I found an opportunity to become a CNA at a nursing facility. I took the course and became a NA and quit before I took the CNA exam because a whole lot of it had to do with the way the other CNA's treated me and found that it wasn't quite what I expected.
I got into nursing because of wanting to make a difference in someone's life, but with the amount of patients I would have to take care of (about 16-20) and because I had never done anything like it before and feeling like I was getting pulled in a thousand different directions all at once, it was very overwhelming and pretty much every day I went home crying and stressed, but I felt like I had a purpose with helping people.
After I quit, I ended up taking the CNA exam on my own and though for sure I failed the skills/clinical portion of it, but instead passed my exam. Not with flying colors like I'd hope I would have, but I passed and I felt so accomplished by that. I definately need something challenging at work or otherwise I am bored out of my mind. I told myself that I wasn't going to get into nursing ever again because of my experince at the nursing facility, but the idea of becoming a RN hasn't really ever left the back of my mind.
I know nursing is a stressful field and would like to have some opinions as to see if anyone thinks I have what it takes to be a nurse. I am caring and compassionate and have patience (most of the time), however I feel like I get stressed easier than some people and don't do all that great in emergency situations. I play by the rules every time and try and go the extra mile for the patient (even if they weren't mine). A few of the residents who I took care of said I would make a great nurse.
I had a really weak stomach when I first started my class, especially with having to clean up crap. There was one resident who had really bad bm's and I was gagging in front of her and my CNA I was shadowing did it for me (I apologized after to her because I felt bad), by the first week I was on my own with her, I was able to change her brief without any problems. By the end of my first day while shadowing my CNA, I changed an ostomy bag with her help. My CNA and some other CNA's said that I was doing a really great job.
What are some characterists of a good nurse? I am afraid that because I get stressed and because I take a lot longer on some things than others that I am not cut out to be a nurse. I have a bubbly personality, but there are some days when I would just rather take care of people and not spend that much time with them. I was told by the DON that because a lot of the geriatrics were sick, not to take it to heart if they start yelling at you, they can't help it. I do have a tendency to take it to heart and sometimes I feel like I am too caring. Please be honest with me, do you think I would make a good nurse?