Help a prospective nurse by answering some questions

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · May 18, 2013

1. What type of facility do you work at?

Military, small-type.

2. What department do you work in?

A specialty clinic.

3. What led to your interest in nursing?

Seems I had it from the start if you ask my mother!

4. Are you currently in, or, have you ever thought about pursuing a specialty?

I came to the specialty clinic (outpatient, of course) from Oncology. Loved it.

5. What aspect of nursing do you find the most enjoyable (on a daily basis)?

Patient interaction with people who you can tell are benefitting from your care.

6. What aspect do you find the least enjoyable (on a daily basis)?

Certain managers, doctors, and "trouble patients".

7. In what ways has the job differed from your initial expectations?

There's a lot more responsibility. A LOT. I don't think I really grasped the concept of the responsibility that came along with being a licensed RN.

8. Describe your work schedule?

M-F, 0800-1600, weekends and holidays off. Finally, I got the life!

9. How is the work/life balance of being a nurse?

Not usually all that bad. Ask me when sequester hits and I may answer differently.

10. Aside from the desire to help others, what traits do you think are most important for being a good nurse?

Attention to detail. Even if you don't have the critical thinking skills yet, if you can see something that doesn't look right and alert someone else to the issue, they can typically help you.

It doesn't hurt to actually care about people, either.

11. Would you say the job is more social, or scientific?

Both. A huge, messed up science/social experiment.

12. From your experience, what is the perception of male nurses?

Love 'em (not like that). We have a high number of male nurses in the Army. They a unique perspective to care that I have come to really appreciate.

13. How do you view the future job market of nursing (for new grads, in particular)?

Not so great. Hopefully it improves, but I'm not holding my breath.

14. What, if any, additional advice do you have for someone considering the field?

Be open to different fields. Don't decide anything too fast. Study hard, but really pay attention in clinicals--that's where the important stuff happens. Listen to your patients. Advocate until you need CPR yourself before you let something bad happen to your patient. At the end of the day, exercise, go have fun with some friends, do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself, because if you can't take care of yourself, you can't take care of anyone else.

MissM.RN, BSN, RN · May 18, 2013

1. What type of facility do you work at?

Acute care hospital, ICU step down

2. What department do you work in?

See above :)

3. What led to your interest in nursing?

A teacher, actually

4. Are you currently in, or, have you ever thought about pursuing a specialty?

I think ICU step down (and ICU in general) is pretty much a specialty. I once thought about OB or Peds, but now I wouldn't even consider it. Funny how that works out! I just ended up loving the patients I have now.

5. What aspect of nursing do you find the most enjoyable (on a daily basis)?

Having a confused, very sick patient state "you're an angel" when she will never remember the care I gave, nor my name. When those who are truly vulnerable are cared for like family. I also love learning about new diseases, strange presentations, and guessing where the MD's mind is headed.

6. What aspect do you find the least enjoyable (on a daily basis)?

High ratio's, lack of time to do everything you wish you could. Sometimes there is not enough time to truly advocate for your patients or learn about them.

7. In what ways has the job differed from your initial expectations?

I went in with no expectations beyond a name-badge with RN on it. That has served me well.

8. Describe your work schedule?

3 12-hour night shifts each week. LOVE IT.

9. How is the work/life balance of being a nurse?

Great! Plenty of time off. But be sure to make (or buy) blackout curtains if you choose nights in future :)

10. Aside from the desire to help others, what traits do you think are most important for being a good nurse?

Strong work ethic, smart, good math and science skills, integrity, and the ability to charm the pants off even an angry daughter-in-law of your patient!

11. Would you say the job is more social, or scientific?

I love the previous poster's answer to this - a big mess of both.

12. From your experience, what is the perception of male nurses?

Perception? You must mean from the view of female nurses....on my unit, there is none really. There are no issues about masculinity in the work place. The only real difference is, occasionally a larger male RN will be asked to help us smaller folks with lifts/turns (hehe) :)

13. How do you view the future job market of nursing (for new grads, in particular)?

New grads looking for acute care- the job market is closing fast, and I don't know if it will ever return to the era of 2005-2007 when people were being given relocation, housing, even bonuses as new grads. Hospitals are being squeezed left and right to cut costs and reduce overhead. A lot of that is coming from nursing education and supply budgets. I hope that this stops. Where else can a new grad RN expect to learn and grow in the most supportive environment possible? Things like home health and nursing homes are not appropriate, in my opinion. To prevent errors, a new grad must be around seasoned nurses, a charge RN, and the house staff MDs. But I come from a hospital perspective of course.

14. What, if any, additional advice do you have for someone considering the field?

Shadow a nurse for a day, please. Do not enroll in school until you really know that you can handle the "guts" of nursing. It's heartbreaking to see RNs who truly don't care, when their seats in limited nursing programs could have been taken by someone who will help change the profession for the better. Best of luck in your decision! If you need help, PM me with questions.

thespifury · May 18, 2013

Thank you so much for your thorough responses!

dedicated_2b_RN · May 19, 2013

Hello I am not able to answer most of your questions as I am still in still trying to be accepted in a program stage of an RN career

it has taken my quite a while to finish pre R.N. classes (three yrs.) but I have never lost desire even after reading many horror

stories about being an R.N. (first job, keeping a job, patient overload etc. etc.).if you truly have it in your heart to be an R.N.

you already know it and if you do, then go for it and don't let anything stop you.

BigMan314 · May 22, 2013

1. What type of facility do you work at?

Hospital

2. What department do you work in?

NICU

3. What led to your interest in nursing?

Sister is an RN

4. Are you currently in, or, have you ever thought about pursuing a specialty?

Applying for MSN in Nurse Educator

5. What aspect of nursing do you find the most enjoyable (on a daily basis)?

Helping others

6. What aspect do you find the least enjoyable (on a daily basis)?

The hours

7. In what ways has the job differed from your initial expectations?

A lot of responsibility and decision making

8. Describe your work schedule?

4 days a week, 2330-0800. Every other weekend

9. How is the work/life balance of being a nurse?

Hard with working NOC shift and seeing friends, gf and other life stuff

10. Aside from the desire to help others, what traits do you think are most important for being a good nurse?

Time management, patience

11. Would you say the job is more social, or scientific?

Social

12. From your experience, what is the perception of male nurses?

Amazing, especially when working with kids

13. How do you view the future job market of nursing (for new grads, in particular)?

Getting better

14. What, if any, additional advice do you have for someone considering the field?

It's who you know