Male Nurse Just starting RN.. Advice plz.

[Reap]

Im a 24 yr old male, Im starting my RN this fall.

I have been working as a CNA for most of the last 7 years. I went to school for my LPN

I have been approved for a full pell grant, and am obviously taking advantage.

But I guess I want advice.. I do what I do because I honestly, sincerely care about other people. I know that death and dissapointment is just part of the Job,

But in my expirience, All the nurses Iv ever known, Have been very callus, Angry, Generally Unhappy people.

Why do they get that way, and how can i avoid it?

also,

I have always aspired to be an ER-RN, or an OR-RN,

Should I do anything specific or .....

What can I do to further guarentee the career that I want.

Also, What should I expect to make fresh out of school with my RN? Im on West Coast, Willing to relocate Family for good career....

Thnx,

Matthew

[Treat et Street]

I have been an RN for awhile and I may come off to some kinda gruff outside of my patients' rooms. When I am with a patient, they are given my complete attention and consideration and dedication.

Most nurses, myself included, talk only about the bad stuff. But, believe me, the good stuff far outweighs the bad. I cannot remember the last time we had a good bull session at work about all our great patients, how many saves we did last week, but we sure did talk at length about the trucker with smelly feet!

My advice: Do not compromise your own standards, personal or professional. You will be great.

Good Luck.

[chijon512]

But I guess I want advice.. I do what I do because I honestly, sincerely care about other people. I know that death and dissapointment is just part of the Job,

But in my expirience, All the nurses Iv ever known, Have been very callus, Angry, Generally Unhappy people.

Why do they get that way, and how can i avoid it?

also,

I have always aspired to be an ER-RN, or an OR-RN,

ER or OR...that's where the angriest and rudest nurses are. Outside of nursing school clinical instructor "nurses" anyway.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Depends what you call rude. The most assertive and perhaps aggressive people are in critical care, ER. You need to be somewhat to cope with the environment. That doesn't mean you are rude, or don't care, or don't treat your patients with compassion.

Be whatever kind of nurse you want to be. You don't "turn into" anything... you choose every single day how you want to behave.

[penthes]

I wouldn't want to deal with some of the patients that the nurses in our ER deal with. You catch people at their worst, most of the time.

I'm an ICU nurse and wouldn't trade it for anything. It was only a couple of weeks ago that one of those "gruff" 30+ year experienced nurses was telling me the story of a terminally ill patient's husband who stopped to take time to bring this nurse flowers for her kind care! She had tears in her eyes as she related the story, and it had happened many, many years ago.

Keep in mind that attitude is something that you determine to have. It can be shaped into a habit by consistent reinforcement. This applies not only to bad attitude, but good as well. Both types are contagious, too, but you can develop in yourself a natural immunity to one by clinging firmly to the other. Best of luck and study hard!