Corporate America vs. Nursing- culture shock! Any others out there?

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:behindpc: Hi all, I was just reading some more posts and noticed that there are a lot of 2nd career nurses out there. Was wondering if you could share some motivational stories or experiences with me? I am also entering nursing from corporate America and am going through a bit of a culture shock with clinicals and starting nursing school and working as a CNA where I don't have time to go to the bathroom, eat lunch, or barely sneeze! How did you all do it? Are you glad you made the switch? Did you like your desk jobs better or do you like nursing better? Did you experience "culture shock" too? It's a totally different world. I really love taking care of the patients, but WOW is it hard work!

Thanks for all the support!

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Specializes in L&D, QI, Public Health.
:behindpc: Hi all, I was just reading some more posts and noticed that there are a lot of 2nd career nurses out there. Was wondering if you could share some motivational stories or experiences with me? I am also entering nursing from corporate America and am going through a bit of a culture shock with clinicals and starting nursing school and working as a CNA where I don't have time to go to the bathroom, eat lunch, or barely sneeze! How did you all do it? Are you glad you made the switch? Did you like your desk jobs better or do you like nursing better? Did you experience "culture shock" too? It's a totally different world. I really love taking care of the patients, but WOW is it hard work!

Thanks for all the support!

It wasn't quite as a shock for me because I transitioned into non-profit before I made the switch to nursing. I'm a first semester student, so I'm not an authority.

I think as you go, you will find you will become more efficient at taking care of your client. Carry some snacks on your person so you have it on hand, write a grid of your clients/tasks and what you have to do so you can plan your time accordingly. HTH

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Soci,

I am just starting this adventure but I think corporate America is a madhouse. I have had toxic bosses, toxic co workers, you name it, and I have had it. I figure if I end up in a mad house situation, I can always (hopefully) find another job. At least that is my thinking. Plus, I realize that I took care of people for years. They were just called clients.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Did you like your desk jobs better or do you like nursing better? Did you experience "culture shock" too?
Why are you so quick to assume that we all had 'desk jobs'? I have never held a 'desk job' throughout my entire work history.

I worked at a factory for three years and earned decent pay ($40,000 yearly). I was exposed to dirt, dust, sweat, tears, blood, carcinogens, deafening noise, and other unsavory things while working at the factory. Therefore, a career change to nursing was not that bad. I never experienced any type of culture shock because my current work environment is so much improved from that of the factory.

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That's good, I'm glad that your new career is much better, Commuter. I've read many of your posts and you seem to really like nursing and care about your patients, so that's great to hear! I wasn't assuming everyone had a desk job at some point. I was simply asking if any others out there have had desk jobs, and if so, what their experiences have been. I am experiencing culture shock myself right now, so I was just looking for some support. In my old job, I was in a very clean, sterile environment, and now I get poop on myself several times a day. It's just different, that's all- and I was hoping others might be able to share some stories : )

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Corporate refugee here ... :rolleyes: I hear ya ...

No doubt about it, it is a major change. Keep in mind why you decided to go into nursing and it will help keep it all in perspective.

Feel free to PM me if you wish ...

Oh, and isolation gowns & gloves are your friend!

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Are you glad you made the switch? Did you like your desk jobs better or do you like nursing better? Did you experience "culture shock" too? It's a totally different world. I really love taking care of the patients, but WOW is it hard work!

Thanks for all the support!

I worked in IT for about 25 years, and at the end, during the tech crash, I got tired of the layoffs and the coworkers and bosses freaking out all the time about the layoffs.

Now I have been a nurse for a year, but still have culture shock. I am still amazed at how poorly nurses treat each other. On my unit, everybody goes and tattles to our manager on various stupid things, who then drags us in and yells at us, without a shred of proof. My coworkers tend to find the one thing not done perfectly during a crazy day and let you know about it, or let their corworkers know about it, or let "Mom" know about it. And I'm not talking about patient safety. I'm talking about really dumb things.

So, frankly, I'm not sure that I'm glad I did this. However, on the bright side, there are always jobs out there.

Oldiebutgoodie

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I agree with Oldiebutgoodie. If I knew then what I know now I think I would have stayed in with IT...nurses are completely unprofessional in the way they treat one another...I've never seen anything like it. :nono: :nono: :nono:

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You guys never experienced backbiting and cutthroat politics in the corporate world?

I sure as hell did.

:typing

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Now I have been a nurse for a year, but still have culture shock. I am still amazed at how poorly nurses treat each other. On my unit, everybody goes and tattles to our manager on various stupid things, who then drags us in and yells at us, without a shred of proof. My coworkers tend to find the one thing not done perfectly during a crazy day and let you know about it, or let their corworkers know about it, or let "Mom" know about it. And I'm not talking about patient safety. I'm talking about really dumb things.

So, frankly, I'm not sure that I'm glad I did this. However, on the bright side, there are always jobs out there.

What you describe happened a lot on my first job but, it hasn't happened yet on my second job. Thankfully ... not all places are like that.

:typing

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You guys never experienced backbiting and cutthroat politics in the corporate world?

I sure as hell did.

:typing

Well, I did, too, but not to the extent that I see in nursing. Sometimes it seems that nurses almost make a sport out of it. The way I see it, for the money we make (not a lot) we shouldn't have to put up with the childish complaining and pettiness. Nurses are their own worst enemy.

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Specializes in Mental Health and MR/DD.

I will admit that there is backstabbing a tattle-tails in the nursing field, but not all nurses are like that. It's like any other profession, you have the good with the bad. Sory to hear that some have had a bad time, but remember you are not stuck. You can go back to your old careers and use nursing as a fall-back. I used to be an auto-mechanic and just like nursing you had the good with the bad.

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