First Year RN survey

RNLisa · Apr 13, 2007

this email is for all nurses within their 1st year of practice.. i am writing a paper for my nursing issues class (i graduate in may) and i need your prospective.. please give me your honest opinion!
1. why did you enter the nursing profession?i always wanted to be a nurse when i was little. taking care of my mom when she was sick with cancer made me feel like that is something i wanted to do.
2. what do you like about being a nurse? feeling accomplishment of helping people feel better, and the money's not bad either.
3. what do you not like about being a nurse? the hours, and my sore feet at the end of the day!! lol
4. do you think you get paid what you deserve? i guess so, i don't know. haven't really researched the pay around here, but i think it's fair.
5. do you think that nurses are respected by the doctors you work with? where i work, for the most part, they do; there are a few....well, i won't say what i am thinking, lol
6. what do you wish you would have learned in school to help you in the real world? all the paperwork!!! aagghh
7. what is the worst situation you have ever been in? i had a patient who was struggling to keep her o2 sats above 80's and she was short of breath and anxious. it was scary. she is ok now, but it was scary.
8. what is the most rewarding thing about being a nurse? that sense of fulfillment that i get.
9. do you think new-grads should start in the er? it's not for me, but yes, if that is what they want to do, go for it.
10. are you thinking about leaving nursing? if you'd asked this question a few months ago, i'd have said yes, but i feel better now.
please also include your sex, age, what department you work in, and your type of degree (asn or bsn)? i am a female, age 37, i work in a hospital in acute care (med/surg/telemetry) and i have my adn.
i know that this is kind of long and i really appreciate your input. thanks!
blueherring

thanks

TraumaRN1983 · Apr 13, 2007

This email is for all nurses within their 1st year of practice.. I am writing a paper for my nursing issues class (I graduate in May) and I need your prospective.. Please give me your honest opinion!

1. Why did you enter the nursing profession? Once I took Anatomy and Physiology my second year of college, I knew I wanted to work in healthcare. My college had a great nursing program and I wanted to be able to understand and administer medications, have a good understanding of pathophysiology and be at the bedside caring for patients.

2. What do you like about being a nurse? I love seeing patients recover, especially when I take care of them when they first come to the floor and then I take care of them at the end of their stay and see how far they have come in their recovery.

3. What do you not like about being a nurse? It seems as though we are short-staffed far too often and when that happens we end up taking more patients than we can (I believe) safely handle. I feel that patient care is compromised when nurses end up taking too many patients.

4. Do you think you get paid what you deserve? I think the pay is pretty good, could maybe be a little better, but overtime pay and weekend pay are very good in the state I live in because of our union.

5. Do you think that nurses are respected by the doctors you work with? For the most part yes. I work at a teaching hospital where most of our interactions are with residents and interns and they often ask us for advice when they write orders!

6. What do you wish you would have learned in school to help you in the real world? That nursing is a demanding job and you have to truly love what you do or you won't make it.

7. What is the worst situation you have ever been in? I had a patient who was 650 pounds with a trach and was helping her get to her bedside commode. Before I could react, she had turned around really fast and fell down right onto the bedside commode, hitting her trach on the way down. I had to hit the staff emeergency button and it took 5 nurses plus our lift team to get her o2 sats up and get her back into bed, it was a nightmare.

8. What is the most rewarding thing about being a nurse?

9. Do you think new-grads should start in the ER? Only if they participate in a really great orientation program where they are on orientation for several months, otherwise I think you should have a couple years of acute care experience before you consider a job as demanding and stressful as ER.

10. Are you thinking about leaving nursing? No, I have only been working for a little over 2 months and have definetly had some pretty rough shifts, but I learn a lot every day and have had some very memorable patients.

Please also include your sex, age, what department you work in, and your type of degree (ASN or BSN)? I am a 23-year old female and I work in a Trauma/Emergency General Surgery unit. I have my BSN.

runnernurse · Apr 14, 2007

1. Why did you enter the nursing profession? I started college as a business major and was very unhappy with the classes, and really was clueless about what I wanted to do. I always had an interest in a career that would help people and talked to my aunt, who is a nurse, and she talked me into giving it a try. So I switched my major and luckily I really liked it.

2. What do you like about being a nurse? I really like the teaching aspect especially with the transplant patients, Receiving an organ is beginning a new life. I also love going into work and never knowing what I am getting myself into. Also, my night shift coworkers are wonderful, I don't think I could get through the crazy nights without their support.

3. What do you not like about being a nurse? I don't like it when I feel unsafe, that my patient load is too much for me to handle.

4. Do you think you get paid what you deserve? Right now I am happy with my salary, ask me that five years down the road maybe I will change my mind!

5. Do you think that nurses are respected by the doctors you work with? Yes, the attendings trust us more than the residents/interns! Whenever they have questions about the patients they ask us. Also the residents are constantly asking us what they should order or do.

6. What do you wish you would have learned in school to help you in the real world? I don't think school could have ever prepared me for the chaotic real world. I had no clue how much responsibility nurses really had until I started working as a RN. I was both a nursing assistant and a nurse extern throughout nursing school and I still never realized how much nurses really did

7. What is the worst situation you have ever been in? Seeing one of my favorite patients go downhill after his transplant and die soon after from an infection.

8. What is the most rewarding thing about being a nurse? Pre-oping a transplant patient, Seeing patients recover and do really well after their transplants, Leaving work and knowing that I made a difference, Being mentioned in patients' thank you letters!

9. Do you think new-grads should start in the ER? I personally wouldn't have been able to. But I think there are certain people who definitely can do it and I don't see a problem with it.

10. Are you thinking about leaving nursing? No, I plan on starting grad school (either nursing administration or NP-still undecided) in the near future because I know I would not be able to handle the stresses of floor nursing for the next 25-30 years. Right now i love my job and I couldn't imagine doing anything else.

Please also include your sex, age, what department you work in, and your type of degree (ASN or BSN)? I am a female, age 23. I work on a transplant surgery unit (get them pre and postop) at a teaching hospital, I've been working for 9 months now. I have my BSN.

Ayvah, RN · Apr 14, 2007

1. Why did you enter the nursing profession? - to have a job both emotionally and intellectually stimulating, to know that I have made a positive difference in someone's life, and, maybe even save a life. I want to do something meaningful, and make the world a little better by the time I leave it. (as corny as that sounds ). My office job wasn't giving me that type of satisfaction.

2. What do you like about being a nurse? - seeing patients get better, due in part to my care. Soothing someone, teaching a person who is truly interested in advancing their health.

3. What do you not like about being a nurse? - feeling like I am too overwhelmed with too high/too high acuity patient ratios so that I can not give the highest quality care to my patients. I don't like feeling as if I have to chose between providing quality care to my patients vs shorting care so I can get out on time and thus not be on my manager's radar. So much of it comes down to staffing and the department's budget. We are currently very understaffed. I hate knowing that because I am working so fast, I will one day make a medication error, and I only hope that it will not cause severe harm to the patient. In the last 2 weeks alone I have already seen 3 medication errors on my patients by nurses on the prior 1-2 shifts, all blamed being overwhelmed with the day. (it doesn't seem like the errors will be that consistently high though) Thankfully none of them have been severe. I don't like the many stories of being sued that I heard on my orientation. I don't like seeing good nurses lose their health because of their job, whether it be back pain, kidney stones, severe weight gain, etc.

4. Do you think you get paid what you deserve? - In the hospital: for hourly wages, no, absolutely not. (However, there are good opportunities in nursing to work a lot and to make overtime wages.) There are many office positions out there where you could make what a nurse makes without the problems listed in the last question. Not saying those jobs don't have stress themselves but its a different kind.

5. Do you think that nurses are respected by the doctors you work with? - many do, yes, however they are often overworked as well, so they're kind of in the same boat and may act less than friendly in part because of that. They can be incredibly cruel at times, though. 2 weeks ago one of the doctors screamed at the day shift nurse for how the previous shift changed the dressing.

6. What do you wish you would have learned in school to help you in the real world? - shadowing an entire shift, to see interactions with doctors, PT, tests, etc. Students pretty much get cut out of seeing how experienced nurses deal with situations, and instead are left to focus on the tasks. Too much of my clinicals were focused on CNA type tasks, and I missed out on some nursing opportunities because I had to give baths. It would be nice if they were to go into depth on general policies a hospital might have. I would have loved to have shadowed in pacu, O.R., pre-op, monitor tech. We also got 0 education on iv push meds.

7. What is the worst situation you have ever been in? - codes, seeing patients get get denied certain treatments because of poor/no insurance

8. What is the most rewarding thing about being a nurse? - being there for someone in a difficult time in their life, and being able to help them through, uplifting their spirits and their health. I truly love the patient care part of my job.

9. Do you think new-grads should start in the ER? Some people are just built for e.r. . If there is at least a 6 month orientation, then sure.

10. Are you thinking about leaving nursing? No, but I am considering all options. Depending on how things go I may look to transfer to different floors or leave hospital bedside nursing. Still gotta find my niche, and I can't see myself having the physical stamina to do bedside floor nursing the rest of my life.

Please also include your sex, age, what department you work in, and your type of degree (ASN or BSN)? female, mid twenties, surgical imcu, asn with non-nursing bachelor's

kimmymom · Apr 14, 2007

1. Why did you enter the nursing profession? I love helping people in time of need.

2. What do you like about being a nurse? Making people smile when they don't feel like smiling...making a difference in a life.

3. What do you not like about being a nurse? Watching loved ones pass away

4. Do you think you get paid what you deserve? Yes, but could always use more:-)

5. Do you think that nurses are respected by the doctors you work with? Yes

6. What do you wish you would have learned in school to help you in the real world?

Nursing skills....there is so many things to learn how to do and practice!

7. What is the worst situation you have ever been in? Having many patients and them all needing me right now! (When I first started)

8. What is the most rewarding thing about being a nurse? Making a difference in someones life

9. Do you think new-grads should start in the ER? Personally....I wouldn't...it depends on the person and their experience.

10. Are you thinking about leaving nursing? Definitely not

Please also include your sex, age, what department you work in, and your type of degree (ASN or BSN)?

I am a female, age 37, work in medical surgical and have an Associate's degree.

VivaRN · Apr 14, 2007

This email is for all nurses within their 1st year of practice.. I am writing a paper for my nursing issues class (I graduate in May) and I need your prospective.. Please give me your honest opinion!
1. Why did you enter the nursing profession?
I had strong NP role models and a desire to do meaningful work with people.
2. What do you like about being a nurse?
The ability to be so close to life and death, getting to know patients and families, going home knowing that we saved a life and always being challenged (intellectually/emotionally) by what I do and see.
3. What do you not like about being a nurse?
Being understaffed, the small minority of my co-workers who are unprofessional and/or create drama.
4. Do you think you get paid what you deserve?
Absolutely. This is a great time to be a nurse. We are in such high demand at my hospital, we can call the shots.
5. Do you think that nurses are respected by the doctors you work with?
For the most part. I am at a teaching hospital with interns/residents, and they soon see the value in having a good relationship with us! I think we have a lot more autonomy than nurses at other hospitals. No one has ever treated me disrespectfully... they care about the patients just as much as I do!
6. What do you wish you would have learned in school to help you in the real world?
How to turn someone by myself.
More experience with procedures.
How to organize my lines/pumps.
7. What is the worst situation you have ever been in?
We were already understaffed and received a call that we were getting 3 critical patients from a plane crash. I called staffing and they "didn't think they could find anyone." I lost my temper (not a usual occurrence) and told them we can't do this, we need someone NOW. We already had a patient who was confused, patients who were unstable, and a patient with a demanding family. I ran all night long. It was horrible. It was the only time I felt that patient safety was truly at stake.
8. What is the most rewarding thing about being a nurse?
Being able to use both my heart and my head every single day. The sense of accomplishment from critical thinking my way through a crisis. Having a patient get better and come back and thank us for what we did for him. I could go on and on.
9. Do you think new-grads should start in the ER?
With a good orientation, a supportive environment and the right temperment - go for it!
10. Are you thinking about leaving nursing?
I pondered it at first because I was overwhelmed (did not get a lot of critical care at my nursing school), but I stuck with it and I'm totally fine now.
Please also include your sex, age, what department you work in, and your type of degree (ASN or BSN)?
23yo F, Burn ICU, BSN

hlfpnt, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2007

This email is for all nurses within their 1st year of practice.. I am writing a paper for my nursing issues class (I graduate in May) and I need your prospective.. Please give me your honest opinion!
1. Why did you enter the nursing profession?
I've always wanted to be a nurse & the time was finally right.
2. What do you like about being a nurse?
Helping people. I like the feeling I have everyday at shift end...knowing I've done my best & feeling like I've made a difference.
3. What do you not like about being a nurse?
Not being able to give the type of care I'd like to give because of understaffing & overloaded assignments. Also the politics of a money making market & working with unprofessional "professionals". I also don't care to deal with families that are very demanding & accusatory, but they only come to see their "loved one" maybe once every 2 weeks or so.
4. Do you think you get paid what you deserve?
As an entry level nurse, yes. However, I don't think some of the seasoned nurses do.
5. Do you think that nurses are respected by the doctors you work with?
The docs, yes...the PA's, no.
6. What do you wish you would have learned in school to help you in the real world?
Time management & more hands on clinical time.
7. What is the worst situation you have ever been in?
Had a confused & combative pt pull his picc line out during a blood transfusion, decanulated himself & was trying to get out of bed. My facility has a "no restraint" policy.
8. What is the most rewarding thing about being a nurse?
Seeing a very sick pt progress to going home & knowing my care helped the process. Being able to use my skills & knowledge in a way that truely helps people during a critical time in their lives.
9. Do you think new-grads should start in the ER?
I think it depends on that person, but I also think a little med/surg experience is best for any new grad.
10. Are you thinking about leaving nursing?
No.
Please also include your sex, age, what department you work in, and your type of degree (ASN or BSN)?
F, 43, LTAC, ASN
I know that this is kind of long and I really appreciate your input. Thanks!
blueherring

Have a great day!

Lilnurse0803, RN · Apr 15, 2007

Although I have nothing to contribute to this post yet (haven't started my job), I just want to say the best of luck to all who have responded and to those that will. It is inspiring to see that even though working conditions are less than ideal, you are all able to extract the good in what you do as nurses.

Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!!!!!

RegisteredNurse06 · Apr 16, 2007

1. why did you enter the nursing profession?

nursing was always something i wanted to do. i feel it is my calling in life.

2. what do you like about being a nurse?

i like being able to help people. i like people and the interaction with my patients and i love the challenges patient care often presents. it is a very rewarding profession.

3. what do you not like about being a nurse?

the lack of respect for our profession. we work hard and we deserve to be respected as professionals.

4. do you think you get paid what you deserve?

no

5. do you think that nurses are respected by the doctors you work with?

i think most of them do. we have a few that have a really bad "god complex" but most of them aren't bad.

6. what do you wish you would have learned in school to help you in the real world?

i feel like i got a very good education. granted, there was some reality shock when i hit the floor but i don't think there was anything that could've prepared me for the "real world" in that way.

7. what is the worst situation you have ever been in?

oh geez...well, the worst situation i've been in was probably during orientation when my preceptor didn't show up. i was placed with another nurse who told me "i'll give you report on these patients in a little while but you can go ahead and do your assessments now". i assessed the patients, went back to her and told her that one of our patients didn't look good to me. she went and looked at the patient, said he was fine and left the floor(didn't even bother to tell me she was stepping off the floor). a few minutes later, the patient coded i felt horrible......thankfully, the patient lived. i felt horrible though and cried for days feeling like it was my fault this man coded. lesson learned:always trust your instincts. if you feel something isn't right, it probably isn't and needs to be investigated further.

8. what is the most rewarding thing about being a nurse?

making a difference in the lives of my patients. i love when a patient looks at me and says "you love what you do don't you?" or "i can tell you enjoy being a nurse. it shows in how you treat your patients." it's always nice when the patients get well and go home. sometimes they don't get well though....sometimes they are too sick and there's nothing you can do except make them comfortable. it's also rewarding when you have a family who has just lost their loved one who says "thank you for caring for my loved one"

9. do you think new-grads should start in the er?

no

10. are you thinking about leaving nursing?

no

please also include your sex, age, what department you work in, and your type of degree (asn or bsn)?

35 y/o female working telemetry. earned my asn last may currently working on my rn-bsn

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2007

This email is for all nurses within their 1st year of practice.. I am writing a paper for my nursing issues class (I graduate in May) and I need your prospective.. Please give me your honest opinion!
1. Why did you enter the nursing profession?
Had an aha moment that I might like being a nurse.
2. What do you like about being a nurse?
I like seeing babies get better and go home. I like that my daughter is proud that I am a nurse. I like that I get a halfway decent paycheck.
3. What do you not like about being a nurse?
When I have a very critical patient and I don't feel that I know enough to recognize the early, subtle symptoms that the patient may take a turn for the worse. I hate when a patient goes bad and I can't fix it, I don't know how to deal with the parents when that happens. I am not a big fan of the long hours.
4. Do you think you get paid what you deserve?
NO!
5. Do you think that nurses are respected by the doctors you work with?
Where I work, yes.
6. What do you wish you would have learned in school to help you in the real world?
Time management skills, learned more about the emotional aspect of being a nurse.
7. What is the worst situation you have ever been in?
Once, my patient got a pneumo, 30 minutes after I assessed her. She had to get an emergency chest tube insertion and several needle aspirations at the bedside. I beat myself up for a week, wondering if there was something I missed.
8. What is the most rewarding thing about being a nurse?
Helping people back to health.
9. Do you think new-grads should start in the ER?
If they want to, but they should have a long orientation and expect to be overwhelmed.
10. Are you thinking about leaving nursing?
No. I don't plan on doing bedside nursing my entire career, but I am content right now.
Please also include your sex, age, what department you work in, and your type of degree (ASN or BSN)? F, mid 30's, NICU, BSN.
I know that this is kind of long and I really appreciate your input. Thanks!
blueherring

Good luck to you!

bleppity · Apr 17, 2007

This email is for all nurses within their 1st year of practice.. I am writing a paper for my nursing issues class (I graduate in May) and I need your prospective.. Please give me your honest opinion!
1. Why did you enter the nursing profession? I liked the aspect of helping people get well, the flexibility, the need for nurses, and the money.
2. What do you like about being a nurse? I like it when the patients thank me for taking care of them and how much they appreciated it.
3. What do you not like about being a nurse? I hate the documentation, always afraid I'll leave something important out and that it'll come back to haunt me.
4. Do you think you get paid what you deserve? No, I think nurses are still underpaid considering just how stressful it is, particularly in teaching hospitals where the nurses have to keep an eye on the new docs to make sure they don't mess up on something.
5. Do you think that nurses are respected by the doctors you work with? Yes, they sometimes ask US for advice.
6. What do you wish you would have learned in school to help you in the real world? Better documentation skills, more experience dealing with docs
7. What is the worst situation you have ever been in? Psych patient being held down by the security police and threatening to kill me as soon as she gets out.
8. What is the most rewarding thing about being a nurse? Being thanked at the end of the shift.
9. Do you think new-grads should start in the ER? I wouldn't do it. Too fast paced, too much quick thinking that only comes with experience. If a new grad has experience in the ER or was an EMT, then that would probably be different. But to each his/her own.
10. Are you thinking about leaving nursing? Nope, too much time invested in this career. Probably would have thought twice if I knew then what I do now.
Please also include your sex, age, what department you work in, and your type of degree (ASN or BSN)?
F, 34, adult hematology/oncology, ASN
I know that this is kind of long and I really appreciate your input. Thanks!
blueherring

Good luck on your project!