Not sure this is for me....

Katie71275 · Jun 28, 2012

Of course you can be a good nurse! I don't dislike working with geri, but it isn't my favorite either. So far, I have worked with geriatrics, and psych, and will do geri-psych this summer quarter.

However, I know that I do not want to work with that population. It isn't my calling. I feel that my calling is to work with women and children....And that's OK! You will have to work with geriatrics with clinicals, so you might as well accept it...but not liking it doesn't mean you won't be a great nurse!

ccraig · Jun 28, 2012

Not sure if it's similar to what you're doing now, but as a first year BScN student our clinical was in a LTC facility within the scope of a nursing assistant (morning care, feeding, toileting, medication admin). I can honestly say I absolutely HATED it! I would lose sleep over figuring out how I would make sure all three of my residents were ready and bathed to breakfast. I had anxiety through the roof. Just remember that you won't have to stay there forever and you're probably brightening at least one persons day when you're there. If all else fails, fake it till you make it outta there!

Good Luck

ImKosher · Jun 28, 2012

There are so many fields that are going to be available to you. For now though, just take in as much knowledge that is made available to you. You will never know when these skills and knowledge will be needed later. You don't have to like it, nothing wrong with that.

Carlos1 · Jun 28, 2012

I did enjoy working at the LTC facility, but I knew I was not going to be there long term. It is not what I was meant to do. I am in my second semester and still going. There are so many avenues that you could take. If you're like me, you did not choose nursing, it chose you.

Good Luck

Charles

VictoriaMareah · Jun 28, 2012

I don't like Geriatrics either! No worries! There are a million other fields out there and it sounds like you already have some interests :)

Abigail612 · Jun 28, 2012

wow i guess you wouldn't like were i work i average about residents, sometimes more. i for the most part like geriatrics, they are so fascinating. it's amazing to hear a lot of their stories; i have had women who were war brides in order to escape nazi regime, women who worked as welders to build ships and planes for the war, men who flew bomber planes and were shot down by the enemy, even one who survived a torpedo aboard a submarine. they really are amazing people if you take the time to get to know them !

Cali_Nurse_209 · Jun 28, 2012

Yes you can still be a good nurse. When I became a CNA I knew I'd probably have to work in a LTC with geriatrics and I didn't think I'd like it. I wanted to work in a hospital so bad but it's hard to get hired @ one. I really started to enjoy working with geriatrics but it wasn't where I wanted to stay so now I work as CNA in a psych facility which is very interesting. I feel that working with these different backgrounds will help me a lot when I start the BSN program this fall. Remember you have to start somewhere as a CNA and in most cases, not all, it will be LTC but you don't have to stay there forever. Get the experience.

kristin6727 · Jun 28, 2012

At my school geriatrics is the first clincal we have. I start the program in September so I do not know how it is yet, but my friend hated it. She told me though that you just have to think, this is not what you will be doing. I guess she had to do all the stuff a CNA would do. She was thinking they put you in geriatrics first to weed out the people who think nursing is a cake job. I would not feel bad if you don't like it. There are so many areas of nursing you can work in. I hope to eventually work with women and children. I want no part of geriatrics myself!!!

Jennie.K · Jun 28, 2012

If you want/need to work while in school and want to be in the medical field but not a CNA, try looking into EMT-B programs. All the programs here can be done in one semester or over the summer. My friend is doing a CNA course and she hates it! I plan to do an EMT-B course next summer

lrs25 · Jun 28, 2012

hi all,
a little intro about me....i am starting a concurrent associate/bsn program in august and right now i am doing a cna course at my community college. initially, my thought was to do the course during the summer, get my certification, and then be able to work part time somewhere while i'm in school; if i can.
today was my 3rd day of clinicals at an ltc facility. last week i was in long term care and this week i am in sub-acute (rehab) side. i honestly don't know if working with geriatric patients is my calling. i'm not sure if it is because i dislike the cna tasks so much that my feelings are skewed or that i am just more interested in working with other populations....
i don't know i am worried that i may not be a good nurse because i don't really like working with the geriatric population.
next week i will be starting volunteer work at my local hospital in the nicu and maternal/child health sections. i am really excited because i have always been interested in these fields.
has anyone else felt this way? do you think i can still be a good nurse if i don't necessarily enjoy working with geriatrics???

personally i like working with geriatrics but did not like labor & delivery or the nursery. we all have different likes and interests and we need that to cover all different types and ages of patients.

lrs25 · Jun 28, 2012

We all need different interest and likes so all types and patients will be taken care of. Don't feel bad if you don't like experiences in different clinical setting. We can't decide where we want to be if we don't get a variety of experience. I dreaded labor & deliver and the nursery but enjoy working with geriatrics. We are all meant to be somewhere but not all in the same place