How did you discover you want to do this?

twentytenRN · Mar 5, 2010

So from this thread I get playing with dolls or mom was a nurse. I do not think that either apply to me, unless the doll memory is repressed deep deep down in my psyche. Does anyone have ideas about what I can do to find out more about if this is for me?

Thanks for these great examples. I am really worried about ratcheting down the level of intellectual life I am used to, and could see this causing more problems than anything else. So it is really useful to see what is out there.

I don't want to be rude here, but these posts are a insulting to me as a nurse. Yeah, I played with dolls when I was a kid and through this role-playing activity I determined I wanted to help and care for other people. You asked "How did you discover you want to do this?" I don't think my answer of my playing with dolls was an inappropriate response. :uhoh3: Perhaps you should have asked "What's it like to be a nurse? What does a nurse do during the day?" "How does a nurse use critical thinking?" Maybe you would have gotten the answers you seek that way.

And as far as "ratcheting-down" your intellectual level, you make it sound as if I am a dumb-bunny because I went into nursing. I beg to differ.

So you want to know what nurses do? I'll give you a quick down and dirty and then you can decide if this is for you...

You're gonna get pee'ed on, pooped on, puked on, spit on, snotted on, etc... all while using that noggin' to interpret EKG rhythyms and recognize that the patient's potassium level is probably above normal limits even before you have a solid lab result to look at. Using your intuition and critical thinking skills to realize your patient is about to go south but you have 5 other patients to care for and they all need their vitals, meds, pillows fluffed, too. Juggling many tasks while still being keen and alert for problems. Understanding drugs, their dosages, interactions, reactions, and not killing your patient with any of them. Documenting everything accurately because you're always aware of that possibility that a patient may persue litigation. Being on your feet twelve hours barely having a chance to sit down only to go home, scarf down a bite of food, crash and get up @ 5:30am to do it all over again. Working weekends, nights and holidays that you don't want to is part of the deal, too.

Critical thinking is a HUGE part of nursing. It's one of the aspects I love most about it. Some specialties require more of it than others but nursing isn't just about having the knowledge, it's learning to apply it. Lives are saved this way...

Oh, and as far as that "playing with dolls" thing? This is considered an "intellectual" activity to play by oneself and role-play, FYI. I guess I'm not such a dumb-bunny afterall... :cool:

onthefence · Mar 5, 2010

I apologize profusely for what may have been a poor choice of words. What I meant was that in any profession I would consider, I want to be stimulated and challenged. Many of the commenters have given examples that this is the case in nursing. (In terms of dolls, I just did not do that as a child, so I cannot personally relate. I am not putting anyone down) I really want to keep far from delegtimizing, judging and trivializing anyone's life experience. Instead I want to reiterate my appreciation that you have taken the time to talk to me about this important life decision when you do not even know me. Thanks again

twentytenRN · Mar 5, 2010

I apologize profusely for what may have been a poor choice of words. What I meant was that in any profession I would consider, I want to be stimulated and challenged. Many of the commenters have given examples that this is the case in nursing. (In terms of dolls, I just did not do that as a child, so I cannot personally relate. I am not putting anyone down) I really want to keep far from delegtimizing, judging and trivializing anyone's life experience. Instead I want to reiterate my appreciation that you have taken the time to talk to me about this important life decision when you do not even know me. Thanks again

I accept your apology. You will find that nursing is both, stimulating and challenging. There are many options available to nurses. If you find yourself lacking the stimulation or challenges, simply move on and go into another area of nursing. Nursing evolves daily and you are continually learning, it never stops. I see you are a male and this will present a few unique challenges in nursing but nothing that many men haven't overcome in this field already. My only suggestion is that when you enter nursing, your attitude and your choice of words morph from an arrogant point of view to a more caring, altruistic manner.

Best of luck to you. :up:

onthefence · Mar 5, 2010

Thank you. I agree that tonality is really important and something to really work on. Thanks for the continual insights. I think in the past few days I have gotten a lot of reassurance about this path, and am beginning to see myself going down it.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Mar 7, 2010

I never wanted to be a nurse growing up; in fact that was one thing I thought I KNEW I didn't want to do but somehow when I took A&P I I fell in love with the human body. And babies - they have no pre-existing conditions and they usually have really long stays so you get to know them and their families very well. I love teaching parents how to take care of their special needs babies.

staphylococci, NP · Mar 31, 2010

My situation may be different from the others who post here, but maybe I can be of some assistance. :)

Growing up I have always had a strong interest in science and dreamed of becoming a scientist one day. After high school graduation, I enrolled at a community college to take my general education requirements and then transferred to a four-year university, where I declared myself as a biochemistry major.

This school year is my senior year, and if I had not taken the pre-requisites for the BSN program at my university, I would be graduating with a B.S. in biochemistry. My epiphany came to me last summer when I was finishing up Analytical Chemistry. Once summer semester had ended, I realized that I could not see myself working in a laboratory or continuing on to graduate school to pursue a master's or PhD in biochemistry. My heart just wasn't in chemistry, and the lab work left me feeling unsatisfied and unaccomplished.

On my way to class each day, I passed by the nursing building and saw numerous nursing students walking around campus with their uniforms on. This caused a thought to pop into my mind, "Nursing school would be quite enjoyable, and I feel confident that I could excel. I have a deep interest in biology and chemistry, and this would be an opportune way to apply that knowledge while making a decent living."

So, I researched the BSN program at my university, and talked with my mother, a Respiratory Therapist, and my partner's mother and sister, who are an RN and an LPN respectively. They gave me valuable insight into the nursing profession and showed me that it can be a very intellectually stimulating and rewarding career.

After giving it much thought, I dropped all of my chemistry courses for the Fall '09 semester and replaced them with BSN pre-reqs. I was determined to make this happen, and I finished the semester with a 4.0. I sent my application in for the Fall 2010 class, and a few weeks ago I received my acceptance letter. Along the way I have learned even more about the opportunities in nursing, which has increased my enthusiasm about nursing. Just recently I learned about how nurses can participate in research, which was something I knew little about. As a former biochemistry major, this made nursing even more appealing to me as one can imagine.

I apologize for the lengthy post, but I hope my point in clear. Biochemistry is considered by many as a rigorous degree path. However, nursing presents its own unique challenges, which is in no way less rigorous than biochemistry. They are two separate disciplines. In my opinion, nursing won't leave intellectuals dissatisfied. There are plenty of opportunities for educational and career advancement, which I find a wonderful aspect of nursing that I did not find in biochemistry.

- BSN Student Fall '10

IHeartPeds87 · Mar 31, 2010

My high school had a volunteer service requirement. There was a camp for kids with disabilities one summer, and it was near my parents house. I really didn't think much about it, just basically considered it another thing I had to do .

I got to the camp and the kids really put me in my place. I fell in love with the work, with caring for other people, and I was hooked. I considered physical therapy for a long time because of that experience, but eventually switched to nursing because it was a shorter educational path and had more flexibility.