What I really think of nursing

mentalhealthRN · Nov 24, 2010

I love the patients but hate everything else.I hate the BS junior high gossip crap. I hate the paperwork. I hate the hours. I hate that to be a nurse you have to give up your own health--its not healthy to work crazy shift work. I hate the weekends, evenings, nights and holidays that I have to work in order to do what I love so that I have no life and my kids/partner never see me.

I hate the way nurses treat each other and the half-ass way you are forced to do things when you are given more patients then is safe to give quality care to.

So yeah there are a lot of things I hate--it just sucks that I love actully caring for people and nursing is the only way to do it for me right now.

I like you am ready to move on for a masters degree....but the cost is tough when I already have two bachelors degrees there isn't a lot of money out there for me. I want to continue with my love--mental health and get my LMHC--so I am with the patients and not "at the bedside" so to say.

AndyLyn · Nov 24, 2010

Respectfully disagreeing...

I'm proud of my ever-expanding skill set. Love my work. I'm happy to help train new nurses. Even declined to apply to a MSN program, because being a nurse practitioner isn't on my list of things to do with my life.

I learn something new every shift. My instincts become stronger, my people skills more polished, and my desire to get better only increases.

Even if I'm just a plain-ole' nurse.

Good luck in your career though, I hope you find your niche soon.

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 24, 2010

After long period of reflexion...that is 4 years or nursing...i am finally realizing that nursing is eehhh...I did nursing as second degree...i started as pre-med and then finally switched to accelerated nursing. I was happy of being a nurse did work hard for the first two years of nursing...i should say extra hard...trying to learn and so on...with all the certifications...LOL...all i ever wanted to do was ICU but got discouraged by all the horor stories from co-workers but then again i did the switch anyhow in different hospital...then i find out it's really nothing like I have thought...thought it would be harder more challenging...but it really is not...in fact it is way way easier...so here I am seeking for something really challenging so i switched to the float pool...love the float pool...love the fact i can go to different places and not deal with non-sense of each unit with constant complaining nurses for little things...and my life is stress free now...when i go home i do things like go shopping instead of sleep...so beautiful...
so now i am starting to understand what is really going on in nursing...i kind of understand why nursing is so stressful when it should not be...I have never thought of being a nurse for the rest of my life...I decided to do 5 years of bedside and move on...get my masters and even my PHD while the hospital is paying for my tuition...perfect gig...so the problem arises when nurses take bedside nursing as their career and stick with it for the rest of their life...bottom line is nursing really isnt as complicated or as something that requires a huge skill set...thats why we have a two year nursing doing the same thing as a 4 year nursing...all the certifications and all the knowledge...no matter what...we dont really use it...looks good on paper...I got it all BLS, ACLS, CCRN and doing masters now...nothing really has changed...i am still doing the same things...we are just a glorified baby sitters...that's how i feel...so i now get it why all the nurses complain constantly...hospitals dont run without nurses...so smart the nurses are complaining about every little things to raise their salary and have less work load...it trully is a nice deal at the end of the day...thats why the old eats the young...because the young (including me) with high level of energy will screw up the system that the old has been engaging in...I was thinking that may be i was not good enough nurse LOL LOL.
You either can choose to play the game for the rest of your life...doing these non-sense logic...ruining many of energetic, smart, young people's lives with non-sense politics and constantly worrying...or use nursing as stepping stone to do something else...no burn out, no non-sense...travel and become APN and then u deal with another problem...competion with residents LOL LOL never ending cycle...but its much better than dealing with nurses...
Thats my 2 cents on nursing...i am at the end of my patience for nursing as a career...
what do u guys think????????

I think, first of all, that the ellipsis is NOT AN ALL-PURPOSE PUNCTUATION MARK. Sorry for the OT, but -- seriously.

I also think that you have a pretty jaded perspective on the whole field of nursing, and therefore more power to you if you can use it as a stepping stone to whatever you decide you really want to do. However, I can't help but think that you sound like a timecard-puncher, despite the certifications that you've accrued, if you've found no challenges in ICU, etc. Unless, maybe, you're just that much more brilliant than us "problem" career bedside nurses.

jmeng · Nov 24, 2010

With all due respect...

I am not in any ways disrespecting any older nurses...though there were plenty of times I felt like what the &^*( I entered the feild to do good...i even volunteer to do good in different activities in the unit...different committees...bottom line is nobody cared less...esp the older nurses...and dont tell me it's all about caring...inorder to care for the patients, u care for each other first...There were plenty of times i have felt humuliated...but what it all makes me become stronger person...all rounded person...no logic really seems to work in the field of nursing...but some invisible rules, invisible hirarchies...

Sure there are plenty of good people...willing to teach...but i should say this I thought myself...I pushed myself...I read...and helped others...At times i see some of the old seasoned nurses teaching the young the wrong way...i used to think it was due to lack of knowledge (I have always believed everyone has good intentions but sometimes people do evil without intending it)...but now I know some really do it purposely...

totally_nuts · Nov 24, 2010

your post is really difficult to read.

LouisVRN, RN · Nov 24, 2010

I agree and disagree. I disagree that nursing has a limited skill set, it is limited only by the nurse. If it was so limited we wouldn't have a case manager, social service, chaplain, RT/PT/OT, speech to take on one individualized part of our skill set and make it their specialty. Yes, physical therapy may come and work with the patient half an hour and focus their attention entirely on how to properly get out of bed s/p knee surgery, but it will be me the ever-humble nurse to reinforce, correct, and promote this ever other time the patient gets out of bed as well as answer any additional questions the patients may have. The job is as challenging as you make it. Have you ever felt so passionately about something you set out on your mission, research in hand (obviously done outside of work as there is no time where I work to research EBP) to pilot a project, educate your peers, charge nurses and directors how this can benefit them in addition to the patients, taking this data you collect after working a 12-hour shift to the policy committee and DON to change a practice in the hospital? That my dear, is no easy task.

It may be that nursing is just not your passion and if this is the case, then by all means you should move right along.

However I do agree that sometimes seasoned nurses are reluctant to change and this can breed bad practice. That being said with time and patience I think the majority of them would not have stayed in the business for so long if they weren't truly doing it to try to help their patients. Teaching from that approach can usually convert even the most stubborn.

Do what you love :heartbeat or the money will never be worth it, it will never be challenging enough, etc.

sidcasey · Nov 24, 2010

The bottom line is that there is NO perfect job/career. I am a chiropractor who has "legitimate" reasons to hate their job. I began an ABSN program. I am relieved to have options once I get my nursing degree. Find something within the profession that meets your needs. That is the beauty of the profession, it is flexible and you can work in many different settings. You can't even imagine all the BS I have dealt with being a chiro. I have gone through a long period of self-loathing and depression because of all of the wasted time, energy and money on this crappy "Profession". For an added kick in the rear, I have a BS in Accounting which was extremely marketable. I had a great job out of college and was too immature and short sighted to see the future benefits. Anyway, grow up and be thankful that you have options. Sometimes in life that keeps you sane and provides the momentum to move forward. Maybe you are just cynical, lazy and bad at your job!

Gluteus Maximus · Nov 24, 2010

Some people just aren't cut out for nursing. It sounds like you're one of them.

Poor career choice. Period.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Nov 24, 2010

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jmeng · Nov 25, 2010

way off. I am sorry to elicit these kinds of reactions. I enetered the field to do good. I took my job so seriously. There were plenty of times i had gone out of my way to please co-workers despite all the negatives. Thought i was young and new and had to deal with it. I was very enthusiastic. I never complained...as a matter of fact, this is the first time I have complained. Now I know for sure that nursing isnt for me. The idea of nursing, caring is what attracted me to the field to begin with...but i found it to be totally the opposite. Thought it would get better or may be I havent found a suitable culture...but every where u go is the same at the end of the day...some better with different issue...thats life i guess. But here is what i love...the opportunities nursing has to offer. Lots of different things u can do besides bedside nursing but as a nurse. As a float nurse, i enjoy it more. may be because i dont have to deal with the drama...just the job, the patients, and the doctors, and the supervisor.

GM2RN · Nov 25, 2010

your post is really difficult to read.

Agreed.

Someone laying claim to so much formal education should know how to formulate proper sentences and use punctuation. I couldn't get past the first couple of lines so I have no idea if I agree with the OP or not.