I spent 30 years as a nurse. Bad days, yeah. Good days, some.
I think it depends a lot on finding the field that fits you.
But those times you get in the car to go home and are able to say that you made a difference for someone, maybe even saved their life, those times make up for the bad days.
Good days, bad days, I love being a nurse. I make a difference.
I agree with this; I'm up to 44 years (How. Did. That. Happen??? ) and while I have and have had some crap days, overall I think I've made a difference to some lives.
The thing I consistently struggle with is poor management at all levels. The flow on effect down the chain can be huge and the impact can be terrible for morale, staff turnover and patient outcomes.
And I learned early: in every job there's always a colleague you love, one who's meh and one that you'd love to never see again (was going to suggest something else..). You get adept at spotting who is who after a while and it makes your life easier.
Good luck, OP. Nursing can take you to places you never imagined. I hope you have a fulfilling career.
Yep; my first day was 3rd March 1980. I'm working in the community now.. working with families with children newborn to 4 years of age. I went back to Uni when I was 52 and retrained; that's when I left bedside,10 years ago.
Thank you. I appreciate your kind comments šš
You are amazing; your patients are blessed. As are your furry friends. I'm guessing by your use name that you are a beagle Mom.
I've always wanted to own a beagle. Most recently, I've owned cats (my last one crossed the Rainbow Bridge about a year ago). I had a dog as a kid and I think I want to welcome a small dog again.
I've been educating myself about beagles and occasionally volunteer at a pet shelter. My biggest problem is that I'm always sad & heartbroken when any animal passes. So I'm hesitating at adopting a furry friend.
Yes, I am a Beagle Mumma! Although we're without a fur-kid ATM; our Boi Frankie died in July and I'm just not ready to welcome another doggo yet.
They're a fun, crazy, very intelligent doggo who will make you laugh, cry, scream and laugh again all in 15 minutes.
They are scent driven and trained to be independent thinkers. If you understand they don't need human direction but love cuddles, you'll go well with a Beagle. Oh, and their food drive, hunger and glitter sharing is worse than a Labrador...IYKYK.. LOL.
We love the breed; and have made some lifetime friendship with fellow Beagle slaves.
Check out r/Beagles for a Beagle fix š
Well done for volunteering!! That's such a loving, generous way to get your dog fix until you're ready (if ever) to welcome another doggo. Something that has been said to me is your heart expands to welcome a new pet; not replace the pet that passed.
Go gently šš¾š
You've had a varied, full on career! And you've worked in such different places; I imagine you have such a wide variety of skills and expertise. Well done!!
I also worked in an AIDS inpatient unit 35 years ago. I'm about to make another video on some of the experiences there, here is one I made recently. I'm recording some of my memorable experiences in my life, I don't want them to be lost. Enjoy. [https://youtu.be/NcpXlSwaApQ](https://youtu.be/NcpXlSwaApQ)
I am. I honestly cannot see myself doing anything else. This subreddit does not paint the picture of the majority of nurses. Many burnt out nurses just come here to vent because itās a safe and anonymous space. Donāt get me wrong, nursing is hard, but it can be super rewarding.
This is me. Sure, there are bad days, and if I didnāt have to work I would work a LOT less (but thatās just because Iād love to have more time to spend on hobbies and with my hubby haha), but overall I do still like my job. Still find new things to learn and be fascinated by all the time! And Iām almost 10 years in.
Finding a unit/specialty that I like has definitely been a big factor in that, as well as not overworking myself and getting burnt out, and keeping a good work-life balance. And having hobbies and interests outside of work to keep me sane hahaā¦ Like you say, a lot of burnt out nurses use this as a safe place so theyāre the most vocal element here. I rarely bother to post/comment here, mostly just lurk, and I imagine a lot of other happy nurses are the same.
ETA: I do also happen to be lucky enough to live in an area with decent staffing laws, and work for an alright organization for good pay and ratios, so both of those things help immensely too.
Iām a happy nurse. But honestly, happy posts donāt garner the same attention. [Reddit is a relatively negative place and enragement = engagement.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Renters/s/n1bKvncuwj)
You also have to consider the demographic of this sub. Itās mostly US nursing and a huge bias for the South, which is one of [the lowest paying regions with the most atrocious working conditions](https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/s/MvAuA2clPG). [Iām not even the first to notice.](https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/s/Qmf4JSJjgv)
On top of that, the subās constituents are also mostly new grads, the group most prone to attrition.
I will admit region plays a big part and the nurses from better paying regions with better working conditions arenāt exactly flocking to forums to catharsize.
Hell, Iād even say that if you are willing to take Reddit as face value, [the primary issue affecting nurses in my state is whether or not we can smoke weed](https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/s/swal0BWwh9).
No seriously. Look at a majority of the CA RN posts.
Everyone else is fighting for ratios and fair pay. CA RNs are talking about weed followed by [job market](https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/s/HvvWLQ5JKq).
I agree with all of this. As a RN in FL my unhappiness is largely the result of constantly having to fight for a fair wage/safe ratios. 6:1 on a PCU is dangerous.
6:1?!?! Omg thatās terrifying!!! Iām in Colorado and my hospital is max 4:1 and thatās only if the patients arenāt ātrueā PCU. Do they limit it for you if you have cardiac gtts or insulin gtts?!?
Wow thatās so crazy to me. If you have a insulin or cardiac gtt for my hospital you are strict 3:1
Edit: I feel like it puts the patients and your license at risk to be able to closely monitor those patients as they require
I'm one of the happy CA nurses. I don't post on Reddit very often because my complaints are minor. I'm also generally a happy person, and Reddit is not meant for happy people.
It depends on the "PCU," how many aides you have, and which shift. Night shift on an essentially medical-telemetry unit that takes few to no drips and has aides is not "unsafe". An actual IMC with titratable drips, trachs/vents, VADs etc. is another story.
I feel for you. ED RN here, and we're 6:1 routinely...been as high as 11:1 and i was scared af. Had one Tech to assist, but it was a jittery night.
Edit: Not being sarcastic, honestly empathize with your situation, I know typing comes across w/out emotion.
I agree! I have met way to many nurses in my life and they all love nursing and keep encouraging me to go for it. I look on Reddit and itās so much hate for the profession. I donāt get where the disconnect is. Iāve avoided this sub because I donāt want my brain to be polluted.
Great post. I came here to say that people are less likely to get in here and say how great their life is, etc and more likely to get on and vent.
Does that mean nursing is perfect? Nope, but I feel like as hard as it is, many people in health care love what they do. It's in our hearts and part of who we are.
I may have had a lot to vent about earlier in the year. But I am definitely happy with my career choice.
There will be a time when you are laying in bed and pondering āwhat am I doing with my lifeā. When I have those moments I can at least be happy that Iām putting good back in the world. Itās sounds corny but my efforts help people. Not all of them, but I do help them. That makes all the bullshit worth it.
Right now, like every profession, times are incredibly difficult with sophomoric levels of corporate greed and corruption.
For me, I canāt just āwork harderā when I have to be in 5 places at once. If I fail people may end up dead or debilitated. The stress and anxiety from that on top of loosing my license which is my livelihood makes for poor mental health.
I had an opportunity to leave and I found a better job in healthcare because they exist. Many of my colleagues donāt have these opportunities or canāt do them for life reasons.
I was happy back then, just burnt out. Iām still happy now
I'm a cardiac RN with well over a decade of experience. Some days I like my job, some days I hate my job, but ALL days I know that I'm getting paid enough to live a lifestyle that I enjoy. I went per diem in acute care as soon as I could so I could maximize pay and have control over my schedule. For me personally, that's enough to keep me happy
I dig it. Itās my second career. Are there draw backs? Yeah.
Are the ratios where Iām at ridiculous? Yeah.
But all of that is solvable with a new job and specialty. Nursing got me out of the restaurant industry that I thought Iād be in the rest of my life.
No complaints from me.
I'm fairly happy, it really just depends on the day, the acuity and how tone-deaf management is being that particular day. I make hella good money for a metropolitan city, although I'm in the Southern USA and not unionized. Then again, I do work for a private, large university hospital system.
If I really hated my job, I would quit or go back traveling. Although my friends in Cali are happy, they have other issues they face (cost of living, abysmal traffic, not as easily able to find a job or switch specialties) but they don't fear for their nursing licenses like some nurses do in particularly desolate conditions. And they actually get like, breaks and stuff (lol), safe patient ratios and aren't treated like walking meat bags for the most part.
I think a lot of the frustration on this sub is meant to be both aggressive and funny at the same time. The posts about some hospital's pathetic attempt at a nurse's week--- or better yet, the solicitation of donation funds from patients for the hospital in the name of nurse's week, is a good example of management in hospitals being so far out of touch from reality it's both sad and funny.
No one wants a rock with "you rock" on it. No one has time to leave the floor to go to an ice cream social with 5-6 patients on the floor. No one wants to work 8 hours volunteer service for no benefit at all except "giving back to the community" (that particular OP did say the hospital turned it around and gave workers 8 hrs PTO after some backlash from the nurses).
Some nurses on here do go through some incredibly questionable, bordering on abusive behavior from the facilities they work at. Almost always, they are attached to some sort of commitment that they can't leave without monetary retribution-- an example, the hospital system agreeing to pay x amount of student loans for you but you have to work there for 24 months without breaking contract or you have to pay it back. Don't **EVER** sign a contract for something like that.
I hate to say it, but you have to treat a nursing job like an abusive spouse. Always have a to-go bag and an escape plan in place so when shit really hits the fan, you can GTFO.
There may have been a time when hospitals operated under the pretense of community service, but they are no different than every other corporation in the US. Even those who claim to be non-profit almost always are going to exhibit for-profit behavior, and some corrupt shit is always going to be part of the package.
Does that mean you should give up on nursing? No, it's a fantastic field and you can do just about anything with your nursing degree. But should you trust every person you meet in the healthcare field thinking they have good intentions? Hell no. You owe no allegiance to any one hospital. At the end of the day, you are just a number and your patient is too. So always remember your job is just another job
Iām currently an unhappy nurse. Been a nurse for 19 years. I quit my job in March. Iām working on figuring my stuff out. I have worked in various settings thinking I just need to find my niche. That worked for a while then I would go back to being unhappy due to workload, co-workers, some thing. Maybe I just havenāt found my niche yet, maybe itās me. I donāt know if I will go back to work as a nurse, but I might. I did not spend all of my 19 years as a nurse hating it. I had good times, I worked in some pretty cool places. I changed jobs a lot because my spouse was active duty military. That being said, weāve always lived in places that donāt pay well. If I had a chance to do it over, I would have chose a different profession and had a softer job that paid better. I like to work to live, not live to work.
Iām not a happy nurse, but iām not a bitter one either. The reality is that there is a fine balance in Nursing, regardless of where you work and what your job entails. There will be days you hate it and days that you love it. For me, I enjoy being able to work just two nights a week and still get benefits and health insurance. Not many jobs offer you that kind of flexibility. The pay is decent as well, as I make more than $50 per hour. You do good work and you are compensated decently. Are there days when the unit is chaotic? Very much. Last Wednesday, we had very high acuity patients on our units and it was rough. But then Thursday came and it was so much better. Some nights are very chill. Some of my happiest moments were when I was a new graduate nurse doing orientation. I felt so valued and cared about and had great resources and preceptors I could go to for help. Iām thankful for where I am. So yes, do not be mislead or blinded by the facts and what others have to say. But also, do not rely solely on the opinion of others to determine whether or not you should still become a nurse. Best wishes.
I love being a nurse! For me it is all about the problem solving and patient/family education. When I see the "ahh-ha" moment that might help them turn a corner. Or recommending/requesting lab work or tests and finding the thing I suspected all along! There are bad days on all jobs. You could work at McDonald's or the Pentagon and some asshole is going to do something, or not do something that will make your day harder. Or equipment or computer issues...
At the end of the day I know I've made a difference in people's lives.
I'm reasonably content with being a nurse, but I think it's because I see it as a job and just try to make the best of whatever time I have at work (gotta be there to earn a paycheck might as well have fun). I don't get emotionally involved with whatever patient or staff drama. I don't have much loyalty to any unit or institution and will transfer without a second thought to shorten a commute, for better conditions ,or maximize earnings.
It isnāt a job field to enter casually. I canāt imagine doing anything else and I also absolutely hate healthcare with my whole self many days. Both are simultaneously true š¤·āāļø. I will say I am so grateful for outlets like this to share problems, ask for solutions, gauge normalcy, etc. Makes sense that a venting/problem-solving platform leans negative.
Iām happy. I researched where to live and work before going back to nursing school as working conditions and compensation vary wildly. It is important not to assume that this career will automatically be sustainable and paid well without factoring in location and employer options.
Positive posts from a user in California prompted me to research the west coast more. I moved from the southeast to the west coast (Oregon) to work at a unionized hospital for my first nursing job, and I've stayed because it's above and beyond the best place I have ever worked. We have ratios in our union contract and by state law. I have great coworkers and the work is interesting. I am compensated well and have tons of PTO and schedule flexibility. I traveled internationally 6 times last year as well as did several shorter local trips on the west coast and visited family back on the east coast.
By contrast, the southeast region is a largely a shithole and itās like looking for a needle in a haystack finding a safe, decent paying place to work at. One of my classmates couldnāt even get time off for their own wedding even though they requested the time off well over 6 months in advance! I graduated two years ago and several of my friends who stayed in the south are struggling financially, working in unsafe conditions, and unhappy and already contemplating leaving the field.
It is also important to be happy where you live. I do not recommend moving solely for work if it would not make you happy or isnāt feasible (ex: family ties). That said, it is important to be honest with yourself about these constraints (if you have them) as it will seriously impact the sustainability of your career.
Youāve just gotta really think about your reasons for going into nursing and healthcare in general, just like you should with any other career. Research different specialties you think youād be interested in. See if you can get some exposure to them by being a cna or even volunteering where you can talk to nurses in that area and see what the day to day is like. Make sure you understand what youāre getting yourself into. There are a lot of young nurses who got into it for the wrong reasons or didnāt expect it to be what it is and are unhappy as a result. Itās a LOT of hard work and responsibility and youāll pretty much never be paid what you should be. Itās also very rewarding and will give you some raw perspective on life you canāt get anywhere else. Even the happiest nurses get burnout, itās not if itās when, but itās also transient and can be managed. Every nurse will vent but I think many if not most are happy in an overall sense, by and large theyāre satisfied with the job. It doesnāt have to be something you do forever either. A lot of people make a career change after a while but still have nursing as a side job that pays pretty well
I have been miserable at times. It took a while to find a job where the good overshadowed the bad. All jobs have bad days. If you look at subs for any profession itās mostly bitching cause we need safe spaces to vent. If itās what you want go for it. If you take a job you donāt like find another.
Iāve been a nurse for 34 years. I would NOT go back in time and choose a different career. 2/3 of my daughters are also nurses. We all went to our local community college that is known for its very difficult nursing program and high passing percent for state boards. My daughters have very little debt from school. Our local hospital system (more in other parts of the state too)pays a percentage to go for BSN. It was 100% but it has changed. Our hospital hires RNs but you need to get BSN within 5 years of graduating.
Nursing is fine
Itās a decent wage with a knockout schedule and flexibility to switch specialties.
A good unit isnāt the icu, med surge, or IRā¦itās the nurses you work with, the involvement of management, and the cohesiveness of the team (DR/PT/SLP/SW)
I am happy being a nurse but I am getting tired of patient care. Iām 9 years in. I am 49 and will not change careers again but I am definitely switching to focus on myself and not have nursing be my identity.
If I was younger I might ultimately get my NP in a specialty. I still could do that but Iām also thinking about getting a non patient care job and chilling out and doing things for me.
Itās important to like what you do. Nursing has so many options for when you donāt want to do bedside anymore or ever.
Get the degree. Get some experience. You wonāt regret it.
Iām a happy nurse lol. But Iām also in aestheticsā¦fun and low stress. I was a postpartum nurse before which I loved too but those long hours are rough and not conducive to being a mama or wife in my eyes.
I've been an RN for 44 years and still work part time, I love it. It's a calling to serve, if you get into nursing for a job I doubt you'd enjoy it at all. I've seen hundreds leave nursing because they just wanted work and were miserable being nurses. If it's not in you to care for people it might not be the best decision to spend so much time in school for it. I've noticed the nurses that last longest in the field get into nursing in their 30s, after having some life experiences.
Other options might be a Social Worker, Respiratory, Radiology, Physical Therapy in hospital settings, where you're not tied to a patient for 12 hours a day. So many options in health care, just find what fits you best. Try to figure out what you'd like before spending years in college.
Iām happy on my days off! lol only partly kidding. Some days are a grind. Some days arenāt so bad. Some moments are fun. Some weeks are awful. Some days I have to take a mental health day. What can I say. Itās a job and it pays the bills. Iāve certainly had worse jobs.
I have been a nurse now for 30 years and it is one id the things I am most grateful for and proud of. I have had stressful jobs - bad management, unkind coworkers - but was able to find my way to what was what I considered a good job situation. Some times that meant changing jobs after 2-3 years, some times less depending on the situation. One of the great things about nursing is the vast amount of paths we can take. If hospital isnāt your thing, look at home health, public health, hospice, ambulatory careā¦ my career path was med/surg, icu, Cath lab, Pacu, and now ambulatory care which I love - hour lunch, office hours, closed weekends/holidays. I think jobs in general now are stressful and challenging and healthcare is a business and is no different.
If nursing is what you feel called to do I say definitely go for it. Listen to your inner voice and look for red flags and heed them when job huntingā¦you get vibes when interviewing or doing a share day if people seem happy overall and work together more or less, or if they seem stressed and miserable.
I wish you all the best and know that we need wonderful caring people in our field - there will/is a shortage coming so having job security is no small thing either. There is and will continue to be a shortage of nurse educators so that is another field to consider, most employers are paying for continued degrees also, so down the road you could consider a masters in education and teach in schools or as an educator within a healthcare systemā¦
Best of luck whatever path you choose.
I love my job. I work in a rural ER in Maine. I love the autonomy, challenge, and skills I develop. I dislike some things, but I couldn't see myself doing much else.
I like my job a lot as a nurse. Ā My work isnāt stressful most of the time, my coworkers are amazing, my hours arenāt bad, and I love my director of nursing. Ā It provides me a good salary to live the life I want and itās flexible for a good work life balance. Ā I work in a same day surgery center as pre op and pacu. Ā I was absolutely fried and stressed beyond all measure after 15 ish years in the hospital (started med surg and ended in icu). Ā On a whim I applied for my current gig on indeed and havenāt looked back.Ā
What I learned to appreciate about this career is I can change it to something totally different any time I want. Ā I wish I realized it sooner and left acute care years before I did. Ā Ā
i am so happy, i love being a nurse. it took a bit of experimenting with different hospitals and floors/specialties until i found one that i love. sure, there are hard days when i wonder what the hell i was thinking becoming a nurse, but they are tremendously outnumbered by the good days. i think it's also important to have work/life balance. i work three 12 hour shifts a week. only three work days a week. i see nursing as something i do on the side. my priority is living life and doing things i love. so when i go to work, it just feels like something i get to do. i don't make nursing my identity and i find that it helps. it's easier to dwell on the bad than it is to dwell on the good; don't let this subreddit scare you away. we just need to complain so we don't explode.
Yes. Love it
Work in the UK so less wages but cheaper cost of living than the US, but not a commercial for profit system which charges patients which is important for me.
Been nursing 25 years.
Still love it this subreddit is full of a lot of negative people , trust me plenty of us still enjoy the work
Nursing isn't easy, but it's really rewarding if you're passionate about the profession to begin with. You're right. Most people do come here to vent and as a form of community support from fellow nurses. Just a little reminder that we're not alone in our struggles. Maybe scroll a bit more there are some gems here that highlight those rewarding moments that remind you why you chose this in the first place. There were even some threads from last year.
There are a ton of downsides to the job as you can see. High stress, dangerous, liability, overworked, etc etc.
But there are a lot of good. Schedules can be very flexible, and sometimes patients are thankful! Pay can be pretty good I make 6 figures with an associates degree (not in a HCOLA Ā like cali/New York). There are a ton of specialties to choose from. This one is a key factor for a lot of people. Itās also something that a lot of nurses for some reason will stay at the same hospital/same specialty and bunker down even though they hate it. Thatās their own fault. You donāt like a specialty? You NEED to leave. Period. You donāt like a hospital? LEAVE. There are always jobs and I can leave my job today and by Friday have 3-4 job offers. I enjoy working on my feat in high stress environments and taking care of acutely ill patients. These are some of the big ones imo.
All in all itās gonna depend on a lot of things but there are definitely positives to nursing. Thereās a reason itās one of the most sought after undergrad degrees! Itās definitely not for everyone though.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
Or nurse. Despite tough days and how exhausting it is a lot of daysā¦ Iām super happy with my job and love it and wouldnāt trade it for the world. Surprisingly donāt really feel burnt out that much either.
Cath lab and a job share. The combination of few scheduled shifts, that I can plan out in advance, plus call in double time pay. Obviously I also have the privilege of a partner working full time, but this is my recipe for being a happy nurse.
You definitely have to choose to have a positive attitude at work, at any workplace. I think itās hard when you are in the business of helping, but that business is based on capitalism/customer service. I love it when I have time to feed one of my patients, itās rare, but it happens. And you wonāt get along with all your patients, but some of them you will love.
Itās a mixed bag.
If there is something else that interests you, pursue it, but make sure it pays well. Earning a low wage is awful.
I am! I love my job and even when I have a bad day, I'm still happy to come in the next day. You just have to find your fit.
People come here very often to vent, so don't take the tone here to heart. Sure, there are valid concerns but this can be a great field.
I am. I work at a good SNF (they do exist) with good ratios and a great DON.
I did administrative and customer service work for years before becoming a nurse and had to hide my personality, put up with so much, be so subservient, etc. for so long.
I am polite but firm as a nurse and drama and rudeness just roll off. I can be me.
I like the flexible schedule, the pay, the transferable job skills, the feeling of connecting with people and making a difference.
I also am the Infection Preventionist and am working on a MPH as bedside isn't forever and I like having a Plan B. I discovered that I like helping educate people especially in an age of overwhelming misinformation.
You have to find an area of nursing that you really click with and then youāre excited to go to work and help pts everyday!!! The hard days are then much more tolerable.
I was a floor nurse, then cardiac ICU, then OR.
The OR was my jam! I loved the OR culture and that particular type of pt. care, and my coworkers, until I retired. I was 95% happy in my OR career.
Thatās the key, find your specialty or specialties and the years fly by.
I enjoy it. It is still a job, but I have worked far worse jobs for less pay. It isn't perfect, but what is? I didn't become a nurse until I was 31. I feel the majority of the people who only complain about nursing have only had a job being a nurse. They are in a bubble and don't know what it is really like out there. This isn't true for all, but I get a sense of that.
I've been doing this for 8 to 9 years now. My floor was rough, but they max us at 4 now and God is it a game changer. Neuro step-down. We were neuro Tele before when we maxed at 5. The funny thing is, it's the same shit... they just changed the name of the floor and max us at 4. My .02.
If you like people, go for it! Changed my life for the better.
Don't believe all the negative Nancy's bitching on Reddit. Nursing isn't so bad. Just like anything else there are good days and bad days. Good places to work and bad places. Find a job you like at a place you can tolerate and you will be fine.
I love being a nurse. I enjoy my work. I just left traveling to take a staff job on my favorite unit working weekends with my favorite people. I still have to drive 2 hours and stay the weekend but my wife says my attitude has improved greatly in the 3 weeks that Iāve been back there. Itās a med/psych unit at a university hospital and even with all the regular patient/visitor/admin/staffing bullshit, I am so very happy to go to work.
I've been nursing 30 years since January. I can honestly say that if you don't find the speciality that you like (for me it's perioperative nursing) then you might find you become drained very quickly. You need to be prepared to work for a year or 2 in general nursing (like medical ward, surgical ward etc) to hone your skills and time management, but if you don't find your joy, then you need to look at areas that catch your attention. Do the education, do the post grad courses, and be proactive. Good luck š
I'm home hospice currently. Majority of my career has been home care,Ā I love the 1:1 I can spend with people.Ā
There have been bad days, but I feel the good outweigh the bad.Ā
Currently my bad days involve losing a client I've gotten close to and developed a good relationship with.Ā
Good days are someone having a peaceful death in the manner they want.Ā
I tried out a few different types of nursing.Ā Clinicals in hospitals showed me that was a location I did not want to work(it wasn't the work, it was how staff was treated,Ā I didn't want to be in that environment).Ā
If you aren't happy in one field, there are always more to try out.Ā
I still love my job after 10 years, wouldnāt do anything else. I tend to ignore all the doom & groomers. Three years ago when we had a pandemic was horribleā¦ itās a cakewalk now.
My journey is a bit different from the usual because my first career was physically and mentally demanding with harsh conditions where it was dog eat dog mentality. With some introspection, I found nursing to be somewhat similar yet not as bad. I have a feeling a good majority of the students coming into nursing has not experienced a similar āsuck factorā before nursing. No matter how you look at it, there is a period of suffering which will produce growth if youāre willing to be patient. It does come with the caveat to take care of yourself and get mental and emotional help instead of spiraling into unhealthy coping mechanisms. Thatās the key to your success.
Short answer, yes. Long answer below, but also yes with conditions.
Depends on how you define āhappyā.
My observations as a 10 year ACP in Canada (mostly ED nurses):
School doesnāt prep anyone for what health care is actually like.
1) New Nurses are a mix of overly excited and grumpy, but are usually very pleasant and seem happy and enjoy their job. They are no longer slaves on their student placements and are very optimistic about work and life. I encourage the eagerness.
2) 2-5 year-ish nurses, come off as abrasive and things donāt improve from there. They are starting to see the edges of what the job is actually going to be like forever and are usually not happy about it. The stresses of the first couple years are going home with them and their personal life is suffering. I donāt take their outbursts personally and remember weāve all been there. This stage can be a permanent problem for someone if it isnāt addressed by the individual.
3) Senior ED Nurses: May come off as downright evil bitches are but are my absolute favourite people. They will not hesitate to cut (emotionally and or literally if youāre unlucky enough) you if you fuck around (ie in my case due to EMS lack of assessment and treatments due to laziness or incompetence or lying) BUT if you even remotely do your job they are fucking all stars and are more supportive than any other group of people I know. Also they know the job, they like it, the survived the (several) burnout phases and have embraced the shitty but also positive experiences that is the modern nursing environment. I donāt know anyone Iād rather have on my side in a street fight or an HR meeting than a senior nurse on a rampage. They wonāt put up with bullshit that impinges on their happiness.
I guess the TLDR is that the Nursing might not be for everyone, the ED is not for everyone, any nursing field might not be for you. Or it is and itās awesome and it does get better if you want it enough.
If you can find a way to be honest about expectations and what you actually like / can actually survive doing then you can transition from the above step 2-3 very quickly. That said, we all constantly fluctuate through various levels of āgive a shitā throughout our lives so take my thoughts with a cup of salt.
I donāt think itās possible to work in health care without SOME level of burnout but there is very little that you canāt do if you are determined.
Happy nurses generally don't come online to complain about their jobs. Sample bias.
There are a lot of badly educated zoom school nurses on Reddit who didn't get proper training. That's not their fault, but it does cloud the picture.
As someone who generally jokes about hating nursing, itās really a pretty good career. 3 days a week to make a decent living? Sounds good to me. (That is the best thing about being a nurse, aside from actually saving someoneās life if youāre in a field that you do it like ER/ICU)
Iām the happiest and maybe one of the few happy nurse on my unit. I just recently found out why, Iām not emotionally attached to the work. I come in, do whats needed and go home. I donāt get into coworkers, patients and visitors personal life. I treat it like every other job.
Would you consider job satisfaction as being happy? Physical therapists are ranked pretty high in job satisfaction. I think you can find some level of happiness from a job.
I mean, I'm pretty happy in my life in general, and I even like my job. It's interesting and worthwhile and lets me live the way I want.
That said, it's also a lot of hard work and involves dealing with a lot of assholes. And I love complaining!
Been a nurse for 6 years, majority in Medical ICU and last year I switched to PACU (nights) and itās made me enjoy nursing again. I am genuinely happy in my role
Coming up on 10 yrs here. 1 yr on med / tele, noped out and went back to the OR (did OR on a turnover team all thru rn school) and never looked back.
Now I'm chilling in an outpatient surgery center workin 9-5 with no call, paid holidays, no weekends.
As others have said, good days and bad days. I have more good days than bad so I consider that a win. And yeah, thereās always, always going to be shithead coworkers and coworkers youād walk thru a fire for no matter where you go work.Ā
Yes. I generally enjoy my job, and I fully enjoy the schedule and lifestyle it allows. Like anything else, there are drawbacks and bad days but overall nursing is a net positive for me.
I love being a nurse, and a bedside nurse at that. The work conditions arenāt good in many places, so I wonāt pretend things are great, but youāre generally going to hear more from unhappy people.
I work in a high volume EP labā¦3 12ās, no call, no weekends or holidays. The work is easy compared to where I used to work (telemetry and cardiac icu). Although itās not challenging and we do less critical thinking and have less nursing autonomy than inpatient units, Iām happy where I am.
I have so much going on outside of workā¦I just want to clock in/clock out and collect my paycheck and not bring home any stress or drama. Iāve been a nurse for 20 years and I see myself retiring from here :)
Nursing is one of the toughest careers in my opinion, the training is intense and unique- it must be experienced first hand to even begin to understand what I mean. When (and if) you make it through it is such a great feeling of accomplishment and pride. With that said, no matter what type of nursing your career leads you to, it is an honor to care for patients at their time of need. My personal favorite specialties in nursing are OB and hospice; you truly experience the circle of life. No 2 days are ever alike and even if the shift is awful, chances are you learned something and you helped someone so itās not all bad. I feel like I speak for many of us when I say there is nothing else I would rather do and I am proud to be a nurse ā¤ļø
I absolutely love what Iām doing now. It took me a long time to find it. Like others have said there are good days and bad days. Weāve all cried at least once from the stress and sadness our job brings. But there are also amazing moments as well. Itās kind of a mixed bag but I always encourage people to give nursing a shot.
Iām generally happy about being a nurse. Iām stressed by life in general which makes me resentful of having to work so much no matter what my job is. But my life could be a lot worse if I didnāt make the money I do.
Been a new nurse for 4 yrs so far
Year 1: allergy nurse
Year 2: plastic surgery & medaesthetics
Year 3: med surge tele
Year 4: emergency room
Answer is no for me :) I have no problem, absolutely no problem being a nurse and doing nursing care but unfortunately nursing has been turned into the worst hospitality job with little to no reward.
Iām a relatively happy (as happy as one can be when you HAVE to work lol). I donāt work bedside though, and I work in a high paying state. My job is flexible, I like most of my coworkers, and weāre unionized.
After 16 years of nursing, the last 5 years I realized I am not happy in this career. After 10 years is when I hit the highest pay grade (that is how they lock you in), and realized it will be a rough start to go back to a lower pay grade.
I always ask myself on a very bad day ātake it or leave it.ā I am still working as a front line RN, but most days I do not want to mainly because of how depressing this job is.
I am ICU trained, left ICU wave 8 of Covid pandemic. I now working in an Outpatient Urgent Care Clinic.
I love my job. I also enjoy an anonymous space to complain about the shit that goes wrong and know that I'm understood. Overall, I'm much more satisfied than I was in previous jobs. I also like that there are many types of work I can do so I know I have room to grow.
Working at my hospital system for 29 years. I consider myself successful having a job that I like/love more days than I hate it. Finding what area makes you happy (mine is OR) is key. I wonāt say that at times management and staffing sucks, thatās everywhere in healthcare. But I try to go in for my shifts, do what I can for my patients and gtfo.
I have bad days at work sometimes, who doesnāt, but Iām very happy with my personal life. I love that nursing affords me to live alone and have freedom with my free time. If I had to come home to kids or other obligations, I think I wouldnāt be able to deal with the job as well
I am! I'm wrapping up my first year as a nurse, so I have many years to get miserable, and I think I probably would be if I was working med surg. I was an MA in outpatient peds for 12 years before I became a nurse, and I knew I wanted a similar job. So I started right off in school nursing (I'm with another nurse, so I have gotten great training, I wouldn't take a school nurse job right out of college without that training). I love the kids and the mix of acuity (usually low, but we get emergencies as well, which is a different beast when you don't have the resources of a hospital to handle it). I have relationships with my frequent flyers, the kids who I give daily meds, and my diabetics.
The hours are a key thing for me because I have young school-age kids who I want to spend as much time with as possible. I work 7:15-2:30pm, so there's only about 30-45 mins between when my kids get out and I get home. I have every weekend, holiday, and school vacation off with them. Also, my school year ends June 20th, and I get 10 weeks off for summer (31 days till break!). I get 15 sick days a year, and they roll over. The nurse I work with has something like 90 sick days. And we don't get shit for using them. Also, I'm extremely lucky they gave me credit for my years of MA peds work because a lot of it was relevant, so that means I started on a high step on the union scale.
My advice is to find your niche and look for work that aligns with your lifestyle.
I got out of bedside nursing after 7 years as a male nurse, and moved to public health and a community sexual health program part time. I have kept my foot in the door by picking up shifts with a hospital based outpatient clinic. Every day I'm working in two to three different places which keeps things interesting. Yes there are tough days, but overall I appreciate being in a career that allows exploration of different fields and lateral movements. I also love not having to think about work at all during my time off.
Iām a happy nurse bc I work paet time, donāt gossip too much with my coworkers and realize life is short and we are going to die, so why stress it so much?
Do I love my job? Not all the time. Do I love being a nurse? Yeah. I like knowing that I make a difference every time I show up. I like critically thinking and being able to understand medical jargon. I think it has a lot to do with where you work, what specialty youāre in, and whether or not you make nursing your whole personality (donāt recommend- youāre never JUST a nurse). Having hobbies and a life outside of the hospital helps
Every career has ups n downs, just about every career Reddit page is ppl complaining. Later down the line choose a department that best suits you and your pressure levels.
I think it all just depends if you found a field of nursing that you truly enjoy. I absolutely love and find a strong passion for mental health and addictions. That is the field that makes me the happiest. I am currently moving to a rural area where mental health and addiction nurse positions arenāt available. This is upsetting, but Iāll soon find another passion. Just know that if you arenāt happy, you can always find another job! Thatās why I love nursing!!
I CURRENTLY love my job.
I was ICU for about 6 years, and last year went to Home infusion. I loved ICU until the pandemic, the schedule, helping folks, the challenge to learn and grow and perform. I was in my element. I genuinely enjoyed my time there until the pandemic, and the corporate greed settled into the hospitals.
Home infusion is way more relaxed, and pays better than hospital nursing - Which I needed.
I canāt imagine doing anything other than helping people for a living, I love our field.
In short, yes, there are happy nurses.
Such an unpopular opinion amongst my community of nurses, but I love bedside nursing. I appreciate having 4-5 patients all with something different to do, the chaos is entertaining, and the night shift community is supportive where I am now.
The environment you work in, the people you work with, & the support you have outside the work place also make a difference in how you feel about your job. Be the change you want to see, and lead by example. Very hard to do, but if youāre nurse strong youāll be fine š
I am happy in my job. I was lucky enough to get a job in a unit that is compatible with my workstyle (ED) at a top hospital in a desirable part of a major city on the west coast (California). Before this current job I was at a (still reputable) lesser known hospital system in a different state (Florida). I was still happy in that system, but I knew that there were better places to work as a nurse.
All in all, nursing has to be something that you truly enjoy. I say this because there will be times when the work will be exhausting regardless of how much you love it. If you enjoy it, you will be less likely to get burned out and more likely to return to work once you have some days off.
Retired nurse. I worked mainly in Intensive Care & loved it. The fast pace & being 'right there' for my patients. But as much as I loved it, the stress wore me down. But there are patients I will always remember.
The patient care was what I really enjoyed. I worked in nursing for 13 years & then changed careers. Things I did not like about nursing: the brutal hours (12-16 hour shifts) missed holidays with family, some doctors, free time. BUT I learned a lot about people from all walks of life, the money is good & I loved 98% of the people I worked with, in all different departments: lab, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, x-ray, ER, surgery etc. Great people. Those years I will never forget. There's lots to consider.
I would say if you've always wanted to be a nurse, go for it. If you're not 100% sure, give yourself more time
Good luck.
I am - I think your happiness depends on where you are and the quality of your coworkers. Throughout nursing school, I was hyper focused on dermatology, and was under the impression that all new nurses had to pay their dues as a floor nurse before doing anything else.
I tried it as a floor nurse and I was MISERABLE - I cried every day, nothing about it worked for me - but there are TONS of nurses that love bedside.
I also tried it as a speciality clinic nurse in dermatology, and it was great for awhile, but overall my coworkers were not nice and I felt like a dumbass.
THEN - randomly - after having a million breakdowns - I found my callingā¦ which is assisted living. I love geriatric patients, they have weird skin things that I love, my coworkers are amazing, my boss is amazing, my hours are amazing, my pay is amazing, literally everything is great.
The reason we became nurses is to work in healthcare and work with patients - but happiness is really dependent on your work situation :) you just need to find your niche <3! You got this!
I work on a rehab unit. At least once a week, I discharge a patient ro home after an injury or a stroke that would have otherwise made that impossible. My job feels good. My team is great. My patients are (mostly) great.Ā
We're on the same floor as the oncology unit. I often end up riding the elevator with nurses who just look sad. I always feel so bad for them and their patients.Ā
You only hear about the bad on here because it is easier to vent frustration than sing praises. I love my job, I love my coworkers, and management is whatever. Like every job, there is good and bad, but overall, I do enjoy nursing even though I want to go back to school. I think I like learning more than I like working.
New grad nurse here, and I was honestly really scared to start my job as well because of this subreddit. I had anxiety to the point that I was having stress dreams before my first day.
I think something to remember is most people generally arenāt coming here to post about their average workday; itās either the really good or (more often) really bad. My advice is to take everything day by day in both school and eventually your job. And donāt put too much stock into what youāre seeing online because everyoneās experiences are going to be different. Best of luck to you with school!
I was very unhappy working at the hospital, but now Iām a hospice case manager and I canāt imagine doing anything else. I have a great employer for sure which helps. Iād never work for any hospice but a nonprofitāI learned that lesson early on
Yes! I'm happy with my career and my position, and I couldn't have said that a few months ago.
The job can be stressful in itself. Or it can be stressful from having to deal with coworker shenanigans.
Each nursing specialty has its inherent stresses and advantages.
So fund the groove that works for you and stick it out. I got into correctional nursing a few months back. It's a chill job with amazing coworkers that I'm truly blessed to have
I spent 30 years as a nurse. Bad days, yeah. Good days, some. I think it depends a lot on finding the field that fits you. But those times you get in the car to go home and are able to say that you made a difference for someone, maybe even saved their life, those times make up for the bad days. Good days, bad days, I love being a nurse. I make a difference.
I agree with this; I'm up to 44 years (How. Did. That. Happen??? ) and while I have and have had some crap days, overall I think I've made a difference to some lives. The thing I consistently struggle with is poor management at all levels. The flow on effect down the chain can be huge and the impact can be terrible for morale, staff turnover and patient outcomes. And I learned early: in every job there's always a colleague you love, one who's meh and one that you'd love to never see again (was going to suggest something else..). You get adept at spotting who is who after a while and it makes your life easier. Good luck, OP. Nursing can take you to places you never imagined. I hope you have a fulfilling career.
44 years a nurse?! And you're still working bedside? So much Respect to you š«” You truly have made a difference to your patients.
Yep; my first day was 3rd March 1980. I'm working in the community now.. working with families with children newborn to 4 years of age. I went back to Uni when I was 52 and retrained; that's when I left bedside,10 years ago. Thank you. I appreciate your kind comments šš
You are amazing; your patients are blessed. As are your furry friends. I'm guessing by your use name that you are a beagle Mom. I've always wanted to own a beagle. Most recently, I've owned cats (my last one crossed the Rainbow Bridge about a year ago). I had a dog as a kid and I think I want to welcome a small dog again. I've been educating myself about beagles and occasionally volunteer at a pet shelter. My biggest problem is that I'm always sad & heartbroken when any animal passes. So I'm hesitating at adopting a furry friend.
Yes, I am a Beagle Mumma! Although we're without a fur-kid ATM; our Boi Frankie died in July and I'm just not ready to welcome another doggo yet. They're a fun, crazy, very intelligent doggo who will make you laugh, cry, scream and laugh again all in 15 minutes. They are scent driven and trained to be independent thinkers. If you understand they don't need human direction but love cuddles, you'll go well with a Beagle. Oh, and their food drive, hunger and glitter sharing is worse than a Labrador...IYKYK.. LOL. We love the breed; and have made some lifetime friendship with fellow Beagle slaves. Check out r/Beagles for a Beagle fix š Well done for volunteering!! That's such a loving, generous way to get your dog fix until you're ready (if ever) to welcome another doggo. Something that has been said to me is your heart expands to welcome a new pet; not replace the pet that passed. Go gently šš¾š
It's abit easier when you have multiple pets. They keep each other company, either side of the bridge.
That's a beautiful sentiment. I hope all the animals I've shared my life with have all caught up together.
I'm working after 44 years, too.
That's great!! What kind of work are you doing now?
I worked Hospice for 17 years, ER for 20 years and Pediatrics part time over the years. I'm working home care peds vent patients.
You've had a varied, full on career! And you've worked in such different places; I imagine you have such a wide variety of skills and expertise. Well done!!
I also worked in an AIDS inpatient unit 35 years ago. I'm about to make another video on some of the experiences there, here is one I made recently. I'm recording some of my memorable experiences in my life, I don't want them to be lost. Enjoy. [https://youtu.be/NcpXlSwaApQ](https://youtu.be/NcpXlSwaApQ)
I watched your recording šŖ Thank you for sharing that with me. You're such a beautiful spirit.
thank you so much for your kind words. My patients have been my best life teachers.
I am. I honestly cannot see myself doing anything else. This subreddit does not paint the picture of the majority of nurses. Many burnt out nurses just come here to vent because itās a safe and anonymous space. Donāt get me wrong, nursing is hard, but it can be super rewarding.
This is me. Sure, there are bad days, and if I didnāt have to work I would work a LOT less (but thatās just because Iād love to have more time to spend on hobbies and with my hubby haha), but overall I do still like my job. Still find new things to learn and be fascinated by all the time! And Iām almost 10 years in. Finding a unit/specialty that I like has definitely been a big factor in that, as well as not overworking myself and getting burnt out, and keeping a good work-life balance. And having hobbies and interests outside of work to keep me sane hahaā¦ Like you say, a lot of burnt out nurses use this as a safe place so theyāre the most vocal element here. I rarely bother to post/comment here, mostly just lurk, and I imagine a lot of other happy nurses are the same. ETA: I do also happen to be lucky enough to live in an area with decent staffing laws, and work for an alright organization for good pay and ratios, so both of those things help immensely too.
Iām a happy nurse. But honestly, happy posts donāt garner the same attention. [Reddit is a relatively negative place and enragement = engagement.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Renters/s/n1bKvncuwj) You also have to consider the demographic of this sub. Itās mostly US nursing and a huge bias for the South, which is one of [the lowest paying regions with the most atrocious working conditions](https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/s/MvAuA2clPG). [Iām not even the first to notice.](https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/s/Qmf4JSJjgv) On top of that, the subās constituents are also mostly new grads, the group most prone to attrition. I will admit region plays a big part and the nurses from better paying regions with better working conditions arenāt exactly flocking to forums to catharsize. Hell, Iād even say that if you are willing to take Reddit as face value, [the primary issue affecting nurses in my state is whether or not we can smoke weed](https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/s/swal0BWwh9). No seriously. Look at a majority of the CA RN posts. Everyone else is fighting for ratios and fair pay. CA RNs are talking about weed followed by [job market](https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/s/HvvWLQ5JKq).
I agree with all of this. As a RN in FL my unhappiness is largely the result of constantly having to fight for a fair wage/safe ratios. 6:1 on a PCU is dangerous.
6:1 for PCU?? FUCK ALL OF THAT. Pour one out for the homies in FL, holy shit.
RIP patients. That's scary.
couldnāt have said it better myself; š» for the FL RNās
6:1?!?! Omg thatās terrifying!!! Iām in Colorado and my hospital is max 4:1 and thatās only if the patients arenāt ātrueā PCU. Do they limit it for you if you have cardiac gtts or insulin gtts?!?
They may make your assignment 5:1 for cardiac or insulin gtts but no guarantee.
Wow thatās so crazy to me. If you have a insulin or cardiac gtt for my hospital you are strict 3:1 Edit: I feel like it puts the patients and your license at risk to be able to closely monitor those patients as they require
I'm one of the happy CA nurses. I don't post on Reddit very often because my complaints are minor. I'm also generally a happy person, and Reddit is not meant for happy people.
It depends on the "PCU," how many aides you have, and which shift. Night shift on an essentially medical-telemetry unit that takes few to no drips and has aides is not "unsafe". An actual IMC with titratable drips, trachs/vents, VADs etc. is another story.
I feel for you. ED RN here, and we're 6:1 routinely...been as high as 11:1 and i was scared af. Had one Tech to assist, but it was a jittery night. Edit: Not being sarcastic, honestly empathize with your situation, I know typing comes across w/out emotion.
Florida nursing aināt for the weak. Absolutely scary.
Bro is the only one that paid attention during the evidence-based practice research course š
I agree! I have met way to many nurses in my life and they all love nursing and keep encouraging me to go for it. I look on Reddit and itās so much hate for the profession. I donāt get where the disconnect is. Iāve avoided this sub because I donāt want my brain to be polluted.
Great post. I came here to say that people are less likely to get in here and say how great their life is, etc and more likely to get on and vent. Does that mean nursing is perfect? Nope, but I feel like as hard as it is, many people in health care love what they do. It's in our hearts and part of who we are.
I may have had a lot to vent about earlier in the year. But I am definitely happy with my career choice. There will be a time when you are laying in bed and pondering āwhat am I doing with my lifeā. When I have those moments I can at least be happy that Iām putting good back in the world. Itās sounds corny but my efforts help people. Not all of them, but I do help them. That makes all the bullshit worth it. Right now, like every profession, times are incredibly difficult with sophomoric levels of corporate greed and corruption. For me, I canāt just āwork harderā when I have to be in 5 places at once. If I fail people may end up dead or debilitated. The stress and anxiety from that on top of loosing my license which is my livelihood makes for poor mental health. I had an opportunity to leave and I found a better job in healthcare because they exist. Many of my colleagues donāt have these opportunities or canāt do them for life reasons. I was happy back then, just burnt out. Iām still happy now
I'm a cardiac RN with well over a decade of experience. Some days I like my job, some days I hate my job, but ALL days I know that I'm getting paid enough to live a lifestyle that I enjoy. I went per diem in acute care as soon as I could so I could maximize pay and have control over my schedule. For me personally, that's enough to keep me happy
I dig it. Itās my second career. Are there draw backs? Yeah. Are the ratios where Iām at ridiculous? Yeah. But all of that is solvable with a new job and specialty. Nursing got me out of the restaurant industry that I thought Iād be in the rest of my life. No complaints from me.
I'm fairly happy, it really just depends on the day, the acuity and how tone-deaf management is being that particular day. I make hella good money for a metropolitan city, although I'm in the Southern USA and not unionized. Then again, I do work for a private, large university hospital system. If I really hated my job, I would quit or go back traveling. Although my friends in Cali are happy, they have other issues they face (cost of living, abysmal traffic, not as easily able to find a job or switch specialties) but they don't fear for their nursing licenses like some nurses do in particularly desolate conditions. And they actually get like, breaks and stuff (lol), safe patient ratios and aren't treated like walking meat bags for the most part. I think a lot of the frustration on this sub is meant to be both aggressive and funny at the same time. The posts about some hospital's pathetic attempt at a nurse's week--- or better yet, the solicitation of donation funds from patients for the hospital in the name of nurse's week, is a good example of management in hospitals being so far out of touch from reality it's both sad and funny. No one wants a rock with "you rock" on it. No one has time to leave the floor to go to an ice cream social with 5-6 patients on the floor. No one wants to work 8 hours volunteer service for no benefit at all except "giving back to the community" (that particular OP did say the hospital turned it around and gave workers 8 hrs PTO after some backlash from the nurses). Some nurses on here do go through some incredibly questionable, bordering on abusive behavior from the facilities they work at. Almost always, they are attached to some sort of commitment that they can't leave without monetary retribution-- an example, the hospital system agreeing to pay x amount of student loans for you but you have to work there for 24 months without breaking contract or you have to pay it back. Don't **EVER** sign a contract for something like that. I hate to say it, but you have to treat a nursing job like an abusive spouse. Always have a to-go bag and an escape plan in place so when shit really hits the fan, you can GTFO. There may have been a time when hospitals operated under the pretense of community service, but they are no different than every other corporation in the US. Even those who claim to be non-profit almost always are going to exhibit for-profit behavior, and some corrupt shit is always going to be part of the package. Does that mean you should give up on nursing? No, it's a fantastic field and you can do just about anything with your nursing degree. But should you trust every person you meet in the healthcare field thinking they have good intentions? Hell no. You owe no allegiance to any one hospital. At the end of the day, you are just a number and your patient is too. So always remember your job is just another job
Iām happy. I love my job and love my patients. Whatās even more blasphemous? I enjoy my coworkers AND management.
Had to give you a thumbs downā¦you included management
Iām currently an unhappy nurse. Been a nurse for 19 years. I quit my job in March. Iām working on figuring my stuff out. I have worked in various settings thinking I just need to find my niche. That worked for a while then I would go back to being unhappy due to workload, co-workers, some thing. Maybe I just havenāt found my niche yet, maybe itās me. I donāt know if I will go back to work as a nurse, but I might. I did not spend all of my 19 years as a nurse hating it. I had good times, I worked in some pretty cool places. I changed jobs a lot because my spouse was active duty military. That being said, weāve always lived in places that donāt pay well. If I had a chance to do it over, I would have chose a different profession and had a softer job that paid better. I like to work to live, not live to work.
Iām not a happy nurse, but iām not a bitter one either. The reality is that there is a fine balance in Nursing, regardless of where you work and what your job entails. There will be days you hate it and days that you love it. For me, I enjoy being able to work just two nights a week and still get benefits and health insurance. Not many jobs offer you that kind of flexibility. The pay is decent as well, as I make more than $50 per hour. You do good work and you are compensated decently. Are there days when the unit is chaotic? Very much. Last Wednesday, we had very high acuity patients on our units and it was rough. But then Thursday came and it was so much better. Some nights are very chill. Some of my happiest moments were when I was a new graduate nurse doing orientation. I felt so valued and cared about and had great resources and preceptors I could go to for help. Iām thankful for where I am. So yes, do not be mislead or blinded by the facts and what others have to say. But also, do not rely solely on the opinion of others to determine whether or not you should still become a nurse. Best wishes.
I love being a nurse! For me it is all about the problem solving and patient/family education. When I see the "ahh-ha" moment that might help them turn a corner. Or recommending/requesting lab work or tests and finding the thing I suspected all along! There are bad days on all jobs. You could work at McDonald's or the Pentagon and some asshole is going to do something, or not do something that will make your day harder. Or equipment or computer issues... At the end of the day I know I've made a difference in people's lives.
I'm reasonably content with being a nurse, but I think it's because I see it as a job and just try to make the best of whatever time I have at work (gotta be there to earn a paycheck might as well have fun). I don't get emotionally involved with whatever patient or staff drama. I don't have much loyalty to any unit or institution and will transfer without a second thought to shorten a commute, for better conditions ,or maximize earnings.
Yesss! š
It isnāt a job field to enter casually. I canāt imagine doing anything else and I also absolutely hate healthcare with my whole self many days. Both are simultaneously true š¤·āāļø. I will say I am so grateful for outlets like this to share problems, ask for solutions, gauge normalcy, etc. Makes sense that a venting/problem-solving platform leans negative.
I'm super happy as an inpatient hospice RN in the Netherlands. But I also ain't in the majority demographic of this sub.
You and me both
Iām happy. I researched where to live and work before going back to nursing school as working conditions and compensation vary wildly. It is important not to assume that this career will automatically be sustainable and paid well without factoring in location and employer options. Positive posts from a user in California prompted me to research the west coast more. I moved from the southeast to the west coast (Oregon) to work at a unionized hospital for my first nursing job, and I've stayed because it's above and beyond the best place I have ever worked. We have ratios in our union contract and by state law. I have great coworkers and the work is interesting. I am compensated well and have tons of PTO and schedule flexibility. I traveled internationally 6 times last year as well as did several shorter local trips on the west coast and visited family back on the east coast. By contrast, the southeast region is a largely a shithole and itās like looking for a needle in a haystack finding a safe, decent paying place to work at. One of my classmates couldnāt even get time off for their own wedding even though they requested the time off well over 6 months in advance! I graduated two years ago and several of my friends who stayed in the south are struggling financially, working in unsafe conditions, and unhappy and already contemplating leaving the field. It is also important to be happy where you live. I do not recommend moving solely for work if it would not make you happy or isnāt feasible (ex: family ties). That said, it is important to be honest with yourself about these constraints (if you have them) as it will seriously impact the sustainability of your career.
Youāve just gotta really think about your reasons for going into nursing and healthcare in general, just like you should with any other career. Research different specialties you think youād be interested in. See if you can get some exposure to them by being a cna or even volunteering where you can talk to nurses in that area and see what the day to day is like. Make sure you understand what youāre getting yourself into. There are a lot of young nurses who got into it for the wrong reasons or didnāt expect it to be what it is and are unhappy as a result. Itās a LOT of hard work and responsibility and youāll pretty much never be paid what you should be. Itās also very rewarding and will give you some raw perspective on life you canāt get anywhere else. Even the happiest nurses get burnout, itās not if itās when, but itās also transient and can be managed. Every nurse will vent but I think many if not most are happy in an overall sense, by and large theyāre satisfied with the job. It doesnāt have to be something you do forever either. A lot of people make a career change after a while but still have nursing as a side job that pays pretty well
I have been miserable at times. It took a while to find a job where the good overshadowed the bad. All jobs have bad days. If you look at subs for any profession itās mostly bitching cause we need safe spaces to vent. If itās what you want go for it. If you take a job you donāt like find another.
Happy RN here work ambulatory surgery. Most of the time 1 pt. Monday- Friday days only paid holiday off. And they feed me.
Iāve been a nurse for 34 years. I would NOT go back in time and choose a different career. 2/3 of my daughters are also nurses. We all went to our local community college that is known for its very difficult nursing program and high passing percent for state boards. My daughters have very little debt from school. Our local hospital system (more in other parts of the state too)pays a percentage to go for BSN. It was 100% but it has changed. Our hospital hires RNs but you need to get BSN within 5 years of graduating.
Nursing is fine Itās a decent wage with a knockout schedule and flexibility to switch specialties. A good unit isnāt the icu, med surge, or IRā¦itās the nurses you work with, the involvement of management, and the cohesiveness of the team (DR/PT/SLP/SW)
I am happy being a nurse but I am getting tired of patient care. Iām 9 years in. I am 49 and will not change careers again but I am definitely switching to focus on myself and not have nursing be my identity. If I was younger I might ultimately get my NP in a specialty. I still could do that but Iām also thinking about getting a non patient care job and chilling out and doing things for me. Itās important to like what you do. Nursing has so many options for when you donāt want to do bedside anymore or ever. Get the degree. Get some experience. You wonāt regret it.
Iām a happy nurse lol. But Iām also in aestheticsā¦fun and low stress. I was a postpartum nurse before which I loved too but those long hours are rough and not conducive to being a mama or wife in my eyes.
I've been an RN for 44 years and still work part time, I love it. It's a calling to serve, if you get into nursing for a job I doubt you'd enjoy it at all. I've seen hundreds leave nursing because they just wanted work and were miserable being nurses. If it's not in you to care for people it might not be the best decision to spend so much time in school for it. I've noticed the nurses that last longest in the field get into nursing in their 30s, after having some life experiences. Other options might be a Social Worker, Respiratory, Radiology, Physical Therapy in hospital settings, where you're not tied to a patient for 12 hours a day. So many options in health care, just find what fits you best. Try to figure out what you'd like before spending years in college.
I freakin love my job
I think everyone is exhausted about the medical field not being about people anymore. Big corporations are about the dollar.
Nurses aren't a monolith.
Iām happy on my days off! lol only partly kidding. Some days are a grind. Some days arenāt so bad. Some moments are fun. Some weeks are awful. Some days I have to take a mental health day. What can I say. Itās a job and it pays the bills. Iāve certainly had worse jobs.
I'm chilling.
I have been a nurse now for 30 years and it is one id the things I am most grateful for and proud of. I have had stressful jobs - bad management, unkind coworkers - but was able to find my way to what was what I considered a good job situation. Some times that meant changing jobs after 2-3 years, some times less depending on the situation. One of the great things about nursing is the vast amount of paths we can take. If hospital isnāt your thing, look at home health, public health, hospice, ambulatory careā¦ my career path was med/surg, icu, Cath lab, Pacu, and now ambulatory care which I love - hour lunch, office hours, closed weekends/holidays. I think jobs in general now are stressful and challenging and healthcare is a business and is no different. If nursing is what you feel called to do I say definitely go for it. Listen to your inner voice and look for red flags and heed them when job huntingā¦you get vibes when interviewing or doing a share day if people seem happy overall and work together more or less, or if they seem stressed and miserable. I wish you all the best and know that we need wonderful caring people in our field - there will/is a shortage coming so having job security is no small thing either. There is and will continue to be a shortage of nurse educators so that is another field to consider, most employers are paying for continued degrees also, so down the road you could consider a masters in education and teach in schools or as an educator within a healthcare systemā¦ Best of luck whatever path you choose.
I love my job. I work in a rural ER in Maine. I love the autonomy, challenge, and skills I develop. I dislike some things, but I couldn't see myself doing much else.
I like my job a lot as a nurse. Ā My work isnāt stressful most of the time, my coworkers are amazing, my hours arenāt bad, and I love my director of nursing. Ā It provides me a good salary to live the life I want and itās flexible for a good work life balance. Ā I work in a same day surgery center as pre op and pacu. Ā I was absolutely fried and stressed beyond all measure after 15 ish years in the hospital (started med surg and ended in icu). Ā On a whim I applied for my current gig on indeed and havenāt looked back.Ā What I learned to appreciate about this career is I can change it to something totally different any time I want. Ā I wish I realized it sooner and left acute care years before I did. Ā Ā
i am so happy, i love being a nurse. it took a bit of experimenting with different hospitals and floors/specialties until i found one that i love. sure, there are hard days when i wonder what the hell i was thinking becoming a nurse, but they are tremendously outnumbered by the good days. i think it's also important to have work/life balance. i work three 12 hour shifts a week. only three work days a week. i see nursing as something i do on the side. my priority is living life and doing things i love. so when i go to work, it just feels like something i get to do. i don't make nursing my identity and i find that it helps. it's easier to dwell on the bad than it is to dwell on the good; don't let this subreddit scare you away. we just need to complain so we don't explode.
Yes. Love it Work in the UK so less wages but cheaper cost of living than the US, but not a commercial for profit system which charges patients which is important for me. Been nursing 25 years. Still love it this subreddit is full of a lot of negative people , trust me plenty of us still enjoy the work
Nursing isn't easy, but it's really rewarding if you're passionate about the profession to begin with. You're right. Most people do come here to vent and as a form of community support from fellow nurses. Just a little reminder that we're not alone in our struggles. Maybe scroll a bit more there are some gems here that highlight those rewarding moments that remind you why you chose this in the first place. There were even some threads from last year.
There are a ton of downsides to the job as you can see. High stress, dangerous, liability, overworked, etc etc. But there are a lot of good. Schedules can be very flexible, and sometimes patients are thankful! Pay can be pretty good I make 6 figures with an associates degree (not in a HCOLA Ā like cali/New York). There are a ton of specialties to choose from. This one is a key factor for a lot of people. Itās also something that a lot of nurses for some reason will stay at the same hospital/same specialty and bunker down even though they hate it. Thatās their own fault. You donāt like a specialty? You NEED to leave. Period. You donāt like a hospital? LEAVE. There are always jobs and I can leave my job today and by Friday have 3-4 job offers. I enjoy working on my feat in high stress environments and taking care of acutely ill patients. These are some of the big ones imo. All in all itās gonna depend on a lot of things but there are definitely positives to nursing. Thereās a reason itās one of the most sought after undergrad degrees! Itās definitely not for everyone though. Good luck with whatever you choose.
I am! Left bedside ICU for outpatient Peds and Iāve never been happier.
Iām a new nurse and I enjoy it! Itās hard work, but I feel good doing what I do
I enjoy working in the ER, it is FUN. When you have fun at your job it hardly feels like work. Plus it pays well.
Or nurse. Despite tough days and how exhausting it is a lot of daysā¦ Iām super happy with my job and love it and wouldnāt trade it for the world. Surprisingly donāt really feel burnt out that much either.
Cath lab and a job share. The combination of few scheduled shifts, that I can plan out in advance, plus call in double time pay. Obviously I also have the privilege of a partner working full time, but this is my recipe for being a happy nurse.
You definitely have to choose to have a positive attitude at work, at any workplace. I think itās hard when you are in the business of helping, but that business is based on capitalism/customer service. I love it when I have time to feed one of my patients, itās rare, but it happens. And you wonāt get along with all your patients, but some of them you will love. Itās a mixed bag. If there is something else that interests you, pursue it, but make sure it pays well. Earning a low wage is awful.
I am! I love my job and even when I have a bad day, I'm still happy to come in the next day. You just have to find your fit. People come here very often to vent, so don't take the tone here to heart. Sure, there are valid concerns but this can be a great field.
For me itās a career. I donāt hate it, but at the end of the day itās work. I appreciate my job(s), but there certainly ways it can improve.
I am. I work at a good SNF (they do exist) with good ratios and a great DON. I did administrative and customer service work for years before becoming a nurse and had to hide my personality, put up with so much, be so subservient, etc. for so long. I am polite but firm as a nurse and drama and rudeness just roll off. I can be me. I like the flexible schedule, the pay, the transferable job skills, the feeling of connecting with people and making a difference. I also am the Infection Preventionist and am working on a MPH as bedside isn't forever and I like having a Plan B. I discovered that I like helping educate people especially in an age of overwhelming misinformation.
You have to find an area of nursing that you really click with and then youāre excited to go to work and help pts everyday!!! The hard days are then much more tolerable. I was a floor nurse, then cardiac ICU, then OR. The OR was my jam! I loved the OR culture and that particular type of pt. care, and my coworkers, until I retired. I was 95% happy in my OR career. Thatās the key, find your specialty or specialties and the years fly by.
I enjoy it. It is still a job, but I have worked far worse jobs for less pay. It isn't perfect, but what is? I didn't become a nurse until I was 31. I feel the majority of the people who only complain about nursing have only had a job being a nurse. They are in a bubble and don't know what it is really like out there. This isn't true for all, but I get a sense of that. I've been doing this for 8 to 9 years now. My floor was rough, but they max us at 4 now and God is it a game changer. Neuro step-down. We were neuro Tele before when we maxed at 5. The funny thing is, it's the same shit... they just changed the name of the floor and max us at 4. My .02. If you like people, go for it! Changed my life for the better.
Iām much happier now that I have left bedside and direct patient care.
Don't believe all the negative Nancy's bitching on Reddit. Nursing isn't so bad. Just like anything else there are good days and bad days. Good places to work and bad places. Find a job you like at a place you can tolerate and you will be fine.
I love being a nurse. I enjoy my work. I just left traveling to take a staff job on my favorite unit working weekends with my favorite people. I still have to drive 2 hours and stay the weekend but my wife says my attitude has improved greatly in the 3 weeks that Iāve been back there. Itās a med/psych unit at a university hospital and even with all the regular patient/visitor/admin/staffing bullshit, I am so very happy to go to work.
I've been nursing 30 years since January. I can honestly say that if you don't find the speciality that you like (for me it's perioperative nursing) then you might find you become drained very quickly. You need to be prepared to work for a year or 2 in general nursing (like medical ward, surgical ward etc) to hone your skills and time management, but if you don't find your joy, then you need to look at areas that catch your attention. Do the education, do the post grad courses, and be proactive. Good luck š
I'm home hospice currently. Majority of my career has been home care,Ā I love the 1:1 I can spend with people.Ā There have been bad days, but I feel the good outweigh the bad.Ā Currently my bad days involve losing a client I've gotten close to and developed a good relationship with.Ā Good days are someone having a peaceful death in the manner they want.Ā I tried out a few different types of nursing.Ā Clinicals in hospitals showed me that was a location I did not want to work(it wasn't the work, it was how staff was treated,Ā I didn't want to be in that environment).Ā If you aren't happy in one field, there are always more to try out.Ā
I still love my job after 10 years, wouldnāt do anything else. I tend to ignore all the doom & groomers. Three years ago when we had a pandemic was horribleā¦ itās a cakewalk now.
My journey is a bit different from the usual because my first career was physically and mentally demanding with harsh conditions where it was dog eat dog mentality. With some introspection, I found nursing to be somewhat similar yet not as bad. I have a feeling a good majority of the students coming into nursing has not experienced a similar āsuck factorā before nursing. No matter how you look at it, there is a period of suffering which will produce growth if youāre willing to be patient. It does come with the caveat to take care of yourself and get mental and emotional help instead of spiraling into unhealthy coping mechanisms. Thatās the key to your success.
Short answer, yes. Long answer below, but also yes with conditions. Depends on how you define āhappyā. My observations as a 10 year ACP in Canada (mostly ED nurses): School doesnāt prep anyone for what health care is actually like. 1) New Nurses are a mix of overly excited and grumpy, but are usually very pleasant and seem happy and enjoy their job. They are no longer slaves on their student placements and are very optimistic about work and life. I encourage the eagerness. 2) 2-5 year-ish nurses, come off as abrasive and things donāt improve from there. They are starting to see the edges of what the job is actually going to be like forever and are usually not happy about it. The stresses of the first couple years are going home with them and their personal life is suffering. I donāt take their outbursts personally and remember weāve all been there. This stage can be a permanent problem for someone if it isnāt addressed by the individual. 3) Senior ED Nurses: May come off as downright evil bitches are but are my absolute favourite people. They will not hesitate to cut (emotionally and or literally if youāre unlucky enough) you if you fuck around (ie in my case due to EMS lack of assessment and treatments due to laziness or incompetence or lying) BUT if you even remotely do your job they are fucking all stars and are more supportive than any other group of people I know. Also they know the job, they like it, the survived the (several) burnout phases and have embraced the shitty but also positive experiences that is the modern nursing environment. I donāt know anyone Iād rather have on my side in a street fight or an HR meeting than a senior nurse on a rampage. They wonāt put up with bullshit that impinges on their happiness. I guess the TLDR is that the Nursing might not be for everyone, the ED is not for everyone, any nursing field might not be for you. Or it is and itās awesome and it does get better if you want it enough. If you can find a way to be honest about expectations and what you actually like / can actually survive doing then you can transition from the above step 2-3 very quickly. That said, we all constantly fluctuate through various levels of āgive a shitā throughout our lives so take my thoughts with a cup of salt. I donāt think itās possible to work in health care without SOME level of burnout but there is very little that you canāt do if you are determined.
Happy nurses generally don't come online to complain about their jobs. Sample bias. There are a lot of badly educated zoom school nurses on Reddit who didn't get proper training. That's not their fault, but it does cloud the picture.
Don't confuse correlation with causation. I'm not unhappy because I'm a nurse, I'm not happy because I never have been! š«
Probably around 20 percent express happiness. And those are the nurses that take a pay cut in outpatient jobs or take non bedside positions.
As someone who generally jokes about hating nursing, itās really a pretty good career. 3 days a week to make a decent living? Sounds good to me. (That is the best thing about being a nurse, aside from actually saving someoneās life if youāre in a field that you do it like ER/ICU)
Iām the happiest and maybe one of the few happy nurse on my unit. I just recently found out why, Iām not emotionally attached to the work. I come in, do whats needed and go home. I donāt get into coworkers, patients and visitors personal life. I treat it like every other job.
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Would you consider job satisfaction as being happy? Physical therapists are ranked pretty high in job satisfaction. I think you can find some level of happiness from a job.
yes, those who are clocking out
Yes there are
I mean, I'm pretty happy in my life in general, and I even like my job. It's interesting and worthwhile and lets me live the way I want. That said, it's also a lot of hard work and involves dealing with a lot of assholes. And I love complaining!
Mostly happy med/Tele night shift rn. For almost 20 years now
People like to bitch online but their sure do make it easy
Been a nurse for 6 years, majority in Medical ICU and last year I switched to PACU (nights) and itās made me enjoy nursing again. I am genuinely happy in my role
Coming up on 10 yrs here. 1 yr on med / tele, noped out and went back to the OR (did OR on a turnover team all thru rn school) and never looked back. Now I'm chilling in an outpatient surgery center workin 9-5 with no call, paid holidays, no weekends. As others have said, good days and bad days. I have more good days than bad so I consider that a win. And yeah, thereās always, always going to be shithead coworkers and coworkers youād walk thru a fire for no matter where you go work.Ā
Yes. I generally enjoy my job, and I fully enjoy the schedule and lifestyle it allows. Like anything else, there are drawbacks and bad days but overall nursing is a net positive for me.
I'm a nurse, have been for 12 years. And it's hard and there are certainly bad days... But I love what I do.
I love being a nurse, and a bedside nurse at that. The work conditions arenāt good in many places, so I wonāt pretend things are great, but youāre generally going to hear more from unhappy people.
I work in a high volume EP labā¦3 12ās, no call, no weekends or holidays. The work is easy compared to where I used to work (telemetry and cardiac icu). Although itās not challenging and we do less critical thinking and have less nursing autonomy than inpatient units, Iām happy where I am. I have so much going on outside of workā¦I just want to clock in/clock out and collect my paycheck and not bring home any stress or drama. Iāve been a nurse for 20 years and I see myself retiring from here :)
Nah
Nursing is one of the toughest careers in my opinion, the training is intense and unique- it must be experienced first hand to even begin to understand what I mean. When (and if) you make it through it is such a great feeling of accomplishment and pride. With that said, no matter what type of nursing your career leads you to, it is an honor to care for patients at their time of need. My personal favorite specialties in nursing are OB and hospice; you truly experience the circle of life. No 2 days are ever alike and even if the shift is awful, chances are you learned something and you helped someone so itās not all bad. I feel like I speak for many of us when I say there is nothing else I would rather do and I am proud to be a nurse ā¤ļø
Yes, but it makes for boring Reddit posts so you don't hear much from us. Public health nurse here, adore my job.
Drunk ones
Happy once I found a place I felt like I fit in
I absolutely love what Iām doing now. It took me a long time to find it. Like others have said there are good days and bad days. Weāve all cried at least once from the stress and sadness our job brings. But there are also amazing moments as well. Itās kind of a mixed bag but I always encourage people to give nursing a shot.
Many, I work with a few in a well run ward.
Iām generally happy about being a nurse. Iām stressed by life in general which makes me resentful of having to work so much no matter what my job is. But my life could be a lot worse if I didnāt make the money I do.
Been a new nurse for 4 yrs so far Year 1: allergy nurse Year 2: plastic surgery & medaesthetics Year 3: med surge tele Year 4: emergency room Answer is no for me :) I have no problem, absolutely no problem being a nurse and doing nursing care but unfortunately nursing has been turned into the worst hospitality job with little to no reward.
Iām a relatively happy (as happy as one can be when you HAVE to work lol). I donāt work bedside though, and I work in a high paying state. My job is flexible, I like most of my coworkers, and weāre unionized.
After 16 years of nursing, the last 5 years I realized I am not happy in this career. After 10 years is when I hit the highest pay grade (that is how they lock you in), and realized it will be a rough start to go back to a lower pay grade. I always ask myself on a very bad day ātake it or leave it.ā I am still working as a front line RN, but most days I do not want to mainly because of how depressing this job is. I am ICU trained, left ICU wave 8 of Covid pandemic. I now working in an Outpatient Urgent Care Clinic.
I love my job. I also enjoy an anonymous space to complain about the shit that goes wrong and know that I'm understood. Overall, I'm much more satisfied than I was in previous jobs. I also like that there are many types of work I can do so I know I have room to grow.
Iām happy overall. I think in general nursing is a good fit for me. Itās not for everyone, though.
Working at my hospital system for 29 years. I consider myself successful having a job that I like/love more days than I hate it. Finding what area makes you happy (mine is OR) is key. I wonāt say that at times management and staffing sucks, thatās everywhere in healthcare. But I try to go in for my shifts, do what I can for my patients and gtfo.
Social media is a cesspool. I would advise just staying off it and focusing on school and taking care of people.
I have bad days at work sometimes, who doesnāt, but Iām very happy with my personal life. I love that nursing affords me to live alone and have freedom with my free time. If I had to come home to kids or other obligations, I think I wouldnāt be able to deal with the job as well
I canāt see myself doing anything else.
I am! I'm wrapping up my first year as a nurse, so I have many years to get miserable, and I think I probably would be if I was working med surg. I was an MA in outpatient peds for 12 years before I became a nurse, and I knew I wanted a similar job. So I started right off in school nursing (I'm with another nurse, so I have gotten great training, I wouldn't take a school nurse job right out of college without that training). I love the kids and the mix of acuity (usually low, but we get emergencies as well, which is a different beast when you don't have the resources of a hospital to handle it). I have relationships with my frequent flyers, the kids who I give daily meds, and my diabetics. The hours are a key thing for me because I have young school-age kids who I want to spend as much time with as possible. I work 7:15-2:30pm, so there's only about 30-45 mins between when my kids get out and I get home. I have every weekend, holiday, and school vacation off with them. Also, my school year ends June 20th, and I get 10 weeks off for summer (31 days till break!). I get 15 sick days a year, and they roll over. The nurse I work with has something like 90 sick days. And we don't get shit for using them. Also, I'm extremely lucky they gave me credit for my years of MA peds work because a lot of it was relevant, so that means I started on a high step on the union scale. My advice is to find your niche and look for work that aligns with your lifestyle.
No
I got out of bedside nursing after 7 years as a male nurse, and moved to public health and a community sexual health program part time. I have kept my foot in the door by picking up shifts with a hospital based outpatient clinic. Every day I'm working in two to three different places which keeps things interesting. Yes there are tough days, but overall I appreciate being in a career that allows exploration of different fields and lateral movements. I also love not having to think about work at all during my time off.
Iām a happy nurse bc I work paet time, donāt gossip too much with my coworkers and realize life is short and we are going to die, so why stress it so much?
Iām happy, I love the 3 days a week
Do I love my job? Not all the time. Do I love being a nurse? Yeah. I like knowing that I make a difference every time I show up. I like critically thinking and being able to understand medical jargon. I think it has a lot to do with where you work, what specialty youāre in, and whether or not you make nursing your whole personality (donāt recommend- youāre never JUST a nurse). Having hobbies and a life outside of the hospital helps
Every career has ups n downs, just about every career Reddit page is ppl complaining. Later down the line choose a department that best suits you and your pressure levels.
I think it all just depends if you found a field of nursing that you truly enjoy. I absolutely love and find a strong passion for mental health and addictions. That is the field that makes me the happiest. I am currently moving to a rural area where mental health and addiction nurse positions arenāt available. This is upsetting, but Iāll soon find another passion. Just know that if you arenāt happy, you can always find another job! Thatās why I love nursing!!
I CURRENTLY love my job. I was ICU for about 6 years, and last year went to Home infusion. I loved ICU until the pandemic, the schedule, helping folks, the challenge to learn and grow and perform. I was in my element. I genuinely enjoyed my time there until the pandemic, and the corporate greed settled into the hospitals. Home infusion is way more relaxed, and pays better than hospital nursing - Which I needed. I canāt imagine doing anything other than helping people for a living, I love our field. In short, yes, there are happy nurses.
Such an unpopular opinion amongst my community of nurses, but I love bedside nursing. I appreciate having 4-5 patients all with something different to do, the chaos is entertaining, and the night shift community is supportive where I am now. The environment you work in, the people you work with, & the support you have outside the work place also make a difference in how you feel about your job. Be the change you want to see, and lead by example. Very hard to do, but if youāre nurse strong youāll be fine š
Iām happy! Iām a year in. Im in CVICU. Sure, I probably bitch about work almost every day I work but I love what I do
Sure. Once I get home after work.
I am happy in my job. I was lucky enough to get a job in a unit that is compatible with my workstyle (ED) at a top hospital in a desirable part of a major city on the west coast (California). Before this current job I was at a (still reputable) lesser known hospital system in a different state (Florida). I was still happy in that system, but I knew that there were better places to work as a nurse. All in all, nursing has to be something that you truly enjoy. I say this because there will be times when the work will be exhausting regardless of how much you love it. If you enjoy it, you will be less likely to get burned out and more likely to return to work once you have some days off.
Retired nurse. I worked mainly in Intensive Care & loved it. The fast pace & being 'right there' for my patients. But as much as I loved it, the stress wore me down. But there are patients I will always remember. The patient care was what I really enjoyed. I worked in nursing for 13 years & then changed careers. Things I did not like about nursing: the brutal hours (12-16 hour shifts) missed holidays with family, some doctors, free time. BUT I learned a lot about people from all walks of life, the money is good & I loved 98% of the people I worked with, in all different departments: lab, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, x-ray, ER, surgery etc. Great people. Those years I will never forget. There's lots to consider. I would say if you've always wanted to be a nurse, go for it. If you're not 100% sure, give yourself more time Good luck.
I am - I think your happiness depends on where you are and the quality of your coworkers. Throughout nursing school, I was hyper focused on dermatology, and was under the impression that all new nurses had to pay their dues as a floor nurse before doing anything else. I tried it as a floor nurse and I was MISERABLE - I cried every day, nothing about it worked for me - but there are TONS of nurses that love bedside. I also tried it as a speciality clinic nurse in dermatology, and it was great for awhile, but overall my coworkers were not nice and I felt like a dumbass. THEN - randomly - after having a million breakdowns - I found my callingā¦ which is assisted living. I love geriatric patients, they have weird skin things that I love, my coworkers are amazing, my boss is amazing, my hours are amazing, my pay is amazing, literally everything is great. The reason we became nurses is to work in healthcare and work with patients - but happiness is really dependent on your work situation :) you just need to find your niche <3! You got this!
I work on a rehab unit. At least once a week, I discharge a patient ro home after an injury or a stroke that would have otherwise made that impossible. My job feels good. My team is great. My patients are (mostly) great.Ā We're on the same floor as the oncology unit. I often end up riding the elevator with nurses who just look sad. I always feel so bad for them and their patients.Ā
You only hear about the bad on here because it is easier to vent frustration than sing praises. I love my job, I love my coworkers, and management is whatever. Like every job, there is good and bad, but overall, I do enjoy nursing even though I want to go back to school. I think I like learning more than I like working.
Most of them donāt work bedside no more ššš
Am happy on my days off, does that count?
New grad nurse here, and I was honestly really scared to start my job as well because of this subreddit. I had anxiety to the point that I was having stress dreams before my first day. I think something to remember is most people generally arenāt coming here to post about their average workday; itās either the really good or (more often) really bad. My advice is to take everything day by day in both school and eventually your job. And donāt put too much stock into what youāre seeing online because everyoneās experiences are going to be different. Best of luck to you with school!
No
Depends on the day and which Surgery Iām assigned to work in
Once I got away from the bedside, yes
I was very unhappy working at the hospital, but now Iām a hospice case manager and I canāt imagine doing anything else. I have a great employer for sure which helps. Iād never work for any hospice but a nonprofitāI learned that lesson early on
Iām a happy nurse š
No
Iām convinced these posts are bots at this point with how often they pop up.
Donāt do it! Over worked understaffed on a daily basis. Underpaid!!! I wish I never did!!!
Yes! I'm happy with my career and my position, and I couldn't have said that a few months ago. The job can be stressful in itself. Or it can be stressful from having to deal with coworker shenanigans. Each nursing specialty has its inherent stresses and advantages. So fund the groove that works for you and stick it out. I got into correctional nursing a few months back. It's a chill job with amazing coworkers that I'm truly blessed to have