I am a 24 year old female who is notoriously lacking direction. Lately I have been seriously considering nursing as a profession. My previous career endeavors include Psychology, English, Funeral Service, and Business. What peaked my interest in nursing was the fact that it is always in demand, the pay is fairly lucrative, and is a medical career. I love watching fictional medical shows, the surgery channel, and true medical stories. The human body is fascinating! I spent the last year and a half in funeral service and what I loved about it was the body. Being wrist deep in a chest cavity is an amazing experience. It made me think I would enjoy being a surgical nurse. Being an ER nurse sounds like torture to me. So much stress! I think maybe a nurse at a doctor's office sound great. To be honest, it sounds kind of cushy- 8-4, no weekends or holidays, not too crazy or stressful. Is it difficult to get these types of positions? Is the pay lower than other areas? Should I be an RN to do that job?
To tell you a little more about myself, I am an excellent student. My grades are top notch, and I am not afraid of hard work. I am organized, detail oriented, empathetic, and very upbeat. Death doesn't faze me- it's simply a part of life. However, I am very sensitive to stress and a hostile work environment. Also, I really enjoy free time (aka having time to spend with my friends and family. I'm a 'working for the weekend' type). I am easily bored.
I guess what I'm asking is, What qualities make a good nurse? I know there are SO many different types of nurses and I wonder which would best fit my personality and needs. Is this for me? I've started and stopped so many things that I'm now nervous to dive into anything new. I have an Associates in Business so I have many of the prerequisites for an Accelerated BSN completed. Advice? I know this is kind of rambling but I'm a little hopped up on caffeine right now! : D
My goodness - did you not read the last paragraph at all? I am advocating for changing the traditional educational process to one that is more appropriate for a new generation - one with very different characteristics than the students for which nursing education was originally designed. We have empirical research which reveals that the cognitive styles of the millennial generation are very different than that of previous generations. This is not not good or bad - it just 'is'.
Thoughful discourse - making an attempt to truly understand the viewpoints of others - is an important skill in nursing.
I'll risk disagreement.
If one views university lectures(see MIT open coursework) you will notice that the lecture style still dominates learning. It is the same format that has been used for generations. These kids in those classes are no different than the kids in nursing schools.
It is not to say that particular students might benefit from a more individual approach. But, in my opinion, nursing is treating this like is does its practice--trying to be everything to everyone all the time.
Nursing cannot and does not fulfill this very nice promise, except in a fragmented form.
interleukin
382 Posts
I'll risk disagreement.
If one views university lectures(see MIT open coursework) you will notice that the lecture style still dominates learning. It is the same format that has been used for generations. These kids in those classes are no different than the kids in nursing schools.
It is not to say that particular students might benefit from a more individual approach. But, in my opinion, nursing is treating this like is does its practice--trying to be everything to everyone all the time.
Nursing cannot and does not fulfill this very nice promise, except in a fragmented form.
Am I just blowin' in the wind?