How do I know if Nursing is right for me??

[maddyb]

Hi everyone! I am 34 years old, married, no kids. I have a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology. I currently work in a lab, but previously worked in the clinical research trials dept at a local hospital. I discovered that I am very interested in clinical research trials and medicine in general. I was laid off due to funding shortages, or I would still be there. Anyway, I have been contemplating going back to school to become a nurse, and i would like to get into the research side eventually, but i am wondering if i could handle the blood and bodily fluids aspect of the job! When I was younger i worked in a nursing home, so I saw, heard and smelled alot (if you know what i mean;) ). In all of the A&P classes I took I never had a problem with dissecting anything, while some of the nursing students in my labs were so grossed out they didn't do any of the dissection.

I did a two day job shadow at the hospital with one of the nursing managers, but I couldn't get a good idea of what exatly the job entails. We just went into patient's rooms to check Blood Pressure, bring meals or just to say 'Hi". The hospital would not allow me to see anything else, they say i need to be a nursing student. How can I figure out if I can handle the blood, etc. I deal well with stress and fast paced environments, as the lab I work in now is chaotic. Any advice and or insight would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[vashtee, RN]

In my school, they put us into the hospital in the first semester, and I've had some pretty "yucky" experiences already. It seems as though if I were unsuited for the job, I would have known it by now. I sure wish there were some sort of aptitude test, though, since I often wonder the same thing.

[Ms Kylee]

If you can handle the nursing home, you can handle the hospital. I much prefer the hospital over the nursing home even if all you do is clean up poop and pee. At least most of your patients get better and go home instead of being stuck somewhere and are waiting to die.

[I_am_Julia]

to me, you won't know if you really like nursing, outside of your strong interest, until nursing school with clinicals or the actual job.

shadowing and the like gives a glimpse but actually doing it tells the true story. being that you have such a strong science backgroud, why not try an acelerated program in your area. that would be no more than 12-16 months of your time.

you probably already have all of the pre-req required for most nursing programs. just the online curriculum for schools in your area and speak with an admissions rep.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

If you can handle the nursing home, you can handle the hospital. I much prefer the hospital over the nursing home even if all you do is clean up poop and pee. At least most of your patients get better and go home instead of being stuck somewhere and are waiting to die.

Now that's the kind of attitude that must make the LTC folks cringe. You may well be in a nursing home someday and wouldn't you want the people caring for you to be there because they thought that your life had some worth and to make it as full and pleasant as possible? (At least while you're still kicking; if I'm not kicking, please give me the poison jello and let my children's generation keep the money). But seriously, look at all the people in nursing homes that are still getting around in their own fashion. We can always work on making people's last years good ones.

[snowfreeze, BSN, RN]

If you like people and care about people and are very interested in medical science then maybe nursing is for you. If you would like a career that allows changes when you get bored with the job you have...humm nursing sounds good. Do you like to learn on the job everyday? Do you like meeting new people and helping them with their problems? Would you like a job that makes a difference in someones life and you are the key person? well then maybe nursing is for you.

[PACNWNURSING]

I echo snowfreezes statement, its all about being a people person and having people skills.

[EMERGENCYRNNJ]

The good thing is you have a direction. If you absolutely hate it, you'll do your time and then move to the research nursing end of it like you are planning. Before you make a decision you should research other possible career avenues of interest to you. That will help you decide which is best suited for you.

Please don't let anyone discourage or sway you. You cannot plan the way you'll feel and what the outcome will be. I think you'll know the first semester of nursing whether you love it or hate it. I personally plan to get my experience and move into the business end of it. You will find a lot of people discouraging you from doing a variety of things. I find that if I listen to all I've been hearing, I may as well pack it up and look for another career. Do what is in your heart. Good luck.

[maddyb]

Before you started school did blood, etc. bother you at all? I have asked a few nurses about the blood factor and they say you just get used to it, that most people are bothered by blood and in normal life you don't have a chance to learn how to deal with it, but in school you will. Good luck in school!

[maddyb]

Julia, I was thinking about about doing an accelerated program as I do have all of the prereq., but to be honest with you, I am worried that a year will not be enough time for me to get used caring for patients, plus maybe I will need time to learn to deal with blood, etc. Does that sound like maybe I am not cut out to be a nurse? I am a people person, I care about helping people heal, get healthy, etc. but is that enough? How did you feel about blood before you became a nurse?

[maddyb]

Hi all! I just wanted to thank everyone who replied to my post. I am really unsure how to proceed! On the one hand I think I would really like nursing because I really like helping people, I am very patient, organized, I love science and problem solving, etc. But then there is the whole issue regarding blood, etc. In my lab position, I handle all kinds of gross stuff, but I fear it will be different when someone is actively bleeding in front of me!

[anonymurse]

I'm thinking there must be something special in nursing that appeals to you, otherwise maybe you'd be thinking of a MPH or a Pharm D, which might be more natural career progressions from micro. Before I was a nurse, I was hungry to be a nurse. Pretty much, you have to be hungry to be a nurse to ensure you'll make it through nursing school. So if I were you, I would take stock of my hunger level more than anything. About the self-doubt, particularly about fear of blood, with your degree, you probably can test yourself by making friends in labs who can get you free phlebotomy training and have you doing that for a while.