How much medical experience did you have before entering nursing school?

Published

Hi everyone.

Btw, I love this site. It's given me tons of info and the work done by nurses is amazing.

My question is how much medical experience did you have before entering nursing school?

I am very capable individual with common sense, highly interested in being an RN because it's a good career where you learn tons, help people, deal with different situations under pressure (I like being busy) and overall seems like an interesting profession.

I am always the one watching medical shows and googling things I don't understand. My family calls me to ask my "opinion" on what I think something may be. I do research and gather facts and tell them what I think and what they need to do next and I usually learn a lot. Thank God for the internet. I'm also the one finding myself helping family with meds or post surgery care. No, I'm not trying to be a fake nurse. lol :rolleyes: I just enjoy helping and learning.

Now, with that said, I am also scared to jump into this totally different field. I am almost 27 and have worked basic office jobs, mostly customer service related. On one side it's good because I've been exposed to different people, cultures, etc and am confident that I can deal with even the most difficult person. One the other side I have no experience in the medical field and although I believe in "everything is hard until you know it" I am scared.

Is this normal..to be slightly overwhelmed?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

It is normal to feel scared. I had no medical experience before entering nursing school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Feeling overwhelmed when deciding whether or not to go back to school is enitrely normal. I am about to start my upper division professional course work for my BSN at Arizona State University, and have worked within the hospitality industry at a resort the past 5 and 1/2 years. Never a day of workplace medical experience.

If it is something you are passionate about- go for it!

Best of luck Aly529 :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in DOU, Medical-Surgical.

Reading your post I can't help but think of how much you sound like me (lol) I always had so much curiosity when it came to investigating illnesses and their symptoms via the internet (without health insurance what much else is there to do?) and I'm still the same way, almost two years later just about to finish nursing school (yay!). Having that curious mind is the best tool to have for nursing school, because curious minds tend to learn very well ;). Anyway, I had zero health experience when I started nursing school, and it was, and still is, very intimidating. I really believe it is normal though. I had an instructor tell me, "Don't expect the anxiety to subside until your first or second year of working!" :uhoh21: but....let's just see how it goes....good luck!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
Hi everyone.

Btw, I love this site. It's given me tons of info and the work done by nurses is amazing.

My question is how much medical experience did you have before entering nursing school?

I believe in "everything is hard until you know it" I am scared.

Is this normal..to be slightly overwhelmed?

Ditto on the love for this site. AN.com has helped renew some energy that had waned, somewhat, for Nursing. Being able to communicate and share with like souls has allowed me to re-evaluate and reinvest more energy in my work.

I was very fortunate, in that, I went through different levels of Medical training and experience. I was certified in First Aid and CPR in 1978 at the local Community College and Fire Dept. Then, I took an EMT course and got on the local Emergency Corp. From there, I got my National EMT license. Then on to LPN and RN. It's been a great climb; one area of my life that I have very few regrets.

Yes, everything is hard before you know it, and to feel a little overwhelmed and anxious does have its benefits: It motivates us to act. So, Aly529, it sounds as though you are in a good place.

The best to you.

Dave

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, MICU, SICU.

I had no prior experience. Zero. Zilch. I don't even think I'd been in a hospital before. You'll be fine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was an athletic trainer for my high school's teams for about two and a half years and knew some assessments/ how to deal with blood and broken bones and such but let me tell you, nursing school is a wonderful learning curve. Your curiosity will really help you out when it comes to assessments, as well as bio and pathophysiology courses. It's normal to be nervous to start something new but you will be fine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

:[anb]:

Thank you everyone for your replies.

:) It definitely helps to know others in my scenario have been there and made it through.

I looked at medical prefixes and suffixes out of curiousity the other day and freaked at the thought of having to learn all of those, not to count all the other things you have to know as a nurse. I'm sure like everything else repetition and practice helps and it becomes natural eventually but it is scary and definitely makes the average human question if it is possible to memorize and retain so much.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Med-Surg, IMCU/Tele, HH/CM.

I worked as a CNA for 8 years prior to entering nursing school and worked as a CNA during as well. I also got my Pharmacy Tech, Phlebotomy, and EMT-B certifications over the years.

Whenver people are interested in becoming a nurse, I tell them it's a good idea to become a CNA first. You get a feel for the most basic part of nursing and the most important part: patient care. If you are comfortable with patient care by the time you get to clinical rotations in nursing school then you can put your energy into learning new things, and you will be less uncomfortable around the patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Corrections; Advice Nurse.

i love this site! so helpful.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My pre-nursing school medical experience was all strictly as a patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

None.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion