Looking for support

[Katia]

Hello,

My name is Katie and I just joined this sight in an effort to talk to prosprective and practicing nurses. I have been strongly considering starting nursing school, actually I am trying to get into prereq classes at local college right now but I fear I may have started too late and I don't know if I'll get the classes I need this semester. I am almost 25 years old and have been struggling with the direction of my life since I graduated from high school back in 2001. Every year that goes by I get more and more nervous that I am wasting my time. I've definitely come to the conclusion that I don't want to be a career waitress, as I've seen so many people at my home in Maui do. My grandmother recently passed away from cancer and I had the honor of living with her and caring for her in the last months of her life. I was so impressed by some of the nurses who cared for her during her stay in the hospital and especially by the wonderful woman from the hospice center who helped us go through the process of her death. Going through this experience made me realize that my nature could be very condusive to this type of work. Overall I think I am a very compassionette nurturing person who enjoys taking care of others. To me this seems like one of the most important qualities a nurse can have. But I'm scared . I'm scared I am not smart enough. I'm not the most technical person and science and math have never been my favorite subjects. I'm not stupid I am just afraid I am getting in over my head. Anyone out there with similar apprehensions or advice for what I'm feeling? I'm getting to the point in my life where I think it would be better to try anything and fail rather than just stay stagnent as I am. Also, everything I've researched on a nurses lifestyle has seemed very appealing. The ability to travel and find work where ever you go. Overworked yes but decent wages. How accurate is this? From practicing nurses do you feel you receive adaquette (no idea how to spell that) compensation for your hard work? Appreciate any feedback I could get. Thanks.

[jonathan4606]

Hi Katie!

It is a tough profession to be a Nurse. I am a male nurse in Israel, where the quality of medicine and nursing is very good, but still this profession demand working around the clock, it means shifts. Not everyone may stand this kind of job, but if you think you can stand those shifts, that relationship with Doctors (that not always are sympatic...) and you feel yourself as a care giver "from birth" - then go for it.

I find nursing profession very important and holy.

I'll be glad to write you more wether you want to know anything.

Good luck,

David

[nyapa, RN]

Hey Katia

Thanks for starting this thread. There are so many times one comes on to 'Allnurses' to talk about bad experiences, or times when we cant cope. You have made me think about what is good about nursing; almost like a bit of soulsearching. Sometimes one needs these 'wakeup calls'

Jay