HI! I'm new! Couple questions/Nurses

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 24, 2005

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hi! :)

i'm new and i thought i would introduce myself! i'm jennie. i'm not anything yet, but i do know that i want to be a lpn (i will be a lpn). i want to work at a hospice. i would absolutely love to be a nurse, especially at a hospice. i was wondering if any of you could tell me about your nursing careers and how it is being a nurse. i really want to be a nurse, but then i think "can i do it?" etc..just usual doubts i suppose. i've bought books about nursing, and i kept thinking "i wish i could talk to a nurse about this!" because i have no nurses in my family. i just have so many questions. then i found this website about 45 minutes ago and i'm so happy!! or any of you who work at hospices: if you could tell me about your experiences? this would be wonderful. thank you!!
-jennie

:balloons: hello and welcome to allnurses.com:balloons:

you will see just cruising these forums, all you want about the world of nursing. great to have you.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Sep 24, 2005

Hello and welcome to the wonderful family of allnurses.com. Enjoy your stay, and best of luck to you. :)

talaxandra · Sep 24, 2005

Hi Jennie - welcome to allnurses :)

nursen06 · Sep 24, 2005

welcome! you can make your dreams come true if you put her heart and soul into your studies. congrats on reaching for your dream of becoming an lpn. :)

jillhall · Sep 24, 2005

so you want to be a nurse. :nurse: congratulations. don't think about it too much. begin applying for nursing schools. some are more difficult than others to get into. as you apply and wait, then you can get more and more information on what it is like to be a nurse.

i laugh at why i became a nurse. my whole family was educators. i was the baby in the family. they all had phd's masters ect, taught college, were principles, you name it. i thought they were all so brilliant that i could never be able to educate myself to that level. i thought it was too difficult. so, silly my.... i knew i needed an education.

i thought to myself, what would be the easiest way to get an education, just so i could feel par with my family all they way feeling it would have to be "an easy" major. i thought to myself....ok...nursing. for some reason, i equated nursing to a course in basket weaving 101. dah!

long story short. i did nursing school. i have been a nicu nurse for 25 years.

benefits of being a nurse are:

flexibility

variety

always a job

no other job can you work part time and make as much money (so if being a mom is in the forefront, you can always choose to just work

a couple of shifts a week, be a good "stay at home mom" and

also have a social life and make decent money.

nursing can lead into business careers as well.

you can work for companies in corporate american as a nurse consultant.

you have the ability to make a difference.

you have the ability to show and feel compassion

you can always change your area of expertise in nursing. it can develop into multiple careers if you like.

:cool: i give nursing a thumbs up. my daughter is now nicu nurse. she graduated two years ago. she loves it. it took her forever to get through college. i was adamant that she not be a nurse. so she kept beginning majors and then feeling trapped into the job market after graduation, working part time due to being a mom (which was something she desired) and making decent money. she swictch careers after three years of other majors and she hasn't regretted it one bit. she made 50 grand last year. that was her second year out of school. she probably worked about 10 extra shifts a year, but tell me where else can you do that so quickly working for someone else.

disadvantages: :uhoh3:

certain nursing jobs you are committed to nights, holidays, weekends and everything inbetween. that would be hospital staff and such. if these issues really bother you, then you can choose something in nursing or within the field that isn't that way.

some will argue pay. but it is all reletive. nurses work hard and are professionals. sometimes pay and benefits don't seem always to compensate for the pay. but that can be argued in any "service" type job.

jillhall · Sep 24, 2005

dont let the curriculum in nursing intimidate you. some people i have known want to be a nurse, but they are so afraid of chemistry, physics, math and other science classes.

let me ease your worries if this is a concern.

once you get into your career, it will never be as gruesome as trying to ace a chemistry exam. sometimes you just have to suffer through something difficult to get what you want. i believe many great, compassionate and bright individuals could be part of our health care system. however, they let a few years of grim nursing school get in the way. if you want to do it, you can.

if there is a will, there is a way. :balloons:

aimeee, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2005

Welcome, Jennie! Super that you have your sights set on being a hospice nurse. I'm going to encourage you to think about going ahead and getting your RN though because it will open a wider range of opportunities for you.

jillhall · Sep 24, 2005

jennie....i think it is great that you want to be a hospice nurse as well.

JennieIrene · Sep 26, 2005

Thanks everyone for all your replies! Its just great to be able to talk to someone who is in the field that i want to get into!! Thank you all so much. And the Info that JillHall wrote really helps alot! Thank you all!!

_Jennie_

jillhall · Sep 26, 2005

jennie, you are sooooo welcome. please make a post and let us all know what you are doing and how you are going about it. it may just help someone else in your situation. good luck. hugs

terijohnstone · Sep 26, 2005

hey im a second year student nurse and you said you wanted to know what its like well its hard going and you get some days where you wish you had never got out of bed - but you hat that with every job for the most part its remembering that we (as nurses) get out of bed to ensure the care and well being of our patients - these patients rely on us for there basic needs. If you dont mind working hard and accepting responsibility for your actions and are more than happy to start low and work your way up - GO FOR IT!

It is a great career, very rewarding and very satisfying on a day to day basis sometimes even a few minutes make all the difference especially to your patient.

Teri

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