would you recommend nursing as a career

LPN & EMT-CT · May 21, 2003

You sound like a caring nurse, nursing is a very demanding job, the time it takes to aquire everything that you need to do just to become a nurse and then all the continuing education hours you have to put in, and the personal time refreshing yourself and getting used to new ways of doing procedures and always learning something new in nursing etc, etc. But just look at all the ways you can impact just one person's life and the countless people that you will help save or assist in saving/helping when they are at their worst. It is truely a calling and it's a shame that more and more people aren't coming to nursing. I try and tell everyone that is somewhat interested in nursing to look into a career in it or take the time to research it and find out if that is what they want to do with their life.

LPN & EMT-CT

Disablednurse · May 21, 2003

I agree with both of you. It is a very rewarding profession and it is a calling. There are those that become nurses thinking that there will be good money making potential, but that is not so. You have to look at nursing as what you can do for people and how you can help them. I have put 25 years in the profession and loved every moment of it. I worked in LTC and it was most rewarding.

roxannekkb · Jun 10, 2003

But there is no reason why nursing should not be well paid. Why do careers where eople make a difference, and are of great use to society, have to be one or the other? Why does nursing have to have this martyr tinge to you, that you have to "sacrifice" to help your patients? Nurses should be paid well, should have safe working conditions, should be treated with respect, and should not have to put up with all the crap that's dished out. This is not a conflict of interest, and there is nothing wrong with being well compensated.

If nurses were treated better, our health care system would be dramatically different and patients would be "rewarded" by being cared for by the best and brightest of our society. Instead, many individuals who might be interested in nursing and who would make great nurses look elsewhere, because they're not willing to put up with working conditions and low pay.

lateblumer · Jun 17, 2003

There was a time when i would say that nursing was a career only for those that were called to do so. But recently at my place of employment, just about anybody can do my job. Our unit manager hires people who definately are not cut out to be nurses, but continue to stay on the payroll. These so called nurses know nothing of patient care, pain management, compassion or even how to read an MAR. one person in particular has had so many med errors, that the nursing assistants are calling her nurse kovorkian. It does no good to tell anyone about all this. It is noticed by everyone on our unit, but nothing is done about it. When i first started there, another LPN told me, " Anyone who can read can do this job." I refused to let myself believe it, however over time, i am beginning to believe she was right.

I tell myself everyday, that i am there to make a difference, that i do make a difference, and will eventually make a difference. But if it keeps up like it is, I won't be in nursing very much longer.

Thanks for letting me sound off.

If your hearts not in it, then get out of it!

Genista, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2003

I would like to add, that many of us were called into nursing & our heart is in the right place, but we are getting out because of the unsafe & ridiculous working conditions. Don't get me wrong- I'm not afraid to work hard. I work like a dog everyday, with passion. I feel I give 110% and it's NEVER enough. You can have a heart as big as the Grand Canyon, but until safe staffing becomes a priority, patient care & nurse burnout will be the result.

Please don't assume that all of us who are leaving don't have the heart. I have a BIG HEART and I am moving on to another profession where I won't be expected to work doubles, miss breaks, have 2 hrs O.T. every day, and live in fear of missing something.

I wanted to be a nurse, but after 5 years, it is killing me both physically & mentally. I will be out of it as soon as I finish my school for another profession. For those of you who stay in the field- I admire your strength & dedication. I hope we can someday make working conditions and safe staffing the priorities they need to be.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2003

Originally posted by roxannekkb
But there is no reason why nursing should not be well paid. Why do careers where eople make a difference, and are of great use to society, have to be one or the other? Why does nursing have to have this martyr tinge to you, that you have to "sacrifice" to help your patients? Nurses should be paid well, should have safe working conditions, should be treated with respect, and should not have to put up with all the crap that's dished out. This is not a conflict of interest, and there is nothing wrong with being well compensated.

Look closely, the above post is full of "Shoulds". Yes, we should be well paid, we should be treated with respect, but the reality is that we are not.

Therefore, would I reccomend nursing as a career?

No.

rreed · Jun 17, 2003

I would not recommend it as a career either

I do love what I do, but most people don't want to work, they think that they are too good to put someone on a bedpan or help turn someone over or help pull someone up in the bed or feed a little old person after they get their license as RN or LPN, they want to sit behind the desk and chart or look at the computer and give orders for others to do their work.

Rachel RNC

live4today, RN · Jun 17, 2003

Once upon a time I encouraged others to become nurses because of what nursing brought into my life, and what I was able to give to the sick and dying.

One of my daughters even became a nurse because she said that I was her inspiration for doing so.

Today...RUNNNNNNN fast as you can AWAY from nursing because today's nursing does not resemble that which I use to know as nursing. Sad, but true.

Maxwell Smart · Jul 12, 2003

I can't help but notice that Nursedude has certainly drawn some fire from others out there, some so scathing they had to be pulled offline, well nursedude, I can actually relate to some of what you are saying, and it's true that at times in my life I probably have been even more critical than youself about the pay the conditions and the other things that contribute to nursing dispondancy syndrome (NDS hey I coined an acronym) but let me ask this, next time you go to work, will it be as a plumber, butcher or other tradesman or as a nurse? if your answer is the last one then yes even you recommend a career in nursing because if you did not why would you spend ten years of your life doing it?

L.B. Path · Aug 21, 2003

To new nurses, I would advise you to go into the field with your eyes wide open, be ready to swim like a duck and always make lemonade out of the lemons.......but don't ever become so discouraged before you try it that you decide you don't want to do it.....I am a flexible type of person and have enjoyed a career in nursing that I could not have enjoyed in any other field. I have worked in many positions and had that "darn near broken back syndrome".....but when my back was hurting the most my heart was often singing joyously for the DIFFERENCE that I know that I made in an individual's life.....I didn't get into nursing for the money...I guess for me it is true, there is NOT enough money in the world....I DO draw a decent paycheck......but for ME, I have never associated my nursing career with the paycheck.....It is as though they are separate entities....In the most extreme case, when I have been near overwhelmed by finding myself in areas that could be considered, "unsafe", I have spoken up.....I wont assume a shift without enough help to back me up when I am charge Nurse/etc/etc.....and interestingly enough, I have always been given the support I need. I am not unreasonable....but patient safety and care is utmost in my career life. I don't NEED the $$$ as much as I need the piece of mind that my patients will have adequate care. After 13 plus years of Nursing, I would STILL advise someone to go into nursing because there are so many options available......Just like for me now, I am getting ready to go on for my Bachelor's and then higher......and then have hopes to teach nursing.......Those who are after the $$$$ can sure find an easier way to make it....Those who desire to make a difference with their lifes, will find nursing more than satisfying....but know your heart and know yourself....Then, you can determine what YOU have to offer to another.....take care of yourself.....and love each other.....IF you are capable of doing that......THEN, you will make a QUALITY nurse and THEN a nursing career is the right one for you.

Janet E Groll · Aug 21, 2003

I feel like nursing can be a great career choice still. You have to study hard and not get into the profession for the wrong reasons. It won't make you rich, and some days you just want to go home and scream. Some of the new nurses getting into the profession have done so because of all the wrong reasons, and I really have a hard time relating to them. They have been fazed out of other jobs and they find that they can raise a family on a nurses income, and that is the only reason some get into this field of work. They are dangerous to everyone around them, their work is sloppy and they expect the nurse relieving them to clean up behind them, and the patients are the ones suffering the most from this particular type of nurse. I still love my profession, and even tried to talk my niece from entering the profession, by bribing her with tuition if she would become a veterinarian. She declined my offer saying she wanted to become a nurse just like her aunt, because she has seen the differences I make in my patient's lives. You just always have to remember we are truely here for the patients and without them, well I don't know. Always be conciensious about all you do, never do anthing to harm anyone, and if you have to make waves to protect the patients then make them. There have been all too many changes in this profession just in the past ten years, and if we all fight together to retain our profession as it should be, we can be heard. I have found that in nursing that changes occur and staff gets dissatisfied, but not enough of them stand together as one to say, enough already! Why is that? Someone please tell me. One insructor once told me, when I saw something as a young student nurse that I didn't agree with, she told me, don't make waves now, wait until you are an RN, and then you can truely change the sysyem, well I'm still waiting, and now the only thing I can control is how I behave, and how I live with myself at the end of the day. Good Luck! Don't give up on nursing if you truely believe in it and yourself.