Why do so many nurses who regret going into nursing? How do I really know if nursing is for me?
Nursing is a changing profession. Most nurses enter the field because they have a caring heart, and a desire to help people. We see people on the best or worst day of their life.
With that being said now nursing is all about charting and how much you can get done in 12 hours. It is all about management and administration and making money.
Nursing "care" is lost. We have become minions of corporate America. It is no longer about the patient, its about profit. You are expendable. If something goes wrong, the nurse will be the sacrificial lamb, even if she had nothing to do with it. Save yourself. If I could do it all over, I would go into imaging (CT, MRI, Nuclear medicine etc.). Take their picture and send them to the nurse.
Nursing used to be about patient care and now it is about profit. If nursing professionals are not able to provide optimal care, the purpose of being a nurse is futile. Staffing is the main obstacle to providing patient care. Until there are enforceable policies regarding patient to nurse ratios, only option is to work in a unionized environment where acuity and ratios are the law.
Well, if you're passion is caring for others, lending a helping hand to whoever, have an enquiring mind about diseases and management there of.. Then nursing is the answer. This is the one career where one never gets bored. Tired and frustrated? Yes, many times, but one " Thank you" on a crazy shift, is worth more than money.
It could be many reasons, but remember why YOU chose the profession. Also be intentional about what you plan to in the profession long term. Also speak with nurses who love the profession to hear two different perspectives. Fortunately, there are many many areas of nursing to go into. Have a voice speak up and be intentional and understand your journey and purpose in Nursing.
It starts in the heart. It’s a feeling that just over takes you. Your need and want to help others. I knew at 4 years old, that I would be a nurse. I became a nurse at 19.
There have been times in my career that I have felt this way, but overall I am satisfied with my decision to become a nurse. I have good days and bad days, awful days where I cry in the bathroom, and days where I know I was put on this earth to help this one person in this one moment. People are always going to be people, with emotional needs and medical needs. I live by the “golden rule.” I treat my patients the way I would like to be treated: with respect, dignity, and equity. The bottom line is that I give my all and hope I’m doing the right thing.
Get a feel for the profession by getting a job as a CNA or STNA at first. You learn hands-on care which will give you an idea whether or not you want to pursue a nursing degree.
You won’t know if nursing is for you until you’re in it. Good thing about nursing, in every industry a nurse is needed. Changing specialties isn’t hard. Most nurses disgruntled about the profession work bedside and deal with a number of issues (bullying, understaffing, micromanagement etc). In today’s time, many nurses are entrepreneurs.
As far as caring goes, it seems as if “being a caring person” is a prerequisite for becoming a nurse. Yes, have compassion (that’s human decency) but keep in mind, your bills can care less. Just saying.
Nursing is more than a white uniform and cap (My starting era). It is a difficult profession but a very fulfilling one. The hours are long, the staff frequently short, the pay not always great. However, after 48 years, I still am proud and glad that I chose this profession. I would do it again if given the chance.
It is said if you save 1 life you are a hero, but if you have saved many lives you are a nurse!
We are the patient safety advocates, we are there 24 hours a day providing care. We are the gates between regaining health and loss of life. We are the ones patients and families come to first.
You will never be a millionaire, but you can achieve so much: LPN, RN, ARNP, CRNA, Case Manager, Nurse Manager, Chief Nursing Officer...we really have no limits.
I don’t know where you are from, but what when I was a RN in Ohio, I felt incredibly valued and like an individual. When I moved to Florida, I was literally shocked at the lack of support nurses have in the hospitals here. The organizations are always wanting you do more and more, and the root cause is less workers, more profit and sadly, the patients are the ones who pay the price. I’ve really struggled to find an organization who cares about the nurse as an individual. However, I’ve invested 17 years of my life into this field, so I still hold out hope that I’ll find the right spot and be appreciated.
Decide if you are a loving caring kind of person who always wants to do for other people. Take heed in learning the interpersonal skills taught in nursing school. If you enjoy psych, it will help.
I think those nurses looked at it as a job. Nursing is not a job. You don’t work a 9-5 Monday thru Friday job. If you are caring and think how would I want someone to treat this patient if it was my family then nursing is for you. Can you get tired? Of course, but it is very rewarding.
From my personal experience, the RN’s that “regret” becoming RN’s hot into the profession for the wrong reasons. Most of them suck so it wouldn’t be a bad thing if they left.
I hve been a nurse for almost 50 years, and an NP for almost 28 of that. I have taught BSN level for 20 years an subbed in graduate classes as well. I am a practicing NP at present, and love it. But I think people do not understand what they are getting into when they choose nursing. We don't market ourselves very well! Nurses want ot help others, usually have an interest in science and in taking care of the entire patient (holistic care). What I have found over the years is that many people who leave are burned out by the work and have not been able to find something in their lives to allow them to continue to 'burn brightly'. Students and friends who regret their decision have said they had no idea how hard it would be emotionally, mentally and physically combined. They had no idea how they would be affected by the layers of hospital authority and policies, and often felt their hands were tied on matters of care by administrators who were not practicing clinicians but only had experience in business. Often I heard complaints of schdules not making lifestyles difficult when nurses had kids or family members for whom they were responsible. Or they were just too tired to take part in things they had enjoyed before (dysthymia or depression, sometimes). All of this can be true to a greater or lesser extent. The resiliency of the individual nurse comes into play here. And you have to find your niche which can take a few years after graduation. Good time management is essentila to work sucessfully and have a life outside of professional practice. Talk to a LOT of nurses!! Ask the the upsides and downsides of their wokr. What do they love about the profession? What do they truly hate? How do they balance work and private life? What do they do to relax (meditate, walk, go to yoga, play sports, play a musical instrument, belong to groups of people with similar interests, have a hobby or two?) What degrees/experience did they need to get to where they feel comfortable and enjoy working? What support systems are out there for working nurses? Support Groups? Does your institution have early childcare on site? Offer reduced fees at a local gym or recreation center - some places offer these and similar means for nurses to blow off steam and renew? How flexible are work schedules? Etc.). If you volunteer or work as an Aide you can get a pretty fair idea of what nursing is like by watching the nurses on your unit. If not, Keep talking to nurses, especially new and old. Nursing has changed a lot. I still love it, and my career needs and focus have changed as I have grown as a nurse and gotten older. That's a BIG benefit. I hope you decide to join us.
Long hours-- Short Pay.
Before I started my nursing education I decided to work as a CNA/Patient Care Tech in a hospital to see if it’s what I wanted to do. The nurses were awesome and eager to show me stuff that they do. I then became an LPN, then RN, and now pursuing RN-BSN. I also think it comes down to finding an area of nursing that you love. For me, I love hospice nursing. Good luck!
