The good, the bad and the ugly

cb_rn · Apr 30, 2010

BAD THINGS

-Working 12 hours (drive+breaks = 13 or 14 hours in reality) can stink when you have little kids but having 4 days off a week is awesome.

-When you're "green" you know just enough to be dangerous. There is a period of time for most new nurses where you hate, hate, despise, and detest your job and feel like you are totally inept.

-There are those doctors with personality issues and there are fellow nurses with...catty attitudes. Just like anywhere, of course.

-You are not always appreciated by patients, family members, doctors, and coworkers

AWESOME THINGS

-So many different things to do, career choices = limitless

-Sometimes you make the difference in someone's life and they tell you and it is like a holy epiphany

-You gain a real advantage in managing your family's medical issues (PS I never reveal I'm a nurse unless it becomes an issue where you "have to" but people usually figure it out when you're curious about lab values or something that many lay people don't think to ask about) but it can also drive you crazy because your imagination can start running wild with differential diagnosis (for instance my 9 month old got a rash and I had cooked up about 5 different scenarios in my head only to have my original suspicion of eczema confirmed)

nursealisa · Apr 30, 2010

Oh my goodness, that's one loaded question, but a very good one. I work in a small hospital in a small town. As a result, we tend to get the same patients on many return visits. Being such a small town, you also see them outside the hospital in grocery stores, church, and even some at family get-togethers. It's very easy to get attached to the people you see so often. The good part of that is, you know most aspects of that persons life and it makes it easier to treat and understand them when they are sick. On the downside of that, it breaks your heart to watch them fade away. And when they die, it crushes you inside. I find that to be the hardest part of my job. On the same small town note comes the ugly part. So many people outside the health care field do not inderstand HIPPA. A small town is like a big family. Most of us, at the very least, know each other and talk at social occasions. People always seem to ask "How's ole' so-n-so doing? I heard they were in the hospital again." or "What's really going on with my cousin? Her husband won't tell me anything." It always seems to cause hard feelings when all you can tell them is that you can't tell them anything. They just don't seem to understand that you can lose your license for the least little infraction of discretion.

One of the most rewarding aspects of nursing is actually making a difference in someones life. Yes, you really do make a difference. There is always gonna be that one patient that is all alone in the world. It's usually an elderly person with no family whose spouse died long ago or a demented patient whose children all live 3 states away. Those are the ones that get the majority of my time. You'd be suprised at how much a sweet smile, gentle touch, or a few kind words can mean to a person who has no one. Even when they cannot speak, the look of gratitude on their face is the best reward a nurse can get.

I have had many jobs before I chose to pursue a nursing career about 6 years ago. Not one of theose jobs can compare to the satisfaction I get from nursing. Without question, I wouldn't change a thing. :nurse:

Jules A, MSN · Apr 30, 2010

I love nursing overall. It is a very hard, demanding job but so worthwhile. Don't let the horror stories scare you for the most part nurses are awesome to work with and we have some great laughs as we muddle through our days. There are so many different schedules available, different areas to work and advancement opportunities that I don't see how you can go wrong. Good luck with whatever you decide.