Oh wow! I'm going to be a nurse!

MiahMSN, MSN, RN · Mar 9, 2010

A co-worker who had been a CNA and was now a new nurse told me she checked a pt vs, found something alarming and was on her way down the hall to find the nurse and report it when she suddenly realized "I AM the nurse!!lol

Classic!! This sounds exactly like something I would do!! LOL

sashamay · Mar 10, 2010

A co-worker who had been a CNA and was now a new nurse told me she checked a pt vs, found something alarming and was on her way down the hall to find the nurse and report it when she suddenly realized "I AM the nurse!!lol

haha!! I've had those moments... I graduate in June and its so weird that the nurses who are (graciously) working with me and helping me, actually listen to what i think or ask what we should do.. and whats even weirder, is I have answers (sometimes! hah)

Its so weird to me heh. I've wanted to be a nurse since I was 6 yrs old.. I finished my pre-reqs when I was 20.. then had to wait 4 yrs to get accepted into a program (worked as a CNA in the meantime doin agency hospital work). I've always known it was gunna happen.. but it was always going to happen "SOMEDAY", i knew someday i'd be a nurse... but whats hitting me now, is that its not someday anymore...ITS HAPPENING NOW!

3 months! thats it! And my prof today did my final evaluation, she basically praised me for 15min and told me I don't have any real areas to "improve" and what i need to work on jsut comes w/ experience but that I'm at that level and a quite a bit above what she'd expect of me at this point... critical thinking skills, multi-tasking, prioritizing, etc.. gave me all these examples of what I did in clinicals this quarter.. she kept telling me that i dont give myself near enough credit.. lol So..

yea =)

Apparently "someday" is now... and THAT reality has been hitting me pretty hard =)

HyperSaurus, RN, BSN · Mar 10, 2010

That sounds awesome, SashaMay. Sounds like you're really on your way.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 10, 2010

Bear with me here, this isn't just a post to say "I got in!".
I wanted to see when everyone had that big epiphany and I figured that sense everyone on here was a student at one point, why not ask everyone?
I just sent in my confirmation today, and 8 hours later, while watching Speed Racer of all things, it hit me... I'm going to be a nurse someday.
So, when did it hit for you? When did you realize that yes, you were going to be a nurse?

Congratulations!!!!!

It hits me on and off. In the beginning it was so surreal. I was so excited. Then 1st semester clinicals I had doubts if this is what I wanted to do and I didn't like clinicals.Then second semester clinicals it was totally different and we were in the hospital and after orientation for those clinicals I thought OMG they expect me to fully take care of 2 patients ON MY OWN by the end of 6 weeks to pass clinicals. ARE THEY CRAZY. I can barely do vitals and felt like I hardly learned a thing first clinicals. All our practice weren't on real people. I was so scared and had some serious doubts. Then I got through first night and I had an epiphany again, I was like I CAN TOTALLY DO THIS. I was learning nursing things, I was conquering a lot of first. But I started doing bad in my class and I although I loved clinicals I started going back and forth again if this is what I wanted and if I was cut out for this. If I was smart enough, I knew I was in clinicals but it takes more then that to get through. I battled if this is really what I want.

I know realized that last self doubt was all just a product of me being worried about my grade and passing because now I passed and my head is totally back in the game and again I keep thinking, I am going to be a nurse and I am going to do this. I am bummed hospital clinicals are over though. We will have Peds and OB clinicals 3 days each and 1 day respite care, but we won't be at regular hospital clinical again until like Oct I think it is. I will have one make up day in a couple weeks so that will be good to get back in.

Anyway, hold on to your excitement and positive attitude and although I am sure you will go through a few struggles, make sure you don't let that flame burn completely out. I am very excited for you. I love seeing the excitement of new students, it truly makes me happy!!!!!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 10, 2010

A co-worker who had been a CNA and was now a new nurse told me she checked a pt vs, found something alarming and was on her way down the hall to find the nurse and report it when she suddenly realized "I AM the nurse!!lol

That is awesome!!!! LOL. I found myself frustrated at times because, I'm the student and not the nurse, and I was faced with situations I could do, knew what to do and so on, but couldn't because I needed a co nurse to watch me.

tiredstudentmom · Mar 10, 2010

I vividly remember the night it hit me. I had been a nursing student for a year and was working my summer vacation night-shift on an oncology floor(cancer.) This was 1976, so it was pretty rustic. There was a ward at the end of the hall with 6 beds in it. One bed contained a very old, very tiny lady who was completely immobilized by contractions. Part of my job was to turn her and make her comfortable. She could no longer drink from a straw so I would fill a 30ml syringe with juice and she could suck it out of the syringe(with a little push on my part.) OH, how she loved her juice! She never opened her eyes or spoke, but she would make yummy sounds and indicate "more." Afterward, I would massage her limbs with lotion best that I could,then tuck her in. One night I walked in just as she was breathing her last. It was around 11:30pm, not a soul was with her, her roommates were all asleep and I was the only one who was there to hold her hand and witness her crossing to the otherside.It only took a few minutes. As I left her room to tell her nurse it dawned on me that I wasn't just going to be a nurse someday, I had *become* a nurse that night. I had a whole different outlook on school after that.

One day, I hope I have an inspiring " I AM the nurse" moment. I have dreams about and I have also worked as a medical assist. and a general nurse aide before. When the patient tells you "thank you for all you do" and they seek you out personally out of all the personnel in the office, it validates who you are and why you are in the field in the first place. It's extremely difficult, sometimes hair raising, or just plain hilarious, I have found my calling...just waiting to get into nursing school and make it official!

HyperSaurus, RN, BSN · Mar 10, 2010

I had alot of self-doubts at the beginning of this semester. I was intimidated by the level of responsibility in the Med/Surg clinic. Now, I still get a little nervous, but I KNOW I can handle it, and I really enjoy it.

kylefig · Mar 10, 2010

Warning for new grads - you can not get a job without med/surg experience and guess what...you can not get med/surg experience... Because the hospitals no longer have new grad rn preceptor programs because of budget cuts and the recession. All the nursing homes/rehabs want experience also. It is a double edge sword, can't get a job without med/sug experience, but can't get med/surg experience in order to get a job...nursing school does not tell you this!!! Yes, there are a few exceptions that you will see, but overall, you may stay unemployed for a very long time after you get licensed.

Finally my Time · Mar 10, 2010

Warning for new grads - you can not get a job without med/surg experience and guess what...you can not get med/surg experience... Because the hospitals no longer have new grad rn preceptor programs because of budget cuts and the recession. All the nursing homes/rehabs want experience also. It is a double edge sword, can't get a job without med/sug experience, but can't get med/surg experience in order to get a job...nursing school does not tell you this!!! Yes, there are a few exceptions that you will see, but overall, you may stay unemployed for a very long time after you get licensed.

People come onto the board and are clearly entitled to say what they please. However I can not understand the need to spread doom and gloom. I know you are trying to get "the word out" but where is your advise or solution to the problem? If your intent is to truly help, this comment would be followed by some useful information.

HyperSaurus, RN, BSN · Mar 10, 2010

Warning for new grads - you can not get a job without med/surg experience and guess what...you can not get med/surg experience... Because the hospitals no longer have new grad rn preceptor programs because of budget cuts and the recession. All the nursing homes/rehabs want experience also. It is a double edge sword, can't get a job without med/sug experience, but can't get med/surg experience in order to get a job...nursing school does not tell you this!!! Yes, there are a few exceptions that you will see, but overall, you may stay unemployed for a very long time after you get licensed.

Actually, that's not necessarily true. More and more hospitals are beginning to offer 'Critical Care Internships' for new grads which basically provides 6 months of on the job training with the stipulation that the new grad signs a contract to work with them for two years. Alot of hospitals are deciding that it's just simpler to train the new grad for the unit they want to be in rather than add the extra cost of training them to Med/Surg and then training them to the desired unit. At least, this is in my area.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 11, 2010

Warning for new grads - you can not get a job without med/surg experience and guess what...you can not get med/surg experience... Because the hospitals no longer have new grad rn preceptor programs because of budget cuts and the recession. All the nursing homes/rehabs want experience also. It is a double edge sword, can't get a job without med/sug experience, but can't get med/surg experience in order to get a job...nursing school does not tell you this!!! Yes, there are a few exceptions that you will see, but overall, you may stay unemployed for a very long time after you get licensed.

I have met a lot of new grads that gained employment. Sorry you seem to be down on your luck. I hope you can find work soon. It sounds like you are very frustrated and discouraged. Keep trying and don't give up.