Enjoying being a nurse?

[cherokeesummer]

I like to read here and there when I get a chance and I see a lot of variety of posts, many of panicked new nurses like myself LOL and some of people that really don't like nursing...

so I'm wondering how many out there like it? Really enjoy going to work even though its hard to learn so many new things and if you are anything like me you realize that nursing school really didn't prepare you for work LOL...

I'm not crazy about returning to work b/c I have a young child that I have been home with for some time now but I know I have to work money wise and I am doing something that makes a difference so I know its a good thing though I don't like 12 hour shifts, I do like having more days off during the week LOL! So there are good things.

So how many new grad nurses enjoy being a nurse?

[cherokeesummer]

WOW!! I love that out look on nursing.

I am a new grad in the NICU, and I'm loving it. Some days are so crazy its not funny. But some days, I hate to leave my babies and some of my families. Every hospital has its ups and downs. And the new nurses can start the change the culture of nursing in a more positive way if we really want it to.

How do you handle being so new in the NICU environment? I'm a NICU newbie also. I feel like nursing school didn't prepare me for this at all LOL...we had minimal exposure to NICU, and I feel soooo blundering sometimes (ok most of the time, ok all of the time LOL).

[tamari07]

I've been a nurse a little over a year now and I can honestly say I love my job. I'm blessed to be on a unit where everyone has a good relationship and you always have help. Most of my co-workers are now good friends of mine. I can remember though questioning my career move in the beginning. Now, after a year of sticking with it and gaining the confidence that I needed, I can say I love being a nurse.

[Preemienurse23]

How do you handle being so new in the NICU environment? I'm a NICU newbie also. I feel like nursing school didn't prepare me for this at all LOL...we had minimal exposure to NICU, and I feel soooo blundering sometimes (ok most of the time, ok all of the time LOL).

I handle it one shift at a time, sometimes one hands on at a time! I had absolutely no exposure to a NICU during school. We didn't have one that wasn't an hr drive to get to. The closest I had was the 10 min I spent in the nursery during my L&D rotations. I think that our orientation was kinda short, 12 weeks, but I learned a lot.

At times I feel like I am blundering too, so its not just you! The way I see it, school taught us the basics, the disease processes etc... but its going to be the hands on training where we really become 'nurses.'

But I'm glad I chose the NICU, I cant imagine anyother floor to work on. There is something about a parent looking at you and asking if you are working tomorrow, and if you will have their baby. That trust that they give to you is a really neat feeling.

Hang in there. All of your fellow interns/new grads are feeling EXACTLY the same way. One of my fellow interns asked one of the experienced nurses when we can stop feeling so overwhelmed...and she said it will take a while! Not the answer any of us were wanting!! Dont think you know it all, rely on your experienced nurses, even if you feel stupid asking. I think I annoy them with mine!