The 5 things you love & hate about being an RN

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If possible, list 5 things that you love about working as an RN and 5 things that you don't exactly like about it.

I am a current student and although still early in the process I'd like some inside thoughts. Thanks so much!

PS. This site is great.:)

Specializes in cardiothoracic surgery.

Love:

1) My cardiac and thoracic surgery patients

2) My coworkers (99% of them)

3) My pay and benefits, able to live comfortably

4) My elderly patients

5) The fact that I am not sitting behind a computer all day. I like the fast paced environment.

Hate:

1) Press Ganey

2) Hovering, overbearing, know-it-all family members

3) Having to call people alot to see if they want to work extra and then having to leave the next shift short because everyone is tired of getting called and there is no help in the hospital

4) Patients who don't take care of themselves. Ex: continue to smoke with no intention of quitting even though there is a real possibility of losing their leg, ordering out pizza 2 days out from a CABG, etc.

5) When people outside of work ask me what the rash is on their leg. I don't know, I am a cardiac nurse!

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

Peds/adult float pool nurse here

I LOVE:

1. The pay. For my age (early 20's) I could not make this much doing anything else

2. The schedule flexibility. I have self scheduling, so I get to work when I want.

3. The wide variety of pt populations/job areas. I currently work in two very different areas, and love both of them. I learn different skills, see different things in each one.

4. Knowing everyday, that I am doing something to help someone and their family.

5. Doctors that listen to you when you tell them you are concerned about a decompensating pt.

I HATE:

1. Poorly staffed floors.

2. Working nights, weekends, and holidays.

3. Doctors that don't listen when you as a nurse try to tell them a pt is decompensating. Sure, you can chart it, but it's a terrible feeling when they are doing nothing

4. Policies that were obviously written by people with no pt contact that we are required to follow. (ie at my facility we put NKA bracelets on everyone who doesn't have allergies. Waste of time, IMO).

5. Doctors who write their orders/progress notes so illegibly you have no idea what the plan is.

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Specializes in Acute rehab, LTC, Community Health.

LOVE

  1. Feeling like I am making a difference
  2. Learning something new everyday
  3. Seeing people get better or die peacefully
  4. When nurses and doctors take the time to truly teach other nurses
  5. When nurses and doctors take the time to truly teach their patients. There are very few "non-compliant" patients, just many health care professionals that didn't assure that they really "got it."

HATE

  1. Backstabbing co-workers
  2. Doctors (people)that assume all nurses are incompetent and became nurses because they weren't smart enough to go to medical school. Guess what, I am smart enough, but I CHOSE to be a nurse, because I actually wanted to spend time with my patient and my family and for the most part I enjoy people and enjoy being a nurse!
  3. Everything being about the bottom line and money. Management that does not have the best interests for their staff and patients.
  4. People that will not speak up for themselves, their co-workers and their patients. What ever happened to being an advocate?!?
  5. Family/patients that feel they know more than the doctor, because they looked something up on web-MD or has a family member "in medicine."

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