How do you know if your fit to be a nurse?

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i've been thinking about taking nursing for a few months now, its funny because people have always told me i should be one because of my kind caring nature. but i've always been interested more in art and computers. anyway after being put on a waiting list for a competitive art program and a bad economy i decided to take a quick health related program called sterile processing. its a quick program and pays pretty well to start for only being 6 months in school.

just before entering the program i decided to further in health care if i didn't mind working in the hospital. i figured health care was more secure (this was before the hiring freeze in ab, which is clearing up now:)). now i find myself surprisingly fascinated by everything related to heath/sciences. i really enjoy it and find my self reading posts on here and googling more info on nurses and doctors all the time, also my program is very limited and i find myself wanting to learn more and more on care and the human body. for the past 4 months i've been strongly considering taking nursing late next year. i've herd its very rewarding and challenging. but is it for me? i've also herd about nurses being very rude and putting up with soo much. like just yesterday i herd a story about a nurse that got knocked out my a patient.

i also have a friend that is half way through her nursing program but hates blood?? i mean are half the people that go into nursing really fit for it? what is the average number of students that actually pass? and actually enjoy working in the field after school? can someone please tell me the negatives and postives on nursing and the journey to become one? i herd its very difficult... and even though i would like to take the rn program i would much rather be done fast and take the practical nurse program instead. what are the disadvantages their? has anyone done the pratical nurse program at bow valley? is it good?

sorry about my long post! i just really wanted to get this out their and get my questions answered... hopefully.

one more thing... would it be strange to buy some of the nursing books while i'm working as a sterile processer for 1 year, just to read on my spare time. to get a basic understanding of it so i don't struggle too much in school(i herd its really tough). i was also wondering why the rn program is 4 and the pn is 2 when they do almost the same work?

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To me, nursing is mostly positives. It is interesting, rewarding, lots of options for different kinds of nursing depending on what you find to be your forte. Negatives - perhaps the unsocial hours and, sometimes, the other nurses!

It sounds like a great idea to read nursings texts prior to your education. I would go with the RN program. as I think it will offer more possibilities for advancement. The jobs may appear the same but the RN will have a broader knowledge base and I think some opportunities such as Nurse Practitioner are open only to RN's.

You sound enthusiastic and I wish you good luck. :)

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Bow Valley has a really good reputation. I've worked with some of their grads.

Depending on how backlogged UofC and Mt. Royal are the PN diploma might be the way to go especially if you are unsure of liking the actual job.

In the last decade I have been punched, kicked, called every name under the sun in more than one language, endured a needlestick injury, and slapped. This was all done by responsible adults in control of their faculties.

If you have spare time, I would upgrade my biology or even take some of the Arts electives that both the PN and BScN eduation require. Saves you time in the long run.

With regards to the knowledge base, yes the RN has a more indepth knowledge base as they should due to the extra years but many new grads don't know how to translate it into hands on skills. Roughly one year of the BScN is made up of non nursing electives. PNs have many opportunities open to them in Alberta. You can after graduation specialize with advanced courses in orthopedics, the OR tech programme, dialysis training is identical to the RNs and provided by AHS, immunization and footcare advanced training opens opportunities in the community clinics.

Much has been said about the chaning roles of the RN and the LPN in Alberta, you'll just have to google to find it.

As to money, well the UNA contract is up for negotiation right now. Most of the RNs I work with are worried about holding onto what they have rather than gaining anymore.

Check the AHS website for up to date wage figures.

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Thank you for your replies :) I'm getting a better understanding of the nursing program. I'll have a year before I apply, is it possible to take the anatomy, medical terminology or physio/bio? courses without enrolling in nursing at bow valley? Just take it part-time while im working this following year? So when I start the nursing program I can finnish sooner? By the way I'm so glad to hear that PN's have better oppertunities in AB. I've been reading posts of PNs in other provinces and countries that have really bad experiences (wages, workload, advancing) and end up finnishing their RN.

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I know that Norquest and MacEwan offer some of the courses on a part time basis. You would have to check out what is available in southern AB.

You can't really finish faster, you can reduce your workload if you decide the programmes are a good fit for you. I don't remember taking a stand alone medical terminology course, it just was a part of my basic PN programme and filtered into every course.

Disregard what you read by American posters in regards to a lot of the nursing education. It's really not relevant to Canadians. Our PN education is longer and they have the ADN for RNs which no longer exists in AB and the rest of Canada (somebody can correct me but I've heard that MB still has diploma RNs but could be one of those nursing urban legends)

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Manitoba did have their RN diploma programme terminated in 1997, then reinstated in 2000. But the fall 2009 intake was the last class. As of now the only basic RN education in Manitoba is the BN degree programme. So that spells the end of the diploma RN in Canada; Manitoba was the last hold-out.

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Oh okay great what a relief! Reading over the PN description for the U.S was very discouraging at times. On youtube this RN nurse mentioned PN's getting paid $7 to start in some states!, and having to do all the 'dirty work' for RN's. So I'm really glad Canada's PN's are more valued. I'll probably further my education in the future with Athabasca Uni. I'm going to contact Bow Valley and see what courses I can take without enrolling(for this year). I want to work this year before I enroll into nursing fully and I'm pretty sure Bow Valley is the only school that offers the PN program in AB. Thanks again for all your help, I'm feeling good about this :D.

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Norquest offer PN education in Edmonton and also via a distance ed, followed by "real" time clinicals.

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