For nurses and family members of nurses, what are the pros and cons of your job?

Question

I am a mother of three. I have always wanted to be a nurse. I am seriously considering nursing school. I am just curious of what to expect before I spend the money for school. Thanks!

Answer 1

weekends, afternoon or night shifts,on call, long shifts, holidays away from your family, manadatory overtime in some places, working short (too many patients for the staff) typicaly work place politics, complex personalities (doctors), always hearing you need to do more with less or there is not enough money to do what needs to be done,stress both physical and emotional, health benefits lagging behind other industries.... but you do get healt benefits, and a retirement match at most companies, flexiblity in schedules.... 8 or 12 hour shifts options of nights, weekends, baylor, afternoons, option to pick up overtime in a variety of hours,
ongoing education, help paying for more education, developing a rapport with your coworkers (i'm at the first place in 10 years that i get email from coworkers when sick or birthdays etc) competive pay for the education level... check out salary.com for the area you want to work, a feeling of being productive and helpfull and making a difference on a daily basis, the ability to work for one company but have many different jobs over your career with the same degree, the ability to have one degree and work all over the country and get paid well for it( each state requires a liscence though), the ablity to work in many different enviroments.... hospital, clinics, offices, schools, companies, education, elderly complexes, homes
work with many types of people, children, babies, moms to be, elderly, teens, women, employees,
i have an associates degree i make more than my mom as teacher with a masters in a specialty.
I highly recommend you at least get an RN the options are much better, an associates is ok to start if time and money are an issue then to get a bachelors (plus you can get help paying for it) is not that much more can be done mostly online if that suits you... a bachelors allows you more flexiblity in some specialties, including pharmacy sales, and education, some places pay more other do not..... so consider your ultimate goal, it may or may not pay off.
nursing was a factor in my first divorce... the hours the streess... but my current husband is very gracious and works with me....
i honestly love what i do.... and have worked er, medsurg, cardiac care, in big and small hospitals, and done some travel nursing too.... email me if you have more questions....
forgot to add.... though stressfull nursing school can be done with kids... my daughter was born in my second year...and the average age of my class was 34... we had one lady turn 60 befre we graduated! some schools are now highly competive... need a near 4.0 to get in but you have prerequistes to do to earn that.
I am independent financially, infact with my divorce I aborbed all the debt... and respect... people look at me different when I tell them i'm a nurse, nurses are in the top 3 most trusted profession for many years now.
IF YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A NURSE THEN GO FOR IT! if you dont you may always regret not...worst case you spend some money and time and work long enough to use it as a stepping stone for something else.

Answer 2

My wife spent about 50 years as a RN she is now a MDS coordenator making over $40 an hour (CRRN)

Tough "paying your dues" like working most holidays, starting on 3rd shift. She worked almost 20 years before she could be home for the holidays. Every time you start at a new hospital, you start over.

ER nurse and Head nurse are brutal positions
When my OH was head nurse at least 2 phone calls between 12AM and 6 AM everyday, no real day off.

ER nurse, when you see what some folks do to others you want to become a drunk.

OH is in rehab Multiple Handicapped children, You have to be a very special person to help those kids. I have been there 2 times in about 30 years. I just couldn't handle it

Just a few area's

Answer 3

Expect a lot of hard work. Nursing school is intense and difficult and you will be tempted to give up. Not only you, but your family will be asked to sacrifice much. Make sure that you are not doing it for the money, but that you are doing it because you have a heart for the hurting. You will meet the best friends you've ever had in nursing school. When you are finished with school you will be ready to get a nursing job. That's when the learning really begins. Good Luck and God Bless.

You will encounter many who will try to discourage you. Listen to people who uplift and encourage. Ignore negative people.

Answer 4

depends on location I'm studying to be a nurse and my mother is a nurse. the pros are medical knowledge that can be used at home with your husband and kids, good pay, some special attention when you or a family member is at the hospital you work at, etc. the cons are. work most holidays, every other weekend, twelve hour shifts, your fried when you get home, you kinda have to become coldhearted because you can't become emotionally involve with patients. My moms comment is that it's rewarding to see recovery of patients hope i helped

Answer 5

I have several nurses in the family.
Pros:
great pay
flexibility--can work in any type of setting, and move between settings when it gets boring, especially with bachelor's degree
ability to travel
ability to support family with one salary if necessary
free housing if necessary
knowledge of health and healthcare system comes in handy to help your family
opportunities for advancement
can live anywhere and have a job quickly
lots of days off
can choose when to work usually
can work part-time easily if you want more time for family
school can be paid for by government/hospital if the nurse works it right

cons:
some hospitals/settings have catty work environments (but some have good ones)
pay caps out pretty quickly for bedside nursing--have to go into admin, management, or advanced practice for very high salaries
long hours sometimes
school can take a long time/cost a lot/be very difficult for some people
little family time while in school
not a lot of respect--"Pink collar" job

Answer 6

When I was younger my mom was a nurse, she worked in the mornings and by the time I come home she's home. The pay is okay-unless you become an RN(which she eventually did). The nursing program is also 2 yrs so it's quick to finish, hope this helps somewhat and good luck!

Answer 7

MY daughter in law is an RN. and so is my youngest daughter. My oldest daughter is going back to school to be an RN as she went to school the same time they did took nearly identical courses, same time in school but can't find a job in medical tech for which she graduated.
The benefits are great pay. after you work one year you will get offers nation wide at huge pay. you can find work anywhere. Most hospitals or states. or physicians WHO hire you away from your old job will pay expenses including travel, apartment rental , good benefits.
Once you have a couple of years behind you you can than start getting better offers even from the place you currently work.
You can usually name your hours, and days.

The bad side is you have to work with people who:
Will make you sick.
Will send you home more colds ect.
Will die on you regular, often after you become attached to them.
Will become complete asses and try to bring you as much grief as possible.(head nurses are notorious for getting other nurses fired for no reasons and causing grief. It's a status symbol with them and the hospital.
Will attempt to blame you for their mistakes (doctors are also notorious for blaming nurses for their mistakes which believe ME are plenty).
While Some doctors are great to work with most are also the cheapest rascals in existence just behind lawyers. So while their office would be an easier place to work it's rare you will find a physican who would pay a decent payscale or benefits.

YOu have ot be conscious of the fact that mistakes are mad eoin the medical field and stay alert to other peoples mistakes . Nurses often carry the load for doctors and end up taking their blame as well.

Over all it is a great job if you are the person for it. If you do go to a small community college be careful that they are not just here for the local hospital's benefit o ryou will not graduate wihtout signing with them. Many nursing students here find that out fast.
If possible it's better to go to a state school.(unmiversoity or college not associated with, or obligated to hospitals or doctors.

Answer 8

Great salary, flex hours, more in demand over the next 15 years as all peopes get older.
You can go to school to be an LPN, RN, BSRN, get a Masters Degree, start off working in a Hospital, Company, School.
Whjat do you oike to do, would you like to visit people in their house become a visiting Nurse.
DO CSI stuff? Take a Nurse and Criminal Justiuce, ParaLegal courses

Answer 9

Nursing takes a serious commitment, if your children are young I would wait until they were older, b/c in order for you to be successful you will need to dedicate alot of time to studying, school, clinicals, and labs. Your family will feel neglected. Most find it impossible to work during nursing school or only work on weekends. You must take that into consideration also. Text books can also be expensive, my first semester of books were worth $1400.

Answer 10

i volunteer at the hospital. pro's is u get alot of money, u dont work 5 days a week, u feel good for caring for other people

con's are u have to work 12 hours a day, some patients are hard to deal with, tiring