I'm having doubts about nursing... :(

[Texasstudent0]

Okay everyone, I am just starting my second semester of nursing school and I just had my first day at orientation on the med-surge floor that I will be at this semester. This is my first semester doing clinicals.. Long story short, I absolutely hated it. But there are several factors that may have affected my experience with it. Because it was orientation we were not set up with computer access so some of us were set up to shadow an RN, and others were set up to shadow a CNA. I got set up to shadow a CNA, I felt so unfulfilled.. We literally changed sheets, and cleaned poop the whole time. I was envious of my other classmates that got the opportunity to shadow nurses. The whole day I kept thinking to myself, am I really busting my a** in nursing school for this? It was extremely disheartening and discouraging. I went home almost in tears. Now let me back up and acknowledge the fact, that YES I WAS WITH A CNA, and I am sure it is much better actually shadowing a nurse. I was able to pop in and tag along with other classmates, but even then it was kind of boring. I know I should probably give it another chance but it was not a good first impression at all by any means.

I guess I just thought it would be more exciting... I would be able to use more of my nursing skills. I just don't know if I will ever like the med-surge floor.

[emergenceRN17, ASN, BSN, RN]

I understand it was one day, but as a nursing student it is a day you dream of... I think many other nursing students can relate. They look forward to their first day of clinical. So when it doesn't live up to the "hype" its kind of a bummer. I am allowed to vent.

"So when it doesn't live up to the hype its kind of a bummer".....

Ok, want to hear about my first clinical experience during my first semester of school? I didn't get to shadow anyone, didn't have access to the computer, nor did I get to do ANY CNA skills. We literally walked around and got the feel of the floor and what it was all about.

You do realize that when you become an RN, those initials do not excuse you from doing some of the tasks that a CNA does? I wish I got to change sheets and clean poop my first day!!

I wish you luck, you may not want expect too much during your first semester of clinicals.... all in due time.

[chris21sn, BSN, RN]

Jeez, a lot of the nurses on this forum has their undies a little too high up. Lay off her a little guys, jeez. She didn't kill someone here lol. I hope I can offer some advice from a different angle.

I get it, I totally understand where you're coming from. We see nursing as this career where we are doing more of critical thinking and helping save lives. And we do that. But nursing encompasses a lot of poop. I understand that you were probably expecting something different on your first day - I totally get it. I didn't like med surg clinical myself when I was younger. You were probably hoping to see some medication draws, some nursing skills (foleys and colostomies!). You'll see it eventually! Don't worry about that. But you did mention that you found the nursing skills somewhat boring as well? Try to look into nursing. There are many avenues to follow. What is it you want? What are you looking for in nursing? Critical care? Outpatient? Babies? Community nursing? Elderly?

And Usually it depends on your team whether you'll be dealing with lots of poop later on. So I wouldn't worry too much on that. As for me, I worked in the MICU/SICU and telemetry. In the ICU, I had two aides - one was very lazy and the other one was super helpful but always busy. More times often then not I had to do the cleaning (imagine cleaning vent patients by yourself and in your first year no less). My telemetry floor had one aide -- for 24 patients. There was this one aide who would always yell at me when I asked for help. There was another one who told me she thought of me as a daughter and always asked me every hour if there was something she could do for me.

Let me also mention, I also have a rehab outpatient per diem job where I have yet to touch a single butt because almost every patient has their own personal aide and the other aides have only 4 patients each.

It really depends on your environment. It's not too bad and it does get easier.

Our job is hard, but this is when we have to learn to grow some b@lls, push up our sleeves and do what we can do.

As someone mentioned above, and I totally agree - you don't have to love cleaning poop. You have to be "compassionate" or "empathetic" to love poop? What kind of (bleep bleep) is that? I have yet to find someone that purely enjoys this aspect of the job. Like the commentor also mentioned from above, That's totally fine and there are lots of avenues out there. You can probably find outpatients, psych floors, dialysis, same day surgerys etc. you can go into management, informatics. Also remember there will obviously be less fluids and cleaning in a healthy mother who gave birth the day before versus a cormobidity patient brain dead on a ventilator. Just look around! And sort of think of what you want to tolerate and how much this aspect really bothers you.

Also there will be lots of negative people out there, yelling at you. I have experienced some nice nurses and experienced some straight up rude ones (as you probably have already experienced up there in the comments). It's up to you to on how you listen.

Keep pushing towards your goals and nothing will stop you.

Hope I can help

[Steffy44]

It's one dang day and you're already ready to throw in the towel. You don't really learn that much on day one anyway. It's a learning experience. Why did you not speak up and say you work as a CNA...your assignment may have been switched. I can understand how it may have been disappointing because you know the CNA role but again...it's one day.

[MandMzmama]

Hi TexasStudent,

Let me first say that I completely understand your concerns or perhaps disappointment on the first day of med-surg. I would have been disappointed, too, not being able to shadow an RN since I was in school for that. I do, however, agree with some of the others to hang in. Also, if you were paired with a good CNA, I believe that he/she could have shown you secrets of their trade on how to do things more efficiently in the area of bathing pts, bed changes, assistance to the bathroom, and all the other tasks they are involved in. Try not to judge your entire experience on this day, I'm sure things will pick up. I also must say that as the nurses who are ultimately responsible for our pts, if their bed needs to be changed, poop cleaned up and bed pans emptied, and often times depending on the facility, unit and staffing, we do have to do these things, we just do them. Hang in there. There are a ton of great skills to be learned in med-surg even if it's not your ideal setting. That's one of the beauties of nursing, so many settings to choose from. Good luck to you!

[ROOKIELZ]

The first bit is not always what you may expect. Hang in there. Nursing IS changing sheets and cleaning up bm amongst other skills. Use this time to show willingness and competance, also to show how well you can interface with all staff.

As a cna you can be the eyes and ears for nurses which shows assessment and communication. CNA isnt what you are in school for but these are facets of being an RN. Once you move on to other skills it may make more sense to you.

[lunanarya, BSN, RN]

I'm a second year nursing student. During my first year, our few months of clinical were all in long-term care with a handful of med-surg towards the end. During the long-term care stint, our two tasks were to shadow the CNAs and complete our assessments for our school paperwork. There was very little charting, almost no time with the nurses, and I was one of the very few students in my class that hadn't previously been a CNA prior to starting nursing school.

At first, I absolutely hated it. I had a hard time with transferring, toileting, and movement with patients because it was totally different than how I'd imagined it and different from how I'd learned it in the lab. So, I can relate to the disappointment after the first day (and even the first month!) I went through a lot of the same disappointment, a lot of tears, and threw a lot of books. I told my instructors about my woes...and they put me to work every shift with multiple CNAs. Some days were great, and others really sucked, but I got through it!

Looking back on it now, I wouldn't trade those first few months of awfulness and let-down for anything (except maybe the wrist sprains from throwing books - nursing books are heavy:lol2:) I learned so much from the CNAs I shadowed, and I can't speak to how much that experience has helped me in clinical and work since then.

[koreanbraves]

hey, i am senior nursing student graduating December 2017 and I can tell you do not make decision just on one clinical rotation. you will go through many different types of floors such as PEDS, OB, PSYCH, critical care, ER, hospice, nursing homes, etc. and you will find your passion somewhere. CNAs are critical part of the care team. i suggest you do nurse intern job or extern job and see if you really like the hospital environment. do it as soon as possible because you dont want to go too deep into your program and then regret it. every job has its own ups/downs. you need to fit into the unique nursing passion to stay in this field.

[NursiePoo40]

I precept new grad nurses and I can tell a huge difference with those who have worked as LNAs- they have a natural way with patients and are more willing to do anything that needs to be done (instead of calling for an LNA for example to change sheets or help a pt to the bathroom). I have and continue to learn tons from LNAs, both in skills and more just in ways to treat patients; I have a huge respect for LNAs and what they do for such little pay. I'm sure it's frustrating to shadow an LNA while you are a student and so anxious to learn nursing skills but remember that as nurses we are expected to be able to do everything an LNA does as well!

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

Nurses are required to do CNA duties often, and more than you could even imagine. You won't get any sympathy, not saying you are asking for it, just stating the facts. If cleaning up poop all day bothers you, look for another career before you get so deep in and you can't get out. As a nurse you will be asked to do more than you are willing to do on an ongoing basis to, and with a smile on your face. If you do stick with it, make sure you can trust the people you decide to complain to. Some will run to the boss and say you hate the place but only a select few will understand. Many nurses like nursing, just not the conditions in which they are asked to work in. Know the difference.

[Applejack]

I can't help but wonder these thoughts reflected your work in clinical

[fmf13]

The OP stated that there weren't enough nurses to go around. So, potentially she could be paired with a CNA again. But we know next time, she won't.

I complained ABOUT instructors during nursing school, and had lovely interactions with the President of the school, and the Dean of Student Affairs. If things hadn't been resolved, I would have taken my concerns even higher.

Sometimes, you need to stand up for yourself and your classmates and not be a scared mouse.

I remember that I was paired with a CNA for several days within my rotation. I was humbled at how much they do behind the scenes. I don't understand why we are complaining about something so trivial. In life, you will have conflicts and things you don't like, but complaining all the time is not the right response. That will NOT look good on you when you leave, because you are not pleased with one thing or the other, and the facility doesn't give a good reference. Remember that what you do reflects on you and can have consequences. Even if you don't leave, how you respect other co-workers or complain about people will effect how willing people will be to help you. Sometimes you have to pull on your big girl/boy pants and suck it up. Nursing is not always glamorous.

OP, I know you were looking for empathy, but I don't understand why you are questioning your future nursing career because you were paired with a CNA. It is HARD, HARD work to be a CNA and they may not know everything, but they are an integral part of our system. Take it from someone that did primary care all the time, we do not have aids on our floor.

In short, yes you have a right to vent, but be prepared to get responses you don't like--that is life. Lastly, you will be fine and get plenty of experience shadowing nurses.

[RS,StudentLVN]

The real learning experience comes when you start your first job. Be proud of what you will eventually be doing as a nurse. Good luck to you!