Question about working in a hospital while in nursing school?

[cn2007rn]

Hi Everyone,

I have a question, I have been hearing some negative things about the work environment in a hospital. I am hoping to be accepted to an ADN program this fall, and then I will be working part-time evenings in a hospital as a Patient Care Associate (Nurse's Aide) or a Business Associate (Unit Clerk). I have been told the nurses are mean to everyone that is not a nurse or doctor.

Two of my friends have worked in the hospital I will probably be working in and they told me the environment is terrible. My one friend said the charge nurses are very difficult to work with (they play favorites and get mad about taking meal breaks too late) and my other friend told me a nurse yelled at her for not having a medical background. I have a medical background, currently working for a home agency, have worked in insurance collections, and also as a pharmacy technician. I am very interested in nursing and can't wait to work hand's on with patients, but I am a little nervous about things I am hearing?

Has anyone had similar experiences-negative or positive?

Thanks! Any input would help! :)

[Ayvah, RN]

I think a lot of it has to do with what unit you work on. The recruiter that interviews you should know a good deal about the environment for each nursing unit. For example, at the hospital that I work at, the O.R. staff is considered 'gruff and to the point, and with a unique sense of humor' and you will not do well on that unit unless you share that type of humor and to-the-point attitude. It used to be that on our tele floor you would be eaten alive if you had less than 5 years of experience as a nurse. The nurses there did not help out new grads, and were not welcoming. That was a big problem for many years, and we had our nurse recruiter and administration work very hard to change that, which it is starting to now. On our Medical floor, new hire nurses make up a good chunk of the nurses there, and they are welcomed with open arms.

Talk to the recruiter and the managers about the environment on the floors, and you should find a good fit! Each floor is unique.

[KrisRNwannabe]

my advice would be to look around and find a position were they let use your skills that you are gaining in clinical. around here you can work as a tech after the first semester. I do caths, trach care, wound dressings, draw blood ect. pretty much everything but pass meds. it is great experience. i got my job by going to an RN Open house at a hospital. good luck

Kris

[cn2007rn]

Thank you for your input, I can't wait to get into the field and work in a hospital to see firsthand everything that happens on a daily basis!

I guess I just get nervous about the things that I hear and I am also nervous that what if this isn't the right career choice for me, but I am very, very interested in learning everything I can! I guess if I have the drive and determination I can do anything! I love the science and technology that goes along with nursing, so hopefully everything will work out! Hopefully people at the hospital won't ruin my spirit! :)