Average day in the life of a nurse

[Reese2012]

Hi everyone,

I would like to become a nurse in the future, but before continuing on to nursing school I would like to know what I am getting into .

For all of those nurses out there, can someone explain to me what their shift is like from the time they get there til the time it ends. For those of you that work 12hr shifts, do you prefer that more than 8 hr shifts, are there any differences working longer shifts? Thanks!

[cosmicmama, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm an ER nurse.

On a crazy day, we might be pulling patients previously considered our sickest patients out of our bay area and putting them in to other rooms because we just got a couple of bad traumas right in a row and now they are pretty stable in comparison and we need their beds. .....

I've administered epinephrine, given chest compressions and done post mortem care on babies. I've seen some wicked fractures on x-ray. I frequently have moments where I'm overwhelmed with how much I love what I do.

Been there, done that. Loved it at the time (I was in my '20s), but wouldn't do it again. No way, no how. When you've got to pull your chest pain patient out in the hall because you need his bed for a trauma, then two or three hours go by and you realize that you haven't checked on him because you've been overwhelmed with your new patients....well, let's just say there are lots of "oh sh**" moments. And let's not even mention being charge nurse when all your rooms are full, you've got admissions out in the hall with no rooms to go to, and you get the call that there are 5 people coming in from an MVA. Oh boy, I'm glad you love it and it's you and not me!

[nsgmjr]

dont leave for casemanager job its a joke if they are telling you that its 8-5 m-f more like 8-6,7,8 whenever and dont forget the weekend catch up for paperwork. stay where you are

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Been there, done that. Loved it at the time (I was in my '20s), but wouldn't do it again. No way, no how. When you've got to pull your chest pain patient out in the hall because you need his bed for a trauma, then two or three hours go by and you realize that you haven't checked on him because you've been overwhelmed with your new patients....well, let's just say there are lots of "oh sh**" moments. And let's not even mention being charge nurse when all your rooms are full, you've got admissions out in the hall with no rooms to go to, and you get the call that there are 5 people coming in from an MVA. Oh boy, I'm glad you love it and it's you and not me!

Well, no one's trying to talk you in to anything. That's not what this thread is about.

OP: I think the suggestion to do some job shadowing is a great one, and hopefully the nursing school you go to has a variety of clinical experiences to offer to give you a sense of where your interests lie.

[Hoover986]

This helped me. I'm currently in nursing school trying to decide what I want to do ER nursing was at the top. Reading the narratives of ICU and home care was off putting. I need more flavor and the ER sounds like the place.