Why should I be a nurse if it's so awful?

Nurses General Nursing

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I've been reading allnurses.com for about six months. Started posting today. I've read over and over and over about nurses in tears--not due to patients, but due to other nurses. This is disheartening, and as one who is starting school full of the enthusiasm and idealism that is the norm for student nurses, I'm truly beginning to question whether or not I will have wasted a LOT of money and my time, only to find the work environment so horrible.

A sincere question: if this profession has a work environment that is extremely hostile more often than not, why should I become a nurse then? If patients are hardly ever the "problem," then they aren't the solution, i.e. "You're helping people!"

Yes nursing can be awful and sometimes the stress is over the top. This profession takes a very special person to multi-task and handle very stressful situations and rise above it all. You must be resiliant or else you will never survive. Yes nurses can be mean, but most nurses are helpful and they will help you develop into a great nurse. It is important to do your research and find the hospitals that have the best new grad orientation. Ask nurses at clinicals how they like their jobs, and how their orientation period was. Watch how nurses interact with one another and watch how nurses treat nursing students. If they treat you like you are a nobody then that unit is probally toxic to a new grad. It took me a full year to start to actually like my job. There was a period that I had my doubts, but because of my resiliance I stuck through it, and I can see how I have developed into a wonderful nurse.

So you ask, "why should I be a nurse?" Well for starters nursing is such an open field you can do anything, you like babies; work in the nursery/NICU, you like high energy adrenaline; work in the ER or ICU, you like children work for pediatrics, so on and so forthe. You will always have a job, and say your husband gets transfered to Bermuda, well you can work there too! You can travel in nursing, and there are always opportunities to grow in nursing such as continuing your education. And I hate to throw this around but you will always have a job, but don't let that be the only reason why you are in nursing. Remember that you are the advocate for a family that is dealing with a loved one who is dying, or given a new diagnosis. It is up to you to be their voice. Sometimes doctors rely totally on you to give them information and sometimes you have to be firm with doctors. You are not just a nurse but a teacher, waitress, therapist, advocate, entertainer, care giver, shoulder to cry on, the voice of reason, etc. You must be ready to handle anything and roll with the punches. But when a family member hugs you and tells you thank you, or sends you flowers or cookies, or tells your manager how great of a nurse you are, well that feels really good:redbeathe So dont let this forum scare you, we nurses have to vent somehow, and don't worry, you'll be a great nurse, just focus on doing great in nursing school and the world of nursing is yours:yeah: Good luck future nurse!:nurse:

I found these threads to be of great value because I've been wondering the same thing. I needed a realistic view of what to expect in the nursing profession. I was naive to think that anyone who gets into the nursing profession surely must have the attributes of being a nice, caring, polite, sensitive, courteous person and above all a TEAM PLAYER that would be a pleasure to work with. It makes me wonder how they can be uncaring to a fellow employee and then turn the charm switch on for a patient that easily. IMO ugly runs through and through. You're either a nice person or you aren't. I'm obviously missing something here because no matter how much I try to rationalize it in my head, I can't. I too, find it ironic that there are those in the profession that choose to make life miserable for the newbies, when they themselves have been in those shoes at one time in their life. This will not deter me from obtaining my degree! It only makes me more determined to be the best nurse I can be because for one, patients deserve it. It also makes me determined to be like a breath of fresh air in the midst of the mean-spirited and ****** fellow nurses.

We stay nurses, even in bad job environments, because you can always find work. Most of us became nurse to help people. Unforunately, this often comes with stressful job environments. If you don't like where you are or the type of nursing you are doing, you can switch. Sometimes it is better and sometimes it is not. You have to admit though... there is something to be said for always being able to find work. Knowing we can always stay employed is a bonus.

Cynthia

Specializes in Pediatrics.

There's good & bad in every single job out there....no matter what. The best thing to do for yourself....choose the career where you can go to work & love it (and yah, it's sometimes hard to get up so early in the am to get to work, but once you are there...it's great if you love what you do...). I sometimes think that the mean ones don't really love what they do (or maybe things aren't so great in their personal lives), cuz why would they be hurtful to their colleagues if they were happy?

Also, you will find that there are discussions about favorite nursing stories...or good things that have happened as well. When you start in your career, you will find that there are so many people that touch your life....that make you thankful that you got the opportunity to interact with them...help them through their time in the hospital/etc...and you will remember those ppl...& it makes it all worthwhile. :yelclap::nurse:

I love where I work.

The management listens to me and encourages my education and endeavors.

Just this past week we (with the ok from the higher ups) played a practical

joke on the Unit Manager and filled her entire office with balloons.

We have dinners, we try to help eachother as much as possible, we are a family.

I guess I'm spoiled. I work at Sentara Obici. Maybe its because its an oncology

ward, but we are all trying to fight against negative things or maybe it just

depends on where you work. Look for all the good, have a really positive attitude

and find the right niche for you :)

Nursing is not aweful! It is awesome and a noble calling. The problem is that many go for it just for the money but have alot of negativity towards taking care of the ailing. These are the losers who post weird posts complaining about their pay, bosses, workmates, and patients. One would wonder why they never quit! Of course they are gold diggers and let go. Enjoy your school and career and you will see how saving lives and alleviating pain is so satisfying. Mark you are not saying that poor pay, nasty bosses and colleagues are OK!

Specializes in Psychiatric, MICA.

Had more than one patient tell me I've changed his life. And I have had more than one coworker tell me that my efforts to maintain a constantly positive and friendly attitude have affected the quality of our workplace. Is there some reason you feel obligated to allow the emotional problems of others into your own head?

:)

D

Specializes in Acute LTC.

i know where you are coming from, believe me! i too am a rn student, in fact an lpn-rn student, currently in my leadership role. i see what you are talking about all the time the phrase, "nurses eat their young," ring a bell? well believe me there are so many fake self-centered nurses out there, just like any other profession, but on the flip side there are nurse's who care deeply. nurses need to grab onto the concept that, one does not have to be a friend to everyone who is a colleague. collegiality demands mutual respect, not friendship. for a long time nursing as a profession has been viewed by others as powerless, "they are just a nurse what do they know." well the winds of change have come and nursing is becoming a more respected and powerful position. thus, a new breed of nursing is emerging! you are part of it by seeing what is wrong and wanting to steer clear of the negativity. first of all, i want to encourage you not to give up! there is a huge need for fresh new talent, nurses who can come to the table with a new mindset; bring professionalism and vision to the table! after all these are some of the main qualities a leader possesses. the sky's the limit don't let old burned out angry people change or extinguish your desire-your heart. there are others out there just like you. find an area were the positivity outweighs the negative and let that positivity and desire beam all over you; it will spread like wildfire! keep truckin on and i'll see you on the other side kido! :)

constellation rn to be march 2010!

I am currently applying to nursing schools and so close to being an RN FINALLY! Believe me, I have heard similar things from these boards and from other people, but I don't let that interfere with what I want to do. I come from a family with tons of members in health care, ranging from RN's, RT's, Surgeons, Optometrists...they all enjoy their jobs, but it they all have their days.

Every where you will work in life there's always going to be different types of people (fellow co-workers, or patients/ the public in general)...rude people, selfish people, LAZY people, unethical people, really nice people, motivated people...the list goes on. I currently HATE and I can firmly say HATE, where I work...it's an awful work environment...people are lazy, not motivated, selfish, horrible management...but I know that I won't work there forever, I am just doing this to get to the next step in my life. I just go to work, do my job and try to be the nice, positive person I was raised as. Now don't get me wrong, there are days when I go home and b*tch to my hubby all about how frustrating it is...but he always reminds me that it won't always be like this. Not every work environment is run so horribly...there are good ones out there. :) You can really make a difference in someone's life or their family's life...I can't tell you how many cards my mother in law gets from patient's family's (she works in hospice)...telling her 'thank you so much for taking care of our mom and being so good to our family'. Nursing is a tough and can be an emotional job, don't let others stress and negativity get you down...just remember why YOU are doing it and why YOU are there. My family members have made life long friends with their co-workers at the hospital and they lean on each other during the rough patches...there's always someone out there like that where you work.

And ALSO...If you finish school and get hired somewhere that you find you don't like it...just go apply somewhere else! :) That's the beauty of nursing, you can go anywhere and do anything in the field. :) Good luck on your quest!

Well, I for one feel it is a highly respected career (aside from the lack of respect from SOME patients and hospital administsrators) and starting out as a nurse can lead to many great things. You can stay in the hospital and aspire to management positions, or you can obtain an advanced degree and do advanced practice nursing, or combine it with another discipline to contribute towards healthcare in some other way. It's a great foundational job in many ways.

It also really sharpens you up, toughens you up, and develops great patience and compassion towards others.

I wish they'd really try to fix the negatives in nursing, because it really does lead to good things if you can stick it out. It's just that only the really strong sometimes survive . . .

I myself truly hated it at first. Until I found my comfort level, I was really miserable. I now really love many of my co-workers, am warmed by many of the patients, and I do enjoy helping them during their stay. The negatives can still be overwhelming at times, but I've survived and am now heading to grad school to become a NP.

I guess I have a high pain tolerance -- but I sure went through some painful times these past few years.

Specializes in psychiatric, UR analyst, fraud, DME,MedB.
I've been reading allnurses.com for about six months. Started posting today. I've read over and over and over about nurses in tears--not due to patients, but due to other nurses. This is disheartening, and as one who is starting school full of the enthusiasm and idealism that is the norm for student nurses, I'm truly beginning to question whether or not I will have wasted a LOT of money and my time, only to find the work environment so horrible.

A sincere question: if this profession has a work environment that is extremely hostile more often than not, why should I become a nurse then? If patients are hardly ever the "problem," then they aren't the solution, i.e. "You're helping people!"

:nurse:Good subject to talk about. I think the "work place" can be described as like other work places, but there is something weird about nurses to new nurses. You know you have heard about " nurses eat their young?" :mad: Unfortunately this is true with some nurses. :crying2: Thank God , not all ! :) As a matter of fact the best education you can have is a good mentor nurse who have no psychological need to put down or torment the new incoming nurses. Must be insecurity or something that makes them hate their own female kind . I myself have seen this in nurses and even nurse instructors! Sad , but true. Know the diofference as to who it is coming from ....chances are these person or this nurse is not of the normal kind and going thru her or his hell...but workplace is not a place for this. This belongs to a pschologist /psychiatrist couch. We nurses should unite, instead of fighting each other. Meowwwww .......With such numbers and force we can actually lobby and dictate laws and regulatory rules such as our salary and staff ratio !!! Now , this is power !!!! and not those petty , female squabbles . Are we gonna grow up or what ?:cool:

Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.
I have to say in my time as a nurse I have mostly encountered extremely supportive staff nurses and charge nurses. I think a much bigger and persistent problem with nursing in hospitals and nursing homes is staffing as its effects are far reaching. Nurse : patient ratios are directly linked with patient mortality so its very frustrating to read about places with dangerous staffing ratios! Nursing itself is a wonderful position but my claws come out when poor staffing threatens the well being of the patients.

With proper staffing ratios, most other problems can be overcome.

poor staffing also affects relationships with coworkers and patients and their families. If you are constantly running like a headless chicken, you will just eventually snap, and it will eventually begin to affect all aspects of the nurse's life. Short staffing is one of the things that has the most negative effects on nursing.

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