How do you know if nursing is right for you?

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Aug 14, 2013

Volunteering is nothing whatsoever like nursing. The closest you can get to nursing is as a tech, which is also the best way to get a foot in the door and get a jib after graduation.

That said, we do hire a lot our techs after they pass the boards and they have all said that even after being a tech for years, they had no clue what it was really like to be a nurse.

Short answer - get a job as a tech/cna, see how you feel about the hands on ADL care. Which is basic patient care.

Good luck.

AM326 · Aug 14, 2013

Volunteering is nothing whatsoever like nursing. The closest you can get to nursing is as a tech, which is also the best way to get a foot in the door and get a jib after graduation.
That said, we do hire a lot our techs after they pass the boards and they have all said that even after being a tech for years, they had no clue what it was really like to be a nurse.
Short answer - get a job as a tech/cna, see how you feel about the hands on ADL care. Which is basic patient care.
Good luck.

I agree, I have been a candy striper (volunteer) for 4 years before college. It's wayyyyyyyyy different than just volunteering. Recently I have been a CNA/Tech for a year now and I learn something new everyday. The nursing staff at my hospital teach me things that will benefit me during school.

Don't worry about the knowledge aspect. You learn that little by little as a CNA/Tech and you learn it during school :) You have to be caring but very strong to deal with a plethora of situations.

DadStudentPerhaps · Aug 15, 2013

I think Nursing is like many skilled jobs, if you approach it as an opportunity to learn, the Veteran RNs will help you be successful. In contrast, if you come out of Nursing School thinking you already know everything, the Veteran RNs will let you sink or swim on your own merit. My wife's been a RN for 27 years, I've heard many stories about the the new RNs coming to the floor "already knowing more than anyone else".

rissykim · Aug 15, 2013

While I completely agree that volunteering is not going to show you what nursing is really like, it is certainly good that you are at least getting a glimpse of that world. I think it also depends on what you are allowed to do and where you volunteer. I luckily volunteered in the PACU and because the nurses knew that I was planning on going to nursing school, they were extremely willing to teach me and involved me as much as possible. I learned how to read EKG strips, took out a catheter, transported patients, cleaned up a patient, emptied Foley catheter bags... While I never did anything crazy since I was just a volunteer, I was still excited to be shadowing the nurses and grateful that they took time to teach me. Being exposed to that environment helped me decide that yes, I was making the right decision. Of course it was not the single deciding factor for me, but it had a lot to do with it. I was so glad that I wasn't limited to just answering phones and stocking patient rooms. I learned so much about anticipating patient needs and how nurses react to different situations as well as the working dynamics within a team of nurses, the importance of acting quickly, and why nurses are nurses. But like others said, I think seeking a tech or CNA position would make sense as your next step.

thenursemandy · Aug 15, 2013

Read forums on allnurses about short staffing, low-census, mandatory staying over when your relief doesn't show up etc.

If you are a single parent this could be very difficult to juggle.

Also check out employment prospects in your area. Some areas have tons of nurses and it could take many months, if ever to get hired.

Also check out the humor/jokes section. There are many negatives to nursing, but there are also fun times and bonding with staff and pts.