hesitations of becoming a nurse...ever had any????

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Hi guys,

I'm new and I want to be a Nurse. My only hesitation is that I tend to change my career choices and I hate it. I would love to stick to one thing that I enjoy. I've only studied business and I'm 25 years old. How old is everyone around here? Is it too late to start over?? I love helping people and I hate desk jobs. I know I would love being a Nurse. After reading a few posts, everyone says a nurses job is a respectable profession yet I hear a lot of negative things in terms of work. The hours. etc. How fast can you advance. I would want to be in L&D or Cardiac.

What I hear a lot if that there is a lot of butt wiping and dirty work. Or is that only in one area. Say if you specialize in L&D and work with babies (I LOVE BABIES) do you still get sent around doing other work?

What is the salary for a L&D nurse? Usual hours?

Will it be hard for someone with no previous science background, except a first year university biology course!!

Thanks... all help adn advice appreciated!!

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Hello and welcome to allnurses !

How old is everyone around here? Is it too late to start over??

Gawd no it's not to old to start over. We have a wide range of ages from 20 somethings to 50 somethings starting over.

What I hear a lot if that there is a lot of butt wiping and dirty work. Or is that only in one area.

Yes there's a lot of that but so far for me it's only in clinicals. Of course when you practice you will encounter this but yes I gues it would depend on what area you go into. Research nsg has none of that. Phone triage nsg either. I think you really have to love people and helping them. If so you won't mind too much IMHO.

Will it be hard for someone with no previous science background, except a first year university biology course!!

Actually your BIO is a plus. Many of the so called pre-reqs everyone talks about here are called co-reqs in Canada at least where I'm from. This means you take them IN nursing school with the other nursing theory and clinical classes. As long as you have the pre reqs from highschool you're ok and don't need a really strong background in sciences. I'm proof of that.

Good luck !

Z

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Hello and welcome to allnurses !

How old is everyone around here? Is it too late to start over??

Gawd no it's not to old to start over. We have a wide range of ages from 20 somethings to 50 somethings starting over.

What I hear a lot if that there is a lot of butt wiping and dirty work. Or is that only in one area.

Yes there's a lot of that but so far for me it's only in clinicals. Of course when you practice you will encounter this but yes I gues it would depend on what area you go into. Research nsg has none of that. Phone triage nsg either. I think you really have to love people and helping them. If so you won't mind too much IMHO.

Will it be hard for someone with no previous science background, except a first year university biology course!!

Actually your BIO is a plus. Many of the so called pre-reqs everyone talks about here are called co-reqs in Canada at least where I'm from. This means you take them IN nursing school with the other nursing theory and clinical classes. As long as you have the pre reqs from highschool you're ok and don't need a really strong background in sciences. I'm proof of that.

Good luck !

Z

Hey.. I'm in Canada too. Although with the pre-reqs.. I haven't really taken them in high school which is why I think I might have to do a chemistry course.

So in overall, ALL areas of nursing deal with butt wiping? even Labor and Delivery? like I dont mind baby changing.

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Specializes in OR, Hospice.

Is it too late to start over.....AT 25??!!!! :chuckle :chuckle

I'm 47 and starting NS next month......its NEVER too late!

You really don't need a background in science (I was a psych major). You'll get all the science you need in your pre-reqs.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!

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Hey.. I'm in Canada too. Although with the pre-reqs.. I haven't really taken them in high school which is why I think I might have to do a chemistry course.

So in overall, ALL areas of nursing deal with butt wiping? even Labor and Delivery? like I dont mind baby changing.

I'm no labor or delivery nurse but I think it's safe to say there's some 'butt wiping' going on !

Epidurals....no sensation below the waist...etc. And all that pushing can usually insure a nice flow of "soft serve ice cream type" poop from mom. Guess who gets to clean that up. :rotfl: (I'm loving this)

As for highschool...you need your 4U Bio, 4U Eng, 4U chem, 3M or 4U mathematics/functions. At least here you do. I'm in Ontario. Not sure about you.

Z

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

It is never too late to go back and further/start your education. Everyday of your life you will learn something new :p

Good luck

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

You have to wipe BUTTS? lmao

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Specializes in ER.

If you are looking to avoid messes, I wouldn't recommend L&D. :chuckle I think that was my MESSIEST, albeit most exciting, clinical rotation yet! I have never seen so much blood and muck in my life (and I have had three babies...somehow I must have been too busy looking at my sweeties to realize how messy the whole deal was)!

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I u/stand the difficulty making up your mind. I did my teaching certificate, then a BSc in Psychology. I worked as a teacher, then I did my MSW and worked as a social worker and during that time I realised I wanted more hands on, so now I am in NS. Did I mention I am 27?

If u try t oescape the butt wiping, u are going to be miserable, u just have to do it. Even though I am going into case mgt, with my Social work background, I am stil lpreparing my self to do some dirtywork, though not for long. As we say in my country, if you want good, your nose has to run... U have to go through some nasty stuff as a nurse.

Get ur BSN and put ur self in a position to not have to do it for long.

By the way, I am 27, done alot, but I dont think I or yourself or anyone else for that matter is too old, as long as u can stand on ur feet.

Salary is commensurate on experience, where you work and hours. 12 hour shifts are good and nights pay more than days.

Make up your mind, we arent gettin any younger

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If you are looking to avoid messes, I wouldn't recommend L&D. :chuckle I think that was my MESSIEST, albeit most exciting, clinical rotation yet! I have never seen so much blood and muck in my life (and I have had three babies...somehow I must have been too busy looking at my sweeties to realize how messy the whole deal was)!

Not to mention that some womens' feminine hygiene leaves A LOT to be desired. :barf01:

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Not to mention that some womens' feminine hygiene leaves A LOT to be desired. :barf01:

Oh man yeah. I forgot about that. Yuck.

Z

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Specializes in ER.

Let's hear it for good feminine hygeine! :cheers: :yelclap:

Nursekatrina, I wanted to add that I think nursing is an awesome way to go if you are someone with diverse interests, who likes change. One of the things that drew me to the field is that the opportunities are LIMITLESS.

I also agree with what Z said in regard to "butt wiping". If you love people and want to help them, your empathy tends to take over when some of the more unpleasant tasks come up.

Good luck with your decision.

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