How has Nursing changed you?

[NC Girl BSN]

I graduated from LPN school in August and will find out if I passed the NCLEX tomorrow. Since graduating, my whole demenor has changed. I am still doing CNA work but I come to work with my uniforms starched and my little nursing pin on. I try to do my hair everyday(I usually pull it back.) The nurses tell me that I look like a real nurse. Im planning on buying one of those Ultrascopes and a whole new wardrobe. I have a job waiting on me that is paying me $7 a hour more than Im making now. Its strange but I feel like a totally different person. Did anyone else feel this way? I guess I am feeling proud of my accomplishments and taking it up a notch.

[ccsfROBIN]

Thanks for the replies. As I read, I say to myself, I have a long way to go. Nursing has always been my first love and now that I have gotten my licensed and start my new job next week, I will wait a few months and see how my perspective changes. My love for patient care will never change. I have been a CNA for 14 years and have a 4 year degree and taught leisure/ Self development education in psych for 9 years. My goals in life is to be a sponge and soak up as much experience as I can so that I can go on and use it one day in higher education.

Stay possitive and don't let others dictate to you what nursing SHOULD mean to you. It's a wonderful profession, and yes very honorable. On the day that you stop feeling that way...it's time for a new career. I wouldn't let my loved ones be cared for by anything (anyone) less.

[SAHMU4IA]

Pehaps in order to answer the original question "How has nursing changed you?" --we need to first ask ourselves, "Why did we want to be nurses in the first place?"

Was it for the money? Forget it. You'll be cynical and jaded real quick. I took a considerable cut in pay to become a nurse, because I no longer beleived in what I was doing.

Was it because you thought you could change the Health Care system? Cut out some of the red tape? Forget it. That is not nursing.

Just like in patient care, we needs to go back to the ABC's. What is the original meaning of NURSE? (remember that from first semester?) By sticking with this, I beleive you will find a long, satisfying career.

[DarciaMoonz, LPN]

I don't feel any different really. More stressed sometimes due to the fact that I am still fairly new to nursing. People sometimes treat me different and I don't always like it. I feel like I am the same person now as I was when I was a CNA. I only changed/added to the care I provide to people. Some days are better than others, and I guess it is to be expected. I am happy to say that I am a nurse and am proud of having accomplished such a challenging course:-)