Some perspective on nursing profession bashing

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All,

I've been here a little over a month. Since that time I have read hundreds and hundreds of posts and have learned so very much from all of you. I've been cheered on, supported and given great advice. I've also been ridiculed, yelled at and called names. So, in the grand scheme of things, I think I've been baptized by fire into the whole AN community and all in all I'm glad to be here, even though I threated to quit several times! :lol2:

Many of the posts directed either towards me or others in my position (applying to nursing schools) have given the advice to basically run as far away as you can from nursing. The downfalls of the profession (or labor as some call it), have been made crystal clear to me. :eek: In the advice given from some of the very unhappy nurses here have been to look into other health related careers. Go into OT, PT, SLP, anything other than nursing! So, respecting the opinions of the experiences nurses here, I started thinking about that and started visiting some OT, PT, SLP message boards to make sure that I was fully informed on what I was about to undertake.

And guess what...they all hate their jobs too! At least the ones posting do. The OT board had very unhappy people and many were telling potential OT students to get out, run and go into nursing! :eek: The PT board was better but still had people lamenting all the money they wasted on education to then have to be dealing with insurance companies - and I used to be a speech therapist (not masters level...basic speech therapist for people with disabilities) so I know how many people hate that. The friends I have in IT told their kids that they won't pay for college if their kids go into computers, etc....

It was great perspective for me to get because I needed to see that no profession is perfect ,and what is good for someone else may very well be horrible for someone different. I am SURE there are many OT's who love their jobs. Just as I'm SURE there are many nurses who love their jobs. I've come to realize that I need to take the negatives on here with a grain of salt. Sometimes it's just the same nurses posting about how horrible it is - it took me a while to put that altogether because I didn't pay attention to user names. That doesn't diminish their experience and I do take their experiences to heart along with the rest of the big picture. So I am grateful to have heard both sides...except that I much more often hear the negatives than the positives, and maybe that's just the nature of message boards. Regardless, I am glad to hear both sides.

So, while I am certainly not trying to offend ANYONE and I have tremendous respect for ALL of the nurses here whether I agree with them or not - I am posting this (trepidatiously) as simply an antectdotal bit of opinion that the grass is always greener on the other side. I needed that perspective, and maybe someone else can also use it to fortify their decision to go into nursing. Visiting the other sites really helped me to focus my heart and my wants and desires for my career, so for those of you who recommended that - I have to say thank you - although I'm pretty sure you expected a different outcome!

Specializes in Cardiac.
i started thinking about that and started visiting some ot, pt, slp message boards to make sure that i was fully informed on what i was about to undertake.

and guess what...they all hate their jobs too! at least the ones posting do.

i about spit coffee on my laptop screen when i read that line! lol :lol2: kudos to you for doing the research and gaining prospective! it's hard to keep the positive vibes alive on this site sometimes!!! :D

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Thanks jlpsu, I'm starting nursing school in September, and reading this site has gotten me down so much my husband has forbade me from being on it! Your comments have cheered me up considerably. I work as a waitress currently and while it certainly has it's drawbacks (whole new forum needed for THAT one), the place I work at is beautiful, co-workers helpful and friendly to one another for the most part, management supportive, even customers are 99% nice people. So I must agree that where you work is as important as what you do. My A&P teacher was bitter about local elections decrying the wages of teachers, and remarked that we nursing pre-req students would soon be making more money than him. At the time I was going for pre-reqs to be a registered dietitian. But that sounded boring suddenly after years of being excited about it. It could be that as individuals, it is important to keep on that personal hunt for self satisfaction. It sounds like that's what you're doing:cool:

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I've been an RN for 26 years- the last 7 have been on disability, but I keep my license active, and am learning a LOT from the patient end of things (trust me, it ain't like taking care of someone else- LOL). Maybe some think I'm not a nurse anymore- I don't see it that way- I continue to use my skills daily. And I do whatever it takes to keep my license. It's been who I am for more than half my life. Without it, I don't know what I'd do :(

My worst day/week/month/year of nursing was nothing compared to not being able to work. JMHO. I think everybody wishes for an extended period of time off- but I never dreamed I'd not be ABLE to work. I'd shovel cr*p for 12 hour shifts in a heartbeat if I was physically able. :)

People get worn out. Patients can drive you nuts. Doctors can be a total pain. Co-workers can be hostile. Yadda, yadda, yadda :D

But in the end, when even one person takes the time to say "thank you", it helps- they didn't have to say it, but they did. And for the ones who say even nicer things- well, there's no price tag for that. :)

I worked the floor, as a sup, manager (LTC), MDS (desk- mostly), and department head levels- they all have their perks and horrors. But the overall experience is one I wish I was still living :):heartbeat:twocents:

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I've been an RN for 26 years- the last 7 have been on disability, but I keep my license active, and am learning a LOT from the patient end of things (trust me, it ain't like taking care of someone else- LOL). Maybe some think I'm not a nurse anymore- I don't see it that way- I continue to use my skills daily. And I do whatever it takes to keep my license. It's been who I am for more than half my life. Without it, I don't know what I'd do :(

My worst day/week/month/year of nursing was nothing compared to not being able to work. JMHO. I think everybody wishes for an extended period of time off- but I never dreamed I'd not be ABLE to work. I'd shovel cr*p for 12 hour shifts in a heartbeat if I was physically able. :)

People get worn out. Patients can drive you nuts. Doctors can be a total pain. Co-workers can be hostile. Yadda, yadda, yadda :D

But in the end, when even one person takes the time to say "thank you", it helps- they didn't have to say it, but they did. And for the ones who say even nicer things- well, there's no price tag for that. :)

I worked the floor, as a sup, manager (LTC), MDS (desk- mostly), and department head levels- they all have their perks and horrors. But the overall experience is one I wish I was still living :):heartbeat:twocents:

I always like reading your posts XTXRN. You always have a great perspective and I appreciate that! You don't always post butterflies and roses, but you tell it like it is with a balanced perspective...so, THANKS! :D I am so sorry that you are experiencing nursing from the patient side. I can only hope you are getting good nurses taking care of you! And I agree with you - people want time off...I know I did....until you have TOO much time off and then you start to lose sight of yourself and your identity. My sincerest wishes for a healthy recovery for you...

The doom and gloom nurses here get me down sometimes, but I also know that they have to have a reason for feeling this way, so I feel kinda sad for them. I've not liked jobs before, but then I've gotten up and made a change to better my position. I guess maybe that's easier said than done, and I'm sure long time nurses are looking at me as a pollyanna who hasn't even started nursing school yet. And, they are right...to a degree. I DON'T know what kind of nurse I'll be yet - but I believe I'll be a good one, so I'll work to be a good one. I think I'm going into this with my eyes wide open, with a clear understanding of the downfalls (as much as one can be clear if they've never actually experienced it), and for the 'right' reasons. That's the best I can do to ensure my success in this field. I've done my research, thoughfully considered the negatives and am now moving forward and not looking back. As with anything in life, it will be what I make it...

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I always like reading your posts XTXRN. You always have a great perspective and I appreciate that! You don't always post butterflies and roses, but you tell it like it is with a balanced perspective...so, THANKS! :D I am so sorry that you are experiencing nursing from the patient side. I can only hope you are getting good nurses taking care of you! And I agree with you - people want time off...I know I did....until you have TOO much time off and then you start to lose sight of yourself and your identity. My sincerest wishes for a healthy recovery for you...

The doom and gloom nurses here get me down sometimes, but I also know that they have to have a reason for feeling this way, so I feel kinda sad for them. I've not liked jobs before, but then I've gotten up and made a change to better my position. I guess maybe that's easier said than done, and I'm sure long time nurses are looking at me as a pollyanna who hasn't even started nursing school yet. And, they are right...to a degree. I DON'T know what kind of nurse I'll be yet - but I believe I'll be a good one, so I'll work to be a good one. I think I'm going into this with my eyes wide open, with a clear understanding of the downfalls (as much as one can be clear if they've never actually experienced it), and for the 'right' reasons. That's the best I can do to ensure my success in this field. I've done my research, thoughfully considered the negatives and am now moving forward and not looking back. As with anything in life, it will be what I make it...

If you treat people how you'd want them to treat you (because you never know what can happen ) you'll be fine- it's not easy- but you can always remember that the person you are taking care of has to live what they are going through....you get to go home- sometimes that makes it not so bad....and for the times when it IS that bad- remember it's temporary and you can always decide to do some other type of nursing. I had to do that- and rotated between acute care, LTC, and psych/chemical dependency....that was back in the major nursing shortage days- but it's still possible if you can relocate....just tell yourself it's only one more shift- you can decide to not go back at any time- that would help me. :)

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There is a reason why the nursing school you want to get into has so many applicants, it is because the profession is both challenging and rewarding. In nursing there will always be good days and bad days. Good jobs and bad jobs. But if you are willing to work hard you will also be able to make a good living in a profession where the rewards are many. The only one who will know if nursing is right for you is you and you won't know if you don't try it.

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To be honest, I didn't bookmark the sites. I just started googling "do you like being an ___________" and filled it in with "occupational therapist", "physical therapist", etc... and I came across several different message boards. As with everything, there were some good and some bad. But a whole lot of people saying the same kinds of things as people say here...so it just put it all into perspective. I figure, if I can listen to the naysayers here, and have heard my mother tell me stories from her 35+ years in nursing, and I still want to be a nurse...then I must REALLY want to be a nurse! :D

If I sound negative, I really don't mean it, I just wish for feedback from others who might see the situation differently, or as a nurse manager/DNS see a way for me to proceed, based on their experience. I should post the more important moments, you are right. The truth is, as a 3rd career, and now as a fairly new RN, I have very exciting days. I love wounds/wound care, I love to see a patient rehab and return to the community, and I love to work with and mentor other nurses, especially new ones that are eager and happy for a mentor. There is a lot of good in nursing, also a lot of politics on the SNF/LTC side..it's the politics and survey/state issues that are overwhelming and in no way shape or form, fun, a necessary evil I think.

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I DON'T know what kind of nurse I'll be yet - but I believe I'll be a good one, so I'll work to be a good one. I think I'm going into this with my eyes wide open, with a clear understanding of the downfalls (as much as one can be clear if they've never actually experienced it), and for the 'right' reasons. That's the best I can do to ensure my success in this field. I've done my research, thoughfully considered the negatives and am now moving forward and not looking back. As with anything in life, it will be what I make it...

awesome perspective...

which keeps YOU in control of the situation, as well.

so...when do you start classes?:)

leslie

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One WEEK! I start my sciences next week...many of which I've already taken but they are too old to transfer! :mad: My other classes will transfer so hopefully when I start NS next fall I will only have to take the actual nursing courses.

I'm excited to get started and nervous too. But I am so ready for this :D I started working on my applications this week and take the nursing entrance exam next week too. I could throw up about that! There's something about finally figuring out what direction you want to take in life...you just want to get going already! I feel like I've wasted enough time!

Thanks for the support in this thread ladies (and gentlemen if you are out there!). THIS is what is great about AN! :redbeathe

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
If you treat people how you'd want them to treat you (because you never know what can happen ) you'll be fine- it's not easy- but you can always remember that the person you are taking care of has to live what they are going through....you get to go home- sometimes that makes it not so bad....

Ya know XT, this is why we all love ya so much here! You contribute an honest perspective.

XT's comment above makes me remember the time that I was called in at 0230 for an emergency crani. All of us had worked a full day, the surgeon had gotten home at 2230 from a full day of surgery, rounds and preparing for the next day's surgeries. Before the surgeon came into the room, and after the pt was induced and intubated, we started complaining about how tired we were, how we wished that we were at home asleep in our warm beds, and were talking about how worried we were that the case would go on for a few hours, making us sleep deprived for our regular shift starting in 4.5 hours. We didn't hear the surgeon come into the room while in the midst of our beetch-fest. He immediately pitched in telling us that he was tired too, and that he would have liked to have at least finished the dinner that his thoughtful wife left in the warmer for him. Then he said, "But seriously guys, our day isn't nearly as bad as this guy's day has been (pointing to the pt)."

We all shut up after that timely reminder to be thankful that we could go back to our warm beds, BE ABLE to work, and be well enough to eat a dinner that someone else lovingly made for us.

Nothing like perspective, eh?

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I'm excited to get started and nervous too. But I am so ready for this :D I started working on my applications this week and take the nursing entrance exam next week too. I could throw up about that! There's something about finally figuring out what direction you want to take in life...you just want to get going already! I feel like I've wasted enough time!

you haven't wasted time.

no matter where we are in life, we're where we need to be.

re nsg entrance exam, you may want to go over your posts here, and take a bit here and there from ea post.

much of it would explain why you want nsg so much...your passion is that palpable.:)

leslie

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