Would you advise anyone to get into nursing?

newway · Feb 28, 2011

Exactly what career choice is a sure winner in this economy? At least in the long haul it has good potential

-RN- · Feb 28, 2011

In the long haul? You seem to be completely disillusioned lol.

bookworm,RN · Feb 28, 2011

I agree with the OP. I value my license, but it is not necessarily a career I would choose again.

iridium54 · Feb 28, 2011

err. I hate this kind-of speak as a pre-nursing student (just makes me rethink everything!) So can I ask why some of the posters say they would advise AGAINST nursing?

bookworm,RN · Feb 28, 2011

err. I hate this kind-of speak as a pre-nursing student (just makes me rethink everything!) So can I ask why some of the posters say they would advise AGAINST nursing?

I would not advise against nursing in general. I know some people who have done it for years and would never do anything else. It really depends on the person. I have a great respect for the profession and other nurses, I just don't necessarily think its the best fit for me.

anon695 · Feb 28, 2011

If you truly want to be a nurse more than anything else in the world and you have the financial means to do it (meaning, no debt at all or very little) then go for it.

Mrs. Sparkle Pants · Feb 28, 2011

I'm guessing if you ask anyone if they would choose their career again most would say no, especially if they have been doing it for quite a while. ALL careers have negative aspects. Why don't you do something new? Go back to school. There is no point being miserable for the rest of your working life (which as it is looking now is really the rest of your life). If there is something else you think you would enjoy more, go for it!

ETA: I say this thinking of the professionals I am close to. A good friend is the Executive Director of a non-profit; things are horrible right now because no one is donating. My dad is a pharmacist, and he has to deal with the same BS you do. I have friends who graduated with teaching degrees who are working as paraprofessionals, because there are no jobs to be found. It pretty much sucks for everyone right now.

Mandychelle79, ASN, RN · Feb 28, 2011

Im a 4th semester nursing student, done in May, and I hear all the time how I shouldn't go into nursing. I think some people have a notion what what nursing will be like and then when its not the same as they thought it would be, they turn others against it. One of the nurses I work with though said something to me that was very accurate. My mom is a nurse, I have worked in health care for the past 8.5 years. I see what the nurses go through. There are some in my class that do not have experience outside of the clinical. And our clinical experience does not give an accurate representation of what its going to really be like. We have to take an online course as one of our classes. I tend to get into discussions ( arguments really) with some because they are looking through rose colored glasses and when I tell them how it really does happen....

bookworm,RN · Feb 28, 2011

Im a 4th semester nursing student, done in May, and I hear all the time how I shouldn't go into nursing. I think some people have a notion what what nursing will be like and then when its not the same as they thought it would be, they turn others against it. One of the nurses I work with though said something to me that was very accurate. My mom is a nurse, I have worked in health care for the past 8.5 years. I see what the nurses go through. There are some in my class that do not have experience outside of the clinical. And our clinical experience does not give an accurate representation of what its going to really be like. We have to take an online course as one of our classes. I tend to get into discussions ( arguments really) with some because they are looking through rose colored glasses and when I tell them how it really does happen....

I mean no disrespect, but you will probably still have a rude awakening. I went into nursing with a healthcare background and a realistic view (so I thought) but NOTHING prepares you for actually being a nurse. It can be a hard adjustment even for those with a passion for it.

-RN- · Feb 28, 2011

I'm kind of shocked that people are still actually going into nursing.

anon695 · Feb 28, 2011

I'm kind of shocked that people are still actually going into nursing.

Just because you're unhappy with it, doesn't mean the rest of the world is. Isn't being a nurse supposed to include ability to see the viewpoints of others?