A high school senior in need of advice :)

bargainhound, RN · Mar 21, 2006

It sounds like you have good idea what you are getting into.....there

is much to learn and many paths that you can take....good luck to you.........but also be sure and check out all your options before you decide.

flasandy42 · Mar 21, 2006

>>>

yes to all of the above. and there will be days where you feel like running away or hiding! :sofahider

sandy.....finally retired after 40 years.

student4ever · Mar 21, 2006

If you already like anatomy, you have a huge head start! Anatomy is the basis of it all! One thing to think about for you... are you ready to commit your entire life for the next 2-4 years (depending on what kind of program you choose) to nursing, nursing, and more nursing? Are you willing to forgo the weekend fun with your friends and the late-night cuddles with a boyfriend to study your anatomy and how to put in a catheter and clean up poop? Are you excited about doing something that will help others feel better, even if it makes everyone you know barf? If so, nursing may be for you! It takes tons of time and effort, sweat and tears, and a lot of emotional stuff when a patient dies or someone doesn't do as well as you expected them to. But it is important that you know what you are getting into, and that the rewards of the job outweigh the negatives. There will be days when you want to pull your hair out, scream, quit, do anything but be a nurse. And there will be days when you don't want to do anything else. It all takes balance. But you seem like a thoughtful, caring young woman with a good head on your shoulders. You will find through your research and what you read on this site so much information that will help you make your decision. Maybe you could ask one of your nurse aunts if you could shaddow them for a day at work, and see what it's really like. Or volunteer at a local hospital. If you keep getting more and more excited about the idea, then nursing just may be for you! Good luck with your decision! Whatever you do, remember that you have so many opportunities at this point in your life, and most will not be wrong. There may be some choices that won't be perfect for the long term, but just because you choose one and change your mind later does not mean you are stuck. I was almost done with college before I realized that I wanted to be a nurse, and I was WAY on the wrong track. There's always time and opportunity to go and do what you love. Find what you love and do it. IF you decide that's nursing, we're glad to have you!

-alice- · Mar 21, 2006

Thanks you guys, This makes me excited :) I cant wait to get into college and go for my goal, I will still keep my options open and just see what happens!

ERNurse752, RN · Mar 21, 2006

Check out a program called Nursing 2000 - it's for high school students who are interested in nursing, and it lets you shadow a nurse for a day.

Also check out volunteering at your local hospital. Anything to give you a first hand experience is good.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2006

Our hospital offers summer volunteer positions for high school students. Look for something like that. Yes, it is stressful, but consider that nurses (in hospitals) deal with stressful situations. It is also a rewarding career and very flexible so you can work in so many different environments. Learn math and science, then go for it!

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2006

You might want to get your CNA to help you decide if Nursing is for you, and if it is It's a good idea to start applying to nursing schools as soon as possible. Many schools have waiting lists.

Good luck! And congratulations, your almost finished with High School :biggringi

LVNK · Mar 21, 2006

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TypicalFish · Mar 22, 2006

I'd just like to know the basics (Ive read things online, but its better to hear from real working nurses). Is it real stressful, is it busy, are you always moving, are you treated well as a nurse by your co-workers and doctors, do you usually get attached to patients... you know all that.

Thanks!

Alice;

I work in a 28 bed adult critical care unit; we see everything from cardiac patients to trauma. I am lucky to work on a unit where there is a team approach; we have a team of intensivists (doctors who specialize in critical, or intensive care medicine) that are in our unit everyday-they rely on the nurses as a part of the treatment team. That means that we don't just do the physical aspect of nursing (bathing, cleaning, turning, assisting patients) we are expected to be critical thinkers-use our knowledge to help the docs create an effective treament plan, and then we implement that plan. It's really great-when I first started working there and a doc would come up and want to discuss a patient's status, treament plan, etc with me, I would be like "why is he talking to me?", now I really enjoy the chance to learn more and feel like I count. Most docs seem to understand now that the nurses spend much more time with the patients than they do; we have a good understanding of how they are doing, reacting to treatment, what they may need, so it is very positive.

Also; as a nurse you can really go anywhere, do anything-be a bedside nurse, giving care; be a nurse educator; go into management; be an O.R. nurse; creat you r own job-there is a huge need for diabetes educators; there are countless specialties, but you always have a job. You're young-try travel nursing and see the country. It a wide-open field, full of choices.

The other side is of course, that it is hard, back-breaking work; and some days you think "I did this on purpose?"; You follow a nurse who might be slightly less tidy or efficient than you are; Your unit is understaffed and overworked-the stress level is through the roof; You have pts that are incontinent "code-brown day"; who are unpleasant; you lose a pt who you fought for; You go home and worry about something you forgot, or did, or didn't do; a family member drives you nuts and then complains about you; you don't get a break all day; but then there are the days where a family member thanks you, sends you a card; you leave know ing that your hard work helped keep the "code brown" pt clean, human and kept their skin from breaking down; a cranky pt is actually glad to see you are back again; an eldery pt holds your hand, you realize that you helped a pt die with dignity and supported their grieving family afterwards. You laugh about not getting a break all day with you co-workers, you go into your rooms to find a co-worker has gotten all the linen and trash bags out, or goes in to that demanding pts room one more time, so you don't have to; someone makes a fresh pot of coffee; you go home feeling like maybe, just maybe, you actually made a difference in someone's life.

-alice- · Mar 23, 2006

I am lucky to work on a unit where there is a team approach; we have a team of intensivists (doctors who specialize in critical, or intensive care medicine) that are in our unit everyday-they rely on the nurses as a part of the treatment team. That means that we don't just do the physical aspect of nursing (bathing, cleaning, turning, assisting patients) we are expected to be critical thinkers-use our knowledge to help the docs create an effective treament plan, and then we implement that plan.

Thats exactly what I'm looking for :) Thank you!

bladensburg,OHrn · Mar 24, 2006

So true are the comments made by TypicalFish! And your questions are indicators as to why we, as nurses need to reach out into our communities and our schools to present the field of nursing as a career choice. I've found that there are too many Alice's out there - with questions, just needing to talk to the real nurses, to shadow, to get a glimpse of what nursing is all about, and where (the many places) nursing can take them. I've heard time and time again that the counselors in the schools are too busy, or are not prepared to offer good academic paths for students showing an interest in nursing. This is a shame, because we need more young people to be interested in our profession. Please visit my thread "Future Nurses Club" in this same forum to discuss what my hospital is doing for the "Alices" in our area. I wish Alice had something like that available, but for sure, shadowing, and volunteering, and perhaps even taking on a summer position as a NA surely would be helpful. Contact your local hospital, or other nursing facilities to see if they have anything available to suit the need you're looking for...they just may have exactly the type of experiences available that you're looking for. There are also usually a lot of "Career Fairs", especially around this time of year (I just did one tonight) - usually put on by hospitals or colleges. You can go there, get a lot of information, and most importantly make those contacts to see if you can shadow, volunteer, etc. Nurses are generally very embracing people, AND there is a shortage - we need you. Keep your eyes and ears open, and good luck to you in the choices you make.