Hello :) I'm a first year in college interested in pursuing nursing.
Did you feel "called" to be a nurse? Did your expectations of nursing fit reality?
I read that people who choose nursing because of their desire to help others, rather than the actual enjoyment of the job, were more likely to burn out quicker.
Any thoughts on this?
I'm trying not to see nursing as a profession that is always "rainbows and butterflies" and to not let that cloud my expectations of nursing.
I've always worked in a healthcare setting whether it be the administrative / records side or bed side ( cna .) I'm currently looking for my first nursing position as a new grad. Truthfully patient care and caring for others in any capacity has been the only thing I have excelled at. I believe it is a calling for me at least... Even though at times it can be overwhelming and a lot of the times it's easy to care more for others and forget to care for yourself.. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm confident I made the right decision... I have ALOT of learning to do.... but being a care giver whether it's an aide, nurse, provider etc. is a privilege.
I am in my second year currently, that actually started this August. I believe from being on clinical rotation which I still have 2 more weeks to go that I have indeed been called.
It's common to love to care and that being the reason for choosing nursing but when the practical aspect that involves interaction with patients and family starts then you can know definitely that this is the place for you. I love to help that is how I started but know I am learning to do more than helping but also to care even more than expected to ensure my patient and patient over all that I interact with receive the efficient/ best care possible.
Secondly the aspect of being burn out is not solely because nurses start off at that point but the profession of nursing desires a lot from an individual and you must learn how to give your all and when to take a break, rest and refuel.
I have just started but I have no regrets and when they come ( negative thoughts to quit ) I will pray and press on.:)
Specializes in ER - trauma/cardiac/burns. IV start spec.
I was always a care giver. I tried other jobs but nothing fit but I thought I was too old to start nursing school. I applied on a bet with my Mom 21 years after graduation high school and I was accepted. I went straight to the ER after graduation and stayed there on nights, 9 years 5 months and 17 days, until a latex allergy took my career away from me. I would have never left on my own. Burn out? I never had that feeling but saw it in the others that started nursing because the pay was good or they were going to land a doctor.
I never saw rainbows and butterflies where nursing was concerned but I did see a need to put your patients needs above your own, to fight for them, sometimes even against the doctors, and that you need to genuinely care about other people. Sometimes you are lucky to have a patient in the ER that comes in often and you can become their "friend" and you even get to see into their daily struggles. Sometimes you are lucky enough to be the one they ask for when they are brought in and sometimes you are even lucky enough to be called on your night off because "your patient" is being admitted for the last time and he does not want anyone else but you to take care of him. Sometimes but never very often.
If you do not have a deep desire to serve others and truly care for them when no one else does, do not go into nursing. Nursing is not a job it is a career and a way of life.
Other. I was in information technology for approximately 30 years with the last 18 years being involved with ecommerce hosting, server management, and security. To keep the story short, I'm an INFJ Myers-Briggs personality type (professionally tested if that matters), and I love helping others. When the company I worked for was sold, and had to look at either relocating or going back to school to master Windows (my expertise was in Linux), vocational testing showed education (#1), counseling (#2), and healthcare (#3). I felt that becoming a nurse would allow me to combine all 3 aspects. Jesus willing, I graduate this coming December and will take my RN boards this coming January 2017.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Not at all. My parents suggested this career so I did it. I never once as a child wanted to be a nurse when I was older. Also none of my family is in healthcare.
For me its is a little from the "yes" and "no" categories.
First, I am just about to begin RN school (in Jan) but I have been a CNA for 3 and a half years. I think for me it is a calling (That is to mean I feel God wants me to do that line of work) I feel this way because for me it was super easy for me to get into school. Im not a good student (B and Cs played a lot in college the first time around) The school I got into is in an urban area and gets a lot of applicants. My application was turned in at the dead line. It was very last minute. I didn't think I couldn't get in due to the amount of applicants and I actually applied at a school an hour away as a backup. I got into it also. I actually got into both RN schools in my first try. When I was a CNA(I left CNA job to do something different) I worked with a girl that got rejected her first time trying to get in (it was a different school)
I have had people tell me that it's hard to get into RN school. (The legit ones) so I took that at face value
I tried other jobs/career paths in the past and I also ways had trouble getting in or its not happening at all. My process getting into RN school was really easy.
I have no other way to describe my view on it. People without belief in a higher power may not get it.
As for the "No" the money and the work weeks are not bad. The idea that I could have a job that pays well and will not be replaced by exporting or robots is nice. My sister in law Is a RN in a NICU and seeing her lifestyle did help me make the leap to sign up and try to get in.
Least inspiring story ever... I heard an advert on the radio and thought "I could do that". Wasn't doing anything better at the time - I had left school with middling grades and worked full time in a call centre. I looked up the pay, and it was a lot more than what I earned.
Filled out the application, struggled through three years of uni and eventually found my niche in PITU after two solid years of hating the job, but enjoying the pay.
I know a lot of nurses who felt "the calling", but I certainly didn't.
It is my calling, I was called (drawn to/steered in that direction) to take a CNA class at age 14, called to take the LVN class out of high school, called to become an RN in my 30s and called to complete BSN at 40. Nursing is what I have been doing all my life. I don't see the correlation of it being a calling and suffering from burnout as someone posted earlier. I have traveled the world and have seen a lot suffering, illness, poverty, pain, sadness, despair. Nursing has been my opportunity to make the world a better place one patient at a time.
I voted to some degree" because my passion was to become a doctor. I know that I will never be an MD, (too late age wise) but I'm still hoping to be an NP eventually.
We need a sticky for the "Calling" thread. We've all answered this one at minimum 50 times. No not a calling. I was waitlisted for dental hygiene and didn't want to wait a year. Nursing was a logical step for all the credits I already had.
I'm not sure where you're going to find the opportunities for meaningful conversations or to dig deeply into patients' lives. Perhaps Doctors Without Borders will offer you the opportunity for that, but I'm guessing you'll be just as busy there as you will be on a Med/Surg floor, a LTC or an ICU. Most nurses have too much to do for meaningful conversations with their patients, although meaningful conversations with your night shift colleagues are a definite possibility.
I've had many meaningful conversations with patients and the families of patients at the bedside, while caring for them. No, it's not like you pull up a chair and ponder the meaning of life...But often, there have been moments of time available to do the "extra" caring which includes lending an ear or giving some statement of comfort and lending hope.
Now mind you, this often was on night shift in an ICU setting, as well as 34 plus years of opportunity to do so. On the med-surg floors, not so much. And when I did take the time, often found myself running around like a Keystone Cop trying to catch up....but it was worth it most of the time.
whatwasithinking75
98 Posts
I've always worked in a healthcare setting whether it be the administrative / records side or bed side ( cna .) I'm currently looking for my first nursing position as a new grad. Truthfully patient care and caring for others in any capacity has been the only thing I have excelled at. I believe it is a calling for me at least... Even though at times it can be overwhelming and a lot of the times it's easy to care more for others and forget to care for yourself.. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm confident I made the right decision... I have ALOT of learning to do.... but being a care giver whether it's an aide, nurse, provider etc. is a privilege.