No experience necessary?!?!

OK, after reading over the post, I think it may have came out wrong.....I didn't mean can just any old Joe be a nurse. Obviously you must have a passion for nursing or helping others. I would love nothing more than to become a L/D or NICU nurse. But the more I look into it, the more unattainable it seems. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

If you really want it, you can do it!

You don't need medical experience. A lot of nurses that I went to school with worked as nursing techs to help put them through school and get some floor experience. I didn't have any medical experience and I am now an RN with a BSN since May (RN since Aug). I have been working for 2 months on a telemetry floor. The nursing techs teach me as much as the nurses do, and I do as much tech type work as I can squeeze in so I know what the techs work is like. It has more to do with how passionate you are about finishing school and achieving your goal, doing what it takes, being persistent, and persevering through the frustrations and setbacks, just like you will have to do as a nurse.

I came home from active military and was an MP then a police officer. After a short time I ended up in nursing school with absolutely no previous medical experience at all. I had never had chemistry or anatomy in High School even. In fact I made it through HS by the skin of my teeth as I was a "wild child" in my day lol. Anyone with the heart and determination can do it. I went full-time for my BSN right off the bat, graduated on time and have been a nurse for over 24 years now. If you see yourself in this profession then go for it!!

:welcome: Relax...your concerns fit mine to a tea as a new nursing student. In fact, I think the only difference is that you're actually concerned about your lack of experience...I didn't think it was a big deal at all that I'd never worked in health care when I started taking my pre-requisites...I thought we'd all be in the same boat:smackingf .

Bad News: It can be very intimidating:chair: ! One of the 1st classes you're going to have to take is Anatomy & Physiology. When I took this class, I had no previous health care experience or health-related education...& this class was very intimidating to me! Not the teachers, so much...I mean, they're there to explain things to you. It was more so the students. You know when you show up a few minutes early before an exam & everybody's huddled outside the classroom quizzing eachother? That would intimidate me more than anything...probably very similar to how you feel when you come across words you don't recognize on this website. They would ask eachother questions that I didn't even understand & I would FREAK OUT, thinking to myself..."I don't even know what these other students are talking about...I'm going to fail this test!" Eventually, when I would show up to class, I would sit by myself at the other end of the hallway, just so I wouldn't have to listen to them. A little more bad news: 1 of my instructors now has even recognized that my lack of experience holds me back in some areas. I still don't know what a lot of the kids I'm in class with now are talking about...they've all worked in hospitals, or just have life experience (kids, etc) that I don't have.

Good news: No, experience is not absolutely necessary. Absolutely you can do this:pumpiron: . I'm doing it right now. Granted, since that A & P course, I have acquired a little bit of experience as a certified nursing assistant, but I'll bet I still have the least experience in healthcare of anyone in my program. You can do this, but you will have to study a little more once you get into school. A lot of the material will come more naturally to other students that work in the field than it will to you, & that kinda stinks. A little more good news: even a little experience goes a long way...if this is really a concern for you, I would see about getting a job as a certified nursing assistant in a hospital, if you can. You will learn a lot!

Good Luck to You!

Experience is not a necessity. Before I started school I had no experience in the medical field at all (other than having been a patient and having enjoyed a 'prep for A&P' class). Once I thought nursing might be something I would like to do I decided to take the CNA course offered at my school. I would deffinitely suggest that you take a course like that if you're able to. I've known people that have no intention of working as a CNA but have taken the course to get the medical terminology and an introduction the the health care setting.

If being a nurse is what you want to do, you can do it! I'm jumping in head first, straight to a BSN program for me, no looking back! :)

RNin'08

~my reality check bounced~

Relax. That is the reason for nursing school...to learn what you need to know. I was scared too. I had probably never even been in a hospital but 10 times in my whole life (as a patient and to visit others) when I decided to become a nurse. I knew absolutely NOTHING. It did seem to make it easier for those who had been a CNA or PCA prior to becoming a nurse, but not alot of difference. You can do it. You have preceptors on the floor to train you, you get training after graduating prior to being on your own. And the best thing is YOU ARE NEVER ALONE. When I first graduated, I still felt like I knew nothing. I asked alot of questions when I needed to. And no one minded. When we get nursing students on the floor and they ask me questions, I love to help them because I remember what it felt like.

chase you need to have a love of people and a whole lot of common sense and you will do just fine

Unless you're 80 years old, you can do this. I would encourage you while taking these pre-courses, to maybe get some sort of job in a hospital/nursing home. It might give you an idea of what it's all about. Remember, nursing is a 24hr/7day job, no holidays off, weekends a must.

The rewards are numerous!

I am finishing up my first semester of nursing school and there are a bunch of us who have not had any medical experience until now. You don't have to work in health care to go to nursing school. My instructors said that the people who do work in health care may be a little ahead for this first semester but by the end of this sem, we will be on level playing ground for the most part. The only time I've been in the hospital is when I had my 2 kids, and now this sem. in clinicals. I am starting to feel more comfortable and still believe it is the career for me. But I can see where some people would start school and realize it isn't for them. It is one of those things that I would not recommend to anyone unless they felt a strong "pull" to be a nurse. It isn't for everyone!

If you want to be an RN, then that is all you need to get the job done. Most people don't know what the hell they're talking about. Don't listen to anyone who says otherwise. I became an RN/BSN with zero experience at a great school and am a great nurse with hopes of an advanced practice degree. You're the only one who knows.

I got my BSN straight out of high school. I definately had NO medical experience back then. In fact, the nursing program I took had very little clinical time. I got most of my education with on-the-job training!