I wish I'd have known....B4 nursing school

moia · May 4, 2004

I wish I had known that I would be really good at nursing, I would have really let a few clinical instructors have it.

I wish I had known how really sad you can feel when you get to the end of treatment and realize there is nothing left and the patient is going to die and nothing you do will change that fact.

I wish I had known that doctors are just goofy people like us , I would have been more proactive instead of being intimidated and letting my patients down when they needed me to be their advocate.

There is so much I wish I had been taught...a course on how to survive a crisis instead of sociology, a course on dealing with death and how to ask for a DNR , or how to tell a family their loved one is dead or horribly injured....why was none of this covered? We got weeks of patho and anatomy but nobody bothered to have a class about real issues that we face every day...how about a class that roleplays the patient that won't get off the call bell, the family that makes everyone crazy...I wish I had been given real skills for that instead of learning by trial and error.

nursemike, ASN, RN · May 4, 2004

What is the one thing that you know NOW, but you wish you would have known BEFORE you started nursing school?:uhoh21:

I had no idea how hard it would be--but I'm sort of glad I didn't, because I might have thought better of it. Pharm final Friday and 1st year is in the bag!

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · May 4, 2004

I wish I had known that I would be really good at nursing, I would have really let a few clinical instructors have it.
I wish I had known how really sad you can feel when you get to the end of treatment and realize there is nothing left and the patient is going to die and nothing you do will change that fact.
I wish I had known that doctors are just goofy people like us , I would have been more proactive instead of being intimidated and letting my patients down when they needed me to be their advocate.
There is so much I wish I had been taught...a course on how to survive a crisis instead of sociology, a course on dealing with death and how to ask for a DNR , or how to tell a family their loved one is dead or horribly injured....why was none of this covered? We got weeks of patho and anatomy but nobody bothered to have a class about real issues that we face every day...how about a class that roleplays the patient that won't get off the call bell, the family that makes everyone crazy...I wish I had been given real skills for that instead of learning by trial and error.

Great post, moia.

telenurse04 · May 4, 2004

I wish I had known the immense challanges that lie ahead of me. There are soo many issues that have not been kinked out. It is a great profession if you are looking to be a leader.

And, I do not appreciate the comments that sarcastically say "welcome to the wonderful world of nursing."

aurora_borealis · May 4, 2004

If dietary screws up a pt's dinner, blame the nurse.

If the pharmacy is late with med delivery, blame the nurse.

If a physician is late and the family wants to speak with him/her, blame the nurse.

If Xray is taking forever, blame the nurse.

If transport is taking forever, blame the nurse.

Can't get that private room with a view? Blame the nurse.

Bad weather? Blame the nurse.

Crappy golf game? Blame the nurse.

Also, I didn't go to nursing school to teach manners.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · May 4, 2004

Stop saying that already, Tom!

I think it has beautifull sentiment

lady_jezebel · May 7, 2004

What is the one thing that you know NOW, but you wish you would have known BEFORE you started nursing school?:uhoh21:

That I should have worked harder during my pre-reqs & applied for med school instead! Honestly, I would rather solve medical problems and write orders than carry out most of these freaken' orders. Sometimes I feel like a waitress or technician... :crying2:

z's playa · May 7, 2004

I freaking KNOW I"M scared!!! Thanks guys. :) :crying2:

MelissaRN · May 19, 2004

I wish I had spent more time working as a nursing tech. It's the little things like turning, bed pans, and getting the diaper on the patients that took alot of my time. LOL. I had the technical stuff down pat.

Dayray, RN · May 19, 2004

Hmm.. well I guess I wish I would have known how much of a struggle I would have with other nurses. I don't think it would have changed my decision to be a nurse but I might have handled it better had I understood what i was getting myself into.

RN77 · May 19, 2004

I wish I'd known that I wouldn't know it all fresh out of nursing school. I mean, I thought I would be prepared to be a nurse. When I got out and faced reality, I felt inadequate; like I'd missed several courses that I should have taken and it was very scarey! Without much self-esteem at the time, I thought that my lack of knowledge was a personal thing, not just normal for a new nurse. Nursing is an art and a science; but they only teach the science in school. I knew nursing, but not how to be a nurse. I'm gald that horrible time is well behind me (been practicing for 27 years now).

Light Warrior · May 19, 2004

What I wish I would have known is that people around you in your class need to grow up and act like mature, rationale, and responsible adults not children. That some teachers really don't know poop while others are a world of information. How to not be embarassed at knowing the answer but completely second guessing yourself because you can't believe you really know that.... :imbar . I wish I had know that some of the nurses you deal with out there when you're a student are not nice AT ALL & out right nasty to you! [Let me take the time now to so thanks to all those who are awesome and shame on you to those who are horrible with students! Yes, I am a new nurse & still learning :uhoh21: .] I agree with the previous post... social life.. What's that? I wish I had know how passionate I would feel about nursing and how much compassion you can feel for someone when you see and feel their pain when helping them... What can I say other than I wish I had done it straight from High School! :rolleyes: Silly Me!