Uncertain about Nursing

I'm not sure if this is the correct section to be posting in, but I want to ask all of you on this forum about Nursing as a career. The main reason I want to become a Nurse is to help people, making a difference in their lives. I often read about Nurses who wish they never chose it as a career and feel like they're trapped because of various negative aspects of being a Nurse like the bullying, the long shifts, etc. My question is.. despite all of the stress of the job, do you still not regret becoming a Nurse? Do you enjoy it as a profession? My only wish is to help other people in their time of need, I don't particularly care about the money or job opportunities.
"My only wish is to help other people in their time of need, I don't particularly care about the money or job opportunities."I give you two weeks on the job with that mindset.....I enjoy the pay and problem solving. Seeing people get better is a perk too even if they are back a week or two later...

Seems like there is no time to really help people and do the hand holding you see on tv. You spend most of your time charting. I have done many different type of nursing. All seems the same after a while. Yes I wish I had chosen a different career.

I just wrote a whole thread about it although no one answered. I have been homeless several times and fired not for my work ethic. I guess I should move on from this field. Trying to figure out how.

What do you mean? I'm saying that I'm not joining Nursing for the money, because I have different motives. Yes I want to see people get better, even if they come back. I was thinking about going for the ICU, how do you like it?

What do you like about Nursing right now, though? Is there anything in your current job that you find worth the time/money in school?

Quote from daetor2012What do you mean? I'm saying that I'm not joining Nursing for the money, because I have different motives. Yes I want to see people get better, even if they come back. I was thinking about going for the ICU, how do you like it?

"My only wish is to help other people in their time of need, I don't particularly care about the money or job opportunities."Then why not become a trash man? Collect people's trash in their time of need (of trash collection). There are no job opportunities (aside from maybe becoming the guy who drives the truck, that must be nice) and the pay isn't that great, but you're helping people in their time of need.

My only wish is to help other people in their time of need, I don't particularly care about the money or job opportunities.

I never regret becoming a nurse. I don't love it. And I have learned that I really am a bit disgusted with how resistant Americans in general to change their behavior when they're sick. I've learned that my real passion is in preventative care and that I want to get out of direct nursing and either get into management or public health. It is VERY frustrating to see people coming back for the same things over and over again because THEY WON'T TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES! But I make decent money and the opportunities really are endless. There are so many different types of schedules you can work and areas to work in. So no, I don't love my job. But I definitely don't regret it.

The ICU is cool. You apply all the medical knowledge you have obtained and do good work for bettering mankind. However, just like an auto mechanic who applies all their mechanical knowledge to get you back on the road, they AND YOU are forced to take shortcuts in order to save money for the company. Neither of you can do your best work, because you can't devote the proper amount of time to the job. You're not going to make smokers into non-smokers, you won't be able to make alcoholics into non-drinkers, BUT you will be able to keep the COPDers alive by intubating them and keeping them on the vent for a month, or sedating and intubating the alcoholics as they go through withdrawal trying to rip out every single tube and wire attached to them! You'll be able to utilize all your skills to get a lifelong alcoholic through a liver transplant or two, or maybe even keep someone alive after a horrible car accident long enough to get their organs transplanted into someone else (all the while their family is in shock from all this happening in the matter of hours). Not to say it's not interesting learning which antibiotics work best for Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, or feel proud of yourself taking care of the sickest patient in the hospital, or even city!It is very challenging, can be very rewarding, but also very taxing on your body and soul. Some of the doctors will even admit that it can suck the living life out of you. I would recommend that if you go the nursing route, that you plan on maybe 10 years and then have an exit plan. Don't bank on 30+ years and retiring as a nurse. The profession is not going that route anymore, so always have a backup plan for an exit to something entirely different. (take it from us who haven't)

I have been a nurse for 2.5 years, which isn't hugely long in the scope of things. It is my second career. I raised a family first. My kids are older now (teens and tweens) - and I truly went back to school and chose this profession because it was something that I felt strongly about. I do not have to work. That being said, I do enjoy the paycheck. It's a nice bonus. Honestly though, even when some aspects of bedside/hospital nursing wear me down, even when there are days I think to myself... "WHY DO I DO THIS?" - I LOVE my job. I love nursing. I love what I do. I read so often that people don't have time to be a real nurse anymore in the hospital, and that makes me sad... because I do. I work in a large Children's hospital, and yeah - there are times where it's crazy busy and I'm lucky to be charted up at shift change (or an hour after) - but there are also times where I can spend 30 minutes playing a game with a patient, or sit at the bedside and comfort a scared kid (or parent). I make time for the fun stuff... for the stuff that makes me remember why I love nursing.Like "kidnapping" a teenager at 2am to go up to the rooftop garden so he can remember what the stars look like after a 3 week hospital stay. Or arming a 12 year old with three full saline flushes and luring another nurse into the room for a soaking.... I kind of have the attitude of: It is what you make of it. If you want to be all about hanging your meds and charting, then that is what it will be. I work with some of those. But I choose to make it NOT all about those things. I am a damn good nurse. I have excellent time management. I get my work done. I learn new stuff every. single. day. I serve on several committees by choice.And I still love my job.Ask me again in another 2.5 years.

"do you still not regret becoming a Nurse?"I still don't regret becoming a nurse."Do you enjoy it as a profession?"Yes. Very much."My only wish is to help other people in their time of need, I don't particularly care about the money or job opportunities."That sounds nice, but it also sounds like you have a bit of a hero or Nightingale complex. You are not operating alone and soaking up the glory of giving, you are doing hard work as part of a team.If you truly don't care about money or job opportunities and want to help people, I suggest volunteering. There are any number of nursing homes, group homes, or even hospitals who would love to have someone with your attributes helping right now.Good luck!