Is nursing for me?

And being totally incompetant now as far as Nursing is concerned....will I be competant before starting clinicals (whats, 3 years from august?)

Nursing is....

• Mentally emotionally, and physically challenging.
  
• Stressful. Someone else said it so eloquently. To paraphrase: "I know of no other profession in which it is common, even expected, to go home in tears at the end of a shift." They might be tears of joy, frustration, or sorrow, but this job won't leave you wondering if that's all there is.
  
• Amazing. You're dealing with people's lives here. You will see miracles. You will see blunders. You will be a part of it.

And yes, you will be prepared before clinicals and judged competent before starting clinicals. Your instructor will be watching your every move.

Competence will not be expected until after you obtain your license, and even then it will be expected that there will be things you will not know.

Call the local hospital and see if you can shadow a nurse for one shift.

The best way to see if you have what it takes is to get a hospital job such as CNA or tech or unit clerk, but you don't have the time it would take to go that route.

Try volunteering at a hospital.

I went to a private high school and we had to have so many "service hours" per year to graduate. At the time, my mom suggested I work as a "candy-striper" or hospital volunteer. I had never been in a hospital other than to see my younger sister after she was born, but for the 2 summers I helped out, I feel in love with everything in the medical field. I did not get actual "hands on" experience, but I was exposed to just about everything. This experience really helped to jump-start my decision to enter nursing.

This was the ONLY medical experience I had prior to nursing school. You learn what you can in lecture, and then practice with your instructor at your side during clinicals. That is what they are for after all...practice!

Don't let your lack of experience hold you back. There were many of us with little or no medical exposure prior to school. If you truly want to be a nurse...go for it! We would love to have you:nurse:

I"m a twin and I've been a CNA for 9 years. I LOVE nursing, and am looking forward to starting nursing school to get my LPN, then eventually my RN. My twin was wondering the same, if she would like it as well...so for her birthday I paid for a CNA class for her...cuz we all have to start somewhere right? lol

She took the class, and while working/doing her clinicals in a Nursing home decided that is was definitely not for her.

I guess I would say take the 6 weeks if you have time to get your CNA license, and definitely give it a try. You'll either like it or you won't! I loved it from the first day of class...and honestly I think everyone who isn't sure about nursing should get their CNA license and give it a try!

Anatomy and Physiology scare me the most about nursing school...the idea of workign with cadavers is what has turned me off of nursing school for 9 years now...but this fall I'm signed up for Anatomy and Physiology...so if I can get that behind me...look out nursing school...here I come! lol