Career Advice for Potential Nurse

Nurses Career Support

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I have been a reading this board for months and finally decided to join today. I need some advice. I have been accepted into an RN program at my local community college starting in Sep. I have an undergrad degree in Environmental Science (though I'd like to teach until I had kids of my own), and an AS in Human Resource Management, and I am a veteran of the USAF. I love working with people and their families. While in the military I worked in assignments and helped relocate military members and their families. It was my favorite job. I have been working the past ten years as an office manager for the family business. I though it would only be for a few years while my kids (6&10) were young - ten years later. It is flexible with little stress, but so unrewarding and boring. I decided I wanted to change jobs, started looking, and absolutely nothing appealed to me. I applied to nursing school on the advice of a friend. I'm just not sure its for me. I love people, but also have to look the other way when I have blood drawn and have been known to get woosy at the sight of a needle. However, the military taught me that we all have the strength to get past most things. I just don't want to put my family in debt, neglect my children, and spend the next two years studying - only to find out I'm miserable as a nurse. However, the more I thing about nursing, the more I think it might fill a void currently in my life. I am living the middle class dream, but really not making a difference. On the other hand, my experience in the military has given me little patience with winers. How do you feel bad for the overweight smoker who needs to be on oxygen. I also don't know about spending two years in school, only to spend nights and holidays away from my children. I should note the husband is a firefighter EMT, works a strange schedule, but supports whatever I decide. Any advice on making this decision would be helpful. I need to withdraw from the program soon, if I do, they have hundreds on the waiting list.

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You really don't sound at all like you should be a nurse :o . It can be very hard work, and very demanding. Plus you very well may have to work a weekend or holiday, but it depends on where you work. For example, if you were a school nurse at your childrens school, then you wouldn't have to see so much blood, just the typical poo, vomit, a broken bone...penetrating through the skin, or depending on where you live a pregnant 10 year old going into labor. Nevertheless it wouldn't be as harsh as the scene at the hospital.

ANother thing, you have to love people and have compassion for them-NO MATTER WHAT.

That goes for the overweight, oxygen tank carrying, smoker; the anxiety ridden, Zoloft poppin', coffee/cocaine user; and the ER VIP alcoholics, crying because they are being forced their usual shake of "coal. "

And, You will see far more than just blood, try mixing in a little fecal matter, perhaps loose pieces of body tissue, mucous and vomit-then see how you feel. This is what nursing involves. You have to be able to understand that the human body is a mixture of all kinds of liquids, and guey stuff. Blood is actually the least of yuckiest things you'll see.

If you are thinking about going into nursing for money, please don't, I have yet to see this turn out good for patients, or the coworkers of people who do so.

Only become a nurse if you love people :p , ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE :stone , if you are compassionate :p , and love to serve people :p -b/c as a nurse you are serving people. Yes, nursing is very rewarding, BUT, only if you love people. Otherwise, you will be a bad nurse :angryfire , and miserable :crying2: , and you will make everyone around you miserable.

I wish you luck in deciding :p

I have been a reading this board for months and finally decided to join today. I need some advice. I have been accepted into an RN program at my local community college starting in Sep. I have an undergrad degree in Environmental Science (though I'd like to teach until I had kids of my own), and an AS in Human Resource Management, and I am a veteran of the USAF. I love working with people and their families. While in the military I worked in assignments and helped relocate military members and their families. It was my favorite job. I have been working the past ten years as an office manager for the family business. I though it would only be for a few years while my kids (6&10) were young - ten years later. It is flexible with little stress, but so unrewarding and boring. I decided I wanted to change jobs, started looking, and absolutely nothing appealed to me. I applied to nursing school on the advice of a friend. I'm just not sure its for me. I love people, but also have to look the other way when I have blood drawn and have been known to get woosy at the sight of a needle. However, the military taught me that we all have the strength to get past most things. I just don't want to put my family in debt, neglect my children, and spend the next two years studying - only to find out I'm miserable as a nurse. However, the more I thing about nursing, the more I think it might fill a void currently in my life. I am living the middle class dream, but really not making a difference. On the other hand, my experience in the military has given me little patience with winers. How do you feel bad for the overweight smoker who needs to be on oxygen. I also don't know about spending two years in school, only to spend nights and holidays away from my children. I should note the husband is a firefighter EMT, works a strange schedule, but supports whatever I decide. Any advice on making this decision would be helpful. I need to withdraw from the program soon, if I do, they have hundreds on the waiting list.
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Thank you for the honesty of your reply.

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Your welcome.

Good luck :)

Thank you for the honesty of your reply.
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Your welcome.

Good luck :)

Oh my goodness, I just read your public profile, thinking that maybe you had been a nurse for quite a while. I see that you are still a student. I am not trying to be harsh, & while your post does have some accurate information, do you think that maybe YOU should reconsider nursing?

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I have been a reading this board for months and finally decided to join today. I need some advice. I have been accepted into an RN program at my local community college starting in Sep. I have an undergrad degree in Environmental Science (though I'd like to teach until I had kids of my own), and an AS in Human Resource Management, and I am a veteran of the USAF. I love working with people and their families. While in the military I worked in assignments and helped relocate military members and their families. It was my favorite job. I have been working the past ten years as an office manager for the family business. I though it would only be for a few years while my kids (6&10) were young - ten years later. It is flexible with little stress, but so unrewarding and boring. I decided I wanted to change jobs, started looking, and absolutely nothing appealed to me. I applied to nursing school on the advice of a friend. I'm just not sure its for me. I love people, but also have to look the other way when I have blood drawn and have been known to get woosy at the sight of a needle. However, the military taught me that we all have the strength to get past most things. I just don't want to put my family in debt, neglect my children, and spend the next two years studying - only to find out I'm miserable as a nurse. However, the more I thing about nursing, the more I think it might fill a void currently in my life. I am living the middle class dream, but really not making a difference. On the other hand, my experience in the military has given me little patience with winers. How do you feel bad for the overweight smoker who needs to be on oxygen. I also don't know about spending two years in school, only to spend nights and holidays away from my children. I should note the husband is a firefighter EMT, works a strange schedule, but supports whatever I decide. Any advice on making this decision would be helpful. I need to withdraw from the program soon, if I do, they have hundreds on the waiting list.

I am not going to go extreme & say that it sounds like you shouldn't be a nurse. I had a classmate who almost passed out at the sight of a needle. I often wondered why she was becoming a nurse if she could not stand needles. She made it though. Most of the nurses that I meet have something that makes them almost ill. For me, it's suctioning a patient & flaky skin (that floats all over when you're changing bed linens)!!!

As far as patients who smoke & need O2, etc. Well, to me, that's just the nature of the beast. Sure it's frustrating, but all we can do is continue to teach & take care of them. You are not the only person that I have encountered who feels that way. I have met nurses who get frustrated with their patients--but nevertheless, they are EXCELLENT nurses & take EXCELLENT care of their patients! Some of them just deal with it by venting later to other nurses :). I certainly would not change my career choice based on those reasons. I agree with the person who mentioned about shadowing a nurse, but keep an open mind & know that even if that particular unit is not for you, there are other areas. When I was a student, I worked on a CRAZY medical-surgical unit. I usually dreaded going in. Then I transferred to an Intermediate Care Unit & LOVED it!!! I can honestly say that if nursing was only Med. Surg., I definitely would not be a nurse! Luckily, I have choices, & you will too. Good luck.

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Pie123

Thank you. NurseLeeLee's response reminded me of the "tough talk" of the Training Instructors in basic training. They were always trying to scare the ** out of us. I should have checked the public profile.

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In reading your post, I think you voiced your own decision. You are going to school in the Fall to study nursing. You did not say which level of education, but it is an RN. You are bored at your current situation. Nursing is NEVER boring. Sounds like you have the skills to overcome some squimishness over the blood thing. As a nurse, you will learn a certain level of detachment that will help carry you through the less glamorous parts of the "job". Human excrement of all types. Personally, I hate sputum. But -- I am a critical care nurse and must deal with that on an hourly basis. Best of luck. Keep us posted about your progress as a student.

BornRN

I have been a reading this board for months and finally decided to join today. I need some advice. I have been accepted into an RN program at my local community college starting in Sep. I have an undergrad degree in Environmental Science (though I'd like to teach until I had kids of my own), and an AS in Human Resource Management, and I am a veteran of the USAF. I love working with people and their families. While in the military I worked in assignments and helped relocate military members and their families. It was my favorite job. I have been working the past ten years as an office manager for the family business. I though it would only be for a few years while my kids (6&10) were young - ten years later. It is flexible with little stress, but so unrewarding and boring. I decided I wanted to change jobs, started looking, and absolutely nothing appealed to me. I applied to nursing school on the advice of a friend. I'm just not sure its for me. I love people, but also have to look the other way when I have blood drawn and have been known to get woosy at the sight of a needle. However, the military taught me that we all have the strength to get past most things. I just don't want to put my family in debt, neglect my children, and spend the next two years studying - only to find out I'm miserable as a nurse. However, the more I thing about nursing, the more I think it might fill a void currently in my life. I am living the middle class dream, but really not making a difference. On the other hand, my experience in the military has given me little patience with winers. How do you feel bad for the overweight smoker who needs to be on oxygen. I also don't know about spending two years in school, only to spend nights and holidays away from my children. I should note the husband is a firefighter EMT, works a strange schedule, but supports whatever I decide. Any advice on making this decision would be helpful. I need to withdraw from the program soon, if I do, they have hundreds on the waiting list.
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My plan is to go to nursing school at night and do all that I can to fulfill requirements during evenings and weekends while working a full-time job during the day.

How did you go from getting to be an RN and leaving your full-time job? When did you practice while studying?

Is it possible to work full-time during the day, make a living to pay the bills and then transition into full-time RN?

I appreciate your feedback!

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Wow -- I wish I could give you a definite answer. The true answer is -- "It depends".

Can you work full time days and got to school at night and evenings? You will have to look hard for a school that holds it's clinical rotations in the evening or on a weekend. Most faculty are in academics so they do not have to work nights and weekends.

Most schools offer clinical during the day -- and those that say they offer evening clinicals may start them at 1:00 p.m. that puts a bite into the full-time work day.

Usually, you can get most courses you need in the evening -- but it really depends. For example; at my school the science department ONLY offeres classes during the day. So if you need Anatomy, which all nurses do, you have to come to an hour class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday plus there will be a 3 hour lab scheuduled one day a week.

Best advise -- ask the college to see some of their old schedule books. It will give you an idea when they schedule what types of classes.

Back to the - can you work full time -- Many people do, but not the day shift.

QUOTE: How did you go from getting to be an RN and leaving your full-time job? When did you practice while studying? Answer: I am not sure what you mean by this. I need a clearer question.

BornRN

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I don't know if I can really answer your question. I haven't started nursing school yet. Classes start in Sep. My plan is to cut my working hours to about 20 per week. Student loans will cover the tuition since it is a Community College and very reasonable. We will either take a home equity loan or cash in an old 401K to cover my decrease in salary. I did not have to take any prereq courses as I already had taken them with my original BA. I think that, and the fact I am a veteran, was what helped me get accepted into the program.

None of the state schools here have a part time program, or I would probably try and do it that way. It would take longer, but less impact on the family. In addition, I could test the waters before diving in. The only part-time program is at a private school and very expensive. Plus I think the amount of financial aid you can get is limited if you attend part time. Sounds like you have a good plan. I think you will enjoy your time in school. Best of luck.

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