Did becoming a nurse change you????

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i just have a question for all you experienced nurses. when you finished nursing school, did you change, or know of someone who changed for the worse. the reason why i ask is because a couple of my friends and myself started nursing school last august. everything was going fine, two or of decided on the rn program and we will graduate in may;)!!! the other decided on the lpn program, and she graduated in july. everyone has been so happy for her. i mean we have known each other for 10 years, we have worked as cna's together for the past 10 years. so it was shocking to see how much she has changed, she has out right lied on some damn good nurses. she went so far as to stand up at a meeting and bad mouth all the weekend nurses:devil::devil:. she reminds me of the nancy nurse that my instructor always speaks of minus the nursing license ( she hasn't taken her boards yet). everytime i talk with her its always people are jealous of her because she is going to be a nurse now. i know for a fact thats not the case:nono::nono:. the same nurses she went and reported, where the same nurses who wrote her letter of recommendation for her portfolio:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire. i just hope i don't end up with the super ego trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think nursing made me a more confident person - or maybe it was just age that did that!

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I want to tell you that becoming a nurse can destroy relationships, my husband out of the blue would accuse me of trying to be "the boss" and thinking I was high and mighty now that I was an RN (you'd have to hear the way he said it). He would say I would be making all the money and all I wanted him for was to be my giggolo (if I was wanting a pretty boy it wouldn't be him!)He cheated on me with a something I'd better not say on here (I still feel the urge to hunt her down and unleash my fury). He just treated me horribly at a time I thought we would be celebrating. If it wasn't for the kids I would be out of here.

I just totally did not understand why he was lashing out at me. Then, I realized it wasn't me, it was him. He was jealous and insecure and he was the one who felt threatened. Therefore, in his warped little mind I had changed, even though I hadn't changed. Even still, if it wasn't for the kids I would be out of here.

So, when people feel threatened by your new status (BTW, I don't know why the general public tends to feel that RN's are "super people." It's just a job, I don't get it.) they will be the ones to say becoming a nurse changed you.

The only way I've "changed" is that I feel very old and tired (don't know if it is nurse-related) and I realize more and more that doctor's don't care anymore. Life is cheap to them and all their offices do is process insurance claims.

I guess you would call that feeling cynical toward the system.

M-Mama - I'm so sorry for your man problems! My husband is a very good man and always has been, but he used to go out once in awhile and come home blotto drunk. Some people can tolerate this - I couldn't - I was raised with alcoholics, and can not absolutely STAND to be around anyone that is drunk. He might do it only two or three times a year, but that was too much for me.

When I graduated from school, and knew that I would then be able to take care of myself and my children, I gave him a choice - stop drinking and keep his family or keep it up, and I was outa there. He hasn't drank since.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I became a better person when I became a nurse with experience.

I am more tolerant, less judgemental, assertive, compassionate, understanding, and learnt when to keep my mouth shut and when not to. I am a good listener now, I have learnt how prioritise situations in work and at home. I have learnt to regard life as precious, and to thank my lucky stars I havent got some of the complaints my pts have.

I have chosen the illness's that I dont want in life, a bit like a top ten of worse case senarios.

On the other hand

I have little tolerance with 'percieved time wasters' especially when I am running my socks off and that one pt calls for you every 15 mins without fail

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Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.

I am more assertive, but then, I needed to be.

I think I'm much more outgoing & talkative. I have many more friends then I ever had when I was in school.

Before Nursing School, even though I was a friendly person, I was terrified meeting new people. My first Clinical Day helped take care of that. By necessity, the profession demands constant continuing education. I feel this not only enhances my Nursing Practice, but me, as a person.

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Arwen could not have said it any better. However, it has changed me. I was always a person that enjoyed solitude, but, I find that off the job, I want to be home more than go out, because I am more tired. People in general drain me now, because I have witnessed people fighting for their lives, and to hear about superficial garbage turns me off. I don't go out the way that I used to because I am beat down to a pulp most days, and I got tired of playing the game with administration, smiling in their faces when I know they don't give a crap about me or my co-workers. So, now, I do not go to any holiday or birthday parties with my co-workers, because I have basically seen enough of them during working hours and don't contribute to the collections for these parties, because they are sort of phony to me (plus, I can spend my money on other things that I really need).

Yeah, I am more cynical...does it show that bad...LOL

I'm tellin' ya... that secluded enclave in Montana is sounding better and better all the time LOL.
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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

I think for those of us who've been at this for some time it's hard to tell if nursing changed us or simply getting older. I like to say that when I turned forty my "inner bi&&&" came out which makes me less tolerant of people who treat me (or anyone else for that matter) badly. I think I have gained the wisdom, by seeing death, just how brief our lives really are and to waste it on petty things like staff in-fighting and worrying about life always being fair isn't worth the time I do have. I know I've become more cynical which can be good or bad. I've learned to accept that some situations are just toxic and rather than stick around hoping that things will get better (kind of the Pollyanna approach to life I used to have) I remove myself to a better place and learn from the first. On the other hand my cynicism makes me less tolerant of people and their incessant need to be the center of attention. In my job I see children who are innocent victims of disease or circumstance who do not define themselves by their illness or injury and fight like hell to overcome, all the while handling their pain with an incredible grace that I myself could never hope to attain. Then I think of the countless "adults" I've taken care of who overreacted to the slightest bit of discomfort (usually self-inflicted-ETOH etc) to the point that I just got so frustrated that I lost my ability to be empathetic. I don't think I've ever felt like being a nurse made me better than any other person but I do believe that because we have walked in tandem with strangers through the deepest grief and the highest joy possible we have earned a special understanding, almost a spiritual one, of what it means to be human.

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Specializes in Long Term Facilitly.

Becoming a nurse has changed me in many ways.

I've seen things that have made me cry with joy.

I've seen things that have made me cry from sadness.

I've seen people do the most rediculous things.

I've seen people do the most incredible.

I've given and received kindness

I've been down angry and have had others angry at me.

But

I've never had a day where I have not been challenged.

I've never had a day that I have not grown in knowledge.

I've never had a day where I haven't went above and beyond.

I've never had a day that has been uneventful.

I've never had a day when I didn't make a difference.

I've never had a day when I wasn't glad my shift was over.;)

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flyingscot, you raise a good point.

just by virtue of growing into one's 40's/50's, a lot of internal changes take place.

these changes can either enhance or detract from the nurse one becomes.

leslie

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I think it dpends on you, yourself. I have met some nurses who are old and very bitter and jaded. But I have also met nurses who are old and kind and lovely as angels. Just remind yourself to remain tolerant, hopeful and gentle. No point being sour in this short life! But any job will change people. Stand firm in what's good and kind and great. NOT what is ugly, dark and bad.

Cheers! :)

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Specializes in Neuro Critical Care.
For better and for worse:

1) I swear more. I'm not proud of it.

2) I'm more assertive. That's a good thing.

3) I've seen how people that are different than me live.

4) Like others, I've become a little more cynical. Ok, a lot.

5) I have seen how horrible -- and how great -- human beings can be to each other and it has changed me. I can't articulate how.

6) After a few situations where I didn't know elbow from backside, I realize that the more I learn, the more I NEED to learn.

I agree with everything Arwen posted and I will add...

7) Death no longer affects me which I do not consider to be a good thing.

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