Would you become a nurse today if you could do it over again?

Nurses General Nursing

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Two career-advice questions (at end of this message)... Candid answers would be very welcome.

BACKGROUND: I am a first-year nursing student in an RN ADN program. I have a master's degree in public health and some years of work experience under my belt. I am doing well in my courses and don't find the book stuff terribly difficult, and find the things I'm learning really, really useful.

But... I am worried about the things I am hearing, from various sources (different Web site forums, published articles, the news, ex-nurses, etc.) about the real world of nursing - the horrible staffing levels, the frequent disrespect, the excessive charting, hospitals being advertised similar to hotels but really so understaffed that truly adequate patient care is impossible. In short, it's dawning on me that the nursing shortage is an ominous sign that few people, no matter how well-intentioned, want to be a nurse or continue to be one anymore, and for good reason.

So, my two questions:

1) If you had to do it over again, would you become a nurse, given today's nursing working conditions?

2) Would you recommend I just get a job using my MPH and prior work experience and not become an RN?

Wow, I am very disheartened to read all these replies. If you all would go back and change your choice, why are you still in the profession? Why not change careers?

Many people do change careers. However, many people tend to trap themselves in a rut. They do not want to take on student loans, take time out from work to go back to school, live from pay check to pay check, etc. Nursing is a very stable career. You can nearly always have a job that pays better than min wage and have health coverage as well. So, many of us are miserable at times but choose to continue working as Nurses because of the above reasons.

It is like many other jobs, you may not like it, but it pays the bills, feeds the kids, and keeps a roof over your head. Some people are willing to accept this in order to make ends meet this way.

In all honesty, I could take out thousands of dollars in loans, destroy my credit, go back to school, learn how to accelerate and smash particles into each other, and write an award wining book on how I did it. I guess I am just lazy. Who knows. :lol2:

NO! I would claim a street corner. Better benefits, protected by pimp (not so by hosp admins). Probably not as much exposure to as many diseases on a standing street corner.

:roll:roll:roll:roll:roll:roll:roll

Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

Mulan said it best... :lol2: (post # 2)

Specializes in rehab-med/surg-ICU-ER-cath lab.

1. YES! I love being a nurse and am so very proud to be one. From the day I started reading Cherry Ames to LPN school graduation 31 years ago and on to RN graduation 32 years ago. I have worked all over the place LTC, rehab., Med-Surg, School Nurse, step-down CABBG, ICU, ER, and finally my favorite Cath Lab.

2. I guess being an RN may open more job opportunities when combined with previous education. But, if you do not love it or sadly must work as a nurse for the money and bene's then when and if you can, leave it to follow your heart.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Psych..

1) NO...Everytime I go to work before I enter my unit I pray to God to give me the sanity so that I will be able to keep my patients and myself safe the rest of the 12 hrs!

2) Yes... you may not get as much as money that the nurses make but at least you wont have to kill your self trying to do your job.

Every time I feel pain on my back after I turn a heavy bed ridden patient on my own (just because the lift teams are too busy and the family is yelling at me) and I clean up a "code brown" (poop all over!) on my own or getting yelled at by patient and family because I did not give them jug of water on time (no nurses aide on the floor that day and I am taking care of 7 patients) and getting ignored by the management when I tell them that we need more bedside help....I tell myself I am tolerating all these nonsense just for my children, just so that I can give a roof over their head....its a bit selfish thing to say but this is what keeps me going;)

Specializes in Med-Surg/Pedi/ICU/Tele/Onc.

1. Hell no.

2. Yes

Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

If it were not for pediatrics, I think I would go insane. I am currently finishing up nursing school (BSN) but work as a nurse apprentice -- thus I do all RN duties but an RN has to sign off on me. And I really do enjoy my pediatrics floor and enjoy working as a nurse. However, if I had to work on an adult floor after graduation, I think I would leave the field in a hefty second.

Even though I enjoy the field, I have come to realize that I would rather be in medicine. Thus after graduation, I will work my tail off for a year and pay off some of my enormous debt and then continue on and finish my pre-req's for medical school.

Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Yes and no. Nursing is great---if we could ever actually do it. I hate, hate, hate customer service.

Yes.

Specializes in SICU, EMS, Home Health, School Nursing.

1. Yes, I do think I would do it over again, but I would definitely go to a different college. I was lucky enough to find a job that I really enjoy straight out of school. I can't picture myself doing anything else at the moment. 40 years down the road I may have a different perspective, but for now I really like where I am. Nursing is a career that gives you a lot of choices.

2. Like someone else said, only you can make that decision for yourself. With an MPH, you could easily get into an accelerated RN, BSN program if you wanted to and having a BSN and MPH, you would definitely be a #1 recruit for public health nursing or something related to that. If nursing is something you are interested in, then I say go for it.

Specializes in Neuroscience ICU.

A resounding YES!!! I can not imagine what my life would have been had I not become a nurse. I was not forced into nursing because it was an acceptable profession for women. I have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly in 28 years. I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything!

Don't jump ship until you can look at all sides of this question. I know for a fact that there are good places to work, learn and develop close relationships with co-workers and not fear administration. I hope those of you who have responded to marie-francoise's question with a "no" will one day work in a place where you feel appreciated and valued for what you bring with you to your work place.

Good Luck

End Game RN

1. No

2. Yes

Specializes in SICU.

1) HELL no.

2) Finish your degree but then get a job using your MPH.

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