Im lost all nurses read!!!

truthbtolled77 · Dec 8, 2009

:grad: maybe if you learn about anatomy & physiology, wounds/injuries/blood won't seem so bad. meaning, what happens with an infection, what helps to heal, how blood works; maybe, just maybe, it'll be easier to handle. most nurses, whether they want to admit it or not, have a vice that they have a hard time handling, it may be vomit, sputum, poo, etc:sstrs:. so don't feel bad about that. while in school, i agree with the other posts, work as a cna...some facilities may be able to take you on as a cna, but knowing you are nursing student, they may have special programs that pay a little more than a cna... i am not sure if that is possible, but call around and ask if they have that:confused:. as far as working 3 days, no wknds...well its a good chance being new you are looking at night shift, most likely, if that doesn't bother you, great...some love it:anbd:! no weekends, that's a tough one, usually and i do mean as in typically, it is mandatory to work every other weekend:lol_hitti. i hope this helps, i didn't sugar coat ( i think) if you need anything else... you know where to find me!

erroridiot · Dec 8, 2009

arn't all of those 5 day a week jobs? I am not interested in working 5 days a week really.

Hospital pharmacist = 12 hr, or you will make more than a nurse and can work less hours.

When you are 40 -60 yr old, you may not want to work 12 hour shifts or weekends for that matter

Social workers take call in some settings and work more than 8 hour shifts, such as hospice or inpatient psych units, also inpatient medical units.

HopefullyOR · Dec 8, 2009

"yeah i understand about poop, blood, and vomit i think i will get used to it to, i didn't really say poop blood or vomit though i said (open wounds and injurys)"

"most nurses, whether they want to admit it or not, have a vice that they have a hard time handling, it may be vomit, sputum, poo, etc:sstrs:. so don't feel bad about that."

i agree, everyone has their little things they can't handle. for instance, i'm not much of a poop person... but i am all for nasty wound cares! there are many people that go through nursing school knowing they will have to push through and deal with those things they don't like in order to get to the prize at the end: the specialty they want to work in. as was pointed out before- just know that as a new grad you most likely will not get your pick in a schedule and may have to work 8 hour shifts- and probably every other weekend.

other jobs to think about:

massage therapist

chiropractor

acupuncturist

radiology tech

Disco_Superfly · Dec 8, 2009

I have dealt with pee, blood, puke, amniotic fluid, placenta, cancerous lesions and the like for years.. but the ONE THING that bothers me is PIMPLES. Don't ask me to pop one on your back. Yeah I can pack an infected wound without incident, but those pimples... nah.

Oh yeah and teeth... can't pull little kids teeth either. 'Have your grandma do it' was my statement to my kids about it. Pimples and Teeth are my this super nurse's kryptonite.

MedSurgeMess · Dec 8, 2009

To the OP: I have read your posts out here before, and I have to ask, have you gotten the GED yet? If not, you need to get that under your belt before you try nursing. Also, you seem to want little work with good pay. Good luck, because that's fairy tale. I'm not trying to be mean or rude, but I have read and answered your posts before with the same information. I think you need to do a lot of soul searching after the GED to figure out what you want. Good luck kid, being 17 isn't easy. In these times, it's crazy.

K.P.A. · Dec 8, 2009

I've just finished my first semester clinical. What you're talking about is messy work. The dirty work is much worse. If you are willing to work X days on followed by Y days off, there are plenty of good paying jobs. BTDT with an oil company and it was a lot of fun. You still might run into the occasional blood and guts by way of accident or violence. But, it doesn't happen very often.

kbm318 · Dec 8, 2009

to the op you said you didnt really want to work weekends and you wanted to work nights but in one of your other threads you started you stated this "thanks for your reply, i would actualy prefer nights and weekends and i am open to working holidays, but i am very flexible as to days and nights of the week aswell"

also when you said this "i think monitoring patients sounds really really fun and cool because i like watching things" that isn't exactly what nurses do. yeah sure they check monitors to make sure everything is right but you forgot everything that goes along with that.

plus when you said in your original post "i don't know if i really want to be working with blood and wounds and the dirty work " you just said and all the dirty work so naturally people are going to mention the "dirty work" don't get mad because you are the one that didn't word yourself the way you wanted others to take it.

it sounds as if you aren't sure what you even want to do or how to even go about doing it. and by no means here am i trying to put you down we all have reasons for things but you said you dropped out of high school and you are going for your ged well you have to send your hs transcripts to the colleges you apply to nursing for and well since you said you didn't like school some schools may ask you why you dropped out and they may be concerned that you may drop out of their program as well. and also since you say you hate school and don't want to spend that much time in school how exactly are you going to go for your crna that takes about 6-7 years total in school (including getting your bsn)

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Dec 8, 2009

To the OP: I have read your posts out here before, and I have to ask, have you gotten the GED yet? If not, you need to get that under your belt before you try nursing. Also, you seem to want little work with good pay. Good luck, because that's fairy tale. I'm not trying to be mean or rude, but I have read and answered your posts before with the same information. I think you need to do a lot of soul searching after the GED to figure out what you want. Good luck kid, being 17 isn't easy. In these times, it's crazy.

I didn't read his other posts.

Kudos to you. You said everything on my mind, no offense to the OP.

Nursing school requires extreme commitment and time. I had class/clinical 5 days a week. 7 hours a day. Mind you this was without studying, care plans, reading chapters for the next day, outlining those chapters which was a requirement at times, and other homework that had to be done.

And you want to be a CRNA? I am an LPN, LPN school was TOUGH. I can relate to the OP as we are close in age. I had to give up many things that us adolescents do such as going out for fun, I can remember being able to go out with my friends very very few times during nursing school. I don't want to crush your dreams here but you have a lot of work to do if you want to be a CRNA, and it can't all be done in 4 day weeks. You have to get into a BSN program, get through nursing school, pass your NCLEX, get clinical experience in ICU, then get into a CRNA program and graduate. I don't mean to sound like negative nancy here but things don't always work out as planned.

You have to create small goals for yourself before you create large goals. Small goals will help you accomplish things.

Best of luck to you.

roser13, ASN, RN · Dec 8, 2009

No sugar-coating here:

It is not realistic to pick out a career because of the potential hours/schedule/pay. Of course those things are important to anyone, but to have "requirements" for your future career before you've even graduated from high school is not wise or even do-able.

Most successful people (nurses or otherwise) decide what they want out of life, what they hope to do with their life and what type of career would invigorate and stimulate them. Then they take the steps necessary to achieve that career.

Only then can they plan how to achieve the specifics: schedule/shift, etc.

Reminisce · Dec 8, 2009

to the op you said you didnt really want to work weekends and you wanted to work nights but in one of your other threads you started you stated this "thanks for your reply, i would actualy prefer nights and weekends and i am open to working holidays, but i am very flexible as to days and nights of the week aswell"
also when you said this "i think monitoring patients sounds really really fun and cool because i like watching things" that isn't exactly what nurses do. yeah sure they check monitors to make sure everything is right but you forgot everything that goes along with that.
plus when you said in your original post "i don't know if i really want to be working with blood and wounds and the dirty work " you just said and all the dirty work so naturally people are going to mention the "dirty work" don't get mad because you are the one that didn't word yourself the way you wanted others to take it.
it sounds as if you aren't sure what you even want to do or how to even go about doing it. and by no means here am i trying to put you down we all have reasons for things but you said you dropped out of high school and you are going for your ged well you have to send your hs transcripts to the colleges you apply to nursing for and well since you said you didn't like school some schools may ask you why you dropped out and they may be concerned that you may drop out of their program as well. and also since you say you hate school and don't want to spend that much time in school how exactly are you going to go for your crna that takes about 6-7 years total in school (including getting your bsn)

i hope you didn't miss the evaluating part in my original post, btw, people can change there opinion, and i never got mad at any of the posters for anything so you should't say "don't get mad because you are the one that didn't word yourself the way you wanted others to take it" because that's judging me based off your opinion, as for my other post that is irrelevant, thanks.

EmmyBee · Dec 8, 2009

ok so I have been been evaluating what I truly want which would make most nurses upset with me I suppose, What I truly want is to only have to work 3 days a week 12 hour day time shifts and some how make 40k - 50k a year and have full benafits, and preferably have friday, saturday and sunday off. I am only 17 right now so it might change in time as I grow and find myself more in the future, I like the idea of helping others (that line is probley overly used in the world) but I don't know if I really want to be working with blood and wounds and the dirty work and having to bring people back to life and such, I suppose I dont trust myself well enough because I never been in that type of situation and I dont know how I would respond to it, I would love to help sick people who do not really have injuries, I think monitoring patients sounds really really fun and cool because I like watching things but idk would I really make a good nurse? am I doing it for the wrong reasons? what do you guys think? is there other types of careers that work 3 12 hour shifts and get full benafits and 40k - 50k a year? give me some advice please :) constructive would be prefered, and dont sugar coat :)

In addition to working on finishing up your GED, I think you might need to look into more career options, as well. Have you researched other jobs that involve the aspect of "helping others", like you desire?

Nurses work very hard and wear many hats. It isn't just about "monitoring" people. I'm not aware of any job in the field that requires one to simply look at their patient, and not have to render some form of care, even if they are stable. Not to mention, if a patient's status is deteriorating, who will intervene, if not the nurse? And yes, that involves the good, the bad, AND the ugly. We can't just choose what we are going to do for an assigned patient. It doesn't work that way.

If nursing is truly what you want to do, I don't think you should focus so much on the hours. In fact, the hours you mentioned are partly doable, in that you might be able to pull of a schedule like that twice a month. But the reality is, most jobs out there aren't going to offer "perfect" hours, unless you are working temporary or have your own business. So you are going to have to compromise at some point.

Try doing more research. If volunteering won't let you see much, contact your local career center. Talk to a career counselor, rent videos on different jobs in nursing, watch documentary shows on TV (Trauma Life in the ER, Code Blue, A Baby Story, etc) that will allow you to see a little of what different types of nurses do. Read more about what nurses do for their jobs on here, and also what people's opinions are about those jobs. Look up job listings online for different nursing positions and read the job descriptions.

There is more research to be done, to see if this field is truly for you. We can't tell you whether you should do it or not. It has to be a decision that YOU make. You have plenty of time. The advice about starting as a CNA might also help shed some light on what to expect as you venture into the field. And it will allow you to talk to nurses in person and see them in action.

But whatever you do, don't base your decision solely on money and hours. And don't expect to come into any field not wanting to work hard, because you will have to most of the times, especially in the beginning.

Good luck to you!

CBsMommy · Dec 8, 2009

To the OP: I commend you on figuring out your path early in life and it shows great initiative that you are coming on this board to ask questions. I would also agree with the posts that state to try a CNA class. They are not expensive, not long, and it will really help you to see if nursing is right for you. Many people in my CNA class (around your same age) decided against becoming a nurse and that's perfectly okay! I wish I had started trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I was your age.

That being said, I also agree with the other posts that state that you sound like you don't really want to work hard for good money. I will tell you from personal experience that EVERYTHING in life is hard work. I am a single mother and work hard everyday. I have had to take jobs and work them for YEARS that I hated to put food on the table and a roof over my head (even when I was single). I make sure my house is clean which is hard work. I passed all of my pre-reqs for nursing which was really hard work and I'm getting ready for this crazy ride called nursing school which I anticipate to be harder work than all of them put together (except being a Mommy). I will also tell you from my personal experience as an old lady, that hard work is SO rewarding. I look back at all of the hard work that I've put in and it gives me a feeling of accomplishment to see some of the things that I've done that I never thought I could do. It gives me the drive to push through things when I am at the breaking point and just want to throw my hands up and quit. I push through because I can look back and say to myself, geez, you never thought you'd be able to do that and you pulled it off. I bet you could do this too. And I push through.

If that's not your case, then my humblest apologies. I'm not trying to put you down or anything. I can only take from this board what I read and I don't know you personally. Good luck with whatever you decide to do and congrats for trying to figure it out!