Question about overworked and underpayed

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I am considering nursing school and spoke with two nurses the other night. One had worked in the hospital for 27 years and I'm not sure about the other. Both were "glad to be out of the field". One lady told me it was VERY stressful and she always had to work later than her regular 12 hour shift. She said they were always "short staffed". The other lady told me she was so glad to be out of the hospital and if I should do anything, I should go to dental hygiene school.

I don't want to do that. It is not versatile enough for me.

Any thoughts?????

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Shadow a nurse for a day at a local hospital. Yes nursing is stressful. Yes somedays I am overworked and underpaid (ok most days), but I love my job. Just because they feel that way you may love it. If you really want to be a nurse then do so. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

Well, I feel the same way as those nurses do. Nursing is not what I expected it to be. Im always running from room to room, never having time to actually spend any time with any patient. I feel like I neglect them because of the high acuity and large patient load. If I had to do it over, I would not have chosen nursing as my career choice. Why dont you try CNA for a while so you get a feel for the medical field. Shadowing a nurse for an entire day would be a good idea too. If nursing is what you really want to do, then do it. You cant take my word for it or anyone elses. Some LOVE it, some hate it. It is the most stressful aspect of my life. Nursing school is HARD and even more stressful. I think most nurses are overworked and underpaid, I sure am. I would be ashamed to tell what my hospital pays its nurses. But there are some great jobs out there that dont have to be in a hospital setting. Follow your heart.

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.
I am considering nursing school and spoke with two nurses the other night. One had worked in the hospital for 27 years and I'm not sure about the other. Both were "glad to be out of the field". One lady told me it was VERY stressful and she always had to work later than her regular 12 hour shift. She said they were always "short staffed". The other lady told me she was so glad to be out of the hospital and if I should do anything, I should go to dental hygiene school.

I don't want to do that. It is not versatile enough for me.

Any thoughts?????

From what I have heard there is an oversupply of dental hygienist and after spending all afternoon at the dentist I'm not sure you'd want to have all your patients evil thoughts directed at you lol. But do research either options so you feel confident in your decision

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Nursing is not for everyone. There are those who get into the field and find out it's not what they expected. There are those who love it at first and then get jaded and tired and burnt out and leave the field. There are still others who love it and stay in nursing for years and would never get into another field. Don't base your decision on the opinions of the disgruntled, you have to hear the positives too.

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Nursing is risky business. Every few years a disease will emerge that can and will be life threatening to the care giver (nurse). The possibility of injury from lifting patients, or having falls is high. Sticking your self with an infected needle, being exposed to SARS, AIDS, MRSA, and dozen of other fatal diseases does not contribute to the salary of a nurse.

Yes, there is a nursing shortage, or a question of one. The shortage may not be due to aging of the workforce, but the shortage of new nurses willing to up with with poor working condition. Nurses are tired of being viewed as cheap and disposable by hospitals. patients families and physicians.

As a nurse historian once said: "most people know that they can't get into a hospital without a doctor. What they don't know if that won't get out without a nurse (at lease not alive).

I know I should speak up and say "nursing is a grand adventure" but I have been burned out so long, I want to say "run like hell and get away.

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Specializes in ED/trauma.

I'm not sure if it's specialty area or time (years of service) dependent, but (now that I've finished orientation and am finally on my own), I am generally happy at work.

When I first started, I was terrified and hated most days.

Now that I have my time management skills down, there are few days where I don't feel good. I feel like I'm getting paid adequately for the work I do.

I work in a suburban hospital, so that may have a lot to do with it. I believe staffing is adequate on most days. I believe I have enough time to do the CYA end of my job (see also: charting like a maniac) in addition to "caring" for my patients.

On the flip side, I can't see myself working full-time in the hospital forever. While I enjoy it, it's not the ideal environment for me. I'm starting a per diem home health job that I'm really looking forward to. That sort of nursing (and community health) appeals to me, so I plan on moving to part time / per diem at the hospital in the future -- 5 or so years from now -- before I get burned out and start to hate the field that I currently have so much passion for.

Ultimately, I've learned that there are many nurses who just put up with "it" because they don't know what else to do or where to go. I work with a very smart, experienced nurse who complains every single morning. She talks about her experience in the ICU and as a charge nurse. I always wonder why she doesn't go somewhere else... I've realized that "life" (having a family, a mortgage, bills, etc.) puts a lot of constraints on many nurses, and they end up feeling trapped. They end up feeling OVERworked and UNDERpaid and don't know what else to do.

I won't dare put myself in their shoes and say, "Well, if you do this, you'll be fine," because I know life doesn't work that way.

In your case, though, don't put the cart before the horse. Nursing has SO many options, so explore some of them before you make a final decision.

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The sad thing about nursing is that most of the time all you hear about is the bad, not the good. For every positive experience there are five negative experiences to counteract that.

I am a new grad, but I hope that when I start feeling my self get burnt out, or not loving it I will recognize those signs and be able to move on or go to another specialty.

IMHO, there is no reason for any nurse to be working somewhere they don't love. There are so many diverse opportunities within the field of nursing that somewhere everyone should be able to find their niche.

If nursing is what you think you want to do I would job shadow a nurse for a day to see the whole experience. Nursing school is very hard, but it is totally worth it! Good luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Telemetry.

if you really want to pursue nursing...do it! don't let anyone hold you back! my sister is a hygienist and she makes great money... i'm jealous at times because i feel nurses don't get paid nearly enough as we should! i mean, look at the job we have! we have patients lives in our hands! my sisters job is very important...don't get me wrong!

getting back to the point (lol, sorry) i love my job. i go home everyday feeling that i made a difference in someone's life. there is no feeling better then that.

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Specializes in Med Surg, LTC, Home Health.

Nursing is great! Facilities giving you too many patients is what ruins the whole thing. Someday, hopefully, nurse patient ratios will be mandated and when that happens, it will be a beautiful field!

:nurse:

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reckon how the 2 ladies u spoke with will feel when they are in the hospital and don't have a nurse 2 take care of them because they talked everyone out of becoming one. I have been a nurse for about 6 years. i was a scrub tech for 7 years before that. i started my nursing career on 11-7 as does every new grad. i became CN after about 3 months(i don't suggest that). i then went to a slightly bigger (busier)hospital with a different type of charting. i was promised by the DON that I would never have more than 6 pt.s that lasted bout 2 weeks. I then had 9-11 pt.s. Yes it is stressful!!!! Nursing school is very hard!!!! But a managed to have a full time job, 2 kids ages 4 & 9 and a husband(and we're still together) oh and i was >30. If its what u want u can and will do it. Now 6 years later i am ER/OR/OP manager. It is the most thankless job I have ever had. I always have overtime!!! AND I LOVE IT!!!!! It can be the worst job out there but it can also be the best. It's all in what u want to make it. u may have a bad day everyday but when u save 1 life, take the time 2 talk with that little old lady that nobody else can stand, and she won't stop talking and now u r 2 hours behind on everything else u have have 2 do, and they actually take the time to say "thank u" it is all worth it. Sorry this is so long but i'm very passionate about what i think nursing represents. If u r in it to make a difference in peoples lives(i mean really mean it not just answering like u would in a pageant) and the last thing on your mind is your paycheck(which is usually pretty good) then u would make a GREAT nurse. Good luck 2 u!!!!

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