Hi, I'm a 34 year old woman from Oklahoma. I'm married with no kids but hope to have a child when I get out of school. I have two more classes to take before starting nursing school in August. I want to go into Obstetrics or Pediatrics. I called a hospital here in town today and they said they only hire one RN who is fresh out of school a year to work in Obstetrics and Peds. Does that sound right? When I was in the burn unit when I was four, I was terrified and in pain but my parents and the great nurses I had got me through it. I really would like to take care of kids. I am a bit nervous about the training in nursing school. I've read the horror stories in this forum about bedpans full of worms, pt's covered in poop, maggots in wounds and suctioning a trache (sp?) and the ever popular GI bleed. I don't even know what a trache is but it sound gross. I just hope the good outweighs the bad and I can go home at the end of the day feeling like I made a difference in someone's life. Even though nurses are underappreciated and overworked, would most of you say it is a rewarding career? Would working in a clinic or physicians office be a better way to go?
I know I have lots of questions, but you all seem so friendly and I have really enjoyed reading the posts here. It is the first place I've found that really gives me an idea of what to expect working as a nurse. You are all great.
yucky, I'm with you P-RN, eyes give me the willies. As a mater of fact, so does peds and ob. So, you see, leelee, there is something for everyone in the wonderful world of nursing, and we all have things in nursing that we just don't like. I'll take a good GI bleed any day over a srceaming kid of a leaky crotch!
There are lots of things that give me the willies, but in my experience, at the end of the day, I go home with memories of social interactions (good and bad) with the kids and their families, and little recollection of the grossness.
Besides, nurses help make things less disgusting. Think of yourself in a war against yuck!
As far as career options, this board will show you that the variety is endless. I was surprissed to find an interest in peds when I was in school. I thought I was headed for women's health.
Don't let the grody talk get to you. Yeah, once in awhile you'll be up to your elbows in it but generally it's not that bad. You get a strong stomach but there usually is *something* that you just can't handle. Happens to all of us.
zudy
475 Posts
yucky, I'm with you P-RN, eyes give me the willies. As a mater of fact, so does peds and ob. So, you see, leelee, there is something for everyone in the wonderful world of nursing, and we all have things in nursing that we just don't like. I'll take a good GI bleed any day over a srceaming kid of a leaky crotch!