will this ALWAYS be my dream job?

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Specializes in Oncology, Med/Surg, Step Down- as STNA.

We just finished our first hospital clinical rotation a few weeks ago. It was a wonderful experience, but as the days went by, we started to notice some of the nurses had really bad attitudes. I understand everyone has their 'days', but this went on all the time- to the point that the patients were complaining to us about them. Are any of you scared that one day this will just be 'a job' you have to do?? Our instructor said if you get to that point, maybe you step back, take a break/ vacation, or transfer to another unit. We graduate in April and I can't WAIT to be able to say, 'my name is Adrienne and I'll be your nurse today'.:D But after working with burned out nurses, I'm scared one day the thrill will be gone and it'll just be about the paycheck. :no: I really really hope it NEVER gets to that point. Have any of you dealt with those types?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Personally I think always is asking a lot of any profession. :) There are people in all lines of work that are burned out and really need to find the guts to leave and pursue something new. I'd figure that as long as you are happy and fulfilled nursing will be a great profession for you but/when it comes to the point when that changes it is time to get out and find another way to make a living.

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Specializes in LTC.

I've worked with nurses, who have been nurses for 20-40 years and they still have the same compassion and nice sweetness about them... Then I've worked with nurses who had bad attitudes and no compassion. I think it just depends on the person honestly. If you automatically have a niceness about you and great personally it will show... even after the long days of feeling burnt out. Even if a nurse is burnt out, she should still be able to smile and grin so that the patients will never no. I'm a NS and work as a CNA and sometimes my days are rough but I strive to keep on a positive look so people will never know

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Specializes in Oncology, Med/Surg, Step Down- as STNA.

See that's what I'm talkin about!! I wanna be that nurse 20 years from now that STILL loves it, you know? When I was a nursing assistant, every nurse I worked with told me I'd be great at it, and that meant a lot. I may just be worrying for nothing. lol

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, telemetry/stepdown.

I've had some experiences with this as well. In my first clinical rotation, one of the nurses saw my student tag, and said "Run away if you know what's good for you":no:. I kind of laughed it off, but it also scared me a bit, because she was only in her early 40's or so. I would hate to get to that point, but I think people who constantly over work themselves will eventually hate any job they are in. Also, I just keep telling myself that there are so many more options in nursing if floor nursing ever becomes "just work" for me. Hopefully not, I can't wait to be an RN :nurse:(May 09), and I won't let anyone discourage me from feeling that way! :wink2:

Just wanted to add that I have also had awesome experiences with nurses who still LOVE their job after many years. Everyone is different.

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