Thinking of changing my mind......

colleen10 · Jul 15, 2003

I think it's just human nature to need to vent and complain about things more than talk about the really good things.

It's kind of like if you are out to dinner with someone and they order something that tastes really good. Usually, they'll say, "wow, this desert is awesome" and leave it at that. However, if they get something else that tastes absolutely horrible it's all "oh, my goodness, taste this, it's awful" and then you might hear about the bad experience for days after ward. "We went to blah blah restaurant and the soup was attrocious!"

Kind of the same thing coming here to the board. There are posts about really good things and good experiences as a nurse but people will always need to vent and get off their chests their bad experiences more.

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Jul 15, 2003

I came into nursing at a time when we actually had time to care for our patients. I LOVED it then. Now, I don't know, anymore. I'm not trying to discourage you from entering the nursing profession (God knows we need a million + more!). You will have to decide for yourself, what you expect to derive from nursing. No one else can do that for you. As most people have already stated in this discussion board, they love nursing. It's the mindless politics of Management and big Corporations who own the hospitals and companies that we all have to work for, in one capacity or the other. They have become dictators, burning out the VERY core of the workforce that they depend on, to generate their revenues...and to keep their stockholders happy.

I have been in nursing for over 33 years, and will love it to my grave. But, like a lot of other people here, I am tired of being used and abused, and am seriously considering getting out. In the meantime, do what you think is best...and make it work for YOU.:)

MICU RN · Jul 15, 2003

Also, ask yourself what do you want out of a career? Are you looking into getting a college educated professional job or a job that offers some security and pays twenty something dollars hour with rather hard work conditions. From the stand point of professional type jobs,nursing is more or less at the bottem of pay and status. From a vocational stand point nursing is a decent job, if you look at other programs offered at say a community college, nursing is at the top. However, if you go to a university to get a BSN you will realize nursing is not that great of a professional type job. Compared to all the other professional types of jobs offered at universities. So it goes back to what you are looking for, as I just mentioned, if your goals are high in regards to what you expect in a profession, I think you be dissapointed with being a bedside nurse. As others have said the work is hard and often dirty, most of my friends with college educations would never do that kind of work. So think hard about what you want out of a job and follow your heart.

KrisRNwannabe · Jul 15, 2003

Usually I avoid the threads like the plague but it appears I have been sucked in. I have people in my family that I nurses so I get to see what it is like for them. Not one single person in my family that is a nurse would EVER talk someone out of becoming a nurse. I understand that it is a difficult job and sometimes you are not appreciated by anyone but sometimes you are. My cousin Sue tells me that if just one patient says to her "thanks for helping me" or something to that affect then that makes up for all the bad stuff. Everyone thinks their job is crappy from time to time but if you feel that way all the time then you need to get out. because you are ruining for other people. And in my personal opinion (so don't jump down my throat about it) i think the money is just fine. I have a BS degree from one of the best university in the country and I work for one the largest oil companies in the world and I don't make squat and I never will. My aunt who is a retired nurse make more a month in pension then I ever will working at my current job. Where I live, 21/hr to start is great, regardless. and that is with a ADN!! Sorry for such a long vent but sometimes i can't help it. To all of those that are in school or thinking about school: GOOD LUCK!!! and don't let ANYONE influence your decisions we were each give our own brains and free will for a reason.:)

mattsmom81 · Jul 15, 2003

Lots of good opinions expressed in this thread. :)

Nursing has kept me in a flexible job with decent $$ for 27 years, and allowed me to raise my family comfortably. So I can't complain about THAT aspect.

As others have mentioned, it is a difficult job today, and much different than when I started.

If your heart is not really in this, consider xray tech or respiratory therapist...both good medical careers similar in pluses to nursing, but without the major BS we encounter as nurses, who are the workhorses of hospitals. Thge buck stops with us whatever the problem.

A lot of our frustration is linked to our high liability/high responsibility, but little appreciation and authority to offset it.

Cynthiann · Jul 15, 2003

Since you never hear your family complain about being a nurse and you live in the same town as me - I'm wondering - what hospital(s) do they work at? Maybe I need to work there when I graduate.

renerian, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2003

Nursing is a hard and exhausting job. I love nursing but that does not mean I don't have days I smack myself in the face saying what am I doing this for????????? I agree with a previous post that all jobs have issues and we all need places to vent. Just know you are going into a field where you are going to have to work your butt off, you may get sued, you won't get many thanks, the pay is lower than many other work roles that are not life/death issues, the hours might stink and you will have days you consider not doing it. For the most part we care and that is why we keep going.

renerian

Cubby · Jul 15, 2003

We all may complain about our chosen field, but this Nurse would not do anything else. I moan and groan with the best of them, but leave nursing? NEVER! It's what you would call a love-hate relationship. If it's not your calling, then best stay away. You would never survive!!

zambezi, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2003

I really enjoy nursing, wouldn't have chosen another career if I had to do it again. Being a relatively new RN, just had my one year anniversary, I can't say that I have worked in many areas/hospitals, etc but I can say that I know that I am lucky to work where I do, with a good supportive staff and decent management, with decent pay, esp. for this area. Do other people complain about the pay, management, staff, despite me thinking it is great-- they sure do. Part of working and liking what you do is the place and people you work for and with, some of it is you attitude and personality. As others have mentioned, look at why you want to be a nurse. If you decide it is for you, find an area that you mesh with, with people that you like to be around, with pay you can accept. Sometimes people need to vent, even in the best job. It is always easier to vent about bad days than great ones, why do you think the news is do depressing? Some people just whine and are never satisfied. Some jobs really suck and some are great. I promise you that in any profession there are stressful days, management that dosen't get it, and horrible pay and even horrible people. It is up to you to find an area that you can be successful in. Stick to your goals, be postivie, and find an area that works with what you want.

live4today, RN · Jul 15, 2003

Ditto to all the above answers to the first posters questions.

Where else would we as nurses have to vent and feel safe to do so? Certainly not on our jobs because other nurses may or may not support your need to vent openly among the other staff. However, catch any one of them one on one and they'll agree with you, vent all the more with you, and let down their nursing cobwebs for you to see. There's something called "saving face among the peers they like" that keeps nurses from venting openly to each other at work. You'll occasionally hear certain ones vent to certain others when they least expect others to be hearing them talk. It's sooooooo obvious they feel the same about the abuse, but just don't want their "image tainted" on the job if they appear to be whiners, complainers, troublemakers, hellraisers, etc.

LIFE as a nurse can be a realllllllllll trip! :nurse:

fourbirds4me · Jul 16, 2003

Originally posted by Cynthiann
Since you never hear your family complain about being a nurse and you live in the same town as me - I'm wondering - what hospital(s) do they work at? Maybe I need to work there when I graduate.

I am also in Oklahoma and wondering the same thing.

I think people just like to vent. Sure there are issues... especially right now. The PROFESSION of nursing is experiencing some growing pains... and unrest creates change. So be it.

I think most profession and jobs have a certain amount of anxt and stress. We are lucky that nursing is a big enough profession to have places like this to congregate, vent and share.

Best of Luck with your decision making.

JB CC-RN · Jul 16, 2003

No one understands the frustration I feel and my classmate better than each other. We vent to each other, we vent here. We vent, we cry, we laugh and we share in each others hardships and successes. People here understand what it's like to cram for finals and boards, the fear and excitement of that 1st clinical. It's all part of being a group, a community, and yes, even a family.