nursing

[goodgirlnp]

I have been an RN since 1997. I will agree that it is often a demeaning career with little reward. However, I now work in a children's hospital where the overall treatment of RNs is better. We have much better staffing quotas because parents won't tolerate poor staffing. I would never subject myself to half the things people have been writing about on this site. Why would anyone put up with such abuse? Yes, nursing is demanding, underpaid, understaffed, and nurses are underappreciated. However, where I work we are appreciated by the majority of physicians (and residents) and we have PCA's, housekeeping, clerks, etc. to assist with the workload. The job is still very tiring, stressfull, and often demeaning. That's why I am in grad school o become an FNP or administrator. In the meantime, (the next 4 years) I plan to gain as much experience as possible and become a solidly expierenced nurse. I have taken it upon myself to find a position where the money is good (with several differentials) and I will pick up bonus shifts and decrease required work hours per week. My point is there are ways to manipulate the system to one's benefit - one just has to be creative. If we don't let ourselves be treated like dogs, and take control of our environments, we can turn things around in this profession.