what kind of jobs does a RN do

control · Sep 18, 2005

is this a serious question? what do you think that nurses do? mop a fevered brow? wear a little white hat with a red cross and read bedtime stories waiting in vain for Dr Death to ask for your hand in marriage? you've been reading too many romance novels, my dear. to be a good nurse, you take a holistic view of your patient and your patient's physical-and-psychosocial needs. you need to know everything that is going on with your patient from how many spoon fulls of soup they eat at lunch, to the colour and consistency of their poo (and if that means a rumage in a commode potty, then that's what it takes) to knowing the health of their budgie (if little tweetie-pie ain't happy, then chances are your patient isn't either, you'd be surprised how that affects their well-being!). i suggest you put away your toy-stethoscope, get yourself down to the local general hospital and volunteer your services tout de suite. get sitting with patients, talk to them, offer to help out at meal times, smell the smells, and see the sights. watch what those nurses do (and the abuse that they take), see how Dr Death talks to nurse Betty (he ain't that hot anyway). and then make up your mind about nursing. or not as the case may be.

Wow. Is this really necessary. Condescending much? The OP said "please guide me" not "please badger me".

I never thought I'd be pulling a bed pan's worth of constipated poop out of patients' behinds as often as I had to as a floor nurse, either. Naive, sure. Worthy of someone haughtily shaming my naivete, not so much. It's a legitimate question. Give the OP a break, geez.

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Sep 18, 2005

Hmmmm folks, interesting points made here...all the way around. I need to interject here. We have to realize as nurses that folks REALLY don't have a clue or an idea what we do as nurses...so naivete can often be very genuine. We know this!!!... and we need to try to NOT come down on folks for asking "what we do". This IS how we educate others. So, let me just say that and be done...as a general warning. Allnurses exists to be supportive, inclusive and informative...not derisive or condescending. I can understand that this topic can become heated, just like the LPN vs RN debate or the AD vs BSN debate...that is seen ad nauseum at times. So, let's play nice or thread will close.

Respectfully,

Wolfie

rob5252 · Sep 18, 2005

Wow. Is this really necessary. Condescending much? The OP said "please guide me" not "please badger me".
I never thought I'd be pulling a bed pan's worth of constipated poop out of patients' behinds as often as I had to as a floor nurse, either. Naive, sure. Worthy of someone haughtily shaming my naivete, not so much. It's a legitimate question. Give the OP a break, geez.

wow, so that told me! when people say that americans have no sense of irony, i always leap to 'your' defence. after all, my other and better half purports to have been born and educated on your fair shores (though has lived here in the uk for ten years) and has an unparalleled sense of humour. uk nurses, too, work in very difficult situations and get by on heavy doses of humour. so relax and don't take everything quite so literally and so seriously! we should have all told that poor nursing student that nursing's a breeze and watch with a wry smile as she's expected (with horror) to clean up faecal vomit on her first shift. i love a good baptism of fire! good luck!

control · Sep 18, 2005

That's some generalization about Americans....anyway, I did not see your entire post as a joke we were all supposed to get. I highlighted only the parts that I thought weren't necessary. Call it irony if you want, but when irony is doled out that heavily, I interpret it more as sarcasm, meaning more in the vein of ridicule or mockery.

It seems like a prudent writer would make the purpose for writing clear to the audience. Especially via this medium of communication where the meaning of a message can often be lost on the readers.

Not to say that irony/sarcasm has no place on a message board, but at least make your point clear.

I know when I was a student with a question I didn't exactly come running back for answers to my questions from someone that had a tendency not to respond to me in earnest.

And if it is just a culture clash :uhoh3: [that you allude to by posting the generalization about Americans not having a (British?) sense of humor], you'd think the writer would be even more careful in conveying the message.

eta: and it's not about feeding someone a false idea of what nursing is about...more like educating someone about what nurses really do in a respectful way.

serene43 · Sep 18, 2005

Hear, hear for the truth, no matter how it's said...

That's some generalization about Americans....anyway, I did not see your entire post as a joke we were all supposed to get. I highlighted only the parts that I thought weren't necessary. Call it irony if you want, but when irony is doled out that heavily, I interpret it more as sarcasm, meaning more in the vein of ridicule or mockery.
It seems like a prudent writer would make the purpose for writing clear to the audience. Especially via this medium of communication where the meaning of a message can often be lost on the readers.
Not to say that irony/sarcasm has no place on a message board, but at least make your point clear.
I know when I was a student with a question I didn't exactly come running back for answers to my questions from someone that had a tendency not to respond to me in earnest.
And if it is just a culture clash [that you allude to by posting the generalization about Americans not having a (British?) sense of humor], you'd think the writer would be even more careful in conveying the message.
eta: and it's not about feeding someone a false idea of what nursing is about...more like educating someone about what nurses really do in a respectful way.

Lookingtolearn · Sep 20, 2005

To The OP without badgering you I suggest you go online research all nursing careers. You can obtain an advance degree to become an NP, CRNA or you can even become a PA which would limit the amount of cleaning duties. Or you can go on to med school where the cleaning of patients is non existent. I see nothing wrong with your question trust me many pre nursing students have this misconception. please research online, your local library because you donot want to waste your time in nursing if it is not what you want to do.

Good Luck

nursing 101 · Sep 20, 2005

Not too sound to harsh but I do agree that in this day and age people should look up something before they jump right into it and that includes getting a degree in any field that exist.

Needless to say this is a good board for information. As much as I looked up nursing before getting into school, I got most of my info from this board. I mean the real nitty gritty info that you don't get until other nurses tell you how it is and until you see it in clinicals.

I also think she came to the right site to find info and at least she is looking for the info while she is doing pre-req's and not after being accepted into a program. So she will have time to choose before she gets too deep into it.

Mona Mona, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2005

I have been volunteering 4 hours a week at a mid-sized hospital for a few months now. That's what made me apply for nursing school, and I am currently taking my pre-required classes.

I could have "researched" online all I wanted to, and asked a million people what they thought, but I wanted to see for myself, first hand, what different nurses do, and how they structure their days, etc.

Best thing to do, volunteer for a while. Ask LOTS of questions. I thought I would be a hinderance to the nurses, and yes, some were more impatient than others, but on the whole, they knew I was genuinely interested, and I was giving my time FOR FREE, so they were very, very helpful.

Good luck to you.

got2be · Sep 20, 2005

hi, i am truly considering becoming either lpn or rn, (money issues) but as from my point of view i understand how it is misconcepted what nurses really do. i want to work in l&d and besides of when i was in there giving birth 2x i didnt know what nurses do and still don't besides just from my experience of actually being the patient i realize being in the delivery room can be sooo messy. i felt so sorry for the nurse who had to follow me to the bathroom for the first time, i didn't even want to clean me up. even through all of that i still want to work in l&d i want to be a part of bringing a life into this world.

from reading these posts, even the horror stories, it still is what i want to do.

so thanks for teaching and preparing me for whats to come.

i think anyone who can work in those kinds of situation deserves much

respect! no matter what degree you have.