Become a nurse??

Nurses Career Support

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Okay,

The medical field is an interest of mine. When i think about nursing,,,it matches my personality, caring, compassion, patience.

But I'm not sure if i could handle,,the DEATH part of the job.

I'm a softie so im thinking i might take death of patients really bad. Is there types of nursing where ya don't have to deal with death all the time?

Also, I have a Associates Degree in Computer Programming,,,if i go to get a 2 year degree in nursing and become a RN...then find out i cant deal with it,,,,do i have other options in the medical field? Like Informatics?

If you can, please list the types of Nursing Jobs that doesnt deal so much with death type sicknesses.

thanks all,

tom

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

OB-GYN is a good bet, although on the rare occasion when a baby or mom doesn't make it, it's devastating for all concerned. Otherwise, it's the happiest wing in the whole hospital.....but tell me, why are you so uneasy with "the death part"? Some of the most memorable, beautiful moments in my career have been spent with the dying, and I have been privileged to be with a number of patients as they drew their last breath and passed into the peace and freedom of a world without pain.

As for getting used to seeing death, most nurses learn to deal with it, but we never want to get so hardened to it that we stop being able to feel. Some patients' passing bothers us more than others; I've even been to a few funerals of patients who made an impact on my life during the time I spent caring for them. But don't close yourself off to entire areas of nursing because of your unease with death......it's a part of life, just as much as birth, and you will learn at some point that death can be a blessing when life has been so full of illness, pain, and physical and/or emotional suffering that continuing on is unbearable.

You can also look into community/pblic health and psych.

RudeyMVP-

There are all sorts of different nursing specialties. For many of them, you won't have to deal with death *too often* or even at all, I guess. I am considered a real softie too, and never thought I would be able to handle deaths as well as I do. I have surprised myself, actually. I have taken care of many (terminal) dying patients & their families over the past few years.It turns out that "sensitivity" can be a strength. I never would have thought that I could handle it, either.

Of course, we all fear the unknown. I was afraid the first few times my patients died. It was scary- as I didn't fully understand what was happening. Later on, I learned more about the dying process & it wasn't as scary (it still is sad, though, I admit). Later I learned that taking care of the dying patient can be very rewarding spiritually. Patients and families need caring nurses who are sensitive to their needs & can educate them about what to expect. So, maybe you are scared by this- and maybe it isn't for you. There are plenty of nursing positions that don't expose you as much to death, so don't worry about it. But I just wanted to plant a seed that you may surprise yourself with what you can handle, and knowing that your care made a big difference in someone's life. ;)

Thanks for all your info.

I guess I'm worried about how I will take 'patient death' because its the only thing that seems to be a question mark for me regarding a nursing career.

Everything else seems fine, im compassionate, caring, very patient,,i like people, like to help people.

If i go to a 2yr program and get the ADN, become a RN.

What kind of opportunities are there? Can ya work in pediatrics with mostly healthy babies???

I love kids, and kids go nuts over me,,thats what everybody says anyway lol.

Is there opportunity to work as a RN where you are more on the side of getting them OUT of the hospital after a successful surgery than working with the very ill??

Is there opportunity to be a RN and to work in a more non-life threatening nursing? Like broken bones, or taking care of healthy newborns etc etc.

Is there a large difference in pay if you work in the more 'non-life threatening' side of nursing?

I might be overreacting to dealing with the DEATH side of nursing,,,I guess I just wanna know,,,if i CANT HANDLE IT,,what would my options be in other parts of nursing and if the pay is decent.

tom

Thanks for all your info.

I guess I'm worried about how I will take 'patient death' because its the only thing that seems to be a question mark for me regarding a nursing career.

Everything else seems fine, im compassionate, caring, very patient,,i like people, like to help people.

If i go to a 2yr program and get the ADN, become a RN.

What kind of opportunities are there? Can ya work in pediatrics with mostly healthy babies???

I love kids, and kids go nuts over me,,thats what everybody says anyway lol.

Is there opportunity to work as a RN where you are more on the side of getting them OUT of the hospital after a successful surgery than working with the very ill??

Is there opportunity to be a RN and to work in a more non-life threatening nursing? Like broken bones, or taking care of healthy newborns etc etc.

Is there a large difference in pay if you work in the more 'non-life threatening' side of nursing?

I might be overreacting to dealing with the DEATH side of nursing,,,I guess I just wanna know,,,if i CANT HANDLE IT,,what would my options be in other parts of nursing and if the pay is decent.

tom

I am 38 years old,male, married, two children, presently living in India. Had been self-employed in the Electronics filed since 16 years, after Engineering course. Now, in debt due to heavy market down fall.

Now, I am planning to get in to RN -AAS degree studies in NewJersey ! Also, in difficult situation to take proper decision, whether to get in to RN or LPN(and later to RN) or to my experienced Electronics Technology AAS. COULD ANY ONE GUIDE ME ??

Rajendra Halemane.

Interesting you mentioned infomatics. YES, YES, YES, it is a wide open field for nurses with a very real NEED for nurses. There are not enough nurses at present that are truly well skilled in this speciality.

The fact you are a 'softy" is a plus in your favor as far as dealing with things like death. We can't afford to be without feelings.

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