Nursing? May not have any other choice.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Oct 29, 2008

I'm not a people's person but I do quite well with basic interacting when it comes to job information. I don't do well with people who are overly gossipy, rude, nosy, lazy, thin skinned and judgemental. I get along well with people who are easy going, slow to anger, hard working, and open minded. I may not go out of my way to befriend them but we usually get along quite well on the job.
As far as the studies go, I do well in any course that doesn't require extensive upper level math. I did very well in anatomy, microbiology, terminology etc. When you start talking TRig. calculus, balancing chemical equations, college algebra etc. I will have problems. So I think I'll do well in nursing. The only problem I may have is dealing with pushy trainers in the clinicals.

If you don't like people who are overly gossipy, rude nosey, think skinned and judgemental, then nursing is NOT the field to get into. It starts that way when beginning the nursing programs in the classroom, clinical site (even conflict with your professors) and throughout your career. You may be able to get a position with the BSN and upwards away from the bedside, but most times, you have to 'pay dues' somewhere. I would speak to a career counselor or college advisor in order to gain focus.

RS0302 · Oct 29, 2008

Trust me, there is a reason why you see a lot of job openings for nurses in your area and sign on bonuses. I am willing to bet its not because there are not enough nurses in your area...its because those places cant retain nurses.

I would suggest working as a CNA for even just a short time to give you a taste of nursing, because even as a RN and working in the ER you are going to have to give direct patient care like that. Are you ok around all types of bodily fluids? Nursing school gives you a little taste of what real world nursing is like, but then when you get out there its a completely different world. Just my :twocents:

RhodyGirl, RN · Oct 29, 2008

You need to do a lot of research on the field of nursing before you move forward with this decision. If you don't have even a single iota of passion for the field, you will not last. Trust me, I wouldn't have put up with half of the crap nursing school throws at you if I didn't respect this profession and have an interest in it. Do your homework.

Now that my blood is boiling, I will stay out of this thread.:angryfire

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 29, 2008

Nursing is a hard job even for those of us who love it and can't imagine doing anything else. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who doubts even for a single minute that they would enjoy it, let alone a job-seeker who views the profession as a 'last resort'.

'Nuff said.

DoeRN · Oct 29, 2008

PopeJane it seem like you are approaching nursing like it is a job. I may be wrong but this is the impression that I am getting. If you look at it as a career then I think you will feel differently about it. It is not some job that you take some courses for a couple of months and apply and get hired. It is much more than that and so is nursing school. I said before in some other post but I was premed a when I first went to college and I have a science background. And I am not saying that the science classes were easy because trust me they weren't but nursing classes are MUCH harder. I could get away with memorizing for the most part with my science classes and get A's and B's. Nursing school don't even try this approach because it will not work. You have to study a different way and it is no cake walk. So if you think nursing is just a job I would not bother with going to nursing school because it will drive you crazy. It drove me crazy and I actually wanted to become a nurse and plan to grow in the this field and not just switch jobs because of catty coworkers who gossip all day.

Not trying to me mean to you at all but sit down and think about why you want to become a nurse. If it is for the money then honey you will be disappointed because there are plenty of other fields out there where people work less and get paid a heck of a lot more.

BradleyRN · Oct 29, 2008

You are making a huge mistake. If you are choosing nursing because you "may not have any other choice", then youd better go back to the old drawing board before you waste your time and money.:)

medsurgrnco, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2008

Never mind. Decided I don't think my input would be seriously considered. On to other things...

sjt9721, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2008

...very unhappy at my current job...
I'm waiting to hear ...if I've gotten accepted into the nursing program...
To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure nursing is for me...
I may have no other choice right now...
I figure even if I don't like nursing very much...

I'm sure there is something out there for you and you just haven't found it yet.

But please do our profession a favor and don't "settle" or be a nurse because you feel you "have to". There are many reasons to be a nurse...and you've failed you list any of them, in my opinion.

Don't take the hard-to-get spot in nursing school away from someone who is passionate about the art and science of nursing.

:twocents:

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Oct 29, 2008

If you don't do well with "people who are overly gossipy, rude, nosy, lazy, thin skinned and judgemental" then you will not do well in nursing. You just describe a large portion of the patient population.
Pay attention to some of the posts in here. Patients want it all, they want it now, and they don't care if you are busy. This is not a profession for someone who is not a people-person. You have to want to help them and take a lot of stuff from them in the process.
***not all patients are this way, but a big majority are***

Funny, when I read that quote I was thinking of how many problems she was going to have with her fellow nurses. IMO, far more of these types of nurses than patients! This topic is proving my point somewhat. I think some people are being a little harsh with the OP..I think most of us have had at least a little doubt along the way..at any rate either Jane will end up loving nursing or she won't. She was just asking a question.

I am someone who has no patience for the behavior of much of the nursing profession...for many years the hazing of newbies, the gossiping, backstabbing and infighting has been tolerated. In many places, it still is tolerated. But, OP, you only have control over your outlook and career. I'm thought of as softspoken and introverted at work, but rest assured I'm more than capable of slapping anyone down(figuratively, of course) who messes with me.

I had some doubts at first regarding going back to school after being a surg tech for so long..Could I handle work and school at the same time? Being that I'm quiet and not an evil wench, could I hack it in the cutthroat nursing profession? Could I stand up to doctors etc to advocate for my patient?

Guess what, though. NS made me stronger, I developed a spine but still managed to not emulate the behavior of some of the harpies I was exposed to. OP, the only way you are going to know for sure, is to try. Good luck.:nuke:

savingangels · Oct 30, 2008

I am not sure why you feel that you have no other choice then to consider the nursing profession. Perhaps that doesn't really matter. What I hear you saying, is that for a while you have felt that you are not a people person, that being around people is not a priority to you. You can live with them or without them and prefer to have autonomy. Nursing at least bedside nursing does require interaction with the patient and other disciplines that are involved with the patient, which include doctors, other nurses, respiratory therapist, chaplains, etc.... not to mention the patient’s family. Someone indicated that night shift has a little less interaction with other disciplines, if you choose to do bed side nursing. I also hear you state that the opportunities are greater in nursing and that is attractive to you. I would suggest shadowing a nurse in the hospital setting , community health nurses, long term care facilities, corporate, and prison nurses just to name a few to see if any of areas peak your interest. Nursing is not just about the person and his/her family, it requires so much more. By talking to nurses, educators and your family they may offer insight into the profession and will help you decide if nursing is something you may truly like to do. Nursing is attractive to many people on the surface, many have gone into nursing with the idea that nursing was what they were put on this earth to do and found that indeed it was not. I cannot say that I went into nursing because I love people and want to save the world. I decided to go into nursing as a second degree for multiple reasons as everybody chooses a career or job for their own reasons. Make the application for school and if in the mean time you change your mind withdraw the application, you never know nursing may be something you really enjoy. I have found nursing has fulfilled multiple needs that include financial, and the need to help someone even for a brief moment just to name a few. Good luck in your decision either way.

ijuanabhappy, ASN, RN · Oct 30, 2008

I think a lot of people are reading the OP wrong and being a little too harsh on her. I take it as that she is just "thinking out loud" and trying to be totally honest before she makes this career decision. I don't get from her post that she puts down the nursing profession or considers it a last resort option. It sounds like she has a strong work ethic and is just trying to find the right niche for her. Sounds responsible to me. I am kind of in the same boat. I am already in my first semester of nursing school. The grades come easy for me. I have a 95 average with only two tests left. I do however question if this is right for me. I am an introvert somewhat because I am very sensitive. I do care about people though and am very compassionate. I don't like rude or gossipy people either, but I have to admit that I am thin-skinned myself. I know I need to get over this or move on to something else I suppose but that is just how I am. I have been to three clinicals and I don't like it because I feel so unsure of what the heck I am doing. On the first day, I felt so anxious and awkward having to attempt to give a bed bath when I had only read about it in a book and practiced one time on a mannekin in lab. I have this fierce anxiety every time I have to go to clinical now... just like when I was a child and had social anxiety about going to school. I feel like the instruction is vague and I feel so stupid at clinical. On my second clinical day, the patient I was assigned was unresponsive and had many pressure sores. They wanted me to do the bed bath with the tech. She was less than pleased to have me watch and help but I killed her with kindness and tried to keep my chin up, despite some jabbing comments that she made. I followed a nurse around and she was actually pretty friendly and helpful, but I saw how she was trying to do a skill on a patient while irritating family members in the room bothered her with questions and expressed some complaints about various things. With my anxiety, I just don't know how I could focus on doing a skill while family members or even the patient is complaining.

Anyway, sorry so long.. I understand what it is to be 38 years old (39 in my case), and being somewhat unsure about things. I truly and genuinely care about people to a fault, but I am sensitive and don't know how I would do with some of the aspects of the job so I do question if this field is right for me. Right now, clinical seems like boot camp to me.

PiPhi2004 · Oct 30, 2008

I suggest quitting posting on message boards and talking to real people IN PERSON about your dilemma. Sitting on your orifice on a message board isnt going to get you anywhere, and I have been insulted by most of your posts on here. I do agree that colleges need the tuition money, so go rack up some debt and try to get in, but as others have said, I am completely satisfied knowing that I will never be working aside you in my unit...