Nursing is very physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. I have worked in healthcare since 2016 and have been a nurse since 2019. Because of my work, I have chronic back pain and PTSD that started in my 20s. Through the years, I have seen many people choose nursing as a second career, often in their 40s and 50s. I feel bad for all of them; idk if they really understand what they’re getting into. If it was bad for my in my 20s, I can’t imagine how hard it will be for someone in their later working years. On the floor, I’d get about 14,000 steps/day, and a lot of that involves lifting, pushing, and pulling without any help. Most hospitals/corporations don’t have good protections for their employees. On the floor, it’s frequently difficult to get time for a bathroom break during your 12-hour shift, let alone a lunch break (this was the norm at several different hospitals and in different states I worked at in the Southeast US). Not to mention we are abused by patients everyday, often verbally and sometimes physically, yet there are no repercussions or protections placed for staff.
I really only feel that a nursing degree is worth it if you’re planning to get an advanced degree like APRN/FNP or CRNA after a few years. Hospitals are chronically understaffed and more patients and tasks keep being put on the nurses and CNAs (if they have any), and the way hospitals treat their employees is not sustainable. I wish nursing was unionized all over the US like it is in CA, but it’s not and doesn’t look like it will be. I love getting to help people, but it has broken my body and spirit in less than 10 years. I cannot count the times I’ve gone to the bathroom to cry during a shift, or how many times I’ve been yelled at and cussed out, or how many times I’ve been afraid of my patients. Don’t do it. Choose a different career.
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It sounds like personal experience and dissatisfaction from a job that many actually do enjoy or at the very least had a good career.
Some people really want the physical exersion though. Its very difficult to find exercise time in most people’s daily routine without sacrificing something.
But yeah, maybe for some people it’s too much and take a toll on the body
Thats crazy because my wife is a RN and she loves it
I think you just picked the wrong job. Every nurse I know went to school for 4 years, works 3-4 days a week and makes a fuckin killing.
Of course, at the end of the day it’s a job, and it’s hard work and can be stressful but how many jobs out there are ready for you the second you graduate with a 4 year degree now days?
Duely noted. Thanks for your input. As someone who’s having a horrible time breaking into cybersecurity, would you recommend X-Ray technician positions?
Med tech is good if you want to help people indirectly.
If you’re in a non-clinical job, don’t work at a hospital.
For any cooks, accountants, or IT people out there, EVERYONE is looking for hospital jobs which means they don’t have to pay very well. It’s also a lot more bureaucratic than most other places you might work.
To be fair to OP, I was a CNA, my ex was a nurse…it depends heavily on what state you’re in, what type of facility or facilities you’re looking at working in, etc.
To be fair to everyone else, every nurse I’ve ever spoken to has had a nursing field they wanted to be in and at least one that they would never, ever touch regardless of circumstance.
I think I’m still going to choose nursing as my second career.
I feel like I would be well suited to the emotional challenges and I doubt it would be that much worse than working in the trades
12-14 hr days + nights, increasing nurse:patient ratios, it’s way more demanding than anyone can comprehend, particularly if you work in acute care. I totally get it.
You do know nurses work in other places besides a hospital, right?! 🤨
I love being a nurse. Im glad it was my second career. Wouldn’t trade it.
Even if I won the lottery, I’d take a long vacation and fix up a new house, then be back to work.
Good luck in your third career.
Someone in their 40s or 50s also may be looking for a “retirement job” where you have the option not to work 5 days a week and plenty of decent part time options. If you’re pivoting from a career like teaching or adult caretaker it may be a matter of “same shit different font”
Also not all nursing jobs are like yours. There are setting that are more lowkey, like outpatient clinics, schools, case management
Apparently working as a nurse at an infusion center is the way to go
I like nursing as my second career…graduated at 38, history of cancer. I can still handle the physical parts of the job. Everyone is different.
That’s what my sister is pursuing now. She has been working as a barista for years since her animation degree never led to a job.
I am an RNBSN I love my job.
We have a nurse at my work: She works completely remote, answers phone calls and advises those who need help managing their diabetes, is getting paid by the company to get her masters degree, she travels around to multiple states for fun given she can work from anywhere, and she makes $75k+. There are tons of remote or unique positions out there for nursing – look into further options!
Nursing was my first career. I’ve been a nurse for over 20 years, and while I love it, I can agree it’s not for the weak. It has changed over the years, and it’s less about patients and more about meeting quotas and doing more with less. I’ve worked in multiple specialties. I wouldn’t advise anyone to go into nursing unless they really know what they’re getting into. Most people don’t realize it’s like being in the worst relationship of your life, but the perks are great. You want to go, but the pizza parties, pay, and extra days off just look too good. No, but seriously, you can make more money as a rad tech or OR tech. These days, there’s more money in other non nursing health care areas. I would advise someone to look into that first.
Work in a clinic.
If you have stamina and smarts, you can do this job, even starting in your 40s. It’s the quickest way to a six-figure salary with a two-year degree. Although, most hospital systems require their RNs to get a Bachelors in Nursing within a certain time frame. This might be an unpopular opinion, but you don’t have to be altruistic to be a good nurse — you do have to be competent, professional, and tactful. You have to care to keep your patients safe and informed, and advocate for their privacy and autonomy. For example, I’m not working any extra shifts just to help out, I expect that call pay and overtime pay, I’m not picking up any shift where I am not getting my usual differentials either. There are so many RN options within this field, you don’t have to run yourself ragged on the floor. You pay your dues, learn on the floor for a while, and pursue a nursing specialty. I absolutely do not agree that going NP pays off. The MDs use APPs like slaves, and NPs don’t make much more than RNs. The FNP pool is oversaturated, high supply low demand, value goes down pay goes down. I know NPs taking RN contracts because it pays more. CRNA is another story, they are respected and the MDs don’t run them ragged like NPs or PAs— but you can’t even study the theory part of this program online, every aspect of the program is in-person, idk how you could do this program while working as an RN. I repeat that there are nursing specialties that don’t run you ragged, go IR, Cath Lab, Endo, OR, WOCN, L&D, Mother-Baby, PACU, surgical navigator, case management, dialysis, so many options. I can’t imagine being a Nurse Manager, too much policing and politicking. Or being a Nursing Supervisor, every Supe I ever knew had a huge target on their backs by absolutely everyone. These positions are where non-NP MSN specialties take you.
It’s not for everybody.
I 6 started nursing in 2024 at 43. I love it. I am so satisfied at the end of the day. Note, I don’t work in a hospital. I work in community care, visiting homes to see my patients. It’s very rewarding and most are thankful to receive treatment in their homes. Some are ornery still but I might be too in their situation. My sister is 45 and starting her first nursing, also in community as a palliative nurse. We are expecting she will love it also. Our other sister has been in community nursing for 18 years and still loves it.
For all of us, it is a second career. Beats sitting at a desk any day.
I became an RN when i was 41 and wished I had done it much sooner!! There is more to nursing than bedside nursing!! I did my time in the hospital (10 years), left and will never go back.
Not the easiest job, but I feel like a lot of nurses just make it worse for themselves. Lack of physical strength, poor eating habits, poor sleep. Or they just never had the mental strength for it in the first place.
Yup! My dad is super pissed I’m going for a PMHNP and it’s like, I didn’t escape being a field engineer and a soldier to just spend another life time never sitting down.
RN/NP and I love what I do. And would never want to trade it for another job/profession.
It’s why I like radiology better. So many of friends are nurses but I truly don’t have their stamina
I disagree. I switched to nursing at 33 (51 now) My intention was to spend no more than 5 years on the floor as a full time RN. After 2 years, I picked up a job as a school nurse during the week and worked float at the hospital on the weekends. Left the unit floor for good at the start of Covid and now work in Public Health. I work hybrid and only go to the clinic when I see patients. This was the best career move for me. If you stay on the floor as a Unit RN without setting goals, (advanced degree, trying other units/disciplined) you will get burned out.
My favorite part of being a nurse is how broad the field is. Floor nursing is absolutely grueling. I think it’s good experience to learn the ropes fresh out of school, but it’s not a long-term position for most. There’s so many options out there.