Was It Worth It?

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I want real, honest opinions.

Was nursing worth it for you? Would you recommend anyone do it, or tell them to run far, far away?

If you could go back, what would you have done with your life?

Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.

Becoming an RN was totally worth it. Choosing acute care in the hospital setting? Maybe not the smartest. Especially not as my first career move.

It has left me incredibly sour and jaded despite my best efforts.

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Specializes in ED RN, PEDS RN, IV NURSE.

Totally worth it. My life has never been the same for so many reasons. I have a job I love and truly am proud of. Not everyone makes it out of school but I did and with my ADN the only obstacle I have faced is not being considered for one of my favorite hospitals. No buggie Bc I'm doing my BsN online and am currently in the hospital of my second choice in the er.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.
I have started to realize that a giant chunk of the population does not know what theywant to be when they grow up, I still don't. I think about nursing or paramedic a lot, whether or not I would be any good at it, what if I totally screw up andhurt someone, the list goes on and on. I think I'm a total chicken s**t most of the time.

Sooo true. I'm not very good at adulting either - But I ceased stressing about it a couple of decades ago. Don't grow up... it's a trap.

LOVE Nursing. It's one area in my life where I have consistently made good choices.

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I definitely do not regret going into nursing. It was an issue of finding my "nursing niche." Not everyone is going to be an ICU nurse, or an ED nurse, or even a nurse who works in a hospital. I have been an nurse for five years and have worked in a sub-acute rehab center, a summer camp, a jail, and in maternal/child health at a local public health agency. I can't think of many other professions where such varied experiences are possible! I don't regret it at all!

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Would I do this over again? Heck yeah! I love being a nurse. I would have, however, saved myself some student loan debt by going to a local junior college and getting my Associate's in nursing. I went straight to a 4 year university, graduated with a Bachelor's in Health Science, then went back to get my ADN. Now I'm in school for my BSN. I guess I just can't stay away from a classroom lol.

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Everyone's journey is different . Mine started 35 years ago. In that time.. I worked harder and was expected to do more and more as the years went on.

I don't have a crystal ball to predict the next 35 years of nurses's struggles... I can only wish them the best.

I would not have become a nurse... I would have been a lawyer.

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I would have gone straight to medical school but I chose a safer option in nursing because I wanted a job when I graduated. A bio or chem degree does not secure a job. In addition I would have chose to go active duty military rather than the reserves.

Now in my mid-20s even with pre reqs for med school done the time investment is too daunting for me to take on at this point. I want to enjoy life but not be bogged down for the next ten years. I opted for NP school instead (after working in the ICU as an RN) and I will see where it takes me.

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Yes and no. I enjoy taking care of patients and making a difference in peoples lives and that is where it stops. Working with most women sucks. Complaining, nagging, jealous, back stabbing, moody, 2 faced women is what makes it miserable for me. To add to that the more I learn about the Texas BON the sicker I get. Many years ago when I used to write checks to renew my paper license I made a mistake and bounced a check to the BON. Those witches put my name in the quarterly newsletter reprimanding me. Nail me to the freaking cross! Just recently a very good nurse friend of mine received a letter from these idiots wanting documentation about an arrest she had in 1973 that was dismissed. Mind you she has been a nurse for 23 years and they are holding up her renewal. They complain they are under staffed and over worked (welcome to our freaking world) and they have time for this nonsense?

I know I went off the topic but this foolishness is another reason nursing wears on me. It's not the work or the patients it is other nurses!

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I have been a nurse for 19 years and wouldn't change a thing. My whole career has been in long term care and can't imagine doing anything else. Financially it has treated me well. I have lived comfortably and had everything I have needed although not wealthy by any means.

I have 2 children and a daughter in law that are nurses - all in long term care as well. They always say that they grew up in a nursing home and that is where they wanted to work. I have one more child in high school who is also planning on going into medical field but not sure what field yet.

Nursing and health care in general has changed a lot in 19 years but I'm still completely comfortable recommending it to my children.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

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