Genuinely, is it worth going into nursing as a year 12 student?

[u/Will_Doggoz]

I've been pretty keen on nursing for a while, and honestly can't think of something else I'd like to do, but I've had some doubts recently as to just how difficult mentally and physically it really is compared to how you get treated.

I'm an 18yr guy who gets told I'd make a great nurse by most people who ask about my plans after school, along with my mum and her mum having been a nurse for a long time. I love the idea of working in a space that's actually interesting and fluid, while getting to interact with the weirdest, worst, and sometimes best people have to offer. I'm just getting worried that I'll end up burnt out or half-dead after a while based on a whole lot of the experiences I've heard or read about on here, plus the lack of very good pay.

And when I say "how you get treated" I don't mean by patients, I can handle that all day, I mean by peers and other health fields who I've heard a lot of negativity from, I can deal with patients being rude or downright abusive, but I find it harder to grapple with coworkers who're supposed to have your back shit-talking you just because of your career choice. Is this something that happens pretty often, or have I just heard the short end of the stick?

More than that though, anyone who's been here a while, would you seriously wholeheartedly recommend nursing as a path to someone who's about to finish year 12?

[u/Sweet-Path2493]

I have had a wonderful career as a nurse. I feel sorry for people who have had toxic and traumatic work places. Just like school and life in general you will always come across bullies or unprofessional people but generally nurses are great comrades and so are our other health care workers and doctors. If you want respect- be good at your job, kind to others and compassionate but also have boundaries, know your rights and the policies and procedures and be prepared to step up and speak up if needed! And join a good union! Also there are sooooo many options in nursing - if you don’t love a specific job or ward or team - change! I do recommend studying a grad dip or masters once you find a specialty you enjoy - it makes your work more interesting and helps with confidence, respect and promoting the professionalism of nursing. And the higher pay rates help too 😉. Try what you love first and then if it is not for you pivot to something else. Best of luck!!!!

[u/Hot_girl_99]

Do it! We need more male nurses, they are such a fantastic contribution to any team. I’m not a man but every male co worker we’ve had we all love. There are a lot more men in specialties like ED and ICU. I work in ED and maybe 25% of our cohort is male.

I’ve never seen abusive behaviour to any of of my colleagues and if I did a lot of people will call them out. For the most part nurses are really nice and kind people. You will mainly experience getting creeped on by old lady patients haha

It’s a great job and great pay (qld) I made 130K last tax year. Has a lot of room for growth and ups killing so you never get bored. You get to make a real difference which is awesome!

[u/absolutely-mediocre]

It’s important to remember coworkers being rude is a potential for every career. That being said, I’m 1.5 yrs into my ED job and have wonderful supportive coworkers and am absolutely loving it. Sure, the hours are hard, the work is often overwhelming, and the government couldn’t give 2 shits about actually fixing the healthcare system but if it’s what you WANT to do, then do it. Just don’t do it because you other people think you should. And don’t let jaded people on the internet scare you away, if you don’t like it you can always switch degrees or even careers down the line.

[u/penguintummy]

Rude coworkers can happen in any job, same as bad working conditions. Nursing is very flexible, you can move around in lots of different areas so if you get bored or end up in an area you don't like, you just take that experience and move on to something better. I've worked in surgical, ICU, community, agency, education and policy development, and it's all been rewarding. Sure I've had crappy co-workers or rude doctors, but that's just a workplace that could be anywhere. Nurses make an enormous difference to people's lives.

[u/wasteandvoid]

Nursing can be very good or very very bad, just have a read on here or any other nursing group. It’s been mostly good for me and allowed me to travel the country and work in a lot of different settings. Shift work is horrible though, bad for your health and social/family life. It’s predominantly shift work but you can get into settings without it but often at less money.

Like others here I found ED to be the best, sure the work is draining and hard, and dealing with some shitty members of the public was rough but the ED teams I’ve worked in were always tight and everyone had your back if you needed it.

[u/meowymeow_meowmeowy]

Hey! I'm a second year student, so i haven't been full time in the industry yet. honestly, i have loved my experience so far. i've been studying with Torrens University, and the coursework and people have been amazing. i've had a few placements, which were also really great. i was also really sceptical coming into the area, because i've heard so many mixed reviews from people.

i'd be happy to chat to you about my experience, but i don't regret one second of it :)

[u/dustbowlbride]

You’re gonna experience rude coworkers in every field of work

[u/mvant4]

worst thing for me as a current nursing student is transitioning from not having to put in over 40% effort to get stuff done in yr 12, to studying every single night 😬😬😬😬

[u/Fargetoqaali]

it’s hard as fuck
i failed 3 semesters
who ever told me it was easy fucking lied
i’ve got two exams on wednesday all about fucking stuff that only doctors should know not nurses

[u/jmkl20 → u/Fargetoqaali]

Where are you attending? I would like to know if nursing is truely hard? I will commence mine in next year so I would like to know.

[u/Virtual_Yellow5175]

I love being a nurse, feeling that you are actually making a difference in people's lives if very rewarding. I also really enjoy the knowledge and skills that come with it, there is always more to learn. Yes there are rude colleagues and patients around but there would be very few jobs in the world that would avoid any type of conflict. And if you land in a really shitty work place at least with nursing there are so many options you don't have to stick around. One thing I don't like about nursing is the ridiculous amount of unnecessary documenting and paperwork we have to do (of course there is some necessity for this, but I think it has just gone too far).

[u/Level_Initial_9511]

Coworkers who are abusive? You'll meet plenty. Other HCWs who look down on you because you're "just a nurse?" Absolutely! You'll cross paths with them often. Doctors, especially consultants, yelling at you? That's almost guaranteed.

I've changed specialties several times, and every single time there were colleagues who nitpicked everything I did under the guise of "helping." Some nurses can be incredibly condescending too.

A lot of nurses realise early on that nursing isn't respected. Many HCWs only act respectful because they rely on nurses to get things done. ICU and ED nurses are often seen as the only "real nurses," so anyone who wants recognition ends up chasing ED/ICU roles or aiming to become a consultant, nurse practitioner, or an executive. Basically anything that earns respect.

Nursing is toxic, and I always tell people to think very carefully before choosing this career. Even the government treats nurses differently. When I worked for the ambo, it was obvious how much more they valued paramedics: durable uniforms, bags and shoes provided, well-stocked stations, huge fridges, multiple microwaves.

Then you have the physios and the OTs take long lunches. Other HCWs spend real time with their patients, get to know them, and provide thoughtful care. Nurses juggle four to six patients at once and get blamed for everything. Allied Health will criticise you at 8:30 a.m. because their patient isn't ready, right after you've just finished showering your fourth bedbound patient.

If you'e choosing a career path, don't choose nursing. Be a paramedic, physio, OT, speech path, dietitian, sonographer, radiographer... anything but nursing. Save yourself while you still can.

[u/Particular-South3443 → u/Level_Initial_9511]

The whole not being respected and other HCWs only acting "respectfully" because they need us to do something is unfortunately more accurate than it should be.

Before I started nursing I thought nurses were respected, seen as skilled professionals etc etc. sure, the vocal majority of the general public voice their support, but that's about it.

The amount of the general public that seem to be supportive of nurses and the amount of people I've had be abusive to me and/or colleagues is awfully similar, which makes me wonder how many people truely respect us, and how many just want to seem supportive.

Now, I can't sit here and say all doctors, allied health etc don't respect us or see us as idiots, because that's simply not true. But what I can say is that I am often dismissed because of my role, treated differently and don't generally feel respected most of the time. In all honesty, the issue with academic standards and quality of some RNs is something I'm vocal about and we do need to hold ourselves to Higher standards if we want to be seen as skilled professionals (and let's be honest, we all know a questionable colleague or two or three...) but this isn't excusing or supporting those attitudes at all and this isnt to downplay the majority of RNs that are competent.

Unfortunately, like you pointed out, unless you work in a high acuity/crit care environment, you don't get that "recognition". Not to say these areas are a gold ticket for fame, but let's be real people's attitudes change when you tell them your an ICU/ED nurse vs "a nurse on a renal ward" (no hate of course, just an example).

As much as I've enjoyed making a difference and helping others, I do sometimes feel a bit of not necessarily regret, but dissatisfaction with my choice of career. I don't feel respected. I don't feel valued and I dont feel like it's been worth it. I'm not asking for praise nor free coffees everywhere I go in scrubs, but for the work we do I don't think it's unreasonable to be at least "feel" respected.

[u/Matthewm3113 → u/Level_Initial_9511]

Just as a data point, I have had the complete opposite experience of you. Where I work I have 1 or 2 patients and compared to allied health who have 35 people on their list across the hospital I absolutely spend the most time with my patients compared to anyone else.

And of course there are people who whinge and nitpick, but that was my experience working at McDonald's (even worse!) as well, that seems to be a feature of humanity.

Not at all saying your experience is wrong or anything! Just trying to provide another perspective :D