Is nursing still fun for you?

Posts: 17 · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 17

Recently I've heard that a lot of nurses are tired of their jobs. That the long hours and shortage of nurses is just to much. Does going home at the end of the day knowing you touched lives wipe all the bad moments away?

Posts: 12 · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 12 Location: Southeast Ohio

Being a nurse is not always " fun" or even nice. However, there could be no career more fulfilling than nursing for me.
I could not imagine myself doing anything else!!
Yes, sometimes you swear you will quit and never go back, but something will always happen to make you say, "Now that is what being a nurse is all about!!"

Posts: 11 · Joined: 26 Feb 2005 Posts: 11

Nursing I can not say is A "FUN" job. It is a serious job with peoples lives in your hands. I have fun with my co-workers and my patients with good personalities. That's what nursing is all about. And every once in a while when you get the comment thanks you do a good job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.. Very rewarding.

Posts: 34 · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 34 Location: Wisconsin

I agree nurseparkhouse. It is a serious job.

I do try to have fun when appropriate. With my coworkers, and my patients. I take my cues from them about their senses of humor, and go from there. It's amazing what humor can do for the soul (and for healing), but of course there's a time and place.

What I always said to myself before getting in to nursing was, "if one patient's stay can be better or easier because I was there, that is all I want." My sis had one of those nurses when she gave birth to her daughter (she didn't know at the time if she was going to give her up for adoption). I know I have been that nurse to some patients, and that makes all the difference for me.

Posts: 15 · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 15 Location: Midland, Texas

I am suprized any one who is in nursing would ask that question.
I graduated as an LVN in 1989. Cool

As I became older I knew I needed to get into the paper side of nursing so as not to hurt myself. Crying or Very sad

I am 55 years young today almost 56. Most of my patients and people I work with guess me to be in my mid 30's and I think nursing has kept me young.
I went to college in 2000 - 2004 to get what skilles I needed to become a patient advocate, or get into infection controll. Graduating with an Associates Degree in Applied Science. I need to be an RN to do what I want to do.
I took a re-entry class in 2004 after graduation so I could work for a whle and not go under from mounting bills. Now I have plans to return to school as soon as possiable to get into the LVN to RN transion. Then I can be what I want to be.
And yes Nursing is still fun for me. I can not think of anything else that I want to do with my life. I find it energizing and rewarding when I know somone has been touched by what I was able to do for them as a nurse.
And yes there is a time and place for the laughter. We should laugh with and touch our patients. I do this but I take cues from my patiens so I will know the timing is right. I never want to laugh at the wrong time. I do not want the patient to feel I am laughing at them, but to know I am laughing with them.
But I need to stop lifting on the patients. However I do not want to loose contact with them. And if I am a patient advocate I will not loose that contact.
I tried being a transcriber for a short while and longed to be with the patients. While doing my clinicals as a coder I missed the patient. But these two things were a neccessary evil for me to get the education I did need to be the advocate that so many patients need. Razz

I have plans to go back to school by the fall of 2005. I only hope my finances will allow me to do this. Wink

Please do not give up on nursing it is a rewarding job. Even though the loads are large and we must fight with the Dr to get what the patient needs someone must do this job. Why not let it be someone who wants to do it? Razz

Yes I LOVE being a nurse. Very Happy