[dewberrysquish]

Practical nurses, patient care aides, and medical assistants, I feel sorry for because from what I hear a lot of them have to do the so-called dirty work or slave work that the nurses don't want to do, whatever the nurses don't want to do they make the LPN's, PCA's, and MA's do. The LPN's, PCA's, MA's work hard and get paid less, no "competition" to get into these programs, you can easily become a lpn, pca, or ma and you're still dealing with patients and having a lot of responsibilities so I think its unfair they get paid less. Why don't they need a degree? If nursing requires a degree then the job titles dealing with patients and having a lot of responsibilities should require a degree as well, not a certificate.

Competition shouldn't be the word used to get into a nursing program. I feel if you work hard and give your all you will succeed, it has nothing to do with others. Its up to you and how much your willing to give.

[gemberly]

I highly suspect that a lot of nursing is like a lot of "jobs", if you go into it looking for praise then you probably need to do something else. You put your heart into it, you need to advocate for your patient, you are there to protect and nurture as well as a lot of other important stuff. You might do it because you are getting paid to do it there is nothing wrong with that being part of the reason, but if monetary reimbursement, and gratification is all you have, then you will be disappointed for sure.

Like parenting, if I go into it looking to be appreciated, then I am only going to be disappointed. If you go into it looking for love back, you might be disappointed. If you have love to give and you want your child to grow into a healthy happy individual in their own right, then your experience might be a better one. A small part of it, is about me, the rest is all about them.

Of course, I am still idealistic at this point. LOL

[dewberrysquish]

I never been good with tests and studying but I've been told I'm such a kind, caring, compassionate, empathetic person that I should be a nurse, I know there's more to nursing then having a good personality, I just don't know, I fear failure I guess. Anything I put my mind to I can do but even if I give my best, what if, I don't succeed? I've heard in my area women who made great grades who still didn't get into nursing, that's what discourages me.

[dewberrysquish]

I know in this thankless world, I won't always get appreciated but I really do want to help people. I've been told one should do a job because they love it, not because of the pay but in this day and age, money is number one on everyone's list so people are going to want the jobs where the money is whether they really like the job are not so many are looking to nursing. I see a lot of unhappy, cruel people with high paying jobs, their not loving their job, just there for the money. I've met nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, therapists, doctors, who get paid well, but they lack that bleeding heart that one needs in that field because people look to them for empathy and healing.

I feel the ones in it for the money should move over and let people who really want to be nurses get a chance because the bad nurses ruin it for the good ones. A personality test should be given if one wants to be a nurse to see if one has the personality for nursing or just in it for the money. Anyone can make good grades but do you got in within. I have a friend studying nursing, she's struggling, she's bad at test taking but she gets what she's learning but its just hard for her but she has the qualifications within and out for nursing more then the rest in her class.

[gemberly]

Originally Posted by dewberrysquish

Practical nurses, patient care aides, and medical assistants, I feel sorry for because from what I hear a lot of them have to do the so-called dirty work or slave work that the nurses don't want to do, whatever the nurses don't want to do they make the LPN's, PCA's, and MA's do. The LPN's, PCA's, MA's work hard and get paid less, no "competition" to get into these programs, you can easily become a lpn, pca, or ma and you're still dealing with patients and having a lot of responsibilities so I think its unfair they get paid less. Why don't they need a degree? If nursing requires a degree then the job titles dealing with patients and having a lot of responsibilities should require a degree as well, not a certificate.

Competition shouldn't be the word used to get into a nursing program. I feel if you work hard and give your all you will succeed, it has nothing to do with others. Its up to you and how much your willing to give.

I think that you have to know a lot more to be an RN than to be the other things, and you have to have a license to do some of the duties a nurse does. A nurse does have more responsibility than a CNA or a PT. Those jobs require a certificate.

If your main issue is the competition then maybe you need to find a school with a wait list.

I understand why there is competition in school. There are 30-40 spots open, and the school is [of course] going to take the students that are the best. The only way they can quantify that is with the criteria they decide to use. There is no way to figure out in a logical fashion who is going to be best suited to be a nursing student based merely on someone "trying hard".

I guess I am not understanding the point of your post. Are you just venting because of the "unfairness of it all"? I mean, this is the way it is. Complaining about it doesn't really change anything about the workings of the world. But some of what you are saying is insulting to the people that go to work each day and put in the effort. You sound like you are insinuating that anyone can do it, and I just don't think that is the case.

[John20]

Originally Posted by dewberrysquish

I know in this thankless world, I won't always get appreciated but I really do want to help people. I've been told one should do a job because they love it, not because of the pay but in this day and age, money is number one on everyone's list so people are going to want the jobs where the money is whether they really like the job are not so many are looking to nursing. I see a lot of unhappy, cruel people with high paying jobs, their not loving their job, just there for the money. I've met nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, therapists, doctors, who get paid well, but they lack that bleeding heart that one needs in that field because people look to them for empathy and healing.

I feel the ones in it for the money should move over and let people who really want to be nurses get a chance because the bad nurses ruin it for the good ones. A personality test should be given if one wants to be a nurse to see if one has the personality for nursing or just in it for the money. Anyone can make good grades but do you got in within. I have a friend studying nursing, she's struggling, she's bad at test taking but she gets what she's learning but its just hard for her but she has the qualifications within and out for nursing more then the rest in her class.

To be a nurse you need a degree. That's the way it is and the way it probably always will be. Sometimes in life you just need to accept things for what they are and go with the flow of society. If you want to be a nurse you'll have to go to school. End of story. To get into school there will be lots of competition with most schools accepting students with top grades and test scores. Reality can be harsh, but it is still reality.

The idea of using a personality test to decide who gets into nursing is waaay out there. A competance/knowledge is more important than a "bleeding heart" personality. Besides, it takes different types of people to fill different types of positions. I don't have a bleeding heart personality yet get along great with patients.

What you should do is figure out what schools you are interested in going to. Find out what pre-reqs are needed, what entrance exams are needed and when to sign up for them. Find out what type of grades/scores are competitive for entrance. Then focus on meeting the schools criteria.

[SerenityRN2b2010]

Originally Posted by dewberrysquish

Of course nurses have a lot of responsibility but having a degree doesn't make one responsible as I said the greatest nurses in history never had a degree (do that make them incompetent as a nurse, some had schools named after them and their in the history books,

You mentioned Florence Nightingale in another post...Florence Nightingale went to a three month nursing school and then traveled all over gaining knowledge and training...She is the one that realized that nurses had INADEQUATE training and there was a need for more specialized nursing training. She opened up the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in 1860. Thus the reason it was named after her. Her school was used as a model for other nursing schools that came afterward. Obviously she saw a need for better training for nurses than what was being provided. We can attribute to her the great nursing programs that we have today. The curriculum model that is followed today by all RN programs is directly related to her efforts back then.

I think you have a misconception as to what the role of an RN is and I highly recommend that you shadow a nurse to see if it is something you will like doing. Nursing isnt for everyone and it does take a certain type of individual to become a great nurse. Just like it takes a special person to become a CNA or MA....A lot of them have no intentions of becoming a nurse because they enjoy their job.

You are correct that there are people out there that want to be a nurse just for the money...However, for every one of them, there is another who wants to be a nurse for all the right reasons. Those that do it for the money won't last long on the job, so you really don't need to worry about them so much.

Also, you speak of the quality of care given by nurses today and that it isn't of the same quality of nursing back in the 1800's. Can I ask you how you KNOW this for absolutely certainty? Nursing back then was not on the same caliber compared to nursing today. The technology alone would leave those nurses on the way side while the nurses today would run circles around them. I don't think it is a fair assessment for you to compare the two...it is like comparing apples to oranges. We learned from them both good and bad and that is why we continue to grow and become better.

I wish you well on your decision and I hope it is one that you will not make hastily.

[SerenityRN2b2010]

Originally Posted by dewberrysquish

Practical nurses, patient care aides, and medical assistants, I feel sorry for because from what I hear a lot of them have to do the so-called dirty work or slave work that the nurses don't want to do, whatever the nurses don't want to do they make the LPN's, PCA's, and MA's do. The LPN's, PCA's, MA's work hard and get paid less, no "competition" to get into these programs, you can easily become a lpn, pca, or ma and you're still dealing with patients and having a lot of responsibilities so I think its unfair they get paid less. Why don't they need a degree? If nursing requires a degree then the job titles dealing with patients and having a lot of responsibilities should require a degree as well, not a certificate.

Wow! The level of skills that CNA's and MA's do are on a completely different level that what an RN does. PCA's have a little more responsibility than the previous, but not as much responsibility as an LPN. RN's delegate certain responsibilities to CNA's and PCA's because that is what their job entails. CNA's are hired to do bed baths and change bed linens and take vitals, etc. This isn't because RN's are lazy or don't want to do it, it is because 1. that is what the CNA is hired to do, and 2. the RN has 100 other responsibilities that she must do in her shift that otherwise would not get done or corners would be cut and the quality of care would be compromised if she were to try to get EVERYTHING completed on her shift.

I seriously do not believe that you understand the role of an RN. Again, I highly suggest you do a job shadow with an RN so that you can get a first had feel from behind the scenes of an RN. I believe you will have a different perspective and respect for RN's and you will see that they pay difference is appropriate for the level of care provided.

Good luck!

[donster]

I think it's possible (probable?) that the OP is confusing traits and tasks of nursing care with the profession of nursing.

I can speak for many, I think, when I tell you that the basis for most nurses is a good, sound theoretical knowledge that comes from studying the physical and social sciences.

Nursing isn't just about the "doing". Anyone can be trained to do anything. Nursing is more about the understanding of why you do what you do. This takes study. It takes a tremendous amount of knowledge of the physical and social sciences, math, English, etc. to be able to be an active, vital participant in the healthcare needs of patients, and to be a valuable, contributing member of the team. You have to be able to communicate, verbally and in writing, your observations. You have to be able to understand the various nuances and changes, and to be able to determine what they mean. Further, you have to be able to anticipate what to do about them. Nurses don't sit and wait for instruction like they did in the days of Ms. Nightingale. Today, nurses play an entirely different ballgame.

And just so you know... those diploma programs? Very, very challenging; every bit as much as any degree-granting institution.

I don't want to scare the OP off from pursuing nursing if that is truly her desire. The reality is that nursing is not a task-oriented "job". It is so much more than that. If it is what you want, then pursue it vigorously. Study hard, learn all you can, and know that we wish you much luck and success!

[Michigan RN]

I am someone who feels that you have to want to be a nurse. It's easy to say, " I want to be a nurse because there is a lot of money". I didn't go into nursing for the money, I went into nursing because I wanted to help people and make a difference in someone's life. The money in nursing is not that great unless you pick up decent amounts of overtime. I made 80k last year but I worked myself to the bone for that money by working outrageous amounts of overtime. I'm not trying to keep you from going into nursing, I want you to want to be a nurse. Not because it's a "great job" or "It pays great". Sometimes its not a great job and sometimes the pay sucks.It's not all passing meds, wiping butt and other tasks. It's not all Florence Nightingale. You have to critically think. You have to understand why you are doing what you are doing.

As far as nursing school goes, find yourself a couple of friends and have a study group. Yes, it can be competitive or at least that's how it was when I was in school.