Having doubts about being a nurse

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Hi,

This is only my first week in nursing school however, I am having second doubts about entering this profession. Now that I know more about what a nurse actually does--and let's face it, it can be rather gross and disgusting to do some of these things that they are required to do. Such things as putting in an airway tubes, inserting catheter or cleansing wounds and things like that.

Although I admire people who can do these important tasks, I'm just not sure it's right for me. Ultimately I want to be more of a medical professional such as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. I'm now thinking that I should've waited a year and applied to physician assistant school to see if I could get in. I got accepted to three nursing schools and my first choice (due to location) I did not get in because the nursingCAS is messed up my application.

Another issue is that physician assistant programs want you to have at least 1000 hours of work or serious volunteer experience.

I would appreciate any insights from either student nurses who are advanced in their program or actual nurses to get a sense of what it's like to tend to patients and do these rather invasive procedures. Do you just get used to it, or is there always some sort of gross out factor involved?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

What is it that you thought nurses did prior to this?

Physician Assistants have to do gross things too. Grosser, actually depending on which area. If you find all the things you mentioned gross, and feel you cant do them my advice would be to choose an area that doesn't reovolve around healthcare.

I can't speak for nurses, but there certainly are thing you must get used to. The smells, the sights. Some things are truly gross that you will encounter, but putting in foleys and cleaning wounds aren't them, in my opinion.

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What is it that you thought nurses did prior to this?

Physician Assistants have to do gross things too. Grosser, actually depending on which area. If you find all the things you mentioned gross, and feel you cant do them my advice would be to choose an area that doesn't reovolve around healthcare.

I can't speak for nurses, but there certainly are thing you must get used to. The smells, the sights. Some things are truly gross that you will encounter, but putting in foleys and cleaning wounds aren't them, in my opinion.

Agree.

Not much grosses me out anymore. I'm pregnant and cleaning up poop doesn't even make me gag.

I thought it was common knowledge that nurses were the front line people with bodily fluids?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Ultimately I want to be more of a medical professional such as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

I totally 'get' what you are attempting to convey, but please be mindful that nurses are healthcare professionals in their own right.

The major difference is that bedside nursing practice incorporates a repertoire of 'professional' soft skills (advocacy, accountability, interpersonal skills, monitoring outcomes, planning care) and some elements of manual labor (frequent heavy lifting, wearing uniforms, performing incontinent care, punching time clocks).

I hope you find what you are seeking. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

The things you mention lead to me to believe that you are either not cut out for healthcare, or should wait it out in your program a bit longer to see if you might surprise yourself and find that you like nursing. But like another poster said, what is it that you thought nurses did?

As for an NP or a PA, they stitch gory wounds, examine lady partss and memberes, see gross infected wounds and rashes, they prescribe treatment for nurses to carry out and also perform many of their own procedures. So if you think you are getting away from gross stuff in those professions you are wrong.

Its the to take a look at yourself and ask why you wanted to be a nurse in the first place. There's really no right answer to that, but see if that reason still seems worth it now that you know a little more. Also keep in mind that even though nurses do all the "gross" stuff, it's not like every patient requires "gross" care. And some areas of nursing require the less "gross" stuff. But honestly if all of the minimal stuff grosses you out then you probably really won't like when it comes to dressing stage 4 pressure ulcers or caring for a patient with a wound dehiscence, or collecting sputum samples, or manually disimpacting a patient through the orifice. Just be prepared that what you have learned about in the first week barely brushes the surface of what kind of things nurses do. GL with your decision.

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Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

dressing stage 4 pressure ulcers or caring for a patient with a wound dehiscence, or collecting sputum samples, or manually disimpacting a patient through the orifice.

yup!! :-)

not to mention colostomy bags and chronic c-diff, which usually leads to at least some incontinence.....

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

Feces have never bothered me. Blood no longer bothers me. I learned to love wound care. Phlegm used to bother me, but not so much anymore.

I realize some people may never learn to enjoy caring for people in situations when they come into contact with nasty things.

However, I don't see how a person could work in any medical or nursing capacity and not come into contact with "gross" stuff.

I got over my disgust with phlegm during clinicals when I was assigned 2 Pts with tracheostomies. One pt was unable to move at all and I saw him simply as a human who relied on others. I enjoyed helping this man to retain his dignity. I saw him as a real person. The other pt was independent except he had a trach. He fought so hard to wean himself from it. I enjoyed caring for him because I wanted to see him meet his goal of being discharged home. That experience got me over my fear of phlegm.

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Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.
I enjoyed helping this man to retain his dignity. I saw him as a real person. The other pt was independent except he had a trach. He fought so hard to wean himself from it. I enjoyed caring for him because I wanted to see him meet his goal of being discharged home. That experience got me over my fear of phlegm.

That's what happens for me too. Do I like cleaning feces and diarrhea? Nope. But I am HAPPY to do it, when you see the humanity in the patient and how desperately they need your help. This is where gross should leave your brain and compassion should kick in. I take pride in making them feel better about it and not be humiliated. It's horrible to see someone be so mortified over having an accident, or needing help with basic human needs. If I can make them feel better about it and not be ashamed, I've done my job. Gross or not.

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Specializes in ICU.

What do you think the medical is about? There is "gross" stuff in all aspects. I think you need to research what these jobs entail before spending money on school.

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

I'm still trying to understand how it came to be that before nursing school, you didn't know that some of what nurses do is "gross" and "invasive". Or how you think that being "more of a medical professional" (??) will mean not doing gross and invasive things.

As has been suggested, you might want to do some research. I think you might want to shadow someone who is "more of a medical professional" in your opinion. Talk with people within whatever field you choose before you get into a medical program of any kind.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I agree with these guys. I'm not sure what you thought nurses did before this, but I don't think you are clear on the role of PAs or NPs, either. They deal with plenty of the "gross" stuff. If "gross" things are not your deal, then healthcare is probably not your cup of tea. I can tell you from having worked in a clinic with both that there were plenty of STI exams, wound dressing changes, sutures, and other "gross" things that the "medical professionals" got to handle.

Additionally, as TheCommuter already stated, please recognize that nurses ARE medical professionals.

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I don't mean to sound harsh, but what exactly were you expecting that nurses do? You seemed grossed out by the catheters & what not but I don't understand how you didn't know you'd be doing that. Nursing is definitely not for everyone. I'm in my 3rd out of 4 semesters & it's definitely hard & some things do gross me out, but I love every minute of it.

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