Thinking about going into nursing but...

AnnieNP, MSN, NP · Jun 3, 2018

I love what I do. I worked ER and Endoscopy for many years before going back to school. I am now an Adult Nurse Practitioner and I love it. I cannot imagine doing anything else.

guest769224 · Jun 3, 2018

I love my job too. I work per diem as an ICU and ER nurse. Nursing has pretty decent pay (depending on your area), solid job security, and countless opportunities to switch specialties if you want a change.

You could entertain the idea of an ABSN or accelerated MSN program to save time on your goals.

Sour Lemon · Jun 3, 2018

Hey everyone,
I have been thinking about switching careers and going into nursing. I am 37 and have a masters in accounting. I've been working in a cube in corporate America since about the age of 23 and I absolutely hate it. I hate what I do, I hate the seeing the same people every day, just all of it!
I've been lurking on this forum and it has me second guessing myself about the switch. Most of the posts are leading me to believe that it is miserable and hard to find work. Does anyone absolutely love what they do? I would like to work in a hospital as an ER nurse or maybe maternity. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!!

I like being a nurse, but if you're looking to get away from "cooperate America", proceed with caution. Healthcare is BIG business, not some utopian fantasy where love and kindness flow freely.

Ddestiny, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2018

I enjoy what I do. I love the challenge of working in a field that is constantly evolving. It keeps me on my toes, keeping up with new evidence-based treatments to provide the best care. I like working in a field that gives knowledge that is helpful in "real life". I also love that, especially now that I have experience, I feel comfortable that I can get a job no matter where life takes my family. I love educating and developing rapport with patients and families. I love the camaraderie I've experienced in the units I've worked -- we might be giving each other crap one minute but as soon as someone needs help you have all hands on deck, ready to go.

I was 20 when I went into healthcare but I remember that before that it was very easy for me to not feel engaged at work. I didn't care about helping people with their cell phone service or ordering their food. And a personality trait I've come to understand in myself is that chronic boredom and not feeling challenged at work will bleed over into my happiness with life in general. Healthcare is absolutely perfect for my personality but that's definitely not the case for everyone.

That being said, this work can be really exhausting. There is always something more to do and the list of duties is not decreasing. With advancements in our medical technology, patients are sicker than ever. The responsibilities a nurse carries are heavy. Some employers care more about the bottom line than training and retaining their staff. Some patients (and their families) make the job a lot harder. I very rarely schedule myself to work more than 2 12-hr shifts in a row without at least a day off in between, because (along with some insomnia issues) some shifts can be especially crazy/intense and having multiple of those in a row can definitely wear on your energy and patience.

Healthcare is hard to understand until you're in it. What some people do to get their feet wet is to become a CNA and start working in a hospital or nursing home and see how they like it. It's not exactly the same but it can be attained quickly and with minimal expense, and exposes you to nurses and helping patients. It might be difficult to do since you already have an established career that already pays better than CNAs but it might be worth putting in some long weeks (getting a part time CNA job) to make a more educated decision.

Honeybee2486 · Jun 3, 2018

Thanks for the replies! What I hate most about my job is that I am doing the same thing day in and day out. The script never changes. It is just tedious boring work. I feel like a robot.

LovingLife123 · Jun 4, 2018

I don't hate my job. I'm not miserable. But, I was fully aware of what I was getting into beforehand.

On this site, we see many people every day with your exact post. We then see them about two years later come back with a post that says, I hate nursing, it's not what I thought it was. I now have tons of debt and I hate the thought of one more day at bedside. It's a cycle.

I will tell you, the grass is not always greener. Nursing can be repetitive and tedious.

Every 4 hours assessments, every 2 hours oral care and turns, 0900 med passes, call lights, charting......... there's too much to put down.

Charting is excessive. It's crazy. Patients and families are hateful. Most of the time.

I like my coworkers. My unit has some fascinating disease processes. I like trying to be able to fix that.

There are positives and negatives in nursing like everything else. Some days, I wish I had a break from the immense responsibility of having lives in my hands, other days I love it and am ready to do all the compressions.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Jun 4, 2018

I love my job. There are good days and bad days, just like every other career. I also left a job that was Groundhog Day every work day. Very little variety in my day. So, I went into nursing and haven't regretted the day I made the change.

I dream of being the guy who writes articles on "Top 10 Best Beaches In the World". Getting paid to visit all the best beaches in the world. Of course, a year later I would be complaining about spending the same amount of time in airports and airplanes as the beach, getting sand everywhere, being constantly sun burn, and the perfect sunset every day getting boring. My second dream job as a teenager was to be a Playboy photographer, but unfortunately they stopped including photographs in their magazine.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 4, 2018

Thanks for the replies! What I hate most about my job is that I am doing the same thing day in and day out. The script never changes. It is just tedious boring work. I feel like a robot.

Maybe you just need a new job -- one that will be more fulfilling for you. Have you considered using you accounting expertise to help people? Maybe work for a non-profit organization that would allow you to feel good about your employer's mission. Or volunteer for a charitable organization where your valuable expertise could help lots of people served by that organization.

Honeybee2486 · Jun 4, 2018

Maybe you just need a new job -- one that will be more fulfilling for you. Have you considered using you accounting expertise to help people? Maybe work for a non-profit organization that would allow you to feel good about your employer's mission. Or volunteer for a charitable organization where your valuable expertise could help lots of people served by that organization.

I dont like accounting, period. It bores me to tears. I only got into this field through circumstance. Had a kid very young, and was a single mother, started in accounts receivable and the company paid for college but only if it were in the field you were currently working. I would never have chosen this career had my life taken a different path early on.

mleonard2 · Jun 4, 2018

Go for it! We have a Fast Track Program for those with degrees in other areas and what we like most about these students,

they know what work is because they have first hand experience and they want to make a change! There are plenty of folks who love their careers and those who don't. We all know we will hear more complaints faster than praises! Do your research and go after what you want!

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2018

I like being a nurse, but if you're looking to get away from "cooperate America", proceed with caution. Healthcare is BIG business, not some utopian fantasy where love and kindness flow freely.

This. I have always loved being a pediatric nurse. I have consistently become disheartened with my various employers over the years.