A couple of months ago (before I started school) everyone was asking me what I wanted to do for a living. Several people had the same response. "Just a nurse? You're not going to go to medical school?" I thought that I was over it but at times I can still hear them saying it... "JUST a nurse." I think nursing is the most noble profession there is, and it really gets me that some people don't see that for themselves or at least appreciate that that is my view of nursing.
Has anyone ever said similar things to any of you? If so, how did you explain your decision to them? How did you get over their comments? It blows my mind that some people are so unsupportive of this! I don't think anyone understands why I want to do this because nurses don't make that much money. That's not why I want to be a nurse! I want to be able to comfort and care for people when they need it most. Money is just not that important to me! My sister is in law school with ambitions of becoming a corporate lawyer (not that there's anything wrong with that) but I feel like she gets more support because her future profession is more lucrative.
Ugh... sorry. Just venting. I just don't get it though...
That's exactly my plan as well! CST to CFA. We're just taking two different roads to the same destination!
Oh, and I know that not all OR nurses circulate only, but reading the OR forum I can see that many RNs want to scrub but can't because the hospital wants to use the STs because they cost less. Of course, every place is different, but that seems to be a common complaint.
Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
Hey Serendipity,
I'm with others here...don't let it get to you. We all do things for our own reasons. My brother is an attorney, and that works wonderful for him. But I chose to become a paramedic because like you, I enjoy helping others when they need help the most. I enjoy making a difference in the lives of others. Something my brother in law, who makes a living as a salesman, can't say.
Just let it go, you're going to be a nurse. You're assessment skills and compassion are going to be used to save lives, to make lives better. In my mind there's not much better than that. Sure, we're not going to cure cancer..but you know what? We're going to give our patients the best care we can when they're dealing with their cancer.
Don't waste time worrying about what others think. Work to please yourself, because in the end YOU are the only one you have to answer to.
I'm probably not the best one to answer this, because I'm currently struggling whether "just nursing" will be enough for me. Although, I've dreamed of being a surgeon for as long as I can remember...However, it's COMPLETELY inappropriate for ANYONE to be treating you like this. Nursing has done a complete 180 in the past decade, it's no longer the quick in and out profession of those who couldn't get into a "real college" as it has been perceived in the past. It's increasingly science based instead of "feelings based" and while good listening and compassion certainly remain integral parts of the profession, intense anatomical, pharamacological and general scientific knowledge is becoming necessary...
Anyone who wants to call you "just a nurse," should spend some time in an ACTUAL hospital instead of the ones they see on TV...And you get kudos for biting your tongue and not telling them where to stick it.
LOL I get the same thing but reversed...I am starting a surgical tech program, and all the pre-nursing students in my Biology and Math classes want to know why I want to be "just a tech" and not a nurse!!!
Again, totally different job! I don't want to be a circulating nurse in the OR, I want to scrub in during the surgery!
AT first, I felt as though I had to justify my choice to them, but I made my choice an I am proud of it. People are funny. Just let it go.
Not knocking your choice, but I have to second the notion, at least in my area, it's MUCH easier to secure a job as a first assist in the corporate hospitals as an RN or PA than as a scrub tech...You have to be the one who'd happy with your decision, and you should be proud of all of your hard work, I just wanted to clarify that there are a lot of RN First Assists, and that at least around here, it's more likely that first assists are RNs or PAs than scrub techs.
Well, that's kinda the plan. 2yr ST degree, then work on CFA cert and BS in Biology while I work, then PA school. I live close to a very good medical university with a PA program. The other choice would be CST-RN-NP. (at my school, the only dif between ST and 2yr RN is the core classes and A&PII) It's too early for me to commit to one or the other yet.
I've thought this out with the advice of many professionals whom I trust; thanks for the advice, and I can see the logic from your point of view.
I'd far rather be a nurse than asking "Would you like fries with that?" Be proud of your decision. Nursing is not for the faint of heart and those that question it don't understand it. Proud of you for your decision!
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HeatherB,CST
243 Posts
That's exactly my plan as well! CST to CFA. We're just taking two different roads to the same destination!
Oh, and I know that not all OR nurses circulate only, but reading the OR forum I can see that many RNs want to scrub but can't because the hospital wants to use the STs because they cost less. Of course, every place is different, but that seems to be a common complaint.
Good luck to you, too!