High school student thinking of being a nurse

AnaCatRN · Feb 28, 2011

It sounds to me like you would be an excellent nurse! I'm impressed that at such a young age you know what you'd like to do and have such a passion for caring for others. I would definitely want someone like you caring for my elderly loved ones! If that is what you want to do, go for it! As far as getting respect goes, it depends on where you work. There are ignorant people everywhere, but if you present yourself as a competent professional, you should be fine.

It's ok to plan on geriatrics as a specialty now. It's true that in nursing school, you will go through different rotations, and you may discover that you're drawn to a specialty you hadn't considered. You will definitely have a geriatric rotation. How is your relationship with the nurses where you work? You should find out if you can handle the workload of an LTC nurse before making a final decision on geriatrics. I thought I wanted to go with geriatrics, but I ended up in pediatrics (which I thought I wouldn't be able to handle when I started nursing school). I love my job! So definitely keep your mind open. I was told by a wise nursing instructor that you should let your specialty choose you. Becoming a nurse practitioner is a great goal, and you will know better what specialty is right for you after you finish school and get some experience.

There are male nurses everywhere, and other than in labor and delivery, I haven't seen any negativity towards male nurses (Not that I condone the way some male nurses and nursing students are treated in L&D, because I don't! I don't understand how people accept male obstetricians and gynecologists, but not male L&D nurses!). I actually think in some places, the male nurses get more respect. Every workplace has politics. As in much of life, your demeanor will influence how people treat you. Like I said, if you present yourself as a competent professional, you will nearly always be treated like one. Just try to avoid getting caught up in or participating in politics and gossip, and show that your goal is patient care. I can't guarantee that you won't find people who can't get along, but that is true no matter what you do for a living.

Good luck!

Black Jade, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2011

Nate, you are very mature for your age and very intelligent! I wish you could teach some of the "Adult" nurses out there that patient care is priority. Sometimes you have to remind them why they became nurses in the first place.

I would recommend that you follow your gut. You already have the compassion and that is hard to acquire. Just focus on your goal and that is taking care of patients. Believe me, your patients will thank you for that.

BJ

BamaBeachbound78 · Feb 28, 2011

It is true what a previous poster said...Your specialty will choose you. I am still in school, but have always thought I would end up in the OR or Mental Health going into school but after a few rotations in the ED, I can't get enough of it! Definitely keep your mind open to other specialties. It's good to have goals and dedication before starting nursing school, especially at your age. You will definitely be challenged on those on numerous occassions throughout your nursing school and nursing career. Good Luck!

Jenni811, RN · Feb 28, 2011

You sound very mature for your age...

I'll tell you this- Nursing really is a career where you need alot of compassion and understanding. I see it as, not only is this a patient but it is someones mother, or someones siter, or someones friend. And how would i like my mother, my sister or my friend to be treated?!? I think this career needs more people like you out there. Because oone of the hardest things is, your going to come across people who just don't care about their patients and they are in it for the money and job security. That isnt fair to the patients.

Your specialty will chose you. It really will. I was dead set on wanting to do pediatrics. I was going to love it, and i was going to be a really good pediatrics nurse. And i was going to get hired in a pediatrics department, i had it all planned out, it was PERFECT. well i got into nursing school and we do 7 week clinical rotations through everything. 7 weeks in geriatrics, 7 weeks in pediatrics, 7 weeks in labor and delivery/postpartum, 7 weeks in med-surg, 7 weeks in community health, 7 weeks in psychiatric and 7 weeks in critical care.

Come to find out...i really did not like pediatrics all that much. it was "ok" and i could do it if i got hired in pediatrics. But Critical care is what chose me. i LOVED critical care, i didnt want to leave when my 7 weeks were up.

So try nursing!!! at your age, i would highly advise a 4 year program. Especially if you are considering a nurse practitioner, which you will need a doctorate degree for soon. (Right now i think its still masters). anyway- you get a 2 year RN or a 4 year RN. In order to go on for masters, or doctorate you need a 4 year RN. You are so young still, so go for the 4 year. I did...and i don't regret it. ALot of hospitals in my area are not even hiring 2 year RN's anymore. It's a very rough 4 years, nursing school is not easy!! I'll tell you that much...infact, i thought it really sucked. BUUUT it can be done with dedication and commitment.

Your work as a CNA will really help you.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2011

I agree that it is fantastic to go in with a set plan on your specialty, but by all means be open to others. My experience was the opposite of Jenni811...I was terrified of Pedi and dead-set on Critical Care and Cardiac. I started out on a cardiac floor after graduation and was miserable. I fell into a School Nurse position and found my bliss! I never would have imagined myself in this role, but I love it dearly and would not trade it for anything. So, you never know where you will end up!

systoly · Feb 28, 2011

I strongly believe respect is much more a result of one's actions than one's title or position. As you can see by the responses you're getting, you've already earned respect from a lot of the posters here. I really don't think you have to worry about respect.

CecileSF · Mar 3, 2011

That's wonderful you are considering doing nursing and also gaining experience at so early. You should really do the NP route, It is 1-2 years of graduate school after you get your bachelors. I am doing the advanced practice nurse route also. I really commend you for thinking about geriatrics. It is an area of nursing which is lacking and many people are not in that field.

In any career, you will have to deal with drama and office politics, nursing is not an exception. As a NP you will have much more control over what you do. When you know you are going to be a good healthcare worker, you want that control because you want to help others to the best of your ability. When you see something wrong, you want to have a say in it. Registered nursing at many times don't have as much power.