Aspiring Nurse

sailornurse · Apr 1, 2016

I am officially closing this discussion and I no longer want to be a nurse, thanks for the input guys.

In the span of about 12 hours you went from wanting to be a nurse to not wanting to be a nurse after about ten strangers gave you some honest feedback at your request. Nurses have to be able to evaluate information, process it and make decisions based on the information. Career choices should not be made so suddenly. Take time to evaluate this information and do a search on this forum, go to the nursing student forum and ask them.

jkoulakani · Apr 1, 2016

If you are so sensitive to be offended by this relatively gentle, straightforward info, you'll never make it as a nurse. Sorry to say. You asked for information, you got it. I'm not sure why you're so upset.

Well I can't change my major that easily so ill probably tough it out but from the feedback i've received (with the exception of a few) it seems as if nursing seems miserable. I'm not offended and I'm fully aware that I've asked a question to receive truthful answers. thanks though

sailornurse · Apr 1, 2016

Well I can't change my major that easily so ill probably tough it out but from the feedback i've received (with the exception of a few) it seems as if nursing seems miserable. I'm not offended and I'm fully aware that I've asked a question to receive truthful answers. thanks though

Actually nursing is a wonderful career choice for most of us on this forum, or we would not be doing it. I am about to start 40 years as a nurse, starting when I was about your age.

Hello! I'm currently 18 years old and I will be attending a 4 year university this fall. My major is microbiology, I picked that because the nursing major is SUPER impacted and I didn't want it to hamper my chances of being admitted. :)

You have not even started college yet you say it is too hard to change your major? You say microbiology is your major, not nursing. The reason for choosing microbiology makes no sense at all.

It is not hard at all to change majors, just need to fill out the forms. FYI, most college students change major 3 times before settling on one.

So what do you mean about not wanting to hamper your chances of being admitted to nursing? Are you giving up before you even started?

And

With that being said, I heard nursing can be extremely challenging and nurses like to "eat their young" when on the job and it makes me anxious to hear nurses can be bullies.

These 2 comments (NETY) & bullying are definite turnoffs for me, especially when I here it in the first post by a new member to AN. You have no idea what these phrases mean.

Politics exist in all professions & in types of jobs, not just nursing.

joe a. · Apr 1, 2016

On the contrary, she is being quite real. In ny view, another unemployed nurse hurts the profession. I want to encourage exploration. Age is a factor as well, not years, mental age.

jkoulakani · Apr 1, 2016

Actually nursing is a wonderful career choice for most of us on this forum, or we would not be doing it. I am about to start 40 years as a nurse, starting when I was about your age.
You have not even started college yet you say it is too hard to change your major? You say microbiology is your major, not nursing. The reason for choosing microbiology makes no sense at all.
It is not hard at all to change majors, just need to fill out the forms. FYI, most college students change major 3 times before settling on one.
So what do you mean about not wanting to hamper your chances of being admitted to nursing? Are you giving up before you even started?
And
These 2 comments (NETY) & bullying are definite turnoffs for me, especially when I here it in the first post by a new member to AN. You have no idea what these phrases mean.
Politics exist in all professions & in types of jobs, not just nursing.

I'm aware college students change their majors quit often, thanks. My counselor who I have been communicating with via email has told me changing majors ESPECIALLY in the sciences and nursing can be competitive and hard. I have already been admitted to the school I'm not waiting to hear back. So no it is not just a matter of filling out a few papers. Im aware I haven't started college yet but my reason for choosing microbiology makes complete sense. I looked up the GPA's as well as SAT scores needed for newly admitted freshmen to the university for nursing and I decided, with the help of my counselor applying as a biology major was a much wiser choice. I could be admitted to the university I love and explore my options to see if nursing is right for me. As for the bullying, I read on various sites that, that is what happens. Even a real nurse guest speaker who came into one of my classes last year told me nurses can be rude and give each other a hard time. So its not crazy for me to think that is it? I'm not saying that is for sure how it is, I'm sure all hospitals are different. I was simply saying it in a way to see if its true. I may not know what these phrases mean, but you also don't know everything about majors and how difficult many are to transfer into. All universities are different and many can be extremely competitive. The fact that you are taking offense to it is your problem and nobody is forcing you to look or answer my question. You can comment on nursing and helpful tips for that because that is your profession and I'm sure you do a great job at it with all your years of experience. I appreciate everyone's input and I've never meant to come off rude.

joe a. · Apr 1, 2016

Strange? In what way. Nursing is a helping profession, but not because we help patients. We help promote well being. Volunteers are helpers. Nurses want compensation. And we should be paid, and paid well. I guess in a way we help, but it isn't a given that patients "want" help. Giving it real is empowering.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Apr 1, 2016

I'm aware college students change their majors quit often, thanks. My counselor who I have been communicating with via email has told me changing majors ESPECIALLY in the sciences and nursing can be competitive and hard. I have already been admitted to the school I'm not waiting to hear back. So no it is not just a matter of filling out a few papers. Im aware I haven't started college yet but my reason for choosing microbiology makes complete sense. I looked up the GPA's as well as SAT scores needed for newly admitted freshmen to the university for nursing and I decided, with the help of my counselor applying as a biology major was a much wiser choice. I could be admitted to the university I love and explore my options to see if nursing is right for me. As for the bullying, I read on various sites that, that is what happens. Even a real nurse guest speaker who came into one of my classes last year told me nurses can be rude and give each other a hard time. So its not crazy for me to think that is it? I'm not saying that is for sure how it is, I'm sure all hospitals are different. I was simply saying it in a way to see if its true. I may not know what these phrases mean, but you also don't know everything about majors and how difficult many are to transfer into. All universities are different and many can be extremely competitive. The fact that you are taking offense to it is your problem and nobody is forcing you to look or answer my question. You can comment on nursing and helpful tips for that because that is your profession and I'm sure you do a great job at it with all your years of experience. I appreciate everyone's input and I've never meant to come off rude.

People bully people in every job, it's not specialized to just nursing. My mom has had to put up with it & my husband has had to put up with it & they aren't in nursing. There are bullies wherever you look in life. As far as the NETY garbage, that's all it is. Another way for people to say they were bullied, if they even were.

lindsayt05 · Apr 1, 2016

I'm aware college students change their majors quit often, thanks. My counselor who I have been communicating with via email has told me changing majors ESPECIALLY in the sciences and nursing can be competitive and hard. I have already been admitted to the school I'm not waiting to hear back. So no it is not just a matter of filling out a few papers. Im aware I haven't started college yet but my reason for choosing microbiology makes complete sense. I looked up the GPA's as well as SAT scores needed for newly admitted freshmen to the university for nursing and I decided, with the help of my counselor applying as a biology major was a much wiser choice. I could be admitted to the university I love and explore my options to see if nursing is right for me. As for the bullying, I read on various sites that, that is what happens. Even a real nurse guest speaker who came into one of my classes last year told me nurses can be rude and give each other a hard time. So its not crazy for me to think that is it? I'm not saying that is for sure how it is, I'm sure all hospitals are different. I was simply saying it in a way to see if its true. I may not know what these phrases mean, but you also don't know everything about majors and how difficult many are to transfer into. All universities are different and many can be extremely competitive. The fact that you are taking offense to it is your problem and nobody is forcing you to look or answer my question. You can comment on nursing and helpful tips for that because that is your profession and I'm sure you do a great job at it with all your years of experience. I appreciate everyone's input and I've never meant to come off rude.

Sorry but I'm confused. Is your plan to major in microbiology and then switch to nursing, or get a BS in microbiology and a second degree in nursing (BSN)? I'm not sure what the curriculum is at other places, but the ADN I'm looking into only has a handful of science classes, (only one microbiology class I think), some general pre-reqs, but most of the courses are specific to nursing-they wouldn't transfer over to each other. I could understand microbiology if you were planning to go to medical school or something, but I also don't understand why you would go down that path for nursing. Counselors don't always know what they're talking about either. Is your counselor a nurse? Your university is for profit I assume? If they can't get you into the program you want, they'll direct you to something else and still get their money.

jkoulakani · Apr 1, 2016

Sorry but I'm confused. Is your plan to major in microbiology and then switch to nursing, or get a BS in microbiology and a second degree in nursing (BSN)? I'm not sure what the curriculum is at other places, but the ADN I'm looking into only has a handful of science classes, (only one microbiology class I think), some general pre-reqs, but most of the courses are specific to nursing-they wouldn't transfer over to each other. I could understand microbiology if you were planning to go to medical school or something, but I also don't understand why you would go down that path for nursing. Counselors don't always know what they're talking about either. Is your counselor a nurse? Your university is for profit I assume? If they can't get you into the program you want, they'll direct you to something else and still get their money.

I was simply going to major in microbiology and then transfer into nursing. It is a lot easier to transfer if the majors are relevant to one another. Like for example it would be a lot more difficult for a communications major to transfer into nursing. I'm really new to this so I'm kinda just learning as I go along. No my counselor is not a nurse she is simply giving me the knowledge she has about major changes because that is her area of expertise.

Shanty3710 · Apr 1, 2016

Well I guess "abundance of jobs" is the wrong phrase, i've just been told hospitals ALWAYS need nurses and nursing is a job of demand. However thats not the point of this, nobody really answered any of my questions, instead I feel a bit discouraged.
And truthfully, I do want to pursue this job because I like helping people but I'm also hoping for a profession where I can find a job soon after school and the program so I can pay off my student loans, I have an extremely supportive family but we are by no means well off and I know I need to take care of myself immediately after school. I also want to make a positive impact on people's lives and I know nurses have the opportunity to do that, the way you help a sick patient can really make long lasting effects on them. I know nursing can be very challenging and often nurses do A LOT more than people think. Doctors make the diagnosis but nurses really are those who do most if not all the treatment. I'm aware of the difficulties I just wanna get an idea of how the classes for this course are and whether the extra work for a BSN is worth it.

For what it's worth, take what people say here with a grain of salt. I think firsthand experience, shadowing where you can by volunteering, and reaching out to actual nurses that you can talk to and bounce ideas off of in-person will prove to be invaluable. As you've said, you've received more discouraging and crude comments than helpful ones. With that being said, I wouldn't exactly use them as primary sources to deter you from your goals. But as someone who has received 2 previous Bachelors in different, and is just now starting my nursing journey, I think you are taking a wise step in reaching out! Definitely keep asking more questions, you need to research more so that you can corroborate some of the comments that have just been thrown there (i.e. There is a nursing shortage), and you need to speak in person to a variety of nurses, and lastly get out there. Get exposure. See what you can. Saying that you want to help people, and that that is why you want to do nursing, is neither a cop-out nor inherently naive answer. I think your heart is in the right place, but you Do need to educate yourself in those ways I stated above in order to make the wisest decision for yourself. Don't let others discourage you, just make an informed decision. Best of luck to you!

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Apr 1, 2016

For what it's worth, take what people say here with a grain of salt. I think firsthand experience, shadowing where you can by volunteering, and reaching out to actual nurses that you can talk to and bounce ideas off of in-person will prove to be invaluable. As you've said, you've received more discouraging and crude comments than helpful ones. With that being said, I wouldn't exactly use them as primary sources to deter you from your goals. But as someone who has received 2 previous Bachelors in different, and is just now starting my nursing journey, I think you are taking a wise step in reaching out! Definitely keep asking more questions, you need to research more so that you can corroborate some of the comments that have just been thrown there (i.e. There is a nursing shortage), and you need to speak in person to a variety of nurses, and lastly get out there. Get exposure. See what you can. Saying that you want to help people, and that that is why you want to do nursing, is neither a cop-out nor inherently naive answer. I think your heart is in the right place, but you Do need to educate yourself in those ways I stated above in order to make the wisest decision for yourself. Don't let others discourage you, just make an informed decision. Best of luck to you!

She didn't receive disparaging comments, she received realistic ones. Is there a nursing shortage? No. Not for newly licensed nurses there isn't. Do nurses get bullied? Yes. But so do people in every other type of work. It's not just specialized to nursing.

jkoulakani · Apr 1, 2016

For what it's worth, take what people say here with a grain of salt. I think firsthand experience, shadowing where you can by volunteering, and reaching out to actual nurses that you can talk to and bounce ideas off of in-person will prove to be invaluable. As you've said, you've received more discouraging and crude comments than helpful ones. With that being said, I wouldn't exactly use them as primary sources to deter you from your goals. But as someone who has received 2 previous Bachelors in different, and is just now starting my nursing journey, I think you are taking a wise step in reaching out! Definitely keep asking more questions, you need to research more so that you can corroborate some of the comments that have just been thrown there (i.e. There is a nursing shortage), and you need to speak in person to a variety of nurses, and lastly get out there. Get exposure. See what you can. Saying that you want to help people, and that that is why you want to do nursing, is neither a cop-out nor inherently naive answer. I think your heart is in the right place, but you Do need to educate yourself in those ways I stated above in order to make the wisest decision for yourself. Don't let others discourage you, just make an informed decision. Best of luck to you!

Thank you so much!! By far the most helpful answer, this is exactly why I posted this question. I think shadowing would be a wise choice. I have a great local hospital here with many shadowing opportunities, I appreciate the feedback. Again thank you!