Would you do it all again?

AdobeRN · Jan 27, 2016

I would do it again. I didn't have my act together right after high school then life just got busy - marriage & raising kids - I didn't return to school to my late 30's. If I could turn back time I would have buckled down and did what I was supposed to do after high school - finish college and even go on to be a Nurse Practitioner or PA.

SN2014 · Jan 27, 2016

Right now, I'd say no..... like everyone else says we get paid so little to work so much. Unfortunately, it's not one of those jobs that you can just "leave the stress at work"... it follows you.

In a few years, when I'm done with my BSN, go to CRNA school, and become a CRNA, I'll probably answer this question differently.

But as a floor nurse... I love my job.. it's just not worth it financially, physically, or stress wise!

kiwi111 · Jan 27, 2016

No I wouldn't knowing I'd have no job and that my back is already half broken despite just with school clnicals and no actual work experience yet. I would have pursued the "death inducing coma at cubicle work" as someone mentioned. Gotta love them cubicles and isolation. Seriously.

GailWilliams · Jan 27, 2016

After 43 years I would do the same thing!! I would also start my education sooner and not wait till mid-life! I would have entered teaching sooner, but then I don't want to negate any of the experiences I've had as those experiences have made me what I am today.

I often muse....maybe forensic nursing sound interesting... :yes:

Axgrinder · Jan 27, 2016

No. Absolutely not. Never.

I wanted to be an orthodontist, my family wanted me to be an RN. There were no dental schools in AZ when I graduated high school in 1985. Nursing it was.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jan 27, 2016

I wish I could go back to being a secretary! It was so much easier and pleasant. People were nice at least decent and you did your job not everyone elses and you didn't have to beg people to just do their job! You weren't held responsible for everyone else's job. I've never dealt with such nasty coworkers as a nurse granted only a few but they can be truly evil! Not to mention all the violent, agitated never ending psych patients. Seriously sometimes I think of cashing in my retirement paying off my mortgage and getting a dead end job. If I didn't have a mortgage and a car payment, I could afford to be a secretary or some other simple easy job. I dread going into work I never know what sort of assignment I will get, how many unstable patients that should have been in the ICU and useless coworkers that let you do their job for them while your drowning with all your nurse work they cannot do! It is a joke the turnover is constant and never ending and I know I'm not the only one that feels this way. We are a revolving door of new grads and now they are making them sign a contract that they will get their BSN or be out the door, with just a token reimbursement that would barely cover one class a year, while working full time! Sad add another $10-20,000 student loans and not get paid one iota more!

RNator · Jan 27, 2016

Not sure...my knee jerk reaction is "yes, I would choose differently." But, I've spent most of my time in ED, and I am continually distressed at how negative my thoughts, and even words are that come from me. We all know the list I'm talking about, from quality scores, to disgusting un thankful people, etc...But, I do absolutely love when a patient is genuinely sick, and I can help them recover, or I can even just listen and be a soothing voice in their life. So that being said, I'm not certain that I am in the correct specialty for me, which I'm guessing would change my decision...

RNator

she244 · Jan 27, 2016

Yes, I would choose Nursing but would have started earlier and continued my education. I stopped with a ADN degree and have been lucky because I am a chance taker and always have landed on my feet. I work in College Health Nursing and make a decent salary but still am limited on being able to sign up for classes due to the time demands of the job. I always advise new Nurses to continue on with their education. I have worked in the ER, Long Term Nursing, Acute Care, and now College Health.

Vacationtime247 · Jan 27, 2016

Still in nursing, would choose it again. But not for the reason most would say. It pays well and is easy to find a job. It's not a career. Work just part time, enough to pay the bills and have some extra. Found out early in my nursing days that it sucks being a nurse because people are horrible. Paid off all my debt and said never again. Don't let yourself become a slave to the dollar and you'll not need to do this work.

VT247

sbustamante · Jan 27, 2016

I am 37 and finishing my pre-reqs, I'm super scared that I am coming into the game too late. I've always wanted to be a nurse so I am hoping that it's not too late and I can fulfill my goals. My husband is military so we've lived overseas for many years and now is the only time I've been able to actually stop and go to school. Good luck to you!!!

flying_ace2 · Jan 27, 2016

Don't let yourself become a slave to the dollar and you'll not need to do this work.
VT247

So. Much. TRUTH. My husband and I are about half way through paying off ALL of our debt, only another 1.5 years to go. That'll be a GREAT day when it's all gone!!!

Anywho, I'd choose nursing again.....at this point. I've only been in the field for almost 2 years and had jobs before nursing, which were deadend, paid crap money, and were essentially pointless. Nursing, especially my job now, pays way more, offers way more flexibility of scheduling, and has a huge potential to grow into the field in which I'd like to spend the majority of my career. Without nursing I wouldn't be able to be here, so I'd still choose it as a second career option at this point.

babilidose · Jan 27, 2016

I would choose nursing again but take more community college classes in high school.