Would you do it all again?

[laski]

Nurses, experienced and new grads, would you do it all again?

Considering the current economic climate, the "churning" out of new grads, limited job opportunities (at least compared to the past) and simply knowing all you do now, would you go to school for nursing again? If you answer YES, do you regret your decision to ever enter in the first place OR do you just think that considering all the challenges faced by nurses today you would probably choose a different career path? Why?

What frustrates you most about the profession?

What do you love the most--in other words, what keeps you going?

What is ONE thing, the most important thing, you would tell someone who is considering entering the nursing profession?

I know you can find responses to these types of questions all over the board, but I really wanted to get a good sampling considering today's climate.

[yuzzamatuzz]

3 months out of school and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I can't imagine my life without nursing. Everyday I thank God that I love every second of my job and can't wait to start my day.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Yes, probably. I don't get too frustrated by nursing. I get frustrated by people. I'd still have to deal with idiots and jerks even if I weren't a nurse, lol.

[jlpsu]

OP - I'm in your same boat. Late 30's...prior degree...4 kids...husband...starting over - AGAIN!

What I found helpful in deciding whether or not to pursue this is to ask just these kinds of questions...and I knew it was my passion when I heard many of the very negative horror stories here about nursing, and decided I wanted to do it anyway! I'm either crazy...or, I just really have a passion for nursing. I'm going with the latter ;-)

But one thing I have found from reading this board, is that the happiest nurses seem to be those who go into nursing because it is what they want to do. Not because they can make X dollars in nursing and they only make X/2 dollars now, or because their friend's aunts best friend told them they should, or because they think it's a quick fix. The happiest nurses I found were the ones who wanted to Nurse. The rest of the bulls*** is there - but they can over look it. THe ones who expected a quick fix, or quick money are often very dissillusioned when faced with the realities of the job. So do your research, make sure you know - as much as you can know without doing it - the realities of the job..and if you heart is STILL telling you to go for it..then do! I am :-)

Best of luck...

[onedayitllbeme]

grass is always greener, if you don't intentionally adjust your thinking you will naturally think of all the bad things in your job now and compare it to all the good things in your job/career in the past. If you compare bad/bad and good/good.. things seem different. I plan on writing down all the things in my current career that I hate so I don't forget when I move to nursing and have an aching back, bodily fluids all over me, and make half as much.. still better to follow your heart. (at least this is what i am trying to convince myself of after 15 years in a business tech career)

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

"Nurses, experienced and new grads, would you do it all again?"

New grad here. Yes, I would.

"knowing all you do now, would you go to school for nursing again?"

Yep.

"If you answer YES, do you regret your decision to ever enter in the first place OR do you just think that considering all the challenges faced by nurses today you would probably choose a different career path?"

Neither. I like it so far.

"Why?"

Because I did everything possible in my power to favorably position myself for getting my desired job after graduation. I made substantial sacrifices to do this, but I got that job. It's hard, but I'm doing it. My preceptors start the shift sighing that they have a green nurse to watch over and glowering over my head to toe assessments. They end the shift showering me with praise.

"What frustrates you most about the profession?"

The workload is pretty tough. We are staffed OK and have good resources available, but we are all scrambling to get everything done and really don't get to spend enough time with each patient.

"What do you love the most--in other words, what keeps you going?"

The work. I really like it and have since I was an aide in one of the worst nursing homes in the state. The nurses on my floor work well together and support each other. The money and bennies are pretty good too.

"What is ONE thing, the most important thing, you would tell someone who is considering entering the nursing profession?"

Enter the profession for the right reasons. If you simply want a guaranteed job with a great salary and benefits - forget it. Do it because you want to take care of people and know going in that it is HARD work.

"I know you can find responses to these types of questions all over the board, but I really wanted to get a good sampling considering today's climate."

Yeah. I figure I got 21 years as a nurse then I'll call it quits (hope we keep that sweet pension!)

[Blackheartednurse]

Nope, too much stress and lack of respect.