I am graduating high school this month and I am very interested in pursing a career in nursing. I love the idea of being able to care for patients and making a difference in their lives. However, I am not sure if I could handle some of the gross things that nurses have to do. If I went into nursing my end goal would be to get my master's and be a nurse practitioner. I know if I did that then I wouldn't have to do a lot of the gross stuff because I would be higher up and be more involved in the medical aspect which I like, however I worry its less personal and I REALLY like the idea of helping others. So my questions are:

-What is a day like as an RN?

-What are some of the gross things you have to do, and do you get used to it?

-Does anyone have any advice or input on pursuing a masters for NP?

-In nursing school what are clinicals like?

Thank you so much!!

Each field has it's level of grossness. I work postpartum/newborn so my gross days are newborn poop and spitup and post partum bleeding. It's really not bad. I typically care for well people(sure some have chronic conditions but it isn't bad). I would highly encourage you to get your CNA before you go for a RN degree to see if it is an environment you can function in. And becoming an NP doesn't eliminate the gross factor.

As a floor nurse, prepare to be a doormat.

I work on a general internal medicine unit. A typical shift for me will involve checking my patients' vitals, completing a head to toe assignment on each of my patients, passing medicine (many times through my shift), providing washes and personal care with the CNA for patients that require...yes this includes changing patients. A day also involve me talking to doctors and residents about the plan of care for the patients, and adding my input as I see fit. Advocating for patients as needed. Processing and carrying out orders. Making sure that things that my patient needs get done. Educating patients and their families. And charting.

...and all that is for a "good" shift where I don't have to chase down my elderly patients with dementia to prevent them from leaving the unit and getting lost (or going into other people's rooms and things), where nobody deteriorates, where I have no admissions or discharges...basically where a shift goes accordingly

As far as gross things...I regularly change incontinent patients, so there's your urine and feces. Sometimes that doesn't all end up in the toilet or the diaper..:I've seen it on the linens, floor, and even the walls (and yes the nurse is expected to clean those up too) I also deal with cleaning up after diarrhea and vomit. Bleeding is a common thing that happens. Sputum happens...and I sometimes have to provide uctioning for that. Oh and then there are wounds--some are pretty bad looking and smelling too--I will never forget the smell of a necrotizing wound.

I deal with the "gross" stuff by dealing with it head on. I think after you've seen it enough times, you develop a desensitization to it. That's not saying the grossness just goes away...but you're just used it and have adapted to handling it. As well I find it helps if I see it from the patients side...they're sick in the hospital and not only that, they are now needing a stranger to take care of their bodily functions.

As for NP...you don't really get away from the gross factor, not really. I'd suggest you to work as a nursing assistance first to get your feet wet and see a glimpse of what nurses do.