RN's are you happy with your career, why or why not?

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. Are you happy with your job as an RN

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I've seen so many posts about nurses hating their jobs, and this is kind of scaring me from the career, but I still want to go through with it. But are you happy with your choice to become an RN why or why not?

Specializes in Neuroscience.

No. But mostly because I have worked too long as a floor nurse. The amount of customer service and the general chaotic environment has burnt me to a crisp and caused a depression. I would have not chosen nursing if I knew it would be like this. There are other jobs I could have done with a comparable pay and less of a headache and constant stress for twelve hours. I feel like I'm taking years off my life everyday that I'm at work. I cannot wait until the day I never have to administer another pain medication, turn someone, take them to the bathroom for the 500th time that shift, or deal with bad IVs especially when an urgent medication needs to be given. And don't even get me started on the manipulative, needy, unappreciative patients. UGH.

Specializes in School Nursing.

I love my job, and simply can't imagine not being a nurse. Where my dissatisfaction lies is with my administration. Working in our school division, we are supervised by the school administrators, who are not medical. This often leads to conflict because they don't always understand the decisions that we have to make, and why. Trying to explain why we can't accept an order for medication that the MD forgot to sign, but everything else is there. Trying to explain why we need to call 911 for a student who's heartrate is so high you can't count it, you can only get one number for a BP and you can't tell whether it's systolic or diastolic, pupils are constricted, but they can talk to you. Or tell you that you are not to call a physician to question an order that you think is inappropriate because you aren't a MD. They certainly don't make life easy, but they rotate around the division, and I figure I can just wait them out.

I became a nurse due to a tragedy and I regret it. I will say it ... nursing sucks. Not everyone is cut out to be a floor nurse. Seasoned nurses make you feel inadequate, units are cliquey, managers run you ragged and working nights is the pits if you aren't a night person. If I could do it all over again, I would get a certified medical assistant certification and see how you like primary care and working in a doctor office. I'm currently working in primary care because it is better for me. It is an environment I strive in. Floor nursing isn't for everyone. Get out now while you still can. There is always other areas such as physical therapy or radiology. Whenever I hear someone wants to go to nursing school- I tell them DONT do it.

Patients and their families are abusive. End of story!

...and the hospitals/facilities that serve these patients enable and reward their bad behaviour (like giving candy to a child every time they have a temper tantrum).

I would like nursing if we nurses were protected somehow, but we're not. Nurses continue to be used as punching bags and the "blame guy" for whatever isn't going the way any given person wants things to go.

What kind of patients do you have??? How about being protected from fellow co-workers and unethical managers? Patients are ususally sick people, meaning they don't feel good. Give them a break!

We nurses have the protection of the law just like our patients. If you're being abused so much by patients and their families you may have a personal issue you need to explore. Maybe their giving back what you're giving to them. Just maybe...

Also if you dislike patients so much and you're such a victim of the patients why in the world are you even attempting to provide them care? Maybe it's you. Maybe it's too much caffeine. Do you think they want to be there under your care?

Specializes in CVICU, MICU, Burn ICU.

I'm very happy with my choice to be a nurse. It has never been easy, but it has been a good fit.

As for those who are dissatisfied with nursing, I am guessing --- they either:

1. are burnt out (it is an emotionally and physically exhausting job),

2. work in a crummy work culture (either admin or unit culture or both, are toxic),

3. somehow didn't realize what "nursing care" entails (though nursing school should give you a pretty good idea),

4. are generally ready to make a career change, and so dissatisfaction is a sign to try something different (people of all backgrounds make career changes -- people's interests change in a lifetime),

OR .....

5. they could be just generally negative people who would be dissatisfied in any career/relationship/circumstance/income level/status (we all know people like this).

I have experienced #1 and #2 above. Neither of those presented as issues that could not be overcome -- either by establishing appropriate personal boundaries, paying more attention to taking care of myself, changing work environments or a combo of all of that.

Understand, also, it's a big country -- some areas are just better to work in pay-wise, staffing-wise, etc. And always, as with anything, there are tradeoffs....

I love being a nurse and healing people making connections ect, but hate the abuse that we endure and are expected to put up with. The hospital rarely has your back and is BS.

Specializes in Critical Care.

No it has been a struggle from the beginning due to stress, anxiety, bullying, and cliques plus the wear and tear on my body and nerves over the years. My first few years were trial by fire and I can't say I ever really enjoyed the job. Things have become really hellish since we've been taken over by Wrongway Regional Medical Center they have cut all our staff and resources to the bone it is like working with your hands tied behind your back put in an impossible situation where you don't have the staff or resources to safely care for your patients and there is no support from the nursing supervisor. It is just deal with it and how dare you speak up for more staff and safe working conditions. It takes all my effort not to call in from my anger, stress and frustration; let alone the desire to just quit outright. I'm so sick of nursing! I just want out! I really don't see how I can make it to retirement and I know I'm not alone in my feelings. I've become cynical and doubt that there are any good nursing jobs out there. If I had the money I'd quit today and not look back! Coming home to my pet dog is the only thing that keeps me sane and calms me down.

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I am gennerally very happy with my job and career choice.

Hppy

Specializes in PCCN.

No.worst job ever. Talk about being a scapegoat for everything that goes wrong.rude people.no limit setting allowed as it's seen as not good customer service.violent combative old people.innapropriate care offered as providers blow you off. Love being the scapegoat.forget having a conscience in this job

Specializes in Primary Care, LTC, Private Duty.

Just when I was beginning to really like nursing, I'm out of work with a back injury. What I REALLY hate about nursing at the moment is that as soon as you're injured, you're essentially told you're worthless. Can't lift at all/lifting restrictions? Too bad, so sad, here's the door.

And, of course, the major healthcare monopoly around here sucks as far as seeking out your own healthcare or seeking a no-lift office job. My decision to leave nursing might be forced if I can't find a non-lifting job...I can't say I'm in love with nursing enough to find it worth going into debt for my BSN, so I don't know what to do, and no one else around here wants to hire a nurse in a non-nursing job for fear that as soon as the right job in my field opens up then I'll leave...I guess my recovery time after my impending back surgery will give me time to think.

What kind of patients do you have??? How about being protected from fellow co-workers and unethical managers? Patients are ususally sick people, meaning they don't feel good. Give them a break!

We nurses have the protection of the law just like our patients. If you're being abused so much by patients and their families you may have a personal issue you need to explore. Maybe their giving back what you're giving to them. Just maybe...

Not entirely true, but I see what you mean. I think it depends on the population you serve as well.

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