What am I getting myself into?

No Stars In My Eyes · Jun 4, 2015

I like nursing because of the variety of options and opportunities for work. Being able to work off-hours from the rest of the work-force suits me to a T. I like evenings, weekends and holidays, therefore I was welcomed and treated well by my co-workers because I was cheerful about my hours.

After HS and before nursing I had several jobs in large insurance companies working in the group actuarial departments. AGH! Eight stultifying hours inside, at a desk with a telephone, typewriter, and adding machine and piles of folders in my IN box. (BC = Before Computers.) I think having to work at a computer all day, every day would make it an even worse job. Monday through Friday 9-5? NO WAY!

I have come to hate the expression "find your niche", but regardless of semantics, it is true what the others say. If you can hang in long enough to find some aspect in nursing that really sparks your brain and engages you in a healthy way, it is absolutely worth it.

Anywhere you work is going to have 'issues', work politics, co-workers with attitudes, etc. People wonder why I am still with the same agency after thirty-plus years when they have had so many problems and changes. It is nice to realize with the years under my belt, that "This, too, shall pass." I just focus on my actual job/working with patients, and let the rest stream over my shoulders.

As much as we would all like to find the perfect situation, I think it is unreasonable to expect it to occur out of the blue. You find your way there, most of the time, through trial and error. We learn to pay close attention to details, but sometimes the ability to DISREGARD certain things and learning to let go of gnarly circumstances is extremely helpful.

These days, reading a lot of AN posts has made me more aware that nursing can be like working of the high-wire with no net.

With regards to PT/OT it just depends on the person. My brother got his Masters in PT; the thing that bothers him the most is the sheer number of patients who DON'T follow the prescribed regimen; he finds it incredibly frustrating to pour all his knowledge and ability into helping someone through recovering and rehabbing only to have it ignored in the long-run..

Just depends on who you are and what you can tolerate as to whether nursing would be worth the path you are following. Sometimes the best way out is to go through, and then sometimes you just have to quit fishing and cut bait.

You are the only one who can ultimately decide what it is you want to do.

~PedsRN~, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2015

I love love my job, don't get me wrong. There are days where I definitely leave knowing this is why I do what I do. But the hospital culture is one that is hard to get used to or accept. It is hard to work in atmosphere where you are not valued. They say they value you, but they work you to the bone. It is very hard to not get jaded.

RNperdiem, RN · Jun 4, 2015

I suspect a lot of the people who like their jobs came into it with realistic expectations. There would be good days and bad days. They were looking for a job that gave them satisfaction, not necessarily a job they "loved". Office politics are everywhere and can be managed.

I sense a little black and white thinking with the OP. Like, either you love your job or you live an absolute life of misery.

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Jun 4, 2015

I graduated with a similar degree. So far, I love nursing. It offers a lot of different opportunities and I know there will always be more to learn (I'm always thirsty for knowledge)! Also, I love that I get to be such a large part of pt care and knowing that I am making a difference.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jun 4, 2015

I graduated with a similar degree. So far, I love nursing. It offers a lot of different opportunities and I know there will always be more to learn (I'm always thirsty for knowledge)! Also, I love that I get to be such a large part of pt care and knowing that I am making a difference.

Are you a nurse? Your status does not reflect that.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jun 4, 2015

Are you a nurse? Your status does not reflect that.

OP said, "I am in my first semester of nursing school."

Mr. Murse · Jun 4, 2015

I think most people that are just flat out unhappy with nursing were not realistic about it when they went into the career and are looking at it through a narrow lens of unrealistic expectations. Either that, or they're just in a crappy environment and are unable or unwilling to get out of it for some reason or another. I went into nursing school at 26, after having worked a number of menial jobs and getting my feet more than wet in the real world before deciding to give nursing a try. Now, coming up on 4 years in (plus another year as a tech), I can say I love it. I worked a GI surgical floor for 3 years and am now in a neurosurgical ICU.

Regardless of the profession you choose though, your experience with it will be 100% subjective and dependent on a handful of factors, some of which you have control over and some of which you don't. One thing you do have control over is your perspective. Read the threads on here but keep in mind most people come on here to vent, so you're getting a negatively biased perspective of the career on this site. They are beneficial though in making you aware of the crappy parts of nursing, because there are many (like any career, let's be honest).

If you are hoping to go into work every day and save lives and see glowing faces after you've taken part in healing them and go home feeling like you've made a big difference in the world then you're not being realistic. Nursing is, after all, a job. Many days you will be frustrated and exhausted and feel like a task oriented robot, and other days you may even just be flat out bored. The moments you'll have that you really feel appreciated and like you made a drastic difference in someone's life will usually be few and far between, but don't focus on that.

Go into nursing for yourself, not for the patients. Because the human body fascinates you. Because you like to know about the world around you. Because you like to challenge yourself physically, intellectually, and emotionally. Because you like the feeling of knowing you did your job well regardless of whether anyone even noticed or not. Who cares about that. Take care of people not because you want them to thank you and acknowledge it, but because it's what you would want done for you. Because we are all part of the same collective trying to survive on this planet.

I nurse for me. I love my job because I chose to see it in a way that I can love, and for that reason I am happy with it and good at it.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 4, 2015

It is a little early in the game as I am just one month into my nursing job, but I will say that nursing can be great...if you know how to work it in your favor. I honestly don't know what else I would be doing that would give me as much flexibility and money as nursing. And no, I am not ashamed to admit that I came into nursing FOR the three days per week, the decent cash and the ability to schedule long weekends off without having to dip into PTO/vacation time. As far as it being challenging and fulfilling...it depends on the nurse and what that nurse is doing. I find working in med/surg to be a learning experience, and I like to teach patients for the most part.

Nursing, as you already know, has so many opportunities that it would be impossible to become bored. I know nurses who have done just about everything and still learn something new everyday. However, at times, I do feel as though I am pushing pills more than anything else, but I have heard a lot of experienced nurses say the same thing.

I wouldn't let the comments here deter you from pursuing nursing. This place is great for venting, and as you probably know, people with negative experiences will share those experiences with dozens of people, while people with positive experiences will tell only a few people.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 4, 2015

Excellent point and I'd urge anyone in a similar position to really soul search before investing the time and money to pursue another career. Not directed to the OP in particular but I often wonder if there isn't more to the story when a young person completes one degree and immediately wants to change to another career that they would "love".

When I see the scenario you describe, oftentimes it is because the person couldn't get a job in his/her field of study and heard that there is a "nursing shortage." Then they hear about the "big bucks" and see the ads on TV and decide to jump on the bandwagon.

Nursing, as a whole, is overrated. There are many ways to "help" people and make a decent check. Too many people don't do their research prior to pursuing nursing...hence why there is such a high burnout in the profession.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jun 4, 2015

I think most people that are just flat out unhappy with nursing were not realistic about it when they went into the career and are looking at it through a narrow lens of unrealistic expectations. Either that, or they're just in a crappy environment and are unable or unwilling to get out of it for some reason or another. I went into nursing school at 26, after having worked a number of menial jobs and getting my feet more than wet in the real world before deciding to give nursing a try. Now, coming up on 4 years in (plus another year as a tech), I can say I love it. I worked a GI surgical floor for 3 years and am now in a neurosurgical ICU.
Regardless of the profession you choose though, your experience with it will be 100% subjective and dependent on a handful of factors, some of which you have control over and some of which you don't. One thing you do have control over is your perspective. Read the threads on here but keep in mind most people come on here to vent, so you're getting a negatively biased perspective of the career on this site. They are beneficial though in making you aware of the crappy parts of nursing, because there are many (like any career, let's be honest).
If you are hoping to go into work every day and save lives and see glowing faces after you've taken part in healing them and go home feeling like you've made a big difference in the world then you're not being realistic. Nursing is, after all, a job. Many days you will be frustrated and exhausted and feel like a task oriented robot, and other days you may even just be flat out bored. The moments you'll have that you really feel appreciated and like you made a drastic difference in someone's life will usually be few and far between, but don't focus on that.
Go into nursing for yourself, not for the patients. Because the human body fascinates you. Because you like to know about the world around you. Because you like to challenge yourself physically, intellectually, and emotionally. Because you like the feeling of knowing you did your job well regardless of whether anyone even noticed or not. Who cares about that. Take care of people not because you want them to thank you and acknowledge it, but because it's what you would want done for you. Because we are all part of the same collective trying to survive on this planet.
I nurse for me. I love my job because I chose to see it in a way that I can love, and for that reason I am happy with it and good at it.

Stunningly well said, wise words. Also the truth. I enjoyed your post immensely.

Simonesays, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2015

I love my job! I started nursing school when I was older after spending most of my twenties working in a customer service position in a bank. This job afforded me the opportunity to travel and have fun but it wasn't what I was passionate about. I actually think that all of my customer service experience has helped me in the hospital. I am able to diffuse tense situations relatively easily and am unfazed by "difficult" patients. I think that you definitely can be happy working as a nurse if you are passionate about healthcare and realistic about what working with the public entails. Keep in mind that you will be interacting with people during some of their most tense and stressful life moments, depending on the setting you are working in, and some people are better at dealing with these moments than others. It doesn't mean that you shouldn't be assertive and speak up for yourself when a patient or their family's behaviour is inappropriate, but try to be compassionate and empathetic to their situation.

Some of my favourite things about nursing: continuous learning, working within a team, shift work (I love having 4-5 days off in a row!), good pay, opportunity for advancement and change, being intellectually challenged, and deriving personal fulfillment and meaning in what I do. You can also travel and work. Of course there are negative aspects to nursing (as with any job) but so long as the positives outweigh the negatives, I'll keep doing what I'm doing.

Simonesays, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2015

Go into nursing for yourself, not for the patients. Because the human body fascinates you. Because you like to know about the world around you. Because you like to challenge yourself physically, intellectually, and emotionally. Because you like the feeling of knowing you did your job well regardless of whether anyone even noticed or not. Who cares about that. Take care of people not because you want them to thank you and acknowledge it, but because it's what you would want done for you. Because we are all part of the same collective trying to survive on this planet.
I nurse for me. I love my job because I chose to see it in a way that I can love, and for that reason I am happy with it and good at it.

This! Well said