I'm 37 years old and need to change professions. Since I graduated high school until I turned 30, I was a legal assistant. At the age of 30 I became a real estate agent. This economy was a rude awakening for me and made me realize how important it is to have good steady employment.
Many years ago I considered nursing but the fact that I'm nervous about the "gross" things that you encounter in the hospital like poop, smelly urine, vomit, bad infections, sores, etc., I never pursued it. Children I can handle, but not so much adults. Additionally, the thought of me inserting a catheter or tracheotomy makes my stomach turn. I always said "I would be a nurse only if I can stomach the gross". Plus, I don't do well when I need to get an injection or have blood drawn. I don't faint or vomit, just turn pale and I need to work on my frame of mind and breath. However, I get acupuncture with "almost" no problem.
Why do I want to be a nurse then? Well, first of all, I would like to have a non-desk job or at least limited. I think I would go nuts if I had to sit at a desk and type all day long anymore. I like varied schedules and varied work environment (if that makes any sense). I like to be around people, I have a pleasant demeanor and I am caring but I'm also strong mentally. Plus, I'm originally from Europe and would like a job that might offer the opportunity for me to do in different countries.
Has anybody felt the way I do about this yet decided to pursue? Have you thought you could never insert a catheter or anything similar yet you did it and found it to be no big deal? Or felt sick to your stomach when encountering the "gross"?
A friend suggested I take the CNA course and get a job to see if I can stomach the worst of it all (I guess CNA's deal with the worst?).
Almost forgot to mention, I don't take drugs as I believe in naturopathic approach to health. Would that interfere with me being a nurse?
Any advice or experiences you'd like to share, I would appreciate it. Has anybody felt the way I do, yet succeeded?
Poop and vomit "usually" don't bother me. Once is a while someone had a bowel movement that is just horrendous. THe thing that bothers me the most are inserting things into people. I don't mind giving injections but I absolutely hate NG tubes (tubes you have to put down the nose). I don't like to insert IVs or foley catheters either.
I find the more I do these things the more I am desensitized to them. I just feel like I am hurting my patient and I feel really bad. I never thought I could become a nurse because of these things but in reality it is but a small part of the job.
Nursing school is doable but a ton of work. And I do mean a ton. For 2 years I breathed, ate and slept all things nursing school. Becoming a nurse was well worth it though. Nursing is tough but it has a lot of rewards.
I agree about becoming a CNA. You will quickly get used to poop and vomit. I loved being an aide. It teaches you a lot of great communication skills as well as compassion. Go for it. There is a place in nursing for everyone.
Yes, the CNA pay kinda stinks, but if you can get hired at a hospital as a PCA or tech you usually make a little more, and you'll have better benefits (typically). You also have a little more variety in duties when it comes to patient care. None of the nursing homes by me offer tuition assistance, they are too broke/too cheap.
Your chances depend on what the hospital wants. In Ohio, you have to be a PCA. This means you were already a CNA, and usually took another course that was 40 hours long to become a PCA, since it's considered more advanced patient care. CNA's are rare to find in the hospitals by me.
Since you have the flexibility, it should work out well for you.
And no, I don't think getting a nursing job is harder than selling a home! My hubby and I rent a condo from a lady. This condo has been on the market for 3 years, as well as 4 other ones in the complex.
The $800 2 weeks one sounds normal. Mine was 13 days and $700 (testing fee included.)
[quote=AniaK;4503223]I'm 37 years old and need to change professions. Since I graduated high school until I turned 30, I was a legal assistant. At the age of 30 I became a real estate agent. This economy was a rude awakening for me and made me realize how important it is to have good steady employment.
Many years ago I considered nursing but the fact that I'm nervous about the "gross" things that you encounter in the hospital like poop, smelly urine, vomit, bad infections, sores, etc., I never pursued it. Children I can handle, but not so much adults. Additionally, the thought of me inserting a catheter or tracheotomy makes my stomach turn. I always said "I would be a nurse only if I can stomach the gross". Plus, I don't do well when I need to get an injection or have blood drawn. I don't faint or vomit, just turn pale and I need to work on my frame of mind and breath. However, I get acupuncture with "almost" no problem.
Why do I want to be a nurse then? Well, first of all, I would like to have a non-desk job or at least limited. I think I would go nuts if I had to sit at a desk and type all day long anymore. I like varied schedules and varied work environment (if that makes any sense). I like to be around people, I have a pleasant demeanor and I am caring but I'm also strong mentally. Plus, I'm originally from Europe and would like a job that might offer the opportunity for me to do in different countries.
Has anybody felt the way I do about this yet decided to pursue? Have you thought you could never insert a catheter or anything similar yet you did it and found it to be no big deal? Or felt sick to your stomach when encountering the "gross"?
A friend suggested I take the CNA course and get a job to see if I can stomach the worst of it all (I guess CNA's deal with the worst?).
Almost forgot to mention, I don't take drugs as I believe in naturopathic approach to health. Would that interfere with me being a nurse?
Any advice or experiences you'd like to share, I would appreciate it. Has anybody felt the way I do, yet succeeded?
Thank you! Ania
Only you can decide for yourself whether or not nursing is for you. I truly believe that, if you're halfway intelligent and bound to get through the program no matter what, you can do it. Just be aware that it's a LOT of work. (And, yes, it's worth it all in the end.)
I don't think people are born with strong stomachs. That's something you acquire. If you keep the good of the patient uppermost in your mind, it's surprising how many disgusting sights, sounds and smells you can learn to tolerate. (A warped sense of humor is a big help, too.)
It's very possible to be good at putting needles in other people, but still be scared of needles aimed at you. (I'm living evidence of that.) In fact, you can put that fear to good use, by doing for the patient whatever helps you through the ordeal of blood draws and injections.
It doesn't matter if you choose not to use traditional medications yourself, as long as you leave your personal feelings at home, and don't try to talk the patient into a regimen other than the one prescribed by his/her doctor.
By the way, it's been my experience that most people considering nursing, especially those with children, think they'd want to work in pediatrics. (Labor and delivery is another popular one.) Maybe because many of them are parents, and used to caring for children? A lot of them change their minds, though, when they experience all the other options available as student nurses. Just something to keep in mind---sometimes the area of nursing seems to pick YOU, rather than the other way around.
(And, yes, you get used to inserting catheters and such very quickly. In fact, it's a good feeling the first time you get a catheter or IV in correctly.)
Getting a nursing job can't be worse than trying to get a client to buy/sell a house ;-) Plus, I'm single and no children, I can move anywhere where there is work- any state, any city or any country. I'm pretty sure a lot of people are limited as to where they can work because of wife/husband's work, children or other reasons. So, I guess I'm not too concerned as I will go where there is work.
I don't really want an office job anymore. However, in worst case scenario, I can always go back to work for law firm with the nursing degree as a nurse paralegal. I can get a job at a law firm today if I wanted because of my extensive experience as a legal assistant and add a nursing degree, I would be making quite a bit more money as my value would increase. So, I think perhaps I have a bit more options than other people graduating from college with no job experience??
Some people have been out of work since 2008-2009 and those people are mature students like yourself from different career backgrounds. There are many new nurses out there that have tried to move out of state and country with no luck. Experience from another career only looks good on paper but It doesn't guarantee you'll get the job. I think those nurse paralegal jobs require acute nursing experience of some sort (I've seen at least 5 years of nursing experience in med/surg, ICU, ED, etc) since they're paying you more than average paralegal. In fact, some of them don't even require you to have paralegal experience, as long as you get your certificate from an approved paralegal regulation/professional body, a BSN and extensive nursing experience.
Anyway, if you do decide to go to nursing school make sure your attending a college that's accredited by the national board.
Specializes in drug seekers and the incurably insane..
I think enrolling in a CNA course would be an excellent idea, because you really do get to see the worst. Let's face it: none of us like poop, pee, vomit, blood, mucus, discharge, etc. etc. but we all deal with it. I especially hate vomit....I pop those Phenergan or Zofran tablets as soon as I hear someone complain of nausea!! Getting used to it is key. I say go for nursing.....never a dull moment!!
You get accustomed to dealing with the icky stuff after you do it a few times. I actually passed-out when I got my ears pierced and went into nursing school with a TERRIBLE fear of needles. I still cannot watch when I get a shot, but I can start IVs and give shots without any problem. After doing it a few times, it's really no big deal.
I actually read the post couple of days ago and on some I thought "how gross" but some of them I couldn't help but laugh and not because it's funny what these poor sick people are going through but laugh at how the nurses have described it.
I can watch surgical procedures on TV or internet with great curiosity and I won't take my eyes off just because it fascinates me. Yesterday I watched a c-section and I didn't cringe.
Is it really so difficult to get a nursing job? I know couple of nurses and they constantly work over-time. Why everywhere I read about nursing it keeps talking about the shortage and more shortage to come? Again, I think that's because most people look for a very specific position in a very specific location with a very specific schedule. I know a girl who graduated with an associates in nursing last year and she had several job offers and works over time all the day. She got a job immediately out of nursing school.
Well, CNA it is. I'm going to give it a shot! I'm getting nervous just thinking about.
I'm still not desensitized to vomit...makes me retch everytime I see it...I just...gag right through it.
Lol, I know it's not funny you have to gag your way through it, but in a way it is. At least it's only vomit for you. For me it would be all the nasties that I would have to gag right through it!!
Is it really so difficult to get a nursing job? I know couple of nurses and they constantly work over-time. Why everywhere I read about nursing it keeps talking about the shortage and more shortage to come? Again, I think that's because most people look for a very specific position in a very specific location with a very specific schedule. I know a girl who graduated with an associates in nursing last year and she had several job offers and works over time all the day. She got a job immediately out of nursing school.
Well, CNA it is. I'm going to give it a shot! I'm getting nervous just thinking about.
Some of those nurses you probably know are seasoned nurses. The reason why they're getting overtime because the hospitals can't afford to hire new nurses to take shifts so they overwork their employees. I'm not saying it's impossible to get a job but it requires a lot of patience to look for one because your competing against overworked seasoned nurses who want to find better jobs and other eager new grads. As to specific position etc., I don't think so, why would they be? The economy sucks right now. They'll take whatever they can get their hands on. I'm not denying that there is a shortage of nurses because there is one. The problem is that hospitals are doing budget cuts and if they can't afford to hire nurses they won't; it doesn't matter if nurses are in great shortage or not. They rather overwork their current nurses than hire nurses that they have to pay to train. You're training doesn't end after nursing school. The reality is that nursing school doesn't really prepare you for the real world as a lot of nurses say nowadays. Yea, it teaches you the basics but each hospital has it's own culture; and policies and procedures. Right now, the market seems to be over saturated with new grad nurses...
At least it's only vomit for you. For me it would be all the nasties that I would have to gag right through it!!
sistasoul
724 Posts
Poop and vomit "usually" don't bother me. Once is a while someone had a bowel movement that is just horrendous. THe thing that bothers me the most are inserting things into people. I don't mind giving injections but I absolutely hate NG tubes (tubes you have to put down the nose). I don't like to insert IVs or foley catheters either.
I find the more I do these things the more I am desensitized to them. I just feel like I am hurting my patient and I feel really bad. I never thought I could become a nurse because of these things but in reality it is but a small part of the job.
Nursing school is doable but a ton of work. And I do mean a ton. For 2 years I breathed, ate and slept all things nursing school. Becoming a nurse was well worth it though. Nursing is tough but it has a lot of rewards.
I agree about becoming a CNA. You will quickly get used to poop and vomit. I loved being an aide. It teaches you a lot of great communication skills as well as compassion. Go for it. There is a place in nursing for everyone.