an RN for 8 years. It is the best thing being a nurse. There was No other job for me. I was born to be a nurse and will die happy that I loved what God put me here to do while taking care of my family. I say go for it!!