How Does One Know If They Possess What It Takes To Do Nursing?

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2005

I would like to know. At times I toy with the idea. of going to the local school for nursing. Ten years ago I was a C.N.A. I enjoyed working with the elderly in the nursing home. However, I just don't know if I could do nursing it's so serious, one could kill someone if they made a mistake!
Maybe you need nerves of steal to do it?

Oh, I loved your post! :chuckle I just had to reply.

I would say that you possess what it takes to do nursing. First of all, you worked as a CNA so you have an idea of what it's like to work with patients. Most important things in life are serious, kiddo. What caught my eye about your post was your comment that "one could kill someone if they made a mistake." When I was in nursing school 32 years ago I got a sick feeling in my gut every time I walked into the hospital for my clinicals for just the same reason. I was deathly afraid of accidentally killing someone. My niece is currently in a radiation technician program and told me she feels that way every time she goes to the hospital for her clinicals. My thought was, "how can you kill someone taking an x-ray" until I thought about it a little more. And, I suspect that this thought goes through many people's minds and you, me and my niece are not the only ones who worry about this. I would say that it took me a good five years before I finally stopped worrying about accidentally killing someone. I've been a nurse for 30 years and haven't killed anyone yet. :chuckle

It's that little bit of fear that will make you a cautious practitioner. It will remind you to double check all the medications you give, to record anything odd a patient tells you, to call the doctor when something in your gut is telling you something just isn't right with the patient. In school you will have an instructor by your side when you do anything that could possibly result in harm to a patient. After you finish school you will have the nursing standards that you were taught and your good conscience to guide you.

I accidentally punctured someone's basilic artery in their arm when I was learning to put P.I.C.C. lines in. The instructor was standing by my side when it happened and was shocked also. My training guided me exactly how to handle the situation. Getting the blood out of my white uniform top was another matter. Seeing blood doesn't make me sick at all. You will never know if you have the "stomach" for nursing unless you step in and give it a whirl.

You don't need nerves of steel. You need a desire to help others and the intelligence to make decisions. The school will teach you what you need to know. Then each graduate goes forth in the world and has their own individual experiences. Believe me, if nurses were killing off patients by mistake it would be all over the news. Haven't heard of it happening lately! :chuckle

Something about nursing is very attractive to you, I believe. I think you're ready to take the plunge. Go for it.

Another cat lover

Deusadomar · Aug 13, 2005

Oh, I loved your post! :chuckle I just had to reply.
I would say that you possess what it takes to do nursing. First of all, you worked as a CNA so you have an idea of what it's like to work with patients. Most important things in life are serious, kiddo. What caught my eye about your post was your comment that "one could kill someone if they made a mistake." When I was in nursing school 32 years ago I got a sick feeling in my gut every time I walked into the hospital for my clinicals for just the same reason. I was deathly afraid of accidentally killing someone. My niece is currently in a radiation technician program and told me she feels that way every time she goes to the hospital for her clinicals. My thought was, "how can you kill someone taking an x-ray" until I thought about it a little more. And, I suspect that this thought goes through many people's minds and you, me and my niece are not the only ones who worry about this. I would say that it took me a good five years before I finally stopped worrying about accidentally killing someone. I've been a nurse for 30 years and haven't killed anyone yet. :chuckle
It's that little bit of fear that will make you a cautious practitioner. It will remind you to double check all the medications you give, to record anything odd a patient tells you, to call the doctor when something in your gut is telling you something just isn't right with the patient. In school you will have an instructor by your side when you do anything that could possibly result in harm to a patient. After you finish school you will have the nursing standards that you were taught and your good conscience to guide you.
I accidentally punctured someone's basilic artery in their arm when I was learning to put P.I.C.C. lines in. The instructor was standing by my side when it happened and was shocked also. My training guided me exactly how to handle the situation. Getting the blood out of my white uniform top was another matter. Seeing blood doesn't make me sick at all. You will never know if you have the "stomach" for nursing unless you step in and give it a whirl.
You don't need nerves of steel. You need a desire to help others and the intelligence to make decisions. The school will teach you what you need to know. Then each graduate goes forth in the world and has their own individual experiences. Believe me, if nurses were killing off patients by mistake it would be all over the news. Haven't heard of it happening lately! :chuckle
Something about nursing is very attractive to you, I believe. I think you're ready to take the plunge. Go for it.
Another cat lover

Hi there... I was reading your message, and I'd like to thank you so much for taking the time to speak candidly about your experiences as a nurse. I start nursing school in two weeks and the thought of harming someone scares me... but I feel deep in my heart that I made the right decision. I saved money for 4 years and just quit my job of 15 years to start nursing school at age 42... On top of it, I'm a single parent. Well, some people thought I was crazy. :uhoh3: But I've always wanted to be a nurse, and it is now or never. I figured I'd give it a try. Let's just say that I am leaning on my faith right now... But I must admit that "knowing nothing" at the moment is what makes me the most uncomfortable, and I can't wait to start school and learn what I need to learn. Thank you very much, your message gave me much needed encouragement!! :)

By the way, I have 4 cats and love each one of them!!!! :rotfl:

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2005

Hi there... I was reading your message, and I'd like to thank you so much for taking the time to speak candidly about your experiences as a nurse. . .I saved money for 4 years and just quit my job of 15 years to start nursing school at age 42... On top of it, I'm a single parent. Well, some people thought I was crazy. . .But I've always wanted to be a nurse, and it is now or never. I figured I'd give it a try. Let's just say that I am leaning on my faith right now. . .But I must admit that "knowing nothing" at the moment is what makes me the most uncomfortable, and I can't wait to start school and learn what I need to learn.

Deusadomar - my mother wanted to be a nurse all her life. She was set to start her LPN training in 1966 when my father had a cerebral aneurysm. She put school off to take care of him and become the breadwinner of the family. By 1970 she was still caring for my father who was now permanently disabled and tired of low wage delicatessen management jobs. She and my father talked things over and she made a big gamble. She sold our house, moved the family to California to a rattrap of a house in the desert that her cousin offered us to live in for free while she got back on her feet. Within a couple of months, she was enrolled in the local JC's LVN program and lived off the money from the sale of the house. She had her license in a year. She was nearly 50 years old at the time. She went on to work as an LVN for 18 years in ICU and CCU. She always said that being a nurse was her dream and she never regretted the drastic action she took to accomplish it.

Hope that inspires you and others. My experience has led me to believe that it is the people who have the strongest desires for this profession who make some of the best nurses. Over the years I have also seen a change in the attitudes of young doctors coming into their profession since the admission policies of the medical schools changed from the good old boy system where guys went to medical school because their family expected them to (and got in because of personal wealth or family prestige) to the MCAT driven admissions. Many of the younger doctors wanted it badly and were willing to go into great debt with student loans to do it. I am blown away by many of these younger docs who openly hug their patients, shake their hands warmly and share a joke with them and the nurses. They are way different from the old, nasty blowhards who were so intimidating. The world does get better sometimes, doesn't it?

You have a wonderful experience ahead of you. I hope it turns out to be everything you've dreamed of.

I have 3 cats--one is a diabetic on Insulin.

Fun2, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2005

I think if you can handle being a CNA, and enjoyed it, then you can handle being a nurse!

I read so many posts about CNA's having to do most of the "dirty" work. If you still love the medical field after that, then I'm sure you have what it takes.

I wonder the same thing about myself, and am terrified of the thought of accidently killing someone by a careless mistake!

I think the love of the medical field will help you conquer the bad days, and the patients themselves will get you through the good.

Good luck to you, whatever your decision may be about your future.

krob0729 · Aug 13, 2005

By the way, I have 4 cats and love each one of them!!!! :rotfl:

I got 3 cats...lazy and spoled as heck..one weighs 10 lbs :chuckle

i know....off topic..sry

Dratz · Aug 13, 2005

I, too am an older student returning to nursing. I feel the same as you do at times, but I think that little bit of fear is healthy. You bet I can.....and so can you!!

Good luck!!!

Catlover71 · Aug 13, 2005

Daytonite Thank-you for your reply, it is really shaping my plans for fall in school. Of course I am taking all the "pre" science and math courses because it has been some times since I have been in school.

It is reassuring to see there are folks who are returning to the field~ I am 33 and sometimes feel if I didn't do it back then why do it now? BUT I see there is no such thing as too late.

I got 3 cats...lazy and spoled as heck..one weighs 10 lbs

i know....off topic..sry

Wow how many Fancy Feasts a day is the 10 pound kitty getting???

Catlover71 · Aug 13, 2005

I have 3 cats--one is a diabetic on Insulin.

Is it very difficult to give the one cat an insulin shot or is it a challenge? I would imagine the cat MAY get used to it.

By the way, I have 4 cats and love each one of them!!!!

My cats help me keep my sanity. There is nothing like a purrrring cat curled up on ones lap or sleeping next to you at night.

two kitties: Whiskey Jack and Bullet....cute little thangs

Are they catnip lovers???Mine can't get enough of it!!!

NOLANURSERN · Aug 13, 2005

Hi everyone,

Thank you all for your posts.. I too can relate to some of the things that you have metioned... I am 37 and taking the end of my pre-reqs this fall. I anticipate starting nursing school in Jan. I have a different work background and due to the economy, I made the decision to scrape by for the next few years in order to accomplish my goal. Your posts are encouraging. I am often amazed by the people that are my age (or older) that are in my classes at school. It is scary starting "over" in a new career, but I am excited at the same time.

I too have 3 cats- and I would have to say each of them is at the 10 lb mark... They are not "fat" but strong, healthy, loving animals. Good luck to all of you.

Student_Nurse_WV · Aug 14, 2005

Hi everyone

I just wanted to say how much your posts helped me realize I wasn't the only one worrying---and that is a wonderful feeling! I am just so worried that I am going to spend all of this time on my degree and not be able to do it. I guess there is not much to do about that worry though-- just give it all you can and hope for the best! :) Good luck to everyone! Oh and I don't have any cats but I love my german shepard!

ilovebabyjoe36 · Aug 14, 2005

I have often wondered about this myself when I first looked into going to school for nursing. I figure it was not met for me to be a nurse when I could not make pass the first semester. Maybe it was and maybe it was I just look at all the other people that I started before me and now they will soon to be nurses It just makes me cry. Lisa

QUOTE=catlover71]I would like to know. At times I toy with the idea. of going to the local school for nursing. Ten years ago I was a C.N.A. I enjoyed working with the elderly in the nursing home. However, I just don't know if I could do nursing it's so serious, one could kill someone if they made a mistake!

Maybe you need nerves of steal to do it?