A few questions for RNs and ANRP

[Leigne]

Hi all,

I am currently a pre-nursing student taking a couple of preliminary classes before beginning nursing school this fall. One of the classes I'm currently taking deals with the history and issues that nurses have faced as well as ethical, legal, and other contemporary issues. One of the things we were asked is to interview current Registered Nurses or Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners in order to learn from their experiences and get a better sense of what nursing is all about.

Below is a list of questions I hope to get your input on. It's 20 questions so it's a bit long; but know your answers will help not only me, but other nursing students so they'll be greatly appreciated.

Please avoid posting any personally identifiable information and use an alias or nick name instead, such as "Nurse Jane."

1. What is your gender, age, and ethnicity?

2. How long have you been a nurse?

3. What is your educational preparation in nursing?

4. Do you have any specialty certifications?

5. Do you belong to any professional nursing organizations?

6. What type of setting (e.g., pediatrics, Intensive Care, community health, medical-surgical) do you practice in?

7. What other type of settings have you practiced in?

8. Which setting has been your favorite and why?

9. Why did you become a nurse?

10. What do you believe are the advantages to choosing a career in nursing?

11. What do you believe are the disadvantages to choosing a career in nursing?

12. How has nursing changed since you became a nurse?

13. What are your professional goals for the next five years?

14. What are the most important issues facing the nursing profession right now?

15. Describe an incident in your nursing career that caused you question your decision to become a nurse.

16. Describe an incident in your nursing career that provided you with the most professional and/or personal gratification.

17. What is it nurses do that is different from everyone else?

18. Describe what Nursing means to you and why you decided to pursue a career in Nursing.

19. Describe any personal experiences and/or characteristics which you believe make you a better nurse.

20. How do you see yourself impacting your community and/or the nursing profession?

Thank you! I look forward to hearing your stories.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

We get these requests a lot, so if there are any other students out there who might get this kind of assignment, listen up:

Part of your faculty's reason for giving you this assignment is to get you to go out there and speak to an RN face to face. A big email blast is not a substitute for shoe leather. AN is not Google.

See, in nursing, you have to learn to speak to a lot of people you would not otherwise encounter; you might find yourself out of your comfort zone. This is part of nursing, a huge part. An anonymous respondent online, well, you don't really know who we are, do you? We could be the truck driving guy living next door for all you know.

So if all you do about learning new things is "Go to the keyboard and hit send," then you are limiting your chances of actual learning a valuable skill you will need all your working life. Also, your faculty will not be impressed by your citation of an anonymous nurse on the internet.

That said: Where will you find a nurse? Think outside the (computer) box.

Local hospital: go to the staff development/inservice education office and ask one of them. They value education and will be happy to chat or to hook you up with someone who is.

Go to the public health department downtown. Ditto.

Go to the local school and ask to speak to a school nurse. Ditto.

Go to a local clinic / physician/NP office. Ditto.

Go to the local jail and ask to speak to the nurse there. Ditto.

Notice all of these say, "Go to..." and not "Email..." Remember that part about meeting new people face to face and comfort zone.

Go!

[Roseyposey]

If you really want to learn from this assignment, you need to actually speak to a nurse, not post a question to an anonymous on-line forum. First of all, you don't know for sure that the person answering is really a nurse. I am sure that there are, unfortunately, people here who are acting like they are nurses in order to feel like they fit in somewhere. Also, personally, I will not answer these questions because they may tip off a coworker as to my identity. I am very careful in what I discuss, but.... Finally, if you do not have any nurses in your life to who are willing to answer these questions, you should probably spend some time shadowing a nurse - both to answer your questions and to show you what nursing is all about before you invest time and money in this education. Nursing is not a profession to go into blindly, and I suspect that is the purpose of this assignment.

Though I sound like a big grouch, if I knew you personally, I would gladly bring you into my working environment and answer your questions! I have no doubt that you will be able to find someone to work with you on this assignment.

[chrisrn24]

I highly doubt any of us are truck drivers or fake nurses, that should not be used as a reason to not help. But I do agree that you should go and find a nurse, unless per your assignment you are allowed to go on a chat room.

OP a great place to find a nurse is your colleges health services!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I highly doubt any of us are truck drivers or fake nurses, that should not be used as a reason to not help. But I do agree that you should go and find a nurse, unless per your assignment you are allowed to go on a chat room.

OP a great place to find a nurse is your colleges health services!

I think you would be very surprised that there maybe many who are not who they seem. The issue is.....for a school assignment.....an assignment that requires a nurse.....how do you know who you are speaking to on an anonymous public forum.

OP! Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!

Here is the deal......the interview process is a valuable skill in the nursing world. every time you admit and interact with the patient you are assessing them and their needs......you are interviewing them about their wants and needs. You are asking them very personal questions within seconds of you initial meeting and are asking them to answer things about themselves that they haven't even shared with their spouse/partner.

You need to get comfortable with leaving your comfort zone. You need to get comfortable in uncomfortable situations....for you will have plenty of them.

Check with your local schools for the school nurse. Try your PCP. Your OB. Cal your local health department/senior services there are RN's there.....Try a local CVS minute clinic....there are nurses there. Try the local red cross blood drive. There are many options.

I wish you the best on your nursing journey.