Scared Pre-Nursing Student: Is Nursing as Bad as I Hear?

mama_d, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2011

Ouch...I just read the rest of the thread...

Honey, this is a site for nurses and students to come to for all things nursing related. I rarely post about the awfulness that occurs at my job, but offending someone's sensibilities is the least of my concerms when I do. I'm searching for empathy, constructive criticism, and advice from others who have been through the same.

And if you're seeing "red flags" here, well, yep...you can't miss them. Better to go into it with you eyes open while you still have a chance to change your mind. Not everyone has that option, which is why so many people who have come to hate bedside nursing, legitimally IMO, are stuck. When you have a family to provide for, personal satisfaction in career choice often takes the back burner.

It would be awesome if nursing was all sunshine and roses, but it's not. At all. It sucks hard core on a regular basis....and this is from someone who can honestly say that I love my job and career and would never consider doing anything else. It's not "whining" to come here and vent and look for support...it's the only safe place that many have where there are oodles of people who know exactly what they're talking about. Just like you can choose to change the channel on the TV, you can choose which threads to focus on here...but don't expect those of us who have been there, done that, to moderate our "behavior" b/c being honest about our experiences might frighten people out of pursuing nursing as a career. No offense intended towards your friend or others who might have changed their mind after coming here, but if they can't even handle READING about what we go through, it's probably better that they got out before investing their blood sweat and tears in a nursing degree.

NurseBlueBear · Mar 29, 2011

OK, I am going to throw in my :twocents: ,

Nursing is a profession that we see the very best and the very worst in people. Most people just think that is limited to our patients, it's not. It is our patients, fellow nurses, doctors, CNAs, CMAs, NPs, etc... Our job is to deal with extremes of human nature and sometime it is really hard for that not to leave some sort of mark on you. Some days our jobs are so physically, emotionally, and psychologically draining and stressful that we need somewhere to go to vent to someone who has been there with us. It is not the side of nursing that most students consider when they are working to get that hard earned license, but it really does need to be acknowledged. I was always told that it takes a special kind of person to be a nurse. I see that is true now more then ever. Most nurses now are feeling overworked, under appreciated, disrespected, and "dumped on". I have a feeling that a great majority of nurses have a genuine reason to feel this way.

I personally love where I work and am lucky to work with a group of people that get along. I know that my team members have my back, just like they know that I have theirs. Right now that seems to be more the exception then the rule, and that makes me sad. I encourage anyone who wants to enter into the field of nursing. But I think that it is a decision that needs to be entered into with your eyes wide open. It is what you make it.

Medic149 · Mar 29, 2011

I don't usually post but I've been thinking about some of what you have written and in one of your posts you mention that maybe ADN's have limited options and may be unhappy. While I admire your drive and passion and commend you for it the previous post is true, if you can't read about it then you proboly can't handle the reality of the profession. I am working on my ADN, not because I don't have the drive to complete my BSN but for personal reasons and I already have a MSM so another degree to put behind my name isn't really important. Secondly not to insult teachers of the trade but have you ever heard the saying "Those who teach can't do"? I think you need the the ground work as a hands on nurse to make you exceptional in teaching. While I see your point in reference to the negativity in some of the posts all I can say is the truth is ugly sometimes, take it for what it is. And if you think that being insulted and descriminated in the corporate world is bad just wait. I have worked in the streets as a Medic for 16 years in the inner city. I've been beat up, spit on, held hostage and had weapons pulled on me not to mention having racial slurs yelled to my face. You think working with low income, underserved communities will be a walk in the park then I challenge you to go to your local Fire Department or ER and volunteer a few hours in the inner city environment. Those nurses who you perceive on here to be negative are venting their reality. I think anyone in the medical field will go through that phase, it comes with experience. I'm sure that any one of those same nurses can tell you about an experience where in a moment of complete chaos they witnessed a miracle that made it all worth it. I to have grand visions of what I want to do when I finish my nursing degree but I feel blessed that I am going into it with experience and knowledge of the other side of it. Every career has it's down side, nursing is no different. In fact it can be worse sometimes, people in this profession will see things that no one should have to see. Cut them some slack for pouring out their frustrations into words, at least until you can talk from experience. Good luck in your journey, hopefully the path you have chosen is the right one and you find happiness.

I Run 4 Fun · Mar 29, 2011

IMO, it is a little unrealistic for you to expect nurses to censor what they say in their posts because the students might get the wrong idea. Some days nurses say "I hate my job" because they are having a bad day while others do say it because they mean it. For those that mean it... it isn't as easy as you say to "change the channel if you don't like what is on TV." Maybe some of these "I hate my job" nurses would love to do something else but can't. Maybe they are up to their eyeballs with student loans, maybe they are the only person in their house earning an income, maybe they are single parents with no outside help, maybe they can't afford to go back to school for another job that pays as much, or maybe they are saying it because they are truly unhappy people.

Whatever the case it, you shouldn't let a bunch of vents on a web site discourage you. If you want to be a nurse - the go for it and the heck with what others say. BUT you do have to be realistic about it. Nursing isn't just taking care of sweet little old lady and cuddling cute babies. You can't always control who your patients are, you can't always control who you work for/with, and you can't control other people's attitudes. What you can control it you. Keep a smile on your face and keep pursuing your goal!

And just for the record... you should really consider the small number of nurses who post on AN versus the number of nurses actually in the profession... and don't forget that nurses from other countries also post here. Do the math.... AllNurses is a very small sample of a huge population!

3dayRN · Mar 29, 2011

I don't think nursing is as bad as you hear. Although it depends on where you work. You have to understand people use this as a place to vent when they have had a bad day. I have done it. I love my job, my coworkers, not to say I don't get annoyed with them at times. Noone has a great day everyday. I think I get paid adequately for my job, now if I got paid more I would be even happier but who wouldn't. Don't let anything on here scare you away from nursing. Now, if I won the lottery :) I would quit in a minute but I am happy being a nurse.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Mar 29, 2011

The people who are miserable are always the most vocal. I love my job.

xluescluesx · Mar 29, 2011

As someone who is about to start nursing school in a couple of months, I totally agree with you that reading some of these posts is a little scary lol. However, I have worked jobs in many different fields while I was an undergrad and all those jobs have politics, horrible bosses, catty coworkers, patients/customers that make you wanna rip your hair out and etc. I don't think nursing is much different (although all those factors must be magnified since a patient's life is at stake on a daily basis). Of course there are usually more people who vent and say my job sucks and I hate nursing than people who say I had such a great day, I can't wait to go in to work tomorrow, but it doesn't mean there are more people who are unhappy. I think you'll be a great nurse, don't worry. Use this site as a learning tool and don't take it too seriously. :)

gigglymo · Mar 29, 2011

Please keep in mind that a lot of us come to this site to vent. I very rarely post when I had a night where all of my patients were fantastic, everything went perfectly, and Dr. X was polite when I called him at 3 a.m. - and to be honest, THOSE nights are more common than the nights where you have a C-Diff patient who's smearing poo in his beard, 23 meds to crush and give in applesauce, 2 admits, a discharge, and a death. But as nurses, we'll post about the latter, because THAT'S when we need to hear, "Oh, that happened to me too once! It's going to be OK."

elainem · Mar 29, 2011

Well, I wish you the best. Don't let what other people say and do discourage you on what you feel is right for you. You sound like a very positive person so keep your attitude and goals focused on what you like about Nursing and God will bless you in more ways than you can ever believe. Be Blessed

Summers_Off · Mar 29, 2011

It would be awesome if nursing was all sunshine and roses, but it's not. At all. It sucks hard core on a regular basis....and this is from someone who can honestly say that I love my job and career and would never consider doing anything else.

I think it is statements like this that the OP is questioning. For PN students such as myself, it's very confusing to hear that nursing sucks hard core on a regular basis, but yet you love it and wouldn't do anything else. I can't wrap my brain around that. Maybe it's like motherhood, you have a mother, you socialize with mothers, you might have "played" mother when you babysit, but you never REALLY know what it's like to be a mother until you ARE a mother. Personally, I believe that nursing IS for me so I can read "nursing sucks, run for the hills" posts until I go crossed eyed (and I HAVE) but I am starting in the fall. :yeah: I let those posts wipe some of the rose coloring off my glasses and press on. Educated decisions are the best ones to make. You gotta be prepared to take the good with the bad because in this imperfect life, they're a matched set. Best wishes!

OCNRN63, RN · Mar 29, 2011

One thing I have seen a lot of on these boards is discouragement directed to the students and/or new nurses who are "niave" enough to have some enthusiasm towards the profession. That's pretty eff'ed up. If you have been doing it for years and have become jaded, (and I don't know if you have or not) that's fine. It is hard not to be "somewhat judgemental" when most of the post you read on these boards sound bitter, cynical and angry. It makes you ask yourself if nursing is this bad, why are these people still doing it? The craziest part is, most of these "I hate my job" nurses say that they have been nursing 5 years or better. I don't think it is "naive or judgemental" to begin to question what must be (forgive me) wrong with people who would go on 5-35 years doing something they claim to despise enough to "warn" anyone even remotely interested in it, not to do it. I don't know about you, but if I hate even as much as a 30 minute TV program, I change the channel. With that being said, I really have to wonder if nursing is really that bad or if some of the nurses here are just without goals that would take them beyond the apparently "hellish awfulness" of bedside nursing. I think after reading approx. 300 "I hate this. I hate this. I hate this" posts over the past 3 hours, me asking if these people are crazy, unmotivated or correct in what they say is an honest and fair question.
I think some of the nurses here, instead of telling us pre-nursing and nursing students and new grads to "just wait until our lives too have been effed up, broke down, frazzled, ruined or destroyed by the dark, filthy, demon filled dungeon that is the inner stinch of this our great nursing profession", should place themselves in our shoes and consider how either terrifying or completely insane all of this "I hate this job that I have been doing for the last 15 years by my own choice" must sound. All I want is a sound answer that does not attack my passion, my goals or my "niave; judgemental" views and there seems to be a lot of that going around on this site. As a newbie, I must say, this site seems terribly negative and non-inspiring. I came here thinking I could learn and read some insightful and encouraging posts from seasoned field professionals. Honestly, there just seems to be a lot of whining. I am just trying to make some sense of all this. Considering the posts that are frequently posted here, again, I think my views are very fair. There are pros and cons to every job.
Ivy Bee :heartbeat

Maybe you should consider that this is a place for nurses to come a give each other support, a shoulder to cry on and a safe place to vent. If that scares you or puts you off, then perhaps this is not a safe place for you to be right now. Nursing is not all sunshine, lollipops and unicorns.

Perhaps you would be better served sticking to the pre-nursing forums where you will find more like-minded individuals. I, for one, don't intend to change my post style unless I get a slap on the wrists from a mod. telling me to dial it down. I'm here to support my colleagues who have been in the trenches and have walked the walk.

FWIW, scolding nurses who have been in the profession for years when you have yet to do one day of clinical just does not serve you well.

Living4Peace · Mar 29, 2011

First off, for all of you jumping down the OP's throat, she was in no way intending to censor the people that come on here and use this site as a vehicle to vent their frustrations. If anything, the OP is trying to gain information as to why the number of negative posts seem to overwhelmingly exceed the positive. All of the snide, rude and contemptuous comments can be put on hold. There is no wonder why nurses get stigmatized as b****es.

OP, I truly honor you enthusiasm. It is refreshing to hear someone that has such a passion for nursing and possess a great amount of goals. I hope you can hold tight to the vigor that you are in possession of, it will take you a long way. I will say that there will be discouraging moments as this field is far less than always pretty.