WHY do so many people hate nursing? Sigh.

[RachealAnne]

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.

Thanks!

- Super desperate pre-nursing student venting

[Farawyn]

I was pretty frustrated when I didn't get my dream specialty out of the gate while many other new grads with less healthcare experience were getting those same jobs. Didn't make me a princess.

This is really cute, since your name is ThePrincessBride. :)

"As you wish."

[RachealAnne]

This is really cute, since your name is ThePrincessBride. :)

"As you wish."

The princess bride is a movie as well, a really good one.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

You are right, I should never say never. I guess I could say I have a goal set, a dream job in mind. It's not that I would hate working with older people, it is just not something I ever have dreamed of doing.I want to do something I love for the rest of my life.

I totally understand the venting side of this website, I just wish I witnessed more "I like" posts (about nursing itself not events) rather than "I hate" or "I would never do nursing over again". I feel like I run across more of the negativity side or nursing rather than the positive side. I know nursing is anything but easy, but I feel like if you are truly passionate about it, it should at least be enjoyable. Nursing isn't for everyone, I am just in the slumps about deciding what I want to do for 30+ years of my life. Thank you for your replies though :) it is appreciated.

Surely you are not making life changing decisions based on posts by anonymous strangers on a nursing website?!

If you've been paying attention, you will notice that people are much more apt to complain vociferously about any situation in which they feel they've been wronged, a friend or family member has been wronged, someone else has been wronged and they feel as though they have been the only ones smart/compassionate/passionate/astute/wonderful enough to take a stand. People just don't jump on the internet and gush about the swell night they had where the only patient confused enough to need a sitter conked out early and and no one circled the drain for any appreciable amount of time.

Posts about having a passion for nursing are extremely controversial with those who are newbie nurses, student nurses or wannabe nurses claiming that a passion is a necessity and those who have been nurses for a few decades countering that competence is more necessary and that your passion (or lack of it) is no one's business but your own. Since those with the wisdom are saying that passion isn't necessary to being a good nurse or having a satisfying career, maybe they have something valid to say.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I was pretty frustrated when I didn't get my dream specialty out of the gate while many other new grads with less healthcare experience were getting those same jobs. Didn't make me a princess.

I got a med-surg job and did a solid eight months before getting a NICU position. I worked in a horrific environment with some of the most difficult patients ever. I wasn't afraid to work hard nor did a cop a princess attitude.

I think very few new grads are going to pass up paid nursing experience in this economy.

A solid two years -- or even one year -- in Med/Surg would have been better.

I took the "Princess attitude" comment to be reference to new grads who don't want to put in one to two years at the floor which first gave them their chance to show what they were capable of. Those who want to get the "dream job" without having to put in their time learning the basics. People who were sure they were being victimized if someone else got the job they were convinced they "deserved". We see a lot of that here on AN.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

Adult Med-Surg has nothing in common with NICU. In fact, I think starting in med-surg is only going to make things more difficult for me as I have to practically erase everything I have learned in my first job.

Two years or even one year wouldn't have helped me in the slightest in NICU and just about every single NICU nurse I know who has made the transition from adult med-surg to NICU agrees with me.

A solid two years -- or even one year -- in Med/Surg would have been better.

I took the "Princess attitude" comment to be reference to new grads who don't want to put in one to two years at the floor which first gave them their chance to show what they were capable of. Those who want to get the "dream job" without having to put in their time learning the basics. People who were sure they were being victimized if someone else got the job they were convinced they "deserved". We see a lot of that here on AN.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

Ruby do you have any NICU experience?

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

The princess bride is a movie as well, a really good one.

That's what she was referencing.

Or, if you're old as dirt, like me, my first thought was the original book, written in 1973. By William Goldman.

He also wrote the script for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "Marathon Man" (the novel).

"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." Possibly the best role Mandy Patinkin has done.

Also, the pro wrestler Andre the Giant was in the movie. His real name was Andre Roussimoff, and he was 7'4". He had acromegaly.

What does this have to do with the topic? Not really sure, except that it does help if your job isn't your life, and you have interests outside of nursing.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Adult Med-Surg has nothing in common with NICU. In fact, I think starting in med-surg is only going to make things more difficult for me as I have to practically erase everything I have learned in my first job.

Two years or even one year wouldn't have helped me in the slightest in NICU and just about every single NICU nurse I know who has made the transition from adult med-surg to NICU agrees with me.

Med/Surg took a chance on a new grad that wasn't hired by the unit where she was already working in another role. They spent months orienting you -- months in which you were costing them money in the form of your salary and benefits while you were contributing nothing to the bottom line. Then you were out on your own and still not pulling your own weight because you were so inexperienced. Experts estimate that it takes about two years for a new grad to begin to be competent and to contribute to the bottom line. Instead of paying back the manager and the unit who gave you your chance, you jumped ship at your earliest opportunity. Because it was your dream. I find that more than a little princessey.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I am not a new nurse, more than a quarter century experience. That has been done at the same PCU all those years, working agency to make sure I wasn't missing anything. I love my work, what I do, but sometimes the job, what I do for my employer, gets to me. Really, you sound like this is a passion, and as long as you remain patient focused, you will love what you do. Attitude is paramount and most of the new nurses come out a victim of their culture, not ready for adversity, pretty self-centered and afraid of failure. The best way to learn is to try, and to try is to fail, lesson learned. Don't let the disillusioned people detract from your dreams, if you are doing what you were created to do, it doesn't matter what someone else's experience is.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

That's what she was referencing.

Or, if you're old as dirt, like me, my first thought was the original book, written in 1973. By William Goldman.

He also wrote the script for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "Marathon Man" (the novel).

"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." Possibly the best role Mandy Patinkin has done.

Also, the pro wrestler Andre the Giant was in the movie. His real name was Andre Roussimoff, and he was 7'4". He had acromegaly.

What does this have to do with the topic? Not really sure, except that it does help if your job isn't your life, and you have interests outside of nursing.

And a great break from the bashing. thanks, Jensmom7

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I'd like to see the same statement about LTC. Back in the day, I said never! But, here I am, and cannot even fathom doing anything else.

That is my wife's attitude, too. Loves the senior folk in a more relaxed setting than a hospital.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I never worked in the NICU at my old place in any capacity and my training was barely six weeks.

They had me working as charge without any training.

Just about every other person on my floor was a new grad.

I owe nothing to no one.

Med/Surg took a chance on a new grad that wasn't hired by the unit where she was already working in another role. They spent months orienting you -- months in which you were costing them money in the form of your salary and benefits while you were contributing nothing to the bottom line. Then you were out on your own and still not pulling your own weight because you were so inexperienced. Experts estimate that it takes about two years for a new grad to begin to be competent and to contribute to the bottom line. Instead of paying back the manager and the unit who gave you your chance, you jumped ship at your earliest opportunity. Because it was your dream. I find that more than a little princessey.