Stress in Nursing?

Fiona59 · Sep 17, 2011

Yes, there is stress in working. Families can be hugely unrealistic in their expectations of what the system can provide for "their" patient and take all their frustrations out on the nurse.

Shiftwork after a few years can harm your health and your family life.

Co-workers. They are often more stress inducing than the workload. Remember you spend more time with them than your spouse.

How old are you? You sound very young in your post.

There are many areas in the healthcare field. Physio, MRI and ultrasound techs, occupational therapy. What are you interested in? Why do you want to work in healthcare?

Me, if I had to do it over, I'd be a Health Records Technician. Clean job, own cubicle, breaks on time, no family contact.

Yes, it's been a very long week.

ruralgirl08 · Sep 17, 2011

"Physio, MRI, and ultrasound techs"

If I were to do it over again, any of these three job are just as interesting as nursing...with: less stress, good pay, and generally better hours.

I am assuming your from Ontario, for other examples of allied health careers, look at the Michner Institute, they offer a lot of allied health programs.

itsmejuli · Sep 17, 2011

If I were to do it over again for less stress I'd pick physio, occupational therapy or speech therapy.

Toaster · Sep 17, 2011

Thank you for your reply Fiona, Rural and itsmyjuli!

@Fiona: Did you have any time to spend with your family? I am 18 years old and I was thinking of going into Dietician but I don't what they really do, all I know is that they handle patient's food. Is it stressful as Nursing?

@Ruralgirl, I just checked the Michner Institute and wow! They offer so many programs related to health. If you don't mind, how was your work experience as a nurse?

@itsmejuli: How was your experience, if you don't mind sharing here! I still have couple of months to decide which program to pick again

joanna73, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2011

I agree that the work environment and your coworkers can make or break it. I have worked with some fabulous nurses....currently not so much. Some people always try to take advantage. I find dealing with those people more stressful than nursing itself. You learn to expect and deal with the stress of nursing.

Perhaps you might decide to rethink your nursing program. In reality, every job carries some level of stress.

loriangel14, RN · Sep 17, 2011

Stressful - yes, sometimes.Do I wish I was doing something else? No.

ruralgirl08 · Sep 17, 2011

I've been nursing under 4 yrs. I would say coming out of nursing school, I had a lot of optimism because there are so many avenues in nursing. I am still trying to keep this attitude, but I have also had some low points beginning my nursing career. I experienced two hiring freezes, one layoff, and it was difficult to find full-time work as a new grad. Then there is the challenge of trying to get into the area of interest. The key to being happy in nursing is finding your niche area. You need to have some true interest in what you do, not just be happy with the paycheck, because you do sacrifice a lot for work. If you are not in a place you enjoy you will burn out. Health care is a stressful career choice. People are sick, emotions run high, and money is always tight. But it can be rewarding when you feel you have made a contribution & difference in someone's life.

PiRN · Sep 17, 2011

I'm proud to be a Nurse. All jobs are stressful :)

globalRN · Sep 18, 2011

every job has its stressors.

The only thing you can do...is do your best for your patients with

the time and resources available to you. If you need more...ask for whatever

u need to do ur job. Sometimes, u will get what u asked for but u wont if u never ask.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2011

Finding an area of nursing you enjoy makes all the difference. Despite all the issues, I love what I do. I recently obtained my certification in geriatrics. For me anyway, I like to have something to keep me focused. And of course, interests outside of nursing are equally important to balance out the stress.

PiRN · Sep 18, 2011

Finding an area of nursing you enjoy makes all the difference. Despite all the issues, I love what I do. I recently obtained my certification in geriatrics. For me anyway, I like to have something to keep me focused. And of course, interests outside of nursing are equally important to balance out the stress.

very well said... Nursing is not a job, its a vocation to live-within... :)