Hey I Want Someone With Experience!

[henryswife]

HEY YALL...LOL

WELL ANY WHO! HERES THE DILEMA,I NEVER WORKED IN THE HEALTH FIELD EVER!!!ALWAYS CUSTOMER SVC AND FINANCE JOBS.SO OF COURSE IM GONNA BE VERY SHOOKED ABOUT WANTING TO ENROLL IN THE RN PROGRAM.I MEAN YOU HEAR SO MANY HORROR STORIES ABOUT NEW GRADS WORKING IN THE HOSPITAL.I MEAN I ACTUALLY SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES AND TWO GRADS COMPLAINED TO ME ABOUT HOW THEY WERE TREATED BY ONE SENIOR NURSE.I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL HAVING MY BABY AND I HAD STUDENT NURSES CHKING ON ME AND MY BABY.ONE OF THE MENTORS LEFT THE STUDENT NURSE TO CHK ON ME AND SHE WAS RUNNING AROUND LIKE A CHICKEN WITH ITS HEAD CUT OFF.I FELT BAD FOR THEM...OF COURSE I TOLD THEM IT WAS OK...THEY ALL LIKE ME SO MUCH THEY WOULD COME IN MY ROOM TO CHAT WITH ME AND MY HUSBAND TO GET A BREATHER.WELL ANYWAY BACK TO MY STORY....I WANTED TO KNOW FOR ALL THE SENIOR NURSES AND EVEN NEW GRADS....IS IT BETTER TO GET MY FEET WET FIRST BEFORE TRYIN TO OBTAIN AN DEGREE IN NURSING....MAYBE A MEDICAL ASSISTANT,CNA,LPN(I SEE ALOT OF PLACES ARE NOT HIRING LPNS.POSITIONS ARE LIMITED...)...WHICH ONES WOULD HAVE ME BETTER PREPARED..I DONT WANT TO BE ONE OF THESE NEW GRADS...BEING SCOLDED BY DOCS:devil: FOR MAKING NEW GRAD MISTAKES...NOT FITTING IN WITH SENIOR NURSES:nono:....NOT RECIEVING TEAMWORK WITH LPNS AND CNAS:uhoh21:...IM SUCH A WORRY WART!!!HELLLLLLLLLP NEEEEED ADVICE...AND PLENTY OF IT...LOL:trout:

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

IS IT BETTER TO GET MY FEET WET FIRST BEFORE TRYIN TO OBTAIN AN DEGREE IN NURSING....MAYBE A MEDICAL ASSISTANT,CNA,LPN

It seems that you're somewhat concerned about the horror stories you've heard and witnessed about newer nurses. The reality is this: the lower you are on the healthcare hierarchy, the worse you tend to be treated. CNAs, LPNs, and MAs are often regarded as 'lower' on the interdisciplinary food chain and, therefore, they are frequently treated with disrespect. A hierarchy definitely exists in healthcare, and the physician tends to be placed at the supreme top of the pyramid because of his/her educational level and societal prestige. Anyone who denies the existence of the hierarchy is not being fully honest with you.

Since you seem worried about the nursing horror stories, my recommendation is to pursue your RN licensure. A little more respect will be bestowed upon you by virtue of those initials behind your name. Nobody ever questions the fact that RNs are nurses, but LPNs are sometimes called the "Little Pretend Nurses." Also, the RN licensure will enable you to earn more money and have better advancement opportunities.

Beware, because RNs still deal with their fair share of horror stories, too.

[FrustratedLPN]

Everyone has their own opinion on this one I'm sure, but as a 16yr LPN, my advice would be go to RN school. I had never had any medical experience when I went to LPN school.

Yes, you'll face scrutiny from experienced nurses. The payrate for new graduate RN's is higher than that of veteran LPN's, and this can be the cause of some conflict. All in all, most experienced nurses.. .LPN or RN, will welcome you with open arms.

You mentioned your experience was in customer service... this is the basis for nursing.

The most important thing in forming a relationship with an experienced healthcare worker, is to show respect for their experience. A lot of new grads come in with the idea of changing the world, especially if several from the same graduating class are hired. The most up to date schooling and top grades do not substitute for hands on experience.

If this is truly what your heart is telling you to persue, then go for it. Be prepared for hardwork, tears, frustrations and tiredness. Also know it's one of the toughest jobs you'll ever learn to love!! There is no feeling like that of helping another.

[mesixfuture]

I WANTED TO KNOW FOR ALL THE SENIOR NURSES AND EVEN NEW GRADS....IS IT BETTER TO GET MY FEET WET FIRST BEFORE TRYIN TO OBTAIN AN DEGREE IN NURSING....MAYBE A MEDICAL ASSISTANT,CNA,LPN(I SEE ALOT OF PLACES ARE NOT HIRING LPNS.POSITIONS ARE LIMITED...)...WHICH ONES WOULD HAVE ME BETTER PREPARED..

Sweetie, I don't know how it is at other hospitals. But at mine, LPNs are primary care nurses just like anybody else. I do everything within my scope of practice and ask an RN to assist me with anything that isn't. If you become an LPN grad, you'll still be just as new and just as stupid about the medical field. Doctors will still yell and you will still have to learn everything you would have before by trial and error, and repitition. My advice, however, is go to RN school, and get paid LOTS more per hour to be new and learning. And by the way, it was very unprofessional of the new nurses to complain about their mentor. She was most likely a little stressed with trying to do her job and teach them to do theirs. It's frustrating.