Currently, I am an LPN student doing my geriatric clinical rotation. Boy, oh boy, was the first day tough. I'm 21 years old with no previous medical experience. It was just a hectic day because I was so scared to hurt a resident. Now, I'm a couple weeks into my clinical, and I feel like an old pro. Now, there are things that I am witnessing in the nursing home that truly makes me just want to vomit (I'm referring to elder abuse). I have seen the CNA's, the LPN's, and even the charge Nurse treat the residents like complete crap. In one of the eating rooms, all the CNA's are talking loudly about who is in jail, who's baby daddy is doing what, and just laughing like hyenas while the residents are trying to enjoy a peaceful meal. Also, they sit around and just talk to each other about how annoying the students are and how they are always in the way. I'm curious how I'm in the way when they do nothing but sit and gab all day while I'm trying to be superwoman and answer the call lights (the nurses don't even acknowledge the call lights and they let residents scream for help all day long).
I know this may not be everywhere, but this is what I am seeing at the nursing home where we have our clinicals. Our clinical instructors notice it too but she says there is nothing she can really do about it.
My resident that I am assigned to, I adore her! I am so scared and terrified, that it keeps me up all night, that when I leave what is going to happen her. She is so kind to me and tells me that I am the nicest person she has ever met. At this very moment, I am worrying and just wanting to cry because I don't want anyone to be mean to her.
People have told me that I'm way too emotional to be a nurse; can you actually be? Everyone keeps telling me to get out of it because I won't last and it will only hurt me in the long run. There is nothing I want to do more than Nursing. I actually only got into it for the money and a program was available (frankly, it was just convenient at that moment in time) but I am noticing that this is something I actually want to pursue and further my education in. I truly believe this is what I was meant to do it. Hey, we all have to go through trials and errors to find our purpose in life.
So, from your experience, can one be too emotional for nursing?