Why I'm STAYING in nursing

ComeTogether, LPN · Oct 10, 2016

Because I love people and there is something rewarding about making a bad day turn into just a day for these people.

Because I literally can't imagine doing anything else, ever.

Because I love it. :)

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Oct 10, 2016

Thanks for this thread. As a student, hearing all the bad a lot can get disheartening. I appreciate the other side :)

ClaraRedheart, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2016

Because I feel valued by my co-workers, boss and patients. I wish I were making more, and I might at another hospital, but I could never leave this team or manager. We do have ways to earn more at the bedside where I work and I am working toward that rather than job hopping to get a bigger paycheck.

SororAKS, ADN, RN · Oct 10, 2016

I remember the times I have been there for those that had no one and were dying.

When my intuition told me something early on when the clinical picture wasn't clear, the doctor listened, we all acted, and further complications were averted.

When I cared for a woman admitted to the ICU for neurological changes, I looked at her recent head CT, which revealed a midline shift from a hematoma. She was fully alert and oriented. This set off my internal alarms, and I thought "She will deteriorate quickly once the signs present themselves." When she began to do that, the very brief period of symptoms were subtle but very quickly she started to decline. I notified the neurosurgeon. He got her to surgery quickly and we averted a crisis. She was discharged soon afterwards. A while later I got a copy of the letter she wrote herself and sent to the hospital, thanking all of us for saving her life.

I still have that letter.

Our skills save lives, make lives better, and ease the transitions to another plane. WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

smartassmommy · Oct 10, 2016

Thank you for starting a positive thread. I'm a CNA right now about to start LPN classes and I do this because I can earn a living and help others at the same time. Plus it seems to be the only career with enough variety for my wide range of interests where I can still wear sneakers to work!

NightNerd, MSN, RN · Oct 10, 2016

The constant learning and self improvement.

The constant movement and activity.

The night shifts and resulting friendships.

The chance to see how I am helping someone change his or her life; or even just a small part of it. As I begin to focus more on mental health and mental illness in my patients, the opportunity to do something, anything, to make the world less scary and confusing, and to give them some amount of unconditional caring when they often receive such judgment and disdain.

The paycheck and the benefits.

The lack of pantyhose and business casual in my closet.

The four days off a week.

There's a lot of good in this career, ultimately. Some things more petty than others. Sometimes I can't stand the shift I'm in, but by and large I do like what I do and am glad I chose it.

BabyFood26 · Oct 10, 2016

Yay! Happy talk!

Baby nurse (4 years) here to say, I'm in it to win it. The challenges are outweighed by the random triumphs of turning someone's bad day into a better one! :laugh:

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 10, 2016

I've stayed in nursing for 41 years for the glitz and glamor.

Seriously, I don't always love it but believe that the grass is not really greener elsewhere. It offers variety and the chance to actually help people sometimes.

Farawyn · Oct 11, 2016

I've stayed in nursing for 41 years for the glitz and glamor.
Seriously, I don't always love it but believe that the grass is not really greener elsewhere. It offers variety and the chance to actually help people sometimes.

This rings the most true.

Great thread, WKShadow.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 11, 2016

Variety of opportunities, growth potential, and availability.
It's exhausting, frustrating at times, and I love what I do.

Nice to hear from someone who isn't trashing our profession!

Flexible scheduling, decent pay, benefits and working conditions. Interesting, challenging work.

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Oct 12, 2016

Because I love what I do. Being there for our elderly in their last years of life and knowing that I am able to do that.

klone, MSN, RN · Oct 12, 2016

Thanks for this thread. As a student, hearing all the bad a lot can get disheartening. I appreciate the other side :)

Hang in there. In my experience, you create your reality.