[somebody]

I am prepping for nursing school now, but already stressing about the stress aparantly endemic to nursing. I am wondering if a new nurse is required to start out, say as a floor nurse, or in med/surge or some other high stress position... or if there are some lower stress options where one can ease in a little.

All feedback welcome.

[Tweety]

You're stressing about the stress of nursing and you haven't started school yet?

My advice is to learn some stress coping techniques now, or you won't have to worry about where you'll be when you graduate because you'll melt down.

Seriously, if you're going for your RN, you're going to enjoy a wide variety of areas to include peds, pysch, med-surg, OR, L&D, nursary, etc. and you can get a feel of what you're truly interested in. Who knows you might find an area that you currently are considering high stress but will wind up liking it. So why rule out areas when you haven't started school yet?

Try to relax and concentrate on school.

[2blackcats]

I'm only a CNA, and have only been one off and on for the past 7 years...but I have worked at the same hospital on the MED/SURG floor and I think it sometimes gets a bad rap. Not sure why...but I couldn't imagine working anywhere else! I am "hoping" to get into and ADN or LPN program within the next year...and I would ONLY want to work MED/SURG. Don't stress before you've experienced it...I work with some TERRIFIC nurses, who think L&D and other areas are stressful...it's all a personal choice. I like the craziness that sometimes ensues on MED/SURG...my day ALWAYS flies by, and strangely enough...if I had to go to another department and leave MED/SURG..I'm not sure I'd want to stay working where I am.
So before you stress...realize nursing is like anything else...EVERYONE has a place where they fit perfectly...and that's the beauty of nursing school...you'll get to experience all of them. You'll develop weird "quirks" like all of us...my favorite is taking care of, changing, or assisting with Ostomies...who wudda thunk it?
So hang in there...it's not NEARLY as bad as you think it will be. It IS VERY VERY stressful...I know the nurses I work with well, and all have stress...but if you love your job...and do it well...it's not as scary as it seems. It's a way of life really.

[Diane-RN Student]

Originally Posted by 2blackcats

I like the craziness that sometimes ensues on MED/SURG...my day ALWAYS flies by, .

I couldn't agree more. I'm also a med/surg CNA/PCA and I float to the different Med/Surg units. I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Each day is different with its different challenges and patients.

I love Med-Surg, too (so far, at least)

[marikat534]

Congrats about choosing to become a nurse! It is not an easy road, but each day I love it more and more. I will be honest with you, stress will be your life for the next couple years of your life. Nursing Schools is very hard, and nothing is going to change the expectations for you there.

After I graduated I went into psychiatry, there are no rules that say you are required to become a med-surg nurse after college. When you are going through, you will have clinical to experience different expertise. I did child psych after nursing school and do not regret a moment of it, it is what was right for me at the time. I am now into Oncology where I will get the medical and psych side of medicine that I enjoy. There is a saying that you have to find your nitch.

Nursing is a very versatile field, there are no right paths to take. While many say you should become a general floor nurse, until someone presents me with evidence or research that it does in fact make better nurses; I will believe the principle we are happier going to work doing a job we enjoy.

Good Luck and do not get stressed out too much yet!

[TheCommuter]

What one nurse deems "stressful," is something that another nurse views as an easy cakewalk. We are all different, with varied likes and dislikes. What makes one person tick will seriously tick someone else off.

For example, some nurses are thrilled by the fast-paced ER and find absolutely no stress in dealing with emergent conditions, but these same nurses would probably experience a certain degree of stress if they had to suddenly jump into a slower-paced specialty, such as hospice.

You'll need to evaluate your personality, tastes, and preferences before deciding on an area of nursing.

[sweetmuffin48]

I am a new grad nurse...been working on my own for a few months now...and I don't think any department would be stress free...Just make sure you pick a department you would find interesting. I am on med-surg, it is stressful, but I like the intense energy even though i complain about the stress...I like all the different conditions are very interesting...if your job is boring, it isn't going to be enjoyable. In school on clinicals, you will find your nitch.