I have been wanting to be a nurse for a couple years now. But I keep losing interest in it. I was in a microbiology class and mathematic statistics class for prerequisites but I don't find either of them interesting.
I don't find science interesting at all, and I know that is a big part in nursing.
My question is: Some of you going or have gone and become a nurse, did you find your pre-req classes interesting? And willing to want to learn and get there and actually retain the information that they tell you?
I am thinking about switching my major to Criminal Justice, and going for a probation officer position.
I have almost all the pre-reqs except for about five classes for the criminal justice transfer to get a degree, and there isn't any science but two less complex science class requirements.
I also feel that the nursing schools are harder to get into, and that my grades won't make it in, and that I'll be on a waiting list for a long time.
The pay looks great for nursing, but I don't know if I have it in my to take on these science classes, and anatomy classes. I have been out of highschool for four years but I can't keep my concentration on nursing. I almost feel like I am burned out on trying to get there.
I'm not going to say do it or don't do it, that is a decision that only you can make. However, from your postings I almost think that you have already made up your mind. I NEVER enjoyed science classes when I was younger, but in nursing school it was different because it interests me. There were still ones that I didn't care for much, but they must be done. No way around that, it is the only way to a nursing degree. Good luck with your decision! Best of luck whatever it is.
Maybe slightly off topic but something I take seriously...please don't use being a probation officer as a "toss away" profession. I was a probation officer for 10 years before I became an RN. It was a wonderful career but you really need to like people and want to help them. Also, it can come with residency requirements and many jobs just don't hire all that often. I agree it seems that nursing might not be for you...but you might want to have a deep conversation with yourself about what you DO want.
For me the red flag was the boyfriend moving to another shift. That would have never stopped me or most nurses I know from pursuing the profession.
Nursing is not just about giving bedbaths. A nurse does not only do what is ordered by a doc. One of the tough things about nursing is that you get a condensed version of what doc's get with regard to the sciences but you are expected to be understand what's going on and act. It's the RN who really identifies what's happening and what needs to be done. As a nurse you have a legal responsibility to know. You have a legal responsibility to act appropriately with that knowledge. You have a legal responsibility to act as the pt's advocate - which includes saving the pt from the mistakes the doc makes. We are finally moving towards a culture of "evidence" rather than "eminence" based practice. This means being able to understand the quality of the evidence - which requires a basic knowledge of statistics.
Micro is a fundamental class. You need to know it to understand Physiology and Pathophysiology. The best nurses have a solid understanding of pharmacology, disease process and compensatory response. These all occur at the cellular level. Would you want someone who really didn't have much interest in what was taught in school making decisions about the care of your loved one?
At least your honest and are discovering it now. On a side note being a probation officer isn't easy either and you do have other people's lives in your hands. PO's are always the first to be blamed if a parolee doesn't check in on time or if you're late submitting the paperwork to a supervisor and judge and they go out and kill someone. PO's are under incredible stress and scrutiny in many areas and they have to work w/many different agencies in order to get a parole violator picked up. I'm not trying to deter you but that job is no easier then nursing on a legal level.
Nursing is not just about giving bedbaths. A nurse does not only do what is ordered by a doc. One of the tough things about nursing is that you get a condensed version of what doc's get with regard to the sciences but you are expected to be understand what's going on and act. It's the RN who really identifies what's happening and what needs to be done. As a nurse you have a legal responsibility to know. You have a legal responsibility to act appropriately with that knowledge. You have a legal responsibility to act as the pt's advocate - which includes saving the pt from the mistakes the doc makes. We are finally moving towards a culture of "evidence" rather than "eminence" based practice. This means being able to understand the quality of the evidence - which requires a basic knowledge of statistics.
Micro is a fundamental class. You need to know it to understand Physiology and Pathophysiology. The best nurses have a solid understanding of pharmacology, disease process and compensatory response. These all occur at the cellular level. Would you want someone who really didn't have much interest in what was taught in school making decisions about the care of your loved one?
My 2 cents .....
No and that is exactly why I am not sure I am the person to be hands on with someone that may be critically ill. I respect nurses and healthcare providers very much for all that they do, and through my hospital stays have treated me very well.
My thing is I maybe don't feel confident enough to be at bedside with an ill person making the calls on their health, and my low interest I have in it.
Criminal justice just seems to catch my eye more, I have been pushed a lot to stay with nursing because my sister is into it. I know dealing with criminals some who may be more out of control than others will be a challenge, but I think I am better at talking to someone and providing guidance before something bad happens or someone gets hurt, rather than watching over someone who may need emergency care, or even if I mess up the care directly. Another problem is my confidence in that.
I'm glad I started up this thread, as I am realizing more things already that go along with my 'no interest'.
My thing is I maybe don't feel confident enough to be at bedside with an ill person making the calls on their health, and my low interest I have in it.
Well you don't really know until you're actually trained to make those calls. It's really not that hard once you're properly trained. Of course you're not going to feel confident, because you have no clue what you'd do, it isn't like you've ever been to nursing school or anything. Nursing school is what teaches you what to do in those cases. It's all about the training and experience.
MontanaNurse78
7 Posts
I'm not going to say do it or don't do it, that is a decision that only you can make. However, from your postings I almost think that you have already made up your mind. I NEVER enjoyed science classes when I was younger, but in nursing school it was different because it interests me. There were still ones that I didn't care for much, but they must be done. No way around that, it is the only way to a nursing degree. Good luck with your decision! Best of luck whatever it is.