Nursing worldwide

jschut, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2001

Hi Amelie (how do you get the little thing over your E?):)

My name is Julie. I am an LPN student in Indiana. I wouldn't trade it for anything! I am 38 y/o and have wanted to be a nurse since "way back when"! I have always carried a basic knowledge of medicine and nursing, it just seems to come natural to me, and always has. I have been either a CNA or a CHHA for about 20 years now (with time off for husband and children),but have always seemed to go back. I was in school once before, but got pregnant with the youngest, who is now 7 and in 1st grade.

I have tried factory work, office work and taking care of children (in a day care), but nothing in my heart compares to nursing.

Nursing to me is a way of showing a dirty, disheveled bum or a down and out drug addict that someone actually does care. That not everyone does not wish to be bothered...

Or what about a sick child that needs the arms of comfort when a parent cannot be there? Or one that has known nothing but pain and needs a loving hand to caress a forehead?

Or how about an old person left alone in the world, who is terrified of death, but knows it is coming soon?

I NEED to be there for people like these. I may regret choosing the place that I may work, but never could I ever regret taking that last step and finally becoming a nurse.

Thanks for listening...

Julie:)

purplemania, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2001

I had been working as a med tech and, after a divorce, needed more income. I went to nursing school because I could get the hospital to pay for it and it was something I knew I could do. Basically it was for the money although there is a lot of gratification in the work too. I chose pedi because children are so special. The sickest child will still try to laugh and play.

nicola · Oct 1, 2001

(How do you get the picture thingie under your name???)

I came to nursing in a round about way... I'd graduated with a BA in Spanish and Sociology and was working as an outreach worker with migrant farmworkers. The agency I was with was nursing based, so I spent tons of time with RN's and one FNP, Paula. I swear Paula is a big reason I went into nursing. When I'd go with some one to the dr. and would translate, I'd often come up with questions about why the dr. did certain things or asked the questions s/he did. She never laughed at me, but explained A&P to me... As time went on, she also taught me how to help out with certain things (pap smears for example - prepping things and handing them to her) and answered all my questions. She let me feel a hernia (with the patient's consent) and showed me a pregnant cervix (also with permission).

The decision to actually start school was a difficult one for me. I was sure I could do the work and would like the career and could handle all the "messy stuff" that nursing sometimes entails, but wasn't sure if I really wanted to go back to school. My struggle came from the fact that I knew that the way to do it right, for me, would be to bite the bullet and get the BSN/RN. That took me 4 years, during which my friends were getting married, going to Europe and buying homes. I was stuck living with my parents since I couldn't support myself and go to school full time, too.

It was, all in all, the best decision I could have made. I've been able to move out, not only into my own place, but move to NYC and support myself well. In my junior year, I won the Fuld Fellowship for my state and spent two weeks in the UK - had the time of my life for little cost to myself (they paid all expenses so all I needed was some food money and spending money). Since graduation, I've gone back to Europe once (would love to travel some more...) and have been able to change jobs pretty much at will.

Nursing has been good to me. It's full of conflict and challenges, but I couldn't see myself doing anything else!

jschut, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2001

Nicola~

sEE UP TOP OF THE PAGE WHERE IT SAYS "CP" ? Click on it... that's your control panel, then click on "edit options". Go to the bottom of the page and it'll say "Avatar". That's the picture thingy under our names. It'll explain in more detail when you get there...

Good Luck!

Julie:)

jennifer jane · Oct 1, 2001

The national health service we have in the UK is not bad considering, there are waiting lists for operations and wards are understaffed and over worked. As a nursing student we can sometimes be treated a a slave to the commands of the trained staff but this varies from ward to ward.

If you get any imformation on nursing in Georgia in relation to protmotion of womens heakth the let me know at

[email protected]

Jen