Did becoming a nurse change you????

Nursing has changed me in one major way: the sight, smell, and thought of death doesn't really bother me much anymore. I now fully comprehend that human life is temporal, and that no person is placed on this earth to live forever.

However, it has not changed my personality. I am still a laid-back, quiet introvert. I have never been catty, envious, or the type of person who snitches on colleagues.

Nursing cannot turn someone into a snitch; rather, the person had the snitching propensity before they became a nurse.

To be perfectly honest, after 20+ years of doing this, I'm more cynical. Not toward my patients so much, but rather toward inept, out-of-touch hospital administration(s). I (and many of my hard-working colleagues) have been burned far too many times for me to trust they have anything resembling our interests at heart.

Yes, a title of LPN or RN or any other credential can lead to an inflated ego. For some it is temporay disease and for most people suffering it is chronic. If you really value you friendship just nicely tell her that " I see you have been acting differently lately" If that does not work give her some space, if she is really a friend she will come back around.

Jennifer LPN

Short answer: No

Longer answer: I have been a nurse for 28+ years and I am happy to say I haven't changed, I'm :Melody: "Still Crazy After All These Years". Ask any of my friends from high school, who are all nurses themselves!!!!

After 40+ years==

You know, I really don't remember.
I am more assertive, but then, I needed to be.
I was barely an adult when I started this job and I basicly grew up with it.
Now days, I'm MUCH closer to my pt's. I think I'm more empathetic.
However, as Emmanuel said, I'm much more cynical toward Administration. I,personally, don;t believe a word they say. I have been lied to one too many times.

I think I'm much more outgoing & talkative. I have many more friends then I ever had when I was in school.

Just be yourself and be true to yourself & perhaps you won't change except for the better.

I think its changed my way of thinking life is forever.Ya know tomorrow we might have cancer,be paralyzed or have some other horrible life altering experience .Yes bad things can happen to us too.

For better and for worse:
1) I swear more. I'm not proud of it.
2) I'm more assertive. That's a good thing.
3) I've seen how people that are different than me live.
4) Like others, I've become a little more cynical. Ok, a lot.
5) I have seen how horrible -- and how great -- human beings can be to each other and it has changed me. I can't articulate how.
6) After a few situations where I didn't know elbow from backside, I realize that the more I learn, the more I NEED to learn.

I second everything Arwen U said. I could've written the same exact post!

I'm only in nursing school, but family members have commented:

5 out 6 family members say they see that I am finally maturing into an adult (and I'm almost 40).

The other family member says that I've turned into an absolute B*&%$