info needed for prospective nurse

In school and clinicals you will get exposure to many different areas of nursing. Most of it will probably be in the adult/geriatric population, with occasional forays into specialty areas (psych, OB, and peds). Once you get your license, you'll be able to pursue working in one specific area if you choose (and if the job's available).

So, yep, you'll be dealing with wounds and heavy patients. But they're not as bad as they sound, you'll be amazed at the things you find yourself capable of dealing with. Nursing is a career where you seem to learn just how strong of a person you are in a way unlike almost any other field does.

I am a peds nurse in a pediatric hospital, and I routinely have to deal with pts who weigh more than 150 lbs -- remember, peds goes up to age 17, or sometimes even older (we sometimes have pts as old as 21). Thankfully, the CNAs and other nurses are good about helping with our larger pts -- I could never move a pt that weighs more than about 100 lbs without help, as I have a bad back.

I also have a number of pts with decubs up to stage IV, and on wound vacs. Paraplegics and quadriplegics are susceptible to decubs even if they are under the age of 18.

You may surprise yourself with what you can handle. Prior to going to nursing school I did not think I could handle wounds, but I find now they don't phase me at all. However, if you're determined to avoid large pts and wounds, peds may not be the haven you're seeking. Even the onc pts may get decubs if they have brain tumors that cause paralysis, and are not being turned often enough. If you really want easily-liftable pts without decubs, NICU may be the only in-hospital option. Of course, there's other options where you might be able to avoid heavy-lifting and wounds -- psych nursing, case management, public health nursing, to name a few.

My advice, if you're drawn to nursing, is just jump in and give it a try. You may be surprised with what you can handle, and if not, there may be other areas of nursing you can shift to.

Good luck!

Diane