I am thinking about going to nursing school, and I want to know your opinion. I have sort of lurked these forums for a little while and it seems like a lot of nurses do vent here, however there has to be a reason why you don't quit and keep going back despite the crappy patients, patient ratios, arrogant doctors.. etc.
Has your opinion of people changed at all, do you still have faith in humanity so to speak after dealing with so many types of people?
Do you still maintain your compassion for others?
Do you get depressed at all from the circumstances?
Why do you keep going back?
Thanks a bunch, nursing has been on my mind for a few years now and I feel like this feedback would help me make my decision moving forward.
Little background on me: I'm a L&D nurse that started out with a year in Med-Surg in the Army.
Has your opinion of people changed at all, do you still have faith in humanity so to speak after dealing with so many types of people? I usually enjoy my patients, but I have a hard time with social welfare and seeing a 20 year old without a job on medicaid coming in to have her 5th baby that I am having to pay for. I have to work 40-50 hours a week, get taxed to death, and don't get nearly enough time with my family. Why should you get to stay home with yours and I have to pay the bill? I am, however, a professional and regardless of my personal opinion I always give my very best to each and every patient I have. Whether it's a methodone addict about to deliver her 4th drug addicted baby or whether it's a millionaire princess. Everyone is the same when they walk through these doors. No matter what my opinion of the human race is, I set it aside and give the best and most compassionate care I can. Can you do that?
Do you still maintain your compassion for others? at work, yes. outside of work, not so much. But that's my personality. Nothing was given to me. I worked for every single thing I have. One must earn my compassion.
Do you get depressed at all from the circumstances? Clinically depressed-no I don't think so. Frustrated, annoyed, irritated, blue, down- yes.
Why do you keep going back? same as the rest, as I have bills to pay and a family to support. If i became a million tonight, I would not go back to work tomorrow. I would become a full time aquarist :) In short, I have found that I do not love nursing. Maybe it's just been the jobs I've had or the facilities I've worked at. Maybe it's because I've only did hospital work. I hate the long hours, the charting, the meetings, and the personal bane of my existance: simulation. The stress of this job constantly wears me down. I never want to do anything or go anywhere on my days off. I am going back to school for my masters degree as a family NP, and I hope to get a clinic job working some normal hours, not working every stupid holiday, and spending some quality time with my family. If i happen to hate that too, then I have no idea what I will do. What I do know is that I will not staff nursing for much longer in my life. It's not for me.
lovemyjoblandd
111 Posts
Little background on me: I'm a L&D nurse that started out with a year in Med-Surg in the Army.
Has your opinion of people changed at all, do you still have faith in humanity so to speak after dealing with so many types of people? I usually enjoy my patients, but I have a hard time with social welfare and seeing a 20 year old without a job on medicaid coming in to have her 5th baby that I am having to pay for. I have to work 40-50 hours a week, get taxed to death, and don't get nearly enough time with my family. Why should you get to stay home with yours and I have to pay the bill? I am, however, a professional and regardless of my personal opinion I always give my very best to each and every patient I have. Whether it's a methodone addict about to deliver her 4th drug addicted baby or whether it's a millionaire princess. Everyone is the same when they walk through these doors. No matter what my opinion of the human race is, I set it aside and give the best and most compassionate care I can. Can you do that?
Do you still maintain your compassion for others? at work, yes. outside of work, not so much. But that's my personality. Nothing was given to me. I worked for every single thing I have. One must earn my compassion.
Do you get depressed at all from the circumstances? Clinically depressed-no I don't think so. Frustrated, annoyed, irritated, blue, down- yes.
Why do you keep going back? same as the rest, as I have bills to pay and a family to support. If i became a million tonight, I would not go back to work tomorrow. I would become a full time aquarist :) In short, I have found that I do not love nursing. Maybe it's just been the jobs I've had or the facilities I've worked at. Maybe it's because I've only did hospital work. I hate the long hours, the charting, the meetings, and the personal bane of my existance: simulation. The stress of this job constantly wears me down. I never want to do anything or go anywhere on my days off. I am going back to school for my masters degree as a family NP, and I hope to get a clinic job working some normal hours, not working every stupid holiday, and spending some quality time with my family. If i happen to hate that too, then I have no idea what I will do. What I do know is that I will not staff nursing for much longer in my life. It's not for me.