I feel like everywhere I go people are expressing their hate for nursing rather than their love. I want to go into nursing, and I want to love it. WHY does everyone (almost) hate it so much? Is it really that bad? Can someone express their love for it? I would really enjoy hearing why you love your nursing job.
Personally I could never work in a nursing home, but my goal is to work in the OB/NICU or the ER.
Thank you for more responses! It is refreshing to hear all sides, good and bad. I am still looking forward to going to nursing school and becoming the best nurse I can be. You guys are awesome, seriously.
Just once I'd like to read a thread by some pre-nursing butterfly who's dream job is to be a really good med-surg nurse.
Enough already with the NICU/PICU/OB princesses.
That would be me, almost. I'm in nursing school though. I long for the days I will feel competent as a nurse, and I know they are far in the future....
I graduate in 85 days. People look at me funny sometimes when I tell them I just want to be a "plain" med-surg nurse. Even my teachers do it. It's nice to hear someone say med-surg as a goal is okay. I haven't heard it often. I respect all nurses, regardless of the specialty they work in. For me, I'm sticking with med-surg.
Hey, me too. I'm done in 100 days give or take. Every preceptor I work with asks me what kind of nurse I want to be. Honestly, I have no idea what I like, because in an accelerated program we don't really have enough time in a given setting to get a true appreciation of what it's like. So, for now, I just want to be a good med/surg nurse. Someday....
I love nursing! I am 66 and still work part time. I love the patients, the camaraderie with other nurses, the ever changing science, the challenge. I despise the management culture. I used to be a supervisor and I can tell you if I ever bullied and treated people the way we are treated in SW Florida, I would have been fired. There is also many episodes of age discrimination. We need to stand up and say NO to bullying, unsafe staffing, and poor management. Until we do, we leave ourselves wide open to this abuse. If one nurse is abused, we all are. It is just a matter of when!
For me I am burntout due to staffing issues and general lack of support from administration. Those two things are a recipe for disaster no matter what field you're in. It's a vicious cycle that just feeds itself.
Plain and simple, I'm tired. I've only been a nurse for 4 years and desperately want OUT of healthcare at all costs. I should not be tired after only 4 years. I'm still just beginning to grow and mature as a nurse but already I'm wanting and willing to throw in the towel at the first glimpse of a opportunity to do so.
I love nursing. I hate the policies and bs that goes along with it. "Here's five new forms to fill out but don't get overtime". "Don't check all the core measures(on critical pts I might add. They have all the damn core measures) each shift you're getting written up" then get asked "Why are you still here? No overtime". Let's shift all the pts to different rooms at shift change so you can get an admit at shift change. That's the crap that makes my job suck. And it's every night. Got floated last night at 2330. Had to chart on the 3 pts I started with, the 5 I got on the new floor, and my er admit. So 9 pts including an admission. That's kills me
the best feeling in the world is when you can physically see something you are saying to a patient literally lift the weight off their shoulders. Their skin tone changes, their vital signs change, their mood changes and they have a better outlook, they start to heal.. . and you just know that you were responsible for making a difference in that persons life
the best feeling in the world is when you can physically see something you are saying to a patient literally lift the weight off their shoulders. Their skin tone changes, their vital signs change, their mood changes and they have a better outlook, they start to heal.. . and you just know that you were responsible for making a difference in that persons life
With my patients, that usually happens when I tell them "You can eat and drink whatever you want. Have dessert before inner. Heck, have dessert INSTEAD of dinner!"
Like I've said before, "It's good to be a Hospice nurse!"
I am currently a nurse in a burn ICU. Personally, I love my job. Is it exhausting most days? Yes. Do my feet and back hurt most days, even when I'm off? Yes. Have I been berated by patients? Yes.
However, I've also recognized when a post-open heart patient went from a normal sinus rhythm to rapid a-fib while ambulating in the hallway and safely gotten them back to their room and seen by a doctor. I've cared for patients and their families when they are dying. I've kept people comfortable at the worst times in their lives. I've made sure people felt they had control of their health when doctors spit a bunch of words at them that they completely do not understand. Being a nurse is CHALLENGING but also rewarding if you recognize what you're accomplishing.
However, pre-nursing student, do not go into nursing school saying you ONLY are interested in ER, NICU, or OB. First, you won't be open to what you're exposed to. You may find you love something totally unrelated to those specialties. Also, those 3 specialties are VERY different and require VERY different thought processes and skill. Second, I worked as a tele/med-surg nurse immediately out of nursing school. I did not want to, thought I was "too smart" to be a med surge nurse, and thought it would be a bore. NO. Experience as a med surg nurse teaches you to prioritize, assess situations quickly, and realize who really needs your attention. Also, patients are more stable so small errors are somewhat more forgivable (you still have to be very careful with your 5 rights when giving meds and care for patients appropriately).
All that being said, good luck in nursing school and beyond!
The fact that you want to feel competent is not something unique to you. Every nurse feels totally lost for AT LEAST their first 6 months. Ask questions. Don't be afraid to "sound dumb" - it's worse to do something without checking with another person and harm a patient.
I promise, it gets better! And in my experience, all the best nurses are constantly learning - even those who've been working 10+ years :)
Maybe he reason so many people hate being a nurse is because y'all just compete with each other and try to one up each other. The real title of this post should have been why do so many nurses act so mean?
Maybe he reason so many people hate being a nurse is because y'all just compete with each other and try to one up each other. The real title of this post should have been why do so many nurses act so mean?
Seriously? Off to find some Tylenol because I feel like doing this: :banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead:
RachealAnne
51 Posts
Thank you for more responses! It is refreshing to hear all sides, good and bad. I am still looking forward to going to nursing school and becoming the best nurse I can be. You guys are awesome, seriously.
