Was loving nursing till i got involved

Nurses Career Support

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As a new grad, i feel terrible, all i see is complaints among nurses. Our profession is greatly looked down upon. Although i have n't gotten my license yet i want to leave. What has happened to great nurses?? I need encouragement

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

There are going to be people who are vocal in ANY profession...nursing is not for the faint of heart or mind; and there are a TON of issues (what career doesn't???), but there are PLENTY of nurses who have enjoyed their career, including myself.

I remember going to a career fair in middle school, and a nurse outright telling me to pick another profession, this was during the 90s bubble bursting recession on Wall Street. I almost changed my profession, but Nursing was too strong for me.

I remember working with a nurse who CONSTANTLY stated she hated nursing and working as a nurse....a lot of the nurses ignored her or ran or cover when they say her. One day, we we're he only two at the nurse's station; I had just finished PN school and was studying for my boards. She went on her soapbox of what was wrong with nursing. I turned towards her and stated "You must enjoy it somehow; you keep coming back...if not, I would leave it I wasn't happy doing this job." That stopped her; she said "I guess I do." Before I left that job, whenever I saw her, her soap box was not as much, or not at all.

In all the 13 years I have been in healthcare; seven as a LPN and as a current RN, I have been able to see nursing at my best in my practice in any capacity and specialty that I've worked in; along with some of the absurdities of some administrators and peers, while seeing the advances and the evolution of our profession and the healthcare team as a whole, and my ability to become involved in changing policies at the places that I have worked. I have been the change I seek in nursing, and have learned from the best old school nurses. I hoped I've done them as proud and as satisfied that I feel in my practice. I've also learned to stay in this business by being about MY nursing business, and going home I live my life. I have learned that my Nurse Practice Act and voicemail is my best friends for life, and "NO" is ok. :)

YOU have to realize if nursing is for you...I have heard it ALL from plenty of fellow nurses...I have only been able to nurse from MY point of view, not others...do YOU really want to be a nurse??? Only YOU have the answer...

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Well, try it. Being a student sucks. Get into a job you want, in an area you like (even if its not that first job) and then see.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

You need to come to terms with the fact that you were/are in love with the ideal of nursing -- which is not necessarily the reality of it. You had this ideal vision in your head of what nursing at its best could be in a perfect world. But the world is not perfect and now you need to decide if the reality of what nursing is really like (the bad combined with the good) is the right career path for you.

I hope you decide that the potential for good outweighs the negatives in our profession. But I wish you well, regardless of what you decide.

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I don't feel this way at all! I work with a nurse who does complain a lot but I just ignore it... There is a passion and a bond that Nurses share, some you will get along with better than others but if **** hits the fan I know ANY of the nurses have my back! I think you need to find a job and then see how you feel, sometimes as a student you don't get to share in the "moments" we nurses share with each other about our accomplishments. Most of the time it's the little things that make my day awesome, a grumpy pt who refuses everything takes all her meds/treatments, or a family member thanks you because 2 weeks ago you called them in time to make it in for their mothers passing when even hospice said she wasn't close, (she died 2 hrs later)... Knowing you can make a difference in a pt or their family members life, I don't know how you can not want to do that? It's not a daily occurrence but when it happens it makes up for all the bad days! Yes I agree not many people understand what nurses really do but I don't see disrespect of the profession? I've seen nothing but respect, other than a lovely pt or family member but that's very rare. I think you need to figure out if nursing is truly for you but I wouldn't give it up without trying it... Just my thoughts, I love being a nurse!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I have loved being a nurse, and I have hated it. But now that I can only work under very limited circumstances, I really miss it. I took pride in my skills and being able to think fast on my feet, and actually relished doing the detective work and root-cause analysis, which sometimes led to catching diagnoses that had eluded the doctors for years. For the most part, I was good at nursing; I just wasn't very good at being an employee, and I've paid the price many times over.

As another member posted above, only you can make the decision as to whether you want to make a go of it. I would advise you to try it before you dismiss the idea of working as a nurse; why waste your education and the hard work you did to get here? And as to where all the great nurses are......just look around here. :) Great nurses aren't born, they are made, and you'll find them everywhere if you look for the positive in people.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
As a new grad, i feel terrible, all i see is complaints among nurses. Our profession is greatly looked down upon. Although i have n't gotten my license yet i want to leave. What has happened to great nurses?? I need encouragement

I haven't found that nursing looked down upon however there are plenty that recently went into nursing because it was a guaranteed job with great benefits and good pay. Little did those people know that nursing can never be paid what we are really worth and for what really do.

Who do you feel looks down at nurses.

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I wish I could encourage you. Unfortunately, not only Nursing but our whole culture has been going downhill for a while. I hope you find happiness in Nursing.

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I haven't found that nursing looked down upon however there are plenty that recently went into nursing because it was a guaranteed job with great benefits and good pay. Little did those people know that nursing can never be paid what we are really worth and for what really do.

Who do you feel looks down at nurses.

We could be paid better if nurses would band together. Like auto workers, teamsters, doctors, and other trade groups have done and do.

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