I read many of the previous responses and, sadly, I have to agree with most of them. I have been an RN for 17 yrs. The majority of that time has been as an NICU nurse. I love the babies and I LOVE to teach but with assignments getting heavier and lack of staff, the teaching is what suffers- unless you want to (or are allowed to) stay overtime to chart. I got so tired and stressed out over the politics, set schedules, holiday and weekend schedules and MD's that treat nurses like doormats, that I almost quit nursing a few years ago. Now I work for a nursing agency that pays $32-34/hr and I can choose when, where and how much I work. I even contacted a travel agency that pays a housing stipend, full medical, life and malpractice insurance, even if I stay local. Now I do the same work as before, often in the same unit where I was staff, get payed more and hear "thank you" a lot more. No more politics! I have to provide my own medical coverage at this point, but it's a welcome tradeoff! I would recommend this profession to anyone who has a true vision of what nursing is all about- not much glory or recognition, long hours with little appreciation and low pay but the satisfaction felt inside when you touch the lives of your patient and his/her family is truly rewarding! The media needs to stop portraying nurses as brainless bimbos who are just there for show or to do the doctor's bidding. ER shows alot of the crap nurses put up with but most people really do think we just pass pills and take bp's and then sit around and gossip! Yeah right!
