Are nurses actually underpaid and overworked?

You are going to have to enjoy working with people for in nursing you will have both the highs & lows. You will see (maybe even deliver) a newborn baby either in the delivery room or alone in the ER (as I did. The mother waited too long & the baby wanted out). You will care for the sick & dying, then bring comfort to those left behind. You may get into nursing thinking you want to work on a regular floor, then end up working in ICU. You may love working with kids, then switch to Geriatrics instead. You may change jobs many times over your career, but you must have that one desire to help others to get through it. You may decide you only want to work days, then find that you love the night shift where you might be a Night Supervisor & have everyone depend on your experience & guidance. For your education you will have to be able to handle college work & go to school for 4 years for your BSN. How much you make will depend on where you live, your specialty, and shift work. The basic pay is around $60,000 to 70,000 , more if you specialize in ICU/CCU & work nights. Your hands may bring a newborn into life or do post mortum care on the patient you sat with all night so he wouldn't die alone. Underpaid? Probably. Rewarding? Definitely. But you must feel it & want it. Good luck.