What's your RN experience

[DorothyR]

At one time, I was really passionate about becoming a RN probably because I was reading the Chicken Soup for Nurse's Soul. After volunteering at a hospital for sometime, my views about nursing really changed. I saw a nurse that worked shifts up to 24 hrs, some hostility between nurses and other employees, patients that were unpleasant, and its making me rethink nursing as a lifelong profession. How do you maintain a positive attitude in light of all the negatives?What's it like being a RN? Do you enjoy it? What would you change? Thanks! :redbeathe

[Jules A, MSN]

I love nursing. Every place I have worked has its good and bad points. What I love are my patients and my coworkers, for the most part. What frustrates me the most is the constant short staffing. There are very flexible schedules, good wages and in my experience plenty of opportunities with nursing so I'm very happy to be a nurse.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

You have to look at it in these terms: every profession has positives and negatives. In every profession, there are going to be conflicts, nursing is no exception. In every profession where you deal with the public, you are going to have to deal with some idiots and some jerks. What is boils down to is whether or not the rest of the job appeals to you. If you can accept that there are going to be some really bad days (and this is true again, regardless of your profession), but also some really good ones, and the work of nursing is still something you can see yourself doing happily, then go for it!

[Guest717236]

What is positive in nursing is the choices you have. There are so many

specialty areas you can experience one or several over the course

of your career. You stay positive by expanding your knowledge by

attending seminars,conferences and taking continuing education courses.

As the posters have stated there are pluses and minuses in every walk of

life. Nursing has shifts and weekends in many jobs and that is true of

many other professions as well.

If nursing is your passion, pursue your RN education and forge your

own path. As for unpleasant patients or staff, this exits in every area

of vocations. It is learning how to interact and to keep your patients

care first which helps you keep a positive view while administering

nursing care. If the job appears unreasonable due to staffing shortage or a

extreme problem with personality issues with staff move on to a better working environment.

[DorothyR]

Thanks! Your responses helped a lot :)

[NAURN]

I love what I do. I am fortunate to work for a smaller hospital where everyone knows each other and it is a very nurturing environment. And the people I work with in the ICU are like my extended family. Of course there are negatives, like management woes, etc... but you are going to find that everywhere. I think some places are better than others but I don't think it would be hard to find a good fit.