OT: Nurses--would you recommend the career? Trying to decide what to be when I grow up!

Denise,

I have been a nurse for 17 years. Most of that time, I worked in the ICU or ER. I did work for about 5 years as a Nurse Recruiter which was very rewarding, also. After having bariatric surgery I wanted to work with Bariatric patients....now, I am in Nurse Practitioner school. I want to help care for Bari patients long term...

Overall, my career in nursing has been very rewarding. You can specialize and find a place where you enjoy working (and that fits you). There are not very many careers which allow you this much specialization.

Have you thought about working in the Bariatric field as a nurse? Think of how many people have our surgery...you would have a special perspective as a previous(and current) patient.

Good luck with your decision.

Leah

First off, you look amazing!! Love your collar bones! 

I would love to work with bariatric patients. I have a few connections at Hopkins bariatric department, so I plan to speak with the surgeons I know and get some advice. Who knows, maybe there would be a job waiting for me when I'm done school!

Best of luck to you in NP school! That is great!

Take care,

Denise

Denise,

Aw thank you for the compliment on my collar bones...amazingly, after losing weight, I DO have bones!!

It sounds like you have some great connections....Nursing is wonderful. You will have to keep up all posted on what you decide..

I have been an RN since 1987.  Started with an associates degree and 20 years later went back for my 4 year degree which I completed last year.  I have worked in the maternity setting the entire time doing various things.  I am curerntly a manager of an OB department.

For me, being a nurse has been a great career with a good deal of flexibility.  But, it is also a very stressful job.

Pros:
~Ability to touch and change lives...this is the biggest benefit!
~Extreme flexibility in shift and hours (part time vs fulltime)
~A huge variety of working options...hospital, clinic, office setting (like working for an insurance company), school nurse, church nursng, community nursing.....and the list goe on!
~Option to add on credentials such a specialty nursing or advanced degrees
~Decent starting pay for a 2 year program ($23/hr)...many nurses giving bedside care with 10 years+ expereince are making $35+/hr...manager soften earn more. 

Cons:
~Weekends and holidays there are still sick people!
~Extreme stress at times
~You see people at their worst and some will not be greatful for the assistance you give, even when you do an awesome job
~You will be working with a bunch of stressed women....it is not alywas pretty
~Sometimes nurses are really dumped on by everyone (each other, patients, management and doctors)
~Pressure to do many tasks with not enough time
~Many places offer little to no financial incentive to obtain a 4 year or master degree is you stay in bedside nursing.

Since I am mostly working with healthy women...I do not ahve to do much lifting.  There is still a good deal of moving and bending.  Now that I have lost weight and am in shape I am good to go!  before weight loss it was very hard...and I see this a lot with other staff memebrs. On floors with a good deal of lifting, that is best left to the younger nurses!!!! 

I would still go into nursing if i had to do it all over again.  I love what I do and can't imagine doing anything else!

Thanks for all that information. I would definitely start with an associates, which I understand takes 3 years full time to get. It is a bit overwhelming to think about going back later in life (40 isn't old, but feels that way some days!) and the old self-doubt monster rears its ugly head. I definitely would not have even been able to dream of being a nurse if it weren't for having lost 140 pounds. The body and feet just would not have heard of it!

I definitely need to do more research, but one common thread I see is that most of the nurses I talk to LOVE their jobs--can't say that about many careers!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Denise

I love working weekends and nights..more money!

Deb I work the same.  You could not pay me enough to work any other shift.

Hi!  Ive been a nurse for 20 yrs now which I find hard to believe.  Ive always done NICU.  I love my babies.  I couldnt work anywhere else. 
Pros for hospital nursing are good pay, lg range of areas to choose from you just have to find what you love, part time or full time, flexible days (where I work), can leave work there when I go,  as a staff nurse you never bring work home, the next shift is there to take over for you.  Finding the right place is key, I work with great girls, great docs and have managers I like.  Many other units not so lucky.  Managment in nursing I would NEVER do. 
Cons are on call time usually required above your compliment, holidays and weekends, difficult patients, and floating to other areas when we are overstaffed ( every nurse hates floating).  Some days are really hard and really stressful.  Hard on the feet and legs a lot of walking and 12 hr shifts.  I dont do any heavy lifting because I work with the wee ones:) Most days are great and Im glad I do what I do.  I would encourage anyone to pursue it.

If you can shadow some nurses in different areas that would be a great thing to do. 
Good luck!
Stephanie

The dynamics with the other ladies does concern me somewhat. My SIL is a respiratory therapist and has a terrible time with some of the catty women she works with. Fights over hours, holidays, floating, you name it. I'm sure the NICU is amazing and heartbreaking all at the same time. My nephew spent 3 weeks in the NICU, so I'm sure glad you ladies do what you do. I always say nurses are the right hand of God. I truly believe that.

Thanks!

Denise

Maybe it is different here in California, but I can't imagine it taking 3 years of full-time classes to get an Associates degree. I would assume a bachelors can be earned in 4 year's time. And in this day and age, I would think you would do yourself a disservice not getting a Bachelors. I am curious, what other professions or careers have you considered? About 10 years ago I considered a career change, including being a surgical nurse, but did not think my back could handle the standing. Good luck to you. just don't rush your decision. Take your time...Connie