Am I going to regret being a nurse?

[lovelylady42]

I am about to start nursing school next semester and Im a little worried.

I've heard nurses have GREAT communication skills and just LOVE to be around people.

ok so here is my story:

I work at a retail store as a sales associate and I do NOT like my job, Im not very good at "small talk" i am NOT great at upselling or selling plans/warranties on our products.

BUT

I also work as a pca at a retirement home and i LOVE my job. I love helping people i love listening to the residents tell stories about when they were younger, i just love making a difference in their lives, i love knowing that i am needed to make their lives much easier.

SO

will I have alot of trouble as a nurse if my communication skills arent great?

...i want to work as an RN at a hostpital, i know i will have to comfort people during hard times, and i want to work on that i really do

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

Okay, so that'll be one knee replacement...and can I interest you in an appendectomy while you're here?

Retail experience would probably be helpful to a prospective nurse--presumably, you've learned how not to glare at people and mutter under your breath, so that's a big plus. Being a good listener is definitely an important skill. But it will also be important to learn to be assertive. Sometimes I have to pause outside the room and remind myself, "Be the nurse." Somebody has to, and who is more qualified. Of course, the first time I invoked that mantra, the patient turned out to be a retired 30 yr nurse, so when I went in and laid down the law, she tossed me out on my ear. But we learn from these moments.

If you like being a PCA, you'll probably like being a nurse. Unfortunately, you may not get as much time to listen to patients' stories, but any time you can find will be appreciated. Sometimes I leave my chattiest patients' assessments for last. And looking at pictures of grandchildren can be charted as a neuro check. Sometimes you give the patient the time they need whether you can spare it or not, and finish your charting after report. Who would blame you if you got behind because you were doing CPR? And sometimes hand-holding is just as important as CPR.

Good luck.