Would I be a terrible nurse???

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Okay, Folks, I'm confused as heck.

I'm a CNA. I took the classes, I passed the exams, & I am on the registry. Just like that, I was happy & excited & I landed my first job as a CNA in a nursing home, working every Saturday & Sunday. Only 16 hours a week - you'd think I could handle it. I couldn't. I hated every moment of it with every fiber of my being & I feel TERRIBLE about it. I thought I wanted to be a nurse SO BADLY. The thought of it is still hanging out in the back of my mind, I just can't seem to shake it. I thought the CNA classes were interesting (as interesting as boring classes can be, anyhow) & I really thought this was for me. Like I said - until I started working at the nursing home.

Any words of wisdom anybody could spare would be greatly appreciated!

TIA!

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Ick. Old people are cool...but that doesn't mean nursing homes aren't hell on earth.

The big question you have to keep asking yourself is WHY you want to be a nurse. If you just want to help people, there are a ton of other things you can do. But if you truly want to do the medical thing, help sick people get better, deal with the families, etc. then maybe you're actually doing exactly what you need to do. CNA work and RN work are two COMPLETELY different things, but if you're really on the right track with nursing and you still hate working there, worst case scenario is that LTC nursing isn't for you ;)

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Ick. Old people are cool...but that doesn't mean nursing homes aren't hell on earth.

The big question you have to keep asking yourself is WHY you want to be a nurse. If you just want to help people, there are a ton of other things you can do. But if you truly want to do the medical thing, help sick people get better, deal with the families, etc. then maybe you're actually doing exactly what you need to do. CNA work and RN work are two COMPLETELY different things, but if you're really on the right track with nursing and you still hate working there, worst case scenario is that LTC nursing isn't for you ;)

:yeahthat:

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Its a huge difference of seeing people coming to the end of their life and seeing people getting better...Nursing homes can be depressing,oh definitely yes, in many aspects...physical stress as well as mental stress. I have a friend who just started to work in LTC and basically hates it. Says I quote ' if I would have had to do it all my life, I think I rather work construction:uhoh21: Geriatrics and Pediatrics are I believe extreme units. If you dont have patience to it, dont go for it, pick another unit that will make you more comfortable.

On the sidenote dont ever think you are horrible person just because you havent found your niche.Remember that there are many specialities in nursing career like surgery, doctor office etc..I for an instance wouldnt never wanted to work in ICU, sorry I dont need that stress in my life, but does that mean I will be a bad nurse...well I hope not. Well anyway good luck in completing your pre-requisites...

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

When I was about 18 years old (I am 37 now) I worked an a CNA, and I hated it. I had always wanted to be a nurse, and I still do, but this was totally different then what I wanted.

I worked in a nursing home, and usually had about 12 patients at a time. I started at 7am by changed all the poo-poo, and pee-pee (Oh goody), and strapping them in wheel chairs, and wheeling them to breakfast. I then helped to feed all the patients green goo through a giant syringe, and cleaned the goo as it oozed from the corners of their mouths. Then I wheeled them back to their rooms where I left them strapped in their chairs as I worked through one patient at a time. I took each patient in his turn to the shower stripped them down, lathered them up, sprayed them off, dried them, dressed them, and wheeled them back to their room. When I got back to the room I change the fouled sheets, and put them back in bed. Usually by the time I go to the last patient it was time to start with # 1 again, and start strapping them all in their chairs for the trip back to the lunch room for lunch. After lunch I changed the poo pants, and foul sheets again, and put them all back in bed before going home for the day.

Other then this fun routine all I did was check pulse, temp, and once dug impacted fecal matter from a patients rectum because the nurse didn't want to do it.

I was so busy I never really had a change to deal on a helpful level with anyone. I was doing heavy lifting all day, and dealing with poop, pee, and green goo, and that was my job. It was awful.

It seems like it really has very little to do with real nursing or medical care, but is more about personal care. I would NEVER do it again.

Do not let the fact that you do not like this job change your mind about becoming a nurse. This is not nursing. YUK

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Could'ntbehappier, first of all I wan't to tell you that your inspirational and candid posts over in the cna forum have made me smile many many times, evan if you're just talking about your fears. I know from what I've seen from your personality that you will be an exeptional nurse, you care, your full of energy and you seem to take advantage of every learning eperience.So, keep your chin up, and keep pluggin away towards your nursing goal.

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I think maybe you're putting to much stock into this one experience you were in. Yes, it sucked, but on the bright side it's probably prepared you so that you'll appreciate nursing once you're on the other side of school, or maybe once you're in school period!

Maybe this will help you: http://www.nursingprograms.com/labor-of-love-a-nurses-story. Also, on the same site, they have descriptions of other nursing jobs, like LPN.

Good luck.

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