Not what I had in mind....

Being a nurse is such a challenge! Ive been at it since 1997 and before that I was a nurses aide for 10 years. I love taking care of sick and ailing people but, I don't like being beat up, pushed around by co-workers and bosses/Dr's ect... This job requires nerves of steel which they don't tell you in nursing school. For a matter of fact they didn't teach me what I was in for...the reality of everyday nursing. The only thing I had going for me was my experience as a nurses aide and believe me If your planning on becoming a nurse its a good idea to do aide/tech work just to familiar yourself to puke, poop, blood, wounds, bad smells, and very hard work. Get prepared to stand on your feet all day, sometimes not getting a break to eat or go to the bathroom!! Constant phone calls from family members wanting and demanding information that....guess what ? you cant give them. Be aware also of doctors that are demanding and demeaning, sometimes yelling at you at the nurses desk in front of your coworkers, and the rest of the hospital staff. And if you think for one moment your going to have an easy day because you have 3 patients going home think again because you'll be the first to get 3 admissions and if your not done with them by the next shift be prepared to deal with attitudes from the on coming shift. I love how they glorifiy nurses as angles of mercy..please!! I need an angel of mercy at the end of one shift. It's the only profession that can be both rewarding and unrewarding. It's not all bad all the time...but its not good either. Just telling like it is, I had to take of my rose colored nurse fuzzy waz glasses and see it for what it is...nursing!