How has life changed since you finally became a RN ?

Published

I want to hear about it all ! The good and the bad :-)

Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

How has life changed since you finally became an RN?

Things are good. Money is good. Less stress. I had a significant amount of anxiety in nursing school. I was terrified that I wouldn't actually become an RN - it almost paralyzed me mentally, and made me physically sick at times. (This may be a weird quirk specific to me.)

Now that I'm actually working as an RN, I find the transition manageable, and it's less stressful than nursing school. It's nice to be the nurse and not the student. I even handled my first code well, as a nurse (not student). That was my ultimate fear.

I've seen so much on this board that the stress of being a student is minimal compared to the stress of being on your own as a nurse after graduation, but for me it was the opposite.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.
How has life changed since you finally became an RN?

Things are good. Money is good. Less stress. I had a significant amount of anxiety in nursing school. I was terrified that I wouldn't actually become an RN - it almost paralyzed me mentally, and made me physically sick at times. (This may be a weird quirk specific to me.)

Now that I'm actually working as an RN, I find the transition manageable, and it's less stressful than nursing school. It's nice to be the nurse and not the student. I even handled my first code well, as a nurse (not student). That was my ultimate fear.

I've seen so much on this board that the stress of being a student is minimal compared to the stress of being on your own as a nurse after graduation, but for me it was the opposite.

I agree about the stress of nursing school. The 24 hr/7 days a week of studying, care plans, etc. was terrible. I would get physically sick before clinicals for fear of making a mistake and being kicked out of the program.

Being a nurse is stressful but at least when I go home the time is my own. I also work with a great bunch of nurses I can turn to with questions if I need to. I graduated in 2008 with my ADN. Those 2 years were 50 times worse than my 4 year finance degree.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
I would get physically sick before clinicals for fear of making a mistake and being kicked out of the program.

This was my experience, exactly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How my life changed 17 years ago is a simple but wonderful mathematical equation....

New career + New Wife = New Family

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/surg, rural CCU.

I pay all my bills now, and am still (after 3 years) shocked that aI still have money in the account.

My kids have a sense of entitlement-ugh, they don't remember what it's like not to be able to afford new things.

Now I love my job- and never dread going to work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was super excited that I had a new job in my preferred unit (Pedi). Then, reality set in. I worked nights and my kids spent 3-4 nights at a babysitter's house. I missed soccer games and holidays. Then I started to reconsider my decision to work in a hospital. Ultimately, I decided to look for other opportunities. I'm glad I did because I'm currently being considered for a dream job that would give me time to spend with my family with no holidays and I will still get to do what I love, BE a NURSE! :)

The money I made as a nurse was $700/mo. more than I made as a teacher. When you consider that I had all summer, holidays off as a teacher, it wasn't worth it. I love my kiddos too much to miss out just for the money. To me, nursing and teaching are my loves and there has to be a way to do them without sacrificing family time!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
still unemployed.. argh!

How long has it been since you've been searching ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I still can't find a job!!

When did you start searching for a job ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I was super excited that I had a new job in my preferred unit (Pedi). Then, reality set in. I worked nights and my kids spent 3-4 nights at a babysitter's house. I missed soccer games and holidays. Then I started to reconsider my decision to work in a hospital. Ultimately, I decided to look for other opportunities. I'm glad I did because I'm currently being considered for a dream job that would give me time to spend with my family with no holidays and I will still get to do what I love, BE a NURSE! :)

The money I made as a nurse was $700/mo. more than I made as a teacher. When you consider that I had all summer, holidays off as a teacher, it wasn't worth it. I love my kiddos too much to miss out just for the money. To me, nursing and teaching are my loves and there has to be a way to do them without sacrificing family time!

Im sorry,did you say you made $700 per month as a Nurse ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Im sorry,did you say you made $700 per month as a Nurse ?

I think she said she made that much MORE as a nurse than she did as a teacher.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Im sorry,did you say you made $700 per month as a Nurse ?

Lol I thought I read the same thing too,I was thinking that is not very much at all

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.
Lol I thought I read the same thing too,I was thinking that is not very much at all

LOL I thought the same thing as well....I hope that was a typeO :p

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion