Any advice would be appreciated

healingtouchRN · Jul 21, 2003

If you are not shy about hard work, & less pay than computer folks, go for it. I don't know what else I would do. I am sooooo not a desk person, although I spend 1/3 of my shift charting. At least I do it in spurts. I have to be doing something, skills are an artform as well as a science. For instance, I don't do psych for a living but I have a psych patient with dehydration, malnutirtion, & finally admitted to CCU for SVT (probably from the dehydration)...anyhoo, she was scared this morning-she hought I was a cop, & started screaming & crying....I just changed my voice & honored her personal space & stayed with her, got her take her meds & drink a little, was able to wean off the Cardizem, too....it is very interesting to watch someone who fits sooooo many categories (psych, cardiac, medical, probably renal) get better based on your own actions. It's a challenge. I teach critical care as well to senior BSN students at a large university so that is also a way to keep my skills sharp as lancet!!!

Best wishes in your career goals---just remember goals can change. Mine have, but I am still nursing after 15 years.

Mytlibra · Jul 22, 2003

Great advice! Thanks to everyone for posting. I'll be finished in May and I just wanted to be as prepared as I can. I'm taking notes from the information posted so that I'll remember the guidance everyone is giving. Thanks so much. I'm very nervous about entering nursing. I hope there is more good than bad. Thanks again. :roll

TreceRN · Jul 22, 2003

Welcome to the profession, and please don't let those on the message board who continually profess the "horrors" of nursing scare you off. Some people seem to have an insatiable need to blame all of their professional defeats and stuggles at the feet of the "all-evil administration empire" and never look at themselves to question why on earth they go to work every morning (or night) if it makes them so miserable. I think you'll find that there are many incredibly wonderful opportunities to practice your chosen profession in an environment that fosters healing and compassionate care for caregivers as well as patients. I happen to work in one of those places, and while it certainly is not perfect and I have my share of stress and anxiety, I go to work every morning with the belief that today I have an opportunity to make a positive contribution in someone's life. Maybe that seems to idealistic to some of you out there, but that's why I went into nursing and the day that I cannot say that anymore is the day I move on to something else

MandyInMS · Jul 22, 2003

Mytlibra,

Good luck and best wishes :)

Guess the best advice I can think of is to be assertive and always stand up for yourself/your pts when you know you are right...but also be able to admit your shortcomings and be willing to work on them.