New Guy here, I'm considering nursing as a profession

feb9822 · Apr 6, 2005

What a great idea!! The other thing I would recommend is working as a nurse's aide/health tech while going to LPN school, not only to become familiar with the basics of patient care, but to be able to appreciate what these people do for the nursing profession. I myself started as an aide, went to school for RN, but obtained my LPN in my second year of school, worked for 5 years as an RN on med/surg, then continued on for my BSN. I feel this path has given me a realistic education not available by just going to a four year school, and has made my career much more enjoyable. If there is one thing we need, it's more men in nursing. No profession benefits from being a majority of either gender. Too many generalities are applied to the profession. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Hi guys. I am currently working as a barber/stylist in Louisiana but I am very unhappy with my job. I love the people & the atmosphere but I hate being self-employed, the instability of not having a steady paycheck and no benefits, but most of all I am not helping people when i know I have so much more to offer. I have several customers that are doctors and they really love working in healthcare and I know I would be a great nurse. I called the local technical college today and their LPN class begins in June and i am seriously considering joining it. Ideally I would like to work in ER or perhaps cardiology. Would it be wise to start as a LPN and later become an RN? I am still relatively young(29 years old) and would really like to go straight intto an RN program at Louisiana Tech but financially that isn't possible..I was a previous college student there and goofed off so much that my GPA is too low for financial aide, but I can get pell grants at technical college. Also, I live in Louisiana but I am single/no kids so i can relocate anywhere...if I get licensed in Louisiana what would be required to work in an other state? I appreciate any advice y'all could offer and thanks for the great work y'all do. My father had a heart attack & quadruple bypass surgery in October(on my birthday to be exact) and the work done by the nurses & doctors amazed me and inspired me.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2005

I'm a student nurse and I'm loving every single moment of it.

Allthough somedays I wish I could burn the friggin' building down Stress is stress dude, which ever profession you are in.

I believe - and know - that I make a difference in somebody's life everyday.

How many other professions can claim that?

Infact, like the recruitment poster in my school says - "Are you MAN enough to be a nurse?"

Nursing's no easy cake-walk. You're an honest professional with considerable scientific knowledge and rationale. The tears of gratitude and words of kindness and thanks more than make up for the miserable job stress.

mandykal, ADN, RN · Apr 25, 2005

I'm a student nurse and I'm loving every single moment of it.
Allthough somedays I wish I could burn the friggin' building down Stress is stress dude, which ever profession you are in.
I believe - and know - that I make a difference in somebody's life everyday.
How many other professions can claim that?
Infact, like the recruitment poster in my school says - "Are you MAN enough to be a nurse?"
Nursing's no easy cake-walk. You're an honest professional with considerable scientific knowledge and rationale. The tears of gratitude and words of kindness and thanks more than make up for the miserable job stress.

Well said.

Calfax · Apr 25, 2005

When I consider as to whether nursing has been worth it these last 7 yrs....it's a mixed bag. I've gotten to see and do a lot amazing things and work with a lot of amazing people. For that I'm grateful.

But the stress, the insanity, wierd hours and seeing the awful state of humanity day after day take their toll after a while. I drink too much, sleep too little, and have a deep abiding resentment of both the complete lack of responsibility and the incredible sense of entitlement people seem to have regarding their health care. Spending so many hours with screwed up people....damages you. Makes you jaded, hard and cynical.

But nursing is something you are.....in your soul. In your hands. In your eyes. It doesn't matter whether you are male or female. And like it or not, I am a nurse. It's what I do....and I'm pretty damn good at it.

So.....what is my advice to the guys considering the profession. The pay's good, and unfortunately, the work's steady. I recommend travel nursing.....go hang out in NY for a few mos........then go skiing in Aspen.........bum around Waikiki six mos after that. Date a coked-out stripper while working in Vegas. Serve a "tour of duty" at Charity in New Orleans.

As a nurse....you are still subject to the whims of your corporate or government masters....and it gets both ridiculous and dangerous sometimes. Your salary is considered part of the room and board and you are looked at as an expense, not an asset. And what do you try to do with expenses?

And if you complain or try to upset the status quo....you can kiss your job goodbye. On the other hand, the need for nurses is strong enough for you tell your cretinous boss goodbye if you want to.

Nursing remains largely female and as so....still gets exploited, and taken advantage of. Expect that of your administration.....your doctors...and the public. And its 100 times worse in most other countries.

This is what you will be walking into (did I mention I was cynical?) but it doesn't have to be. Nursing needs a good kick in the butt. A call to arms....and a call to unite.

Nursing needs some teeth. Some muscles. Some juice. And that's where you come in, brothers. Nursing needs us. Hard talking, no-crap taking, smart, ruthless nurses with skills and the ability to make a deal. And we need to spin this profession on it's ear with an army of NP's, CNA's, clin. specs, fee-for-service enterprises, individually tailored life-style maintenance plans. At the same time, we should be lockng down institutions with nursing unions, pushing legislation to mandate safe nursing standards/staffing thru congress and generally not taking crap from anyone.

I've crossed the line. I'm now a nursing technology entrepeneur and, even though I still have a day job, I aim to get my "ends". A patient chart is really just a relational database, yo. I challenge not only the newcomers, but all the men in the profession to innovate, invent and re-invent this profession. We need a 400 hp hot-rod and we're driving a rusty 1989 Dodge Neon with an automatic and a coat hanger for an antenna.

I'm taking it, boring it out, putting DOHC and long headers, a supercharger, nitrous and changing up the gear ratios on the rear differential. When I get done....yeah I know, it'll still be a Dodge Neon.....but it'll run 10's and corner like it's glued to the ground.

Show your patients your smile.....but give it some teeth....and git 'er done!

mingez · Apr 29, 2005

When I consider as to whether nursing has been worth it these last 7 yrs....it's a mixed bag. I've gotten to see and do a lot amazing things and work with a lot of amazing people. For that I'm grateful.
But the stress, the insanity, wierd hours and seeing the awful state of humanity day after day take their toll after a while. I drink too much, sleep too little, and have a deep abiding resentment of both the complete lack of responsibility and the incredible sense of entitlement people seem to have regarding their health care. Spending so many hours with screwed up people....damages you. Makes you jaded, hard and cynical.
But nursing is something you are.....in your soul. In your hands. In your eyes. It doesn't matter whether you are male or female. And like it or not, I am a nurse. It's what I do....and I'm pretty damn good at it.
So.....what is my advice to the guys considering the profession. The pay's good, and unfortunately, the work's steady. I recommend travel nursing.....go hang out in NY for a few mos........then go skiing in Aspen.........bum around Waikiki six mos after that. Date a coked-out stripper while working in Vegas. Serve a "tour of duty" at Charity in New Orleans.
As a nurse....you are still subject to the whims of your corporate or government masters....and it gets both ridiculous and dangerous sometimes. Your salary is considered part of the room and board and you are looked at as an expense, not an asset. And what do you try to do with expenses?
And if you complain or try to upset the status quo....you can kiss your job goodbye. On the other hand, the need for nurses is strong enough for you tell your cretinous boss goodbye if you want to.
Nursing remains largely female and as so....still gets exploited, and taken advantage of. Expect that of your administration.....your doctors...and the public. And its 100 times worse in most other countries.
This is what you will be walking into (did I mention I was cynical?) but it doesn't have to be. Nursing needs a good kick in the butt. A call to arms....and a call to unite.
Nursing needs some teeth. Some muscles. Some juice. And that's where you come in, brothers. Nursing needs us. Hard talking, no-crap taking, smart, ruthless nurses with skills and the ability to make a deal. And we need to spin this profession on it's ear with an army of NP's, CNA's, clin. specs, fee-for-service enterprises, individually tailored life-style maintenance plans. At the same time, we should be lockng down institutions with nursing unions, pushing legislation to mandate safe nursing standards/staffing thru congress and generally not taking crap from anyone.
I've crossed the line. I'm now a nursing technology entrepeneur and, even though I still have a day job, I aim to get my "ends". A patient chart is really just a relational database, yo. I challenge not only the newcomers, but all the men in the profession to innovate, invent and re-invent this profession. We need a 400 hp hot-rod and we're driving a rusty 1989 Dodge Neon with an automatic and a coat hanger for an antenna.
I'm taking it, boring it out, putting DOHC and long headers, a supercharger, nitrous and changing up the gear ratios on the rear differential. When I get done....yeah I know, it'll still be a Dodge Neon.....but it'll run 10's and corner like it's glued to the ground.
Show your patients your smile.....but give it some teeth....and git 'er done!

[grunting] 4.88's, lifted, 35 inch BFG Mudders, with lockers in the back and posi in the front. I'm a 4x4 but the point is the same! Well put. [/grunting]