Do I want to be a nurse for the wrong reasons?

[Diane in Ohio]

Let me start off by saying, I am 40 (soon to be 41 next month), but always wanted to be a nurse. When I first graduated HS, I was too scared to go to nursing school and didn't have the funds to go (or at least I didn't think so and didn't know much about grants, loans, etc.) But I always envisioned myself as a nurse.

I was a candy striper in my teens and loved it, always felt "important" doing little things in the hospital setting. As I reached my 20's & 30's, although my career was the furthest thing away from a hospital, there was never a time I didn't drive by a hospital and thought to myself....I wish I worked there.

So here I am, for the first time in my life actually contemplating going back to school to become an LPN, for starters. My husband & I have been married for almost 17 years and my children are old enough for me to go back to school and have some time for studying, homework, etc. (there are almost 16 & 11 years old) My entire family is very supportive of me going into nursing, and currently, I do not have to work. I have always been the "bread winner" making more money than my husband, up until now. He has a steady, good paying job that would carry us over until I was finished with school. It would be financially tight for the next year while I am in school, but for right now and over the next year, we could swing it. This is also why I am only considering an LPN to start with. I would like to become an LPN, then go on from there. This would give my a chance to do some work in the field and then pick away at my RN and maybe BSN and who knows from there.

So here is my dilema as I am looking into some of the programs. Do I want to be a nurse for the right reasons?

When I think about nursing, I envision working in hospital settings. Not so much nursing homes or doctor's offices, but in the middle of the "goodies". I love the smell of hospitals, all the equipment, the atmosphere, etc. I want to know what everything does and how it works. I want to put in that IV, adjust that oxygen, make a patient feel more comfortable, chart that information. I want to know how to use a stethescope, take the BP of a patient, learn about treating different diseases, injuries, and all the things a human body can go through and how it can be healed.

Now here is where I am worried that I am wanting to be a nurse for the wrong reasons. Do I like people? Generally, yes. Do I want to hear about their life stories? Generally, OK. But what I do not like are the people that go on and on about every little ache and pain, over and over again. (I have some "friends" that do this and it drives me nuts) I think they are the ones that the industry tag as "frequent fliers" at the ER. Run there for every little sniffle and think they are on their death beds. They just want the attention they get for being "sick".

I want to comfort and help those that are truely in need at the time.

4 years ago, my mother was diagnosed with leukemia, and I spent most of the 9 months with her in the hospital. She was more in than out of the hospital for those 9 months. I was fascinated with all of the things the nurses did and even found myself able to handle things I never thought I could (cleaning her up after she puked or messed herself) She had caths, chest tubes, breathing tubes, etc. at some point during those 9 months. Was in the ICU off and on, which was really fascinating to see all the equipment and things that had to be done to her.

In the end, the leukemia won, but after watching her deteriorate for 9 months, it was better to let her go than go on like she was. The entire experience lit a fire under me for my desire to become a nurse.

So here I am, at a major crossroad in my life and I want to be completely honest with myself before I take the leap. Not only for my own peace of mind, but I do not to put my family through the financial burden the school will have and the time away from them that it will take.

Is it crazy to want to be a nurse more because of all the tools available to treat a person than for having such a deep compassion for people? Sometimes i think the little bit of a "wall" I put up between me and peole could be a good thing. I don't get so easily attached to people that I can keep my whits about myself in an urgent situation.

I am looking for honest and brutal advice here. This is one of the most important decisions I am making right now and want to be completely honest with myself to finally make a decision that has always been on my mind.

[Diane in Ohio]

You know...many of the skills you mentioned in your post are done in LTC too. You will be checking the Apical Heart Rate with your stethoscope before administering Digoxin. You will be checking the resident's blood pressure before administering the blood pressure medicine. You will be listening to the resident's lung sounds before and after breathing treatments. You will have wound dressing changes to do. You may have short-term residents there for rehab. I thought that when I did my LTC rotation that I would mainly be pushing pills and talking with the residents. I was wrong. I did similar tasks that I do during my med/surg rotations in the hospitals.

I think, from reading your post, that nursing is right for you. I say do it.

Thank you for the info. I never really thought about what all takes place in a LTC facility. I guess I envisioned that in a nursing home for the elderly, all you did all day was help them to the bathroom or clean up afterwards and help feed them if needed. Of course, driving past some of the LTC facilities around here, they are like mini hospitals and spa resorts. I wonder if I called up a few of them and asked for a tour to see what their LPNs do if they would be open to that? I will have to make some calls and see what they say.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i don't think having a "calling" is necessary to being a nurse. "right reasons" and "wrong reasons" are relative. unless you want to be a nurse so you can marry a doctor, obtain prescription pharmaceuticals, get the dirt on all your neighbors' medical conditions or something else subversive, illegal or crazy, there aren't really any wrong reasons. go for it! and good luck.

[Diane in Ohio]

unless you want to be a nurse so you can marry a doctor

my husband jokes with me that i am going to meet some fancy doctor and leave him. i tell him

"oh honey, the young ones are not going to be interested in me and the older ones come with ex-wives,

alimony and child support"

[cdkjasso]

You sound passionate about it & your family is supporting you. I say GO FOR IT! I have a 3 year old & a baby due in July. I am applying next August to an accelerated program through a local University that is 13 months long for a BSN. My husband is supportive but it will definitely be tough with 2 little ones. I am very determined though! The program starts in January so I have 5 months to recover after 2nd child. Here goes!! Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

[mistydawnrn]

The beauty of nursing is the abundance of opportunities! I have been a registered nurse for almost 14 years and I love the flexibility of changing positions and specialties when I feel that I might be approaching burn-out. When you are caring for clients and their families there will always be a need for therapeutic communication. However, there are some nursing roles where this is minimized. For example, OR nurses spend very little time with patients while they are awake! Neuro ICU nurses spend a lot of time with family, but usually the visits are limited amounts of time. ICUs are so open to families now, that in those areas you will need excellent communication skills. Some days I see that as my challenge. I know a great Emergency Nurse who chose to do her Master's in Psych nursing because she felt that was the area she most needed to grow in. The brain and how we handle stressful situations can be an area that can give you renewed vigor in your future of nursing. For now, the basics of anatomy/ physiology, nursing care, and equipment is enough to keep you learning and excited, but at some point you will want to go deeper. Nursing is a field of limitless opportunities for a life-long learner. In my career I have done adult med/surg, pediatric critical care, nurse recruitment, management, education, employee health, and surgical services....and that is only for now! I see a future where I will never get bored! There is no "perfect" career that doesn't some days feel like a job- if there is- please let me know- but, I don't think you will go wrong choosing nursing! Good luck in whatever you decide. Your committment to looking at all the options shows you will be making a thoughtful and conscious choice that is best for you and your future.

[groanup]

It sounds to me like you'll fit right in. I think however

that your enthusiasm may be somewhat tempered once

you find yourself in the real world of nursing.

Nursing in the next 10 years - Page 4- Nursing for Nurses

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[liloadro]

DO it! You don't have any "wrong" reasons and you have lots of good ones! Compassion is necessary and wonderful but you sound intelligent and curious. That's the science part of nursing. To truly help someone, you have to understand what you're doing too.

You'll always have the types of people you're talking about - in any job! The important thing is not to miss the important message when it comes. Sometimes, people need someone to listen cuz they have to unload and maybe nobody else will listen. My attitude has always been: this is 10 minutes out of my life that might make this person feel better. I can afford it. I don't have to agree or promise anything, just listen.

[freesia29, ASN, RN]

I can totally relate to your post! I will be 40 in April and decided since my youngest was in school full days...I would go back to school too!! I always wanted to get into healthcare, loved hospitals...I get excited when I go into one....and have always longed to work there.

I have finished my pre-reqs for an LPN program, and plan to go right up to Nurse Practitioner.

As for the one poster commented about it harder to get good grades.....NO WAY.....I have a 4.0 GPA....I never got grades like that in high school or even college when in my 20's.....

If it's something you are really passionate about...you will do well!

Good Luck!

[RLtinker, LPN]

I think there are all sorts of nursing jobs to fit all sorts of personalities. Age really isn't a factor either. Now I don't think you have to be the most personable person, but it is kind of unavoidable that you will have to have some interaction with pt. After all that is what the medical field is all about taking care of people. I am guessing you would probably want to avoid being a staff nurse. You might like obstetrics or even pediatrics if you like kids, though. If technology is your thing you might like being a surgical nurse, technology always seems to be advancing there. There are even pill sized cameras that the pt swallow now.

[orthonurse55]

I decided to become a nurse when I was 12 years old! WHY? Because of a lot of the same reasons that you mentioned, but mainly because I loved the smell of rubbing alcohol! Hehe! 37 years later, I have gone from nurses aid, to LPN, to RN, to BSN and I have never ever regretted a moment of it. And I was 50 when I got the BSN! So I say go for it! You sound like you have some wonderful skills to offer to the patients you will one day come to love, as I did.

P.S. I STILL love the smell of alcohol wipes!

[ICU_RN_BSN]

I think its for the right reasons. Go for it!! Nursing is my absolute passion and I LOVE helping people....but constant complaining over stupid smalll stuff from anyone annoys the crap out of me....but will it stop me from giving that patient the best care i can give? no. If that makes me a bad nurse then most nurses are bad as well. Nurses are nuturing awesome caring human beings, but they are still human.

[October97]

You sound just like me and I have been a nurse for 10 years. You have the interest, but you also have a tough skin and you have to for this career. I would definately say you should go for it and I would say to go straight for your RN. With LPN your options are going to be very limited. Mostly LTC facilities. For your interests you need to be a RN. Also, if you don't want to hear the constant complaining from hypochondriac pts, try pediatrics, or better yet NICU. If the children complain, there is usually a good reason and you feel more compassion for them and in the NICU, well, they can't talk yet :) Good luck to you!