Considering nursing need some advice and answers!

hcmanp, NP · Mar 5, 2005

There are tons of options in nursing, not everything (gasp!) in nursing goes on in the hospital setting.

I had the same concerns as you do - I even got faint in an anatomy class. But you do what you have to in order to survive the clinicals, and after you graduate you need some floor experience. Then you become a school nurse, or home health nurse, or nurse educator. There are lots of options!

About the needle thing - I hate to have my blood taken, and that has made me a much more compassionate taker - patients often say they didn't feel a thing, and praise my technique, which believe me is nothing great.

About gagging, I can't help you. I have a cast iron stomach.

Before you go back to school, though remember you will give up a lot of time with your kids. My kids even started calling me "dad". I sometimes wonder if it was worth the sacrifice - I missed a lot of things, but their dad got to do a lot of things that he might not have had the chance for, and he is a great influence, maybe better than me (some days for certain)

Give the whole issue lots of thought from all the angles, and best of luck.

momof2girls · Mar 5, 2005

Thank you for your response. I have considered the time away from my girls but they are both in school now they are 10 and 6 so hopefully it will be a little easier than it would have been when they were younger. Also, hard math was never my strong suit and some of the sciences were difficult but I have a GREAT memory. How hard will the math and sciences be for me?

There are tons of options in nursing, not everything (gasp!) in nursing goes on in the hospital setting.
I had the same concerns as you do - I even got faint in an anatomy class. But you do what you have to in order to survive the clinicals, and after you graduate you need some floor experience. Then you become a school nurse, or home health nurse, or nurse educator. There are lots of options!
About the needle thing - I hate to have my blood taken, and that has made me a much more compassionate taker - patients often say they didn't feel a thing, and praise my technique, which believe me is nothing great.
About gagging, I can't help you. I have a cast iron stomach.
Before you go back to school, though remember you will give up a lot of time with your kids. My kids even started calling me "dad". I sometimes wonder if it was worth the sacrifice - I missed a lot of things, but their dad got to do a lot of things that he might not have had the chance for, and he is a great influence, maybe better than me (some days for certain)
Give the whole issue lots of thought from all the angles, and best of luck.

hcmanp, NP · Mar 5, 2005

Thank you for your response. I have considered the time away from my girls but they are both in school now they are 10 and 6 so hopefully it will be a little easier than it would have been when they were younger. Also, hard math was never my strong suit and some of the sciences were difficult but I have a GREAT memory. How hard will the math and sciences be for me?

I did not find them particularly difficult, in fact to the amazement of friends and family, (not to mention me) I ended up tutoring others.

I started out by doing the hardest class I could think of at the local community college and took chemistry (my bugaboo). I did great, had a fun time (I like school anyway), and the rest is history.

But wait! You are already in a math-oriented career - how hard can this be?

Get started at the community college level - that's all you really need since the ADN is basic entry to practice, which is a 2 year degree. I did it one (sometimes 2) class at a time (I already had a bachelor's), and it only took 2 years to get the ADN. Take some of the "pre-requisite" classes, like chemistry, anatomy and physiology and see how they feel "on".

I always wanted to be a nurse, too. You may discover a perfect "fit" for you! I hope so.

MKPCV333 · Mar 5, 2005

I'm a married 30 year old Mom with 2 girls. I am currently working in the accounting field and have found that I am waaaaaay too extroverted for it. I have always wanted to work in a field where I could help people. When I was a kid I wanted to be a teacher or a Nurse.
Well there are three concerns that I have:
1) I have a weak stomach. I can handle cleaning up my kids poop and puke but I gag if I have to do anyone else's. Sometimes I even gag a little when I clean out the catbox.
2) I have a fear of needles. Am I going to faint the first time I have to stick somebody?
3) No one in my family thinks I can nursing because of my stomach and my fear of needles.
I guess I just need some input from some people who have been there. I want a career in a field that makes a difference in the lives of people. So, can I overcome these things? Or is nursing just not for me?
Thank you all so much!

This is definitely something you can do. I decided to become a nurse at age 40, and even remember stating nursing is something I would never do! And now, I am in the last two months of an RN program and I love it. It is just different when you are taking care of someone else you don't really concentrate on all the lovely smells and sights. I also changed careers, am a mother, and this has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. It is also true about the great options you have once you complete the initial program, you can go in any direction and not necessarily deal with a lot of the unpleasantries nurses face everyday. Good luck in your decision!