I joined this site for positive inspiration

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 24, 2012

:yelclap:WELCOME TO ALLNURSES, SUSHI JOE!! :yeah: We're glad you're here and hope your association with us will be a long and happy one. We count among our members many folks who started out in Pre-Nursing, taking their prerequisite courses, and we've followed their progress all the way through school, graduation, NCLEX, and out into the world of nursing; some of them still post here now that they're seasoned nurses!

Try not to be too discouraged about job prospects, and don't just listen to the negativity; our economy is still in the dumper, but at some point a whole new contingent of nurses will be needed to take care of those of us who are aging out of the profession and will need care ourselves in another decade or two. When that happens, YOU will be in demand as a highly-skilled and educated professional nurse.

Good luck, and once again, welcome! :)

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Mar 24, 2012

This school requires that I pass four prerequisite classes with a C average or better before acceptance into the clinical portion of the program.?

No Cs. Get As.

allnurses Guide · Mar 24, 2012

welcome to allnurses, sushijoe! glad you decided to join us.

i really believe what you want to find here is here. people are just more likely to share their troubles than they are when things are perking along just fine. the positive inspiration is here. there is a section called success stories in nursing as well as numerous threads started by students. the "toot your own horn" thread for nursing students is one of my favorites.

as far as what to expect job-wise, it's always true that statistics don't tell you how you as an individual will do. it wouldn't be to anyone's advantage to be less than honest about the challenges we're facing, though. what you get here is unfiltered reality. no shading of information to fit a notion of what someone wants you to do.

if you become a regular here you wil forge friendships and support systems that are very positive. take a look over the site map - there are many forums that may interest you. best wishes!!

:balloons:

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2012

Yes, you will read a ton of things that will scare you and keep you up at night. You might even be like me, and some of it will make you lose an appetite, a previous good mood, or pop the bubble you had when you signed-in. Most of their posts (though venting at the time), are very much true about the profession of Nursing, and the path to get there.

It has to be one of the most difficult journeys man can choose to take in life. It doesn't end with the degree, and it doesn't end with letter that you passed boards. But, if your hearts really in it, I promise you that every minute of the battle fatigue, stress, fear, even panic sometimes, and the general feeling of drowning-They are all worth it, and the reward is beyond words.

You will have valleys, and there will be awesome mountains. But, We see man come into life, and walk him out, and while we are here, we have the power to change many lives. I think it takes a self starter, self motivator, and strong knowledge of self to be successful in nursing, because you will have to constantly remind yourself of the award waiting on you. That said, even with all the backbiting, you will make powerful connections in Nursing School that will carry you through life. It is hard to go through something as complex as that without making some true and dependable friends.

I think now and through to your finish, you are joining a great Profession. We are still nurses when we clock out, and when we go home, it changes you to the core. We will teach you how to complain with the best of them also, Lol!!

But at the end of the day, remember this, . . .all those negative posts making you nervous, something is keeping them in Nursing. And if we didn't love the profession, we wouldn't fight over it, or for it. It is one of the oldest professions in the world. it just might be one of the most difficult, but I am quite sure it is one of the best.

And, even with some memories I would pay good money if they could extract them from my memory, I wouldn't trade anything for my choice at 17 to become a nurse, and the education I recieved, and am still recieving. You will find a job if you want one, you will reach other goals if you want to reach them. Remember, I think Nursing proved to us and the world that their is trully no recession proof job except the President of the United States, but even thats only for four years!:jester:Great Luck!!!!!!

SushiJoe · Mar 24, 2012

Thanks everyone. I'm learning so much already.

vanburbian · Mar 24, 2012

i can only second what bostonterrierloverrn stated:

"but, if your hearts really in it, i promise you that every minute of the battle fatigue, stress, fear, even panic sometimes, and the general feeling of drowning-they are all worth it, and the reward is beyond words."

yep..nothing else in the world like this job/art/calling.

allnurses Guide · Mar 24, 2012

It is an amazing journey and one in which you will forever have reason to both doubt yourself and feel incredibly good about yourself, sometimes all in the same night. Yes, it is hard. If it were easy, anyone could do it. But not everyone can, as evidenced by the number of people who drop out, fail out or quit. Its a tough road that never truly gets easier, just has some breathtakingly beautiful resting points that remind us why we are on it.

This is a place for support for nurses. Not too many people who are having fun and are fulfilled without struggles are in need of support, so of course you see less of those here. This is just one window into our wonderful profession, one that is a bit unfiltered and raw. As an above poster mentioned, it takes a knowledge of self to do this. It is that same knowledge of self that lets you read here and then process what is useful to you and discard the rest. And as you gain in experience and understanding of the unique challenges that come with nursing, you become appreciative that there is a place like this where you can get that support. Our families and our friends just don't get it. They mean well and support us in other ways (hopefully). But only another nurse can understand that if things are going to fall apart they are going to do so at shift change and that calling to let the family know we'll be late isn't even an option. Only another nurse can get how much we are held responsible for without any true authority and the creativity it can take at times to work within that frame. Only another nurse can empathize with what it means to be there at a person's most vulnerable moments when the average human being looks away for fear of what they may see.

If this is in you, its in you. And if it is in you, then you have what it takes to survive this culture and climate. Some days it will be easy. Other days it will be a choice.

Best of luck in your studies.

♑ Capricorn ♑ · Mar 24, 2012

hi sushijoe and welcome.

i honestly believe that anything worth attaining in life requires effort, dedication, and commitment. only you will know what you are made of and how much of something you can handle. yes, nursing school and nursing itself will test your strength in character.

[please tell me that i am not setting myself up for financial ruin and academic letdown./quote]
continuing one's education is never a letdown. learning something new is hardly a bad thing. challenging one's self to be more or do more is what makes one grow as an individual. financial ruin? there are jobs out there and the economy changes. three or four years from now, may be completely different to what our nation is facing right now. i'm praying its for the better but only time will tell. i say, focus on your education. you're just starting out and have a ways to go. before/around graduation is when you should concerning yourself with employment. worrying about this now will only drive you nuts!
you probably will not like every thread you read here. you will also enjoy many, many threads here. :) some of them may be a "wake-up call" to you, and others might inspire and motivate you. alot of the information i read here makes me internally think, and form my own opinions. i do appreciate the frank honesty and realities of nursing on this forum. i am also thankful to have such a great support system from the nurses and students here too. i have learned alot just from reading and asking questions. i encourage you to do the same.
like you, i am only a student. i begin my nursing school clinicals this coming fall. we are in this together and i wish you the best in your studies.
good luck.

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 24, 2012

welcome to the cite sushi joe...as i wish you the very best always....aloha~

mindlor · Mar 24, 2012

There is nothing more important in life than being happy.

I applaud you for having the courage to forsake materialism and to follow your heart.

KateRN1 · Mar 24, 2012

Welcome to All Nurses! I would caution you not to disregard those posts that you view as "negative" or not inspirational. If you want inspirational, go pick up Chicken Soup for the Nurses Soul. Within its pages you will find all the rainbows, unicorns, and fluffy clouds of inspiration that you are seeking. If, however, you prefer to investigate the reality of nursing *before* you devote your life's savings and a good deal of your sanity, I suggest that you take note of the less-than-inspirational threads because they represent the reality of nursing. It's not all wiping of brows and wringing of hands and saving lives. Sometimes it's up to your elbows in poop while alarms are bleating, coworkers are harping, and patients are complaining. Some days (nights) you go home so exhausted that you don't even want to kiss your children before you flop into bed because you know you're only going to get six hours of sleep before you have to get back up and go back to it all. And that's if you're fortunate enough to find a job at all. Don't let anyone give you the line that nursing is "recession-proof." It isn't. Health care is a business just like any other and has suffered with the economic downturn. Nurses are not considered an asset to hospitals, they are a cost and when it's time to cut costs, nursing is almost always the first area to be the victim of budget cuts. It's always a struggle to do more with less--less manpower, less supplies, less money. Consider *all* of the aspects of nursing when making your decision about whether to pursue a different career. Is your dream based in reality, or is it just a dream? Best wishes to you.