Be a nurse or not?! HELP ME PLEASE!

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I'm 20 and I'm torn! I want to be a dietitian because that's my passion but Dietitcs and Nursing have similar classes. But A BIG BUT, nursing pays alot more. =( I really am stuck, im not sure what to do. My only problem about nursing is, I dont want to clean people's fecal matter lol ewa. So a question to the nurses, how often do you guys change adult diapers and deal with that kind of stuff? I am thinking of maybe specializing in the surgical area. I do not mind blood at all, what bothers me thought is well, poop! And vomit. Like cleaning it up. Do you guys do that ALOT? Are CNA's there to help you??

My cousin's a nurse who tells me all these digusting stories. On the other hand, one of my uncle, who is also a nurse. I think he's a surgical nurse or work's as a surgical nurse tells me he does not do anything like diaper changing. So, do different nurses deal with different level's of poop and vomit clean up? I know I want to be in the medical field. And seeing nasty things are normal, but I just don't want to be a janitor. I'm thinking about transfering to UIC, ( University of Illinois at Chicago) ISU (Illinois state university) Or loyola. I am from Illinois. If any one from there knows a good university please include that as well. What else can you advise? Is it a rewarding career.

How much do get paid? What was your starting? When did you start? Where do you work ( states locations) What are your benefits? How much do you work? Hours and days? What is you day like? Your responsiblities?? Do you like your job? Why? Please no general answers. I answers specific to you. Because I know the "general answers"

I am currently a dental assistant, and a full time student at a community college with really good drades. But just confused. Any info is going to be GREATly appreciated =)

THANK YOU 4 TAKING THE TIME!!!

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Specializes in ER.

Please do something else besides nursing. I am not trying to be mean but unless nursing is something you want to do with your whole entire being, you will feel like you made a mistake.

Nursing school is a ton of drama and work. Nursing is hard hard work and plenty of drama too.

Here's to hoping you find what you really are passionate about!

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Specializes in ER.

Stick with being a dental person. Rarely, if ever, will you have to deal with poop. Vomit, maybe more so, but still not often.

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Sounds like nursing may not be for you.

Your comment about finding a CNA to help clean up BM's also bothers me. You are not even a nurse and you are looking for a CNA to do the dirty work. Just saying this because there a RN's out there that think they are to good to perform "CNA" duties when once upon a time that was basic nursing care that the RN's did themselves.

I don't like sputum, but that doesn't mean I can't handle it. I get through it and move on. I would take BM's and vomit over sputum any day.

Also, if you are asking how much you will get paid as a nurse then it probably won't be enough for you. Nurses don't get paid adequately for what they do, at least in my opinion they don't.

Good grades do not equal good nurse.

Not trying to sound harsh at all and I wish you the best.

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If you want to be a dietitian, be a dietitian.

They may make less money, but they have a lot less stress, responsibility and liability and I bet they don't have to work off shifts, evenings or nights, and I bet they don't work holidays either.

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Specializes in Gastroenterology.

While there are nursing roles that do not involve poop and vomit, please choose another profession if you view cleaning up body fluids as too disgusting to deal with or beneath you. Not only will you deal with plenty of poop, vomit and other fluids in nursing school, you cannot be guaranteed of a job that doesn't involve them at the end of the line. Ultimately, nurses must be willing to deal with whatever to takes to keep their patients safe, clean, healthy, and happy and that involves cleaning.

While nursing pay may sound very tempting it is a very physical and fast paced job with many risks to your own health (back injuries, needle sticks, violent patients). We are getting paid well for a reason. The working hours can also be difficult. I am a new grad and like 95% of my classmates will be starting out working 12 hour night shifts 7:30pm - 7:30am. I will be working weekends and holidays regularly. It takes a total passion for nursing to see past this and view it as 'just part of the job.'

If your passion is nutrition then stick with it! Otherwise you might want to consider becoming a physical therapist or radiology technician.

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"How much do get paid? What was your starting? When did you start? Where do you work ( states locations) What are your benefits? How much do you work? Hours and days? What is you day like? Your responsiblities?? Do you like your job? Why? Please no general answers. I answers specific to you. Because I know the "general answers""

Is this a joke?

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Specializes in ICU;ED; ASU.

I have to agree with all of the above. Also, there is a huge trend right now in the diet arena. plant based diet books, movies, etc are exploding all over. It sounds like you could use your talents to create a wonderful career that could net you much more money and freedom than nursing. good luck!

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Please do us all a favor...don't go into nursing. The fact that you would refer to some nurses as "janitors" says that you lack the basic respect for the profession you'll need to be successful and be the kind of nurse patients need when they're at their most vulnerable.

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Please do us all a favor...don't go into nursing. The fact that you would refer to some nurses as "janitors" says that you lack the basic respect for the profession you'll need to be successful and be the kind of nurse patients need when they're at their most vulnerable.

:yeah:

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I agree with the other posts, please dont become a nurse. So many people are becoming nurses because it pays good, but it really doesnt pay all that well. Nurses need to be able to see the gross stuff and deal with a lot of stress on top of that. Do what you want to do, if you become a nurse you will be miserable.

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Do something else!! I am in it and it was the worst decision I've made by far, I agree with the poster who said good grades does not equal good nurse, I am living proof. I went in it bc I thought they got paid good money to work 3 days a week, well those 3 days are awful and I would rather get paid 10 dollars an hour at some repetitive office job, if I didn't have a contract I would do something else entirely

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