Can I REALLY be a nurse?

zoprack · Feb 24, 2006

Hello all,

Well first, I am so glad to have found this forum, it's such a great source of information and it's great have inputs from people who have or going through same experience.

So, here is my deal, I am currently working in the IT business, and am finding, that is a cool hobbie but really not something I enjoy doing 40+hrs/week.

I have been a couple of friends already nurses, and have done some IT consulting at a Medical Center a while back, all the people there were so nice, I really liked the environment, and I was amazed to see nurses working in other positions than clinical ones.

Anyway, so to get to the point, I know I have the heart to become a good nurse, but one thing I am *afraid* is too not be able to get over the icky stuff the profession requires, dealing with nasty stuff and the sight of blood, that I can deal with, but what I am not sure about is the syringe handling when giving a shot, doing stiches, inserting "things" into people, dealing with "messed up" wounds... has anyone here have the same feelings before going into nursing?

Is it "just" more icky and scary than it really is?

Were you guys able to get over those challenges yourself?

I know some friends of mine who are nurses, and knowing them, I am telling myself, if they can deal with that stuff, then so do I. Am I right? :uhoh3:

I would really appreciate comments regarding this subject, because I am about to do a career switch, and as much as I want to do it, I would like to make sure I am being realistic, tell me it is so!

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2006

I think it would be unrealistic for someone to log into your thread and say "Go for it, follow your dream, be a nurse!"

Only you can know if you are a good match for nursing. I'd recommend doing some volunteer work or somehow getting more actual physical exposure and go with your gut instinct. Maybe you can desensitize?

There are however students who have zero health care experience, go to nursing school and gag or vomit, or pass out then just leave. Rare but it does happen.

Of course you could also become a nurse, but not work in a hospital and just make it through the unpleasant parts of nursing school.

What do you think?

allthingsbright · Feb 24, 2006

Hello all,
Well first, I am so glad to have found this forum, it's such a great source of information and it's great have inputs from people who have or going through same experience.
So, here is my deal, I am currently working in the IT business, and am finding, that is a cool hobbie but really not something I enjoy doing 40+hrs/week.
I have been a couple of friends already nurses, and have done some IT consulting at a Medical Center a while back, all the people there were so nice, I really liked the environment, and I was amazed to see nurses working in other positions than clinical ones.
Anyway, so to get to the point, I know I have the heart to become a good nurse, but one thing I am *afraid* is too not be able to get over the icky stuff the profession requires, dealing with nasty stuff and the sight of blood, that I can deal with, but what I am not sure about is the syringe handling when giving a shot, doing stiches, inserting "things" into people, dealing with "messed up" wounds... has anyone here have the same feelings before going into nursing?
Is it "just" more icky and scary than it really is?
Were you guys able to get over those challenges yourself?
I know some friends of mine who are nurses, and knowing them, I am telling myself, if they can deal with that stuff, then so do I. Am I right?
I would really appreciate comments regarding this subject, because I am about to do a career switch, and as much as I want to do it, I would like to make sure I am being realistic, tell me it is so!

Wellllllllll, the reality is, the icky stuff is a BIG part of the job. I personally hate poop, but I am getting used to the fact that everyday is a shi&^% day for a floor nurse-LOL! :roll I plan to go into OB, so I will see my fair share of poop, pee, blood, and every other body fluid known to woman-kind. And yeah, I dont want to discuss it over dinner, but it doesnt phase me too much. We all have our "gag" moments, tho'.

If you know you can get past the gross stuff and look at the person with compassion--that is if you think you can be excellent in spite of the poop, then you can do this thing. But if you have major hang ups around gross stuff then maybe you need to find another profession (and I am talking about people who pass out at the thought of dealing with needle, poo, snot, etc.).

I was worried about the ick factor, too. But the only thing that has made me "see stars" was when my A&P prof pulled the dura mater off a sheep brain with her fingers (she was just a little too cavalier about it)--everything else has been ok including dequbs that go to the bone, gangreened toes, wound packings, poop everywhere and a good measure of vomit thrown in (and yeah, this was all during my 1st semester).

I dont mean to be too graphic :eek: , but these are the facts. GL!

beepeadoo · Feb 24, 2006

I think you'll find if you poke around enough in here, especially in the "general" forum, that there are lots of nurses who have their fair share of issues with fluids, tissues, discharges, excrements, etc., who are very successful nurses.

You know, you're not gonna know for sure until you try it, imho. And I don't think you're gonna know the first time, either. Guess I just mean if, for example, you go to give an injection, and it makes ya queasy, don't pass judgement on it based on that experience alone.

NaomieRN · Feb 24, 2006

Hello

You could be a nurse if that is your desire. You have to also have the heart and patience to deal with different situations.

zoprack · Feb 24, 2006

I think it would be unrealistic for someone to log into your thread and say "Go for it, follow your dream, be a nurse!"
Only you can know if you are a good match for nursing. I'd recommend doing some volunteer work or somehow getting more actual physical exposure and go with your gut instinct. Maybe you can desensitize?
There are however students who have zero health care experience, go to nursing school and gag or vomit, or pass out then just leave. Rare but it does happen.
Of course you could also become a nurse, but not work in a hospital and just make it through the unpleasant parts of nursing school.
What do you think?

ya, i've started sending app/signing up for volunteer opportunities at some medical centers around me.

I hope to do some hospice care volunteer, I think it would give exposure to the emotional side of the work. I've thought of becoming a nurse and maybe not work in a hospital, or maybe not be dealing with patients directly. But having some experience taking care of patient would be nice though, I would be a nurse after all.

Thank you all for you comments. "Desensitize" is the right word, I hope the motivation to become a nurse will be strong enough to get over unpleasant.

Now, I'l cross my fingers, start doing volunteering work and take some prereqs

Fun2, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2006

Hi and welcome to AllNurses.com. :)

I think that volunteer work is a great idea for you right now. You don't have to give up your job, and you can get a 'somewhat' feeling of whether or not the medical "NURSING" field is where you belong, or maybe just "ITing" in the medical field.

Maybe just working in a hospital is what you are looking for.

Hopefully, the volunteering will help answer your question, as only you can truly answer it.

Good luck to you. :)

ya, i've started sending app/signing up for volunteer opportunities at some medical centers around me.
I hope to do some hospice care volunteer, I think it would give exposure to the emotional side of the work. I've thought of becoming a nurse and maybe not work in a hospital, or maybe not be dealing with patients directly. But having some experience taking care of patient would be nice though, I would be a nurse after all.
Thank you all for you comments. "Desensitize" is the right word, I hope the motivation to become a nurse will be strong enough to get over unpleasant.
Now, I'l cross my fingers, start doing volunteering work and take some prereqs

OnTheRoad · Feb 25, 2006

I don't know too many people personally that didn't start out with some fear about how they would handle the "ick" factor. Before I started A&P I was very concerned that I would spend every day gagging (my school uses cadavers for A&P lab). Well when that class started I spent some time gagging right off the bat. I didn't know how I was going to get through this reflex till..... One day I realized that I was looking at a structure with my face and nose but an inch or so away from the cadaver and It wasn't bugging me at all!

I think the majority of people can become less sensitive to ick factors as long as they stick it out. There may be some people who just cannot handle it, but I think those numbers are way smaller than those who can desensitize to it.

kukukajoo, LPN · Feb 26, 2006

The answer is if you want to be a nurse- you definately can!!!!

I have a job waiting for me next summer at a home health company- they do home care stuff but also physicals, shot clinics (flu, hep, pneumo,etc) and physicals at very large companies. There is not a huge ick factor in that!! Plus I am guaranteed a min of $30 an hour and that is only after 1 year of school as I will be eligible to get my LPN after 1st year completion!

kukukajoo, LPN · Feb 26, 2006

Oh, and my background includes IT, database design and implementation, office management and staffing services! Got to be so I dreaded my job and did not find it rewarding and knew something was missing. I always dreamed of being a nurse and I am well on my way now!

APP · Mar 8, 2006

Kulukaju: you are very much like me: I too am in IT and am sick of it. It just does not provide me any satisfaction or feeling of 'purpose'. Many years ago, long before I thought about nursing school, I voluteered at a hpsoital, which was very good experience. If the 'ickies' are what worries you the most, see if you can volunteer in an ER or ICU. I really did not get too much exposure to any grossness on the general medical floor I was in. Hospice volunteering is also a good idea. I had my 'hospice experience' spending the last 5 weeks of my father's life with him when he was dying of prostate cancer... not the route I would recommend!

Many people will tell you that, when facing the 'ickies' in a professional environment, you kick into 'responsibility mode' - doing what needs to be done, and the grossness doesn't get to you. My brother-in-law was corpsman during the vietname war, and had not problem with it, even though he faints at the sight of blood in any other setting!