Well shoot I was going to say a few things but I think [MENTION=4939]kyuuei[/MENTION] beat me to everything
I have been pre-nursing for a while and I've shifted because it's not the right combination of factors for me. The upsides that drew me to the profession were: helping people in hard situations; high people contact; importance of the job; variety of positions, patients, and daily tasks; the scientific knowledge base; the good pay; the respect; the team cooperation; the varied schedules; and the neat medical stuff.
For the pleasure of intellectual fodder, here's a recap of a few nurses I know well and how they feel about their jobs:
ESFJ, 2w1, sp/so. 25/26 years old emergency RN. Works night/weekend shift at an urban hospital. Makes bank. LOVES her job. Loves the tasks, loves the knowledge, loves the people. She's very upbeat and positive, and she's got a healthy emotional distance which I think helps her a lot. She's very into caring for people and helping set them back on the right path. Found nursing school to be a bear but still seemed very happy in it. Is loving her life now as a new RN and rising up in the rankings. New car, new house, just happy all over.
ISFx, maybe 6w7, maybe so/sx. Around 20 and has worked as a CNA/home health caregiver for years. Doesn't really like her jobs, complains about them frequently. Really sweet girl but seems to always be struggling with how a patient treated her badly. I think she might be happier in a medical administrative/support staff position where she can still be really sweet and helpful and use her medical knowledge but not have patients taking it out on her.
ESFJ, maybe 1w2, maybe so/sp, just-graduated 23-year-old emergency RN. Works nights and loves her job. She is all about helping people do things better and right. She's very sweet and enthusiastic as well as disciplined, super-organized, and very good with detail.
ESTJ, maybe 6w7, maybe so/sx. Older woman, probably around 55/60. Earthy, very caring, loves to know what's going on with other people. Longtime RN and currently an anesthetist, I think. Enjoys her job but has backed off to part-time. Not a fan of cliques, gossip, backstabbing. Prefers autonomy and practical treatments, enjoys funny/perplexing cases.
I think in general people more inclined to be happy as nurses are independent, positive, disciplined, encouraging, patient, flexible, detail-attentive, and responsible.