Would you do it all again?

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I am just curious to know how many of you would still choose a career in nursing--knowing what you know now--if you had the chance to travel back in time and perhaps pick a different path.

Nope. I'd follow my true love veterinary medicine

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.

I've done different things and I chose nursing at the age of 45... my only regret is that I didn't do so 20 years sooner.

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.
No.

Registered Nurse is synonymous with glorified server in 2016.

Glorified server at $80/hr with benefits.
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Glorified server at $80/hr with benefits.

80 an hour holy man where do you work as an RN because I'm coming there.... I'm no where close to that!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, ER, ICU, Education, LTC.

I never wanted to do this in the first place. I wanted to be a teacher but my father said he wouldn't support that decision. That was in 1974. There was an abundance of teachers with no jobs but there's always a job for a nurse. Plus my sister was a nurse...

If I could flip back time? I would still have respected my fathers wishes. BUT I would have joined the military and let them pay for my RN education and retired with a pension so sweet that I could then be a teacher for my second career if that's what I wanted to do. There's a lot to be said for weekends off, school vacations, summers off --all with pay!

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.
There's a lot to be said for weekends off, school vacations, summers off --all with pay!
Point of correction: *NOT* with pay.

Salary is based on contracted work hours... and doesn't include all the off time spent grading and prepping.

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Specializes in CVOR, CVICU/CTICU, CCRN-CMC-CSC.
Registered Nurse is synonymous with glorified server in 2016.

That's why I'm leaving the bedside. It's more about Press-Ganey scores than patient care anymore.

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Would I do it again? Oh hell no. After 30 years as an RN, I'm finally in a position financially and otherwise to pursue something else, and I feel as though I've been set free.

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You mean would I become waitress and a data entry clerk with the RN title all over again? No way.

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Since nursing has so many options, I would say that I made a right decision. However, if nursing involved ONLY working on the floor or in the ICU, I would become an accountant. Or revisit my original dream to be a computer engineer or work for NASA.

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