My Advice for Getting into Nursing School

Don't. Seriously. Don't do it. You are probably a nice person. Maybe you have kids and find nurturing a natural way of life. Maybe you were impressed by a nurse who took care of a family member. Maybe since you were five, you dreamed of becoming nurse Barbie. It doesn't matter because the best way to hate nursing is to become a nurse. Preserve that natural instinct to be nice and don't become a nurse.

I started out as a CNA. I liked what the nurses were doing and decided it was the career for me. I had one B and all A's and had my choice of which nursing program I wanted to enroll in.

Then the professors were rude, overbearing, burnt out, and, I truly believe, hated us all in a way. The girls were confused and started cannabalizing each other. The guys, from day one, were completely demasculinated.

You will hate the medical profession. People will sh-- on you, literally and figuratively. You will stress out over hurting someone, since killing someone is a real risk. You will do long, hard hours, and you will be underpaid. Everyone will dump on you because you are at the bottom of the food chain. Google nurse-bullying and seriously consider if you want this to be a part of your daily life.

Probably the mods won't like this post. I don't blame you, but thiss is the truth. I wish someone had told me the truth, and I would have instead become a radiology technician, dental hygienist, or any other comparable profession that pays well without the risks.

Forget the ADN programs. Reputable hospitals have their choice of nurse applicants in this economy, and they don't want two-year nurses. In fact, many new nurses have to wait six months to a year to find their first job. Remember juicy sign on bonuses? Bid them farewell. I have not heard of a sign on bonus in years.

This is the truth, and nursing is a mean, mean profession. I survived and floated, and now I am stuck. I lost a part of my heart and a piece of my soul along the way.

Peace out,
Asian Stone