Registered Nurses, what's the job like?

It is hard work, but very rewarding. There are a wide variety of nursing opportunities that can be pursued with the basic education & you have a lot of flexibility in that you can move from one specialty to another w/o starting all over, which is not possible in many fields. It does mean working different shifts, w/e's & holidays, but many nurses work 3 12 hour shifts a week, giving them quite a bit of free time. There are few professions that give you the opportunity to touch people at such a basic level & share in their lives during very vulnerable times. The pay is decent, and generally the profession is well respected. However, some tough times are ahead, as the work force is aging & not enough nurses are entering the field to offset those who will be retiring. And the whole healthcare crisis in our country has a direct impact on nursing. Still, I would recommend nursing to peopel who are willing to work hard & enjoy helping others.

It's secure employment with a wide variety of options (ie...hospital, doctor's office, admin, etc.). It's hard work but it is very rewarding work especially if you are in a job that you enjoy. I'm a NICU nurse and love this type of nursing. I think that if you are interested in a career in nursing that you are doing the right thing by checking it out.