Going into nursing with no prior medical experience. Am I insane?

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I've been kind of worried about how this is going to work. So... I've been accepted into my schools Fall nursing program which I'm so excited for. However, I have absolutely no prior medical experience. Is this going to hurt me? A lot of people from my prerequisite classes were CNA's or PCT's etc... I feel like they will have a huge advantage over me. I have worked with the public all my life. I am probably one of the very few people who can honestly say this, but I love interacting with people! I've successfully delt with happy, sad, angry people. (My degree in psychology also helps that lol). I have worked as HR for a national home health care company, and a general manager to a few subway restaurants. With each of those jobs I've had to deal with a lot of stress. So I know I will do well when it comes to stress and communication with people. Also, gore doesn't bother me. But I'm just worried I'll get lost with all the lingo. I am taking a non required med term class this summer hoping that will help some. Anyways, what are your thoughts? Anyone else in this same predicament? Anyone else successfully arise through this same thing?

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The reason to work as CNA or PCT is not to learn the lingo IMO. It is more about exposure to the gore. You said gore doesn't bother you but how do you know until you have been elbow deep in it? smelled it? been splashed with it? etc.

When my child fell off a bicycle at age 6 and bled profusely all over his face from a forehead wound, I felt faint. Only a stint as a CNA proved to me that I really could handle the gore. I suggest that you at least go shadow before making such a big committment. Suppose you are one of those who faints at the sight of blood or vomits at the smell of rotting pressure ulcers or c-diff diarrhea?

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Specializes in Med-Surg Ortho.

At an info session for a nursing program, someone asked a similar question. The response was that it's not about being able to handle blood or any other bodily fluids, etc. She said that it really takes liking people. The gist of what she was saying was if you can handle people at their worst, you'll be fine. You'll find a way to deal with all that other gross stuff.

If she's right, you're all set. Transferable skills are the key.

Good luck!

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6 hours ago, 2Ask said:

The reason to work as CNA or PCT is not to learn the lingo IMO. It is more about exposure to the gore. You said gore doesn't bother you but how do you know until you have been elbow deep in it? smelled it? been splashed with it? etc.

When my child fell off a bicycle at age 6 and bled profusely all over his face from a forehead wound, I felt faint. Only a stint as a CNA proved to me that I really could handle the gore. I suggest that you at least go shadow before making such a big committment. Suppose you are one of those who faints at the sight of blood or vomits at the smell of rotting pressure ulcers or c-diff diarrhea?

Thank you very much for your input! I think I'll be okay with all of that because of certain life situations I've have to experience. I've experienced blood, guts, diarrhea, and even witnessed death, strangers and family alike. Smell, I will definitely have to work on, I have a very sensitive nose, but I'm sure that's something I can over come. Plus I'm a mom of a 13 year old so Ive dealt with some of that stuff daily when he was younger. Granted he is my son, but like I said before the other life situations weren't all family. Other then that you think the lingo and stuff shouldn't have that much of an impact though? That's what I'm worried about lol

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Nope.

I had no prior healthcare work experience either and I did just fine. Sure, it'd help, but it's not absolutely necessary either.

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Specializes in NICU.

Make yourself a spaghetti dinner, sit in front of your computer and search for open heart surgery on YouTube. If you can watch an open heart surgery without losing your appetite, you are good to go with the gore in nursing.

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36 minutes ago, NICU Guy said:

Make yourself a spaghetti dinner, sit in front of your computer and search for open heart surgery on YouTube. If you can watch an open heart surgery without losing your appetite, you are good to go with the gore in nursing.

Haha! You should see some of the medical and doctor pages I follow on Instagram! Some of the stuff posted on there are pretty gnarly but interesting! I always try to show my fiance some of the content from those pages, but he won't have anything to do with it LOL!

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3 hours ago, NICU Guy said:

Make yourself a spaghetti dinner, sit in front of your computer and search for open heart surgery on YouTube. If you can watch an open heart surgery without losing your appetite, you are good to go with the gore in nursing.

I'm interested in horror films and regularly watch Dr. Pimple Popper (I mean sure, I also volunteered at a hospital before but that's beside the point lol). Think I'll be a good fit for a nurse? ;D

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Specializes in MICU.
5 hours ago, CoeurCommeHepburn said:

I'm interested in horror films and regularly watch Dr. Pimple Popper (I mean sure, I also volunteered at a hospital before but that's beside the point lol). Think I'll be a good fit for a nurse? ;D

I love Doctor Pimple Popper! Also, I’m one of those freaks that loves watching ear wax removal on YouTube. I actually find it soothing! ?

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9 minutes ago, Etak said:

I love Doctor Pimple Popper! Also, I’m one of those freaks that loves watching ear wax removal on YouTube. I actually find it soothing! ?

I'm watching the removal of 50 years worth of earwax and I'm disappointed there wasn't more earwax :(.

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Specializes in MICU.

I don’t think it’s crazy at all! I don’t have medical experience either beyond having been a patient myself, and I am wrapping up the last of my prerequisites this fall.

I’m not a squeamish person and am a firm believer that you can get used to anything. In anatomy we had a cadaver that was intimidating the first time we saw him, but by the end of the semester I was happily exploring the thoracic cavity right along with the professor.

And actually, out of all the classes I’ve taken, which is all but one pre-req, not that many of my pre-nursing peers have medical experience. Now that I’m at the point in this journey where I’m scouring every detail of the applications at all of my schools I’ll apply to, it seems so few points are actually awarded for experience. They care much more about your gpa and teas score. My top choice schools offer 40 points for a great teas score, 30 points for a great gpa, and between 1-5 points for medical experience. In the end, if you’re in a heavily impacted area it may come down to experience or being bilingual in a tie breaker between two students, but in general, I personally don’t think it’s insane to pursue this with no previous experience.

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I have not seen much gore in my 35 years as an acute care nurse, even with occasionally floating to the ER and the OR. Any wounds, injuries, etc., are thoroughly bandaged once a patient gets to the floor. The average bedside acute care nurse does not see "gore".

The main reason it would have helped me being a CNA, (or MA or PCT), during nursing school or in my first year on the job was I was scared and uncomfortable with touching patients. I thought every patient in an acute care hospital must be critically ill and I could seriously harm them by moving them the wrong way. Or even just that in normal society we don't "touch" strangers.

Being comfortable with touching patients, taking blood pressures, listening to heart sounds, assisting patients up to the bathroom, etc., as a CNA would have helped me greatly. Just getting an idea for an average day in a hospital.

If it is possible for you to become a CNA, MA, or PCT, during nursing school and work part time during the summer or even during school can help and look good on your resume.

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