Advice for 22 yo male in nursing

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I am currently in nursing school and a lot of what we have done so far is CNA related jobs. This is not what I envisioned my school or career in nursing being like. Does it change as we get farther into school? I would love to work in the ER. I have also taken EMT training which was very interesting and doesn't parallel anything in nursing school thus far. Any advice you could give me to help me decide my future would be appreciated.

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EMT assessments relate to nursing. CPR codes are the same. Talking with people / families / patients are the same. Lots of EMS relates to nursing. Yes first part of clinical is CNA stuff while they gradually increase your responbility with nursing.

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At my nursing school, nearly everyone started off with nursing home (LTC) clinical rotations. By the time second semester came around, I think we were all on a basic Med-Surg floor, and we got to go on progressively different and challenging units as time went by (oncology, pediatrics, maternal/newborn, renal, cardiovascular...). I would advise you to stick with this. If you want to eventually work in the ER, just hang on and get through school. I know it can be dissapointing when you have your heart set on another area, but take what you can from every experience that you get in school. It may not always directly apply, but a lot of the experiences can still prepare you for what's to come later on! Also, I would advise you to seek out *Part Time/ PRN* employment in an ER (as a tech or helper or any kind) so that you can network with the drs. and hiring managers in that department while you are still in school. They can give you advice &/or help on getting your 1st job in the ER:)

It's hardest getting through school, just bc you are breaking through your previous assumptions and romanticism of nursing, and plus all of the NEW life-death info being thrown your way at once. Keep your eye on the prize & Don't give up!

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Specializes in tbi.

As others has said, as you move through nursing school the skill set and job duties will change. When you become a nurse please remember how hard a cna's job is and treat them right.

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I'm a 22yo male and i started working in a pediatric ER a few months ago as an RN. It's a lot of fun and takes a lot of knowledge and experience! We get all types of patients: level 1 traumas, patients who walk in and code while walking through the metal detectors, broken bones, severe asthmatics, and sometimes just a runny nose. On all types of patients the nurse has to react to the situation and follow protocols set in place. So if you are thinking that being in an RN role in the ER is comparable to LTC nursing, the two fields cannot parallel. Both areas of nursing require planning and skill set, but both are on a completely different spectrum when it comes to patient care.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

EMT training and experience are what got me through nursing school.

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