Nursing/Waitress Fail

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Hi, So I have been struggling with this fear for a while now. I have been wanting to be a nurse for about a year and a half now. I feel so passionate about it and I am taking going to start to take my pre reqs over the summer. I'm so excited! But.....I was a busser for resturants for about two years and then I started serving in the Fall at a resturant that I left and then came back to (to be a server not a busser) and of course I SUCKED!!!! I was really really good on slower days but as soon as things started to get busy I would clam up and forget things easily. One night that stills haunts me now 4 months later was when I lost the resturant 100 dollars that night...(they were short 100). The thing was none of us expected it to get that busy and I was two weeks into the job and working 1-2 nights a week so I had a million questions but no one could help me anwser them, I was a nervous reck, forgot appetizers, messed up drink orders. I worked a month later still slow days but I stopped because I was working a day job so it got to be to much. But since then I feel like my confidence with multi tasking has drastically changed. My friend told me shes never seen such bad service before(talking about that night). I feel like my confidence with people and service is excellent but with multi tasking I'm haunted by that day! I now feel like I can't be a good nurse especially if peoples lives are at steak! So I guess my question is is it true then if you can't waitress you can't be a nurse? Nursing seems like my dream job but I won't take it if it means I'm going to put peoples lives at risk.

-Sarah

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Well, you need to work on your self-confidence and organizational skills, but so do a majority of student nurses, I would wager.

If you think the fact that you weren't good at waiting tables mean you won't be a good nurse, you're selling yourself (and nursing) short.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Although I've never worked as a waitress or server, I was a horrible fast food worker. I couldn't remember which order belonged to who. I'd promise a customer something, but wouldn't remember to follow through.

However, I perform decently in my role as a nurse. Instead of dealing with 50 to 100 customers per shift, I only deal with a patient load of 8. I'm able to prioritize the tasks that are important. I'm able to tell the patient who demands snacks and soda hourly that their requests will need to wait.

I believe you can become better at multitasking if you put some effort into it. In addition, if you have underlying anxiety issues, you may wish to get them professionally addressed. Good luck to you.

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Start out with being a nursing assistant. Not fantastic wages, but above minimum wage, and you are helping people while getting a look-see at nursing close up. Perhaps nursing assistant would be a good fit for you. Once you have your confidence down, you might be able to pick up with LPN school if you want to try out nursing. Good luck.

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Thank you everyone for the feedback, I feel better already:-)

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I always felt my my waitressing experience benefitted my ability to function on the floor. (Guess waitressing isn't PC these days)

I don't think it's a measure of nurse potential but I think it's a good training ground for some aspects of nursing. I think I would stick with it and learn by trial and error with food.

It sounds like you've got a difficult position to start in. Maybe work your way up to a challenging serving postition?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I always felt my my waitressing experience benefitted my ability to function on the floor. (Guess waitressing isn't PC these days)

I don't think it's a measure of nurse potential but I think it's a good training ground for some aspects of nursing. I think I would stick with it and learn by trial and error with food.

It sounds like you've got a difficult position to start in. Maybe work your way up to a challenging serving postition?

I totally think that former waitresses or bartenders usually make excellent nurses. There is the organization, multi-tasking and being able to talk to different people. Not that someone who wasn't a good waitress will not be a good nurse but personally I think there are quite a few similarities.

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Specializes in ICU/PACU.

I was a hostess for a year, then attempted to be a server one summer. I think I was 18. I was terrible! I remember crying after I dropped someone's salmon on the ground. I didn't know how to open a bottle of wine. One time I received a note on the bill that said "I usually tip more but this was the worst service I've ever received" LOL I think they left me $2 and some change. Looking back, I blame it on my age and lack of work experience.

You'll be fine.

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I'd really like to correct my spelling..

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Op, USUALLY one does not have to perform nursing functions while balancing a large tray of plates and/or drinks across a crowded room. (Never say never, however not usually!! HAHA)

So because you realize that you may have issue with multi-tasking (and there's a whole bunch of different types of multi-tasking) you could use that information going forward to take a class on multi-tasking, organization, priorities...that type of thing. And usually, most colleges will have these kind of classes that you could take as a elective. Have conversation up front with your student advisor on your fears, what you need to learn to stay focused--that is something that can be changed and learned.

Best wishes, and do not lose hope that because you have not so great nights in the food service industry it will mean that you can not be a competent nurse.

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Thank you so much for the positive feedback I'll def look into classes and talking to a student advisor :)

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