liloadro

DO it! You don't have any "wrong" reasons and you have lots of good ones! Compassion is necessary and wonderful but you sound intelligent and curious. That's the science part of nursing. To truly help someone, you have to understand what you're doing too. You'll always have the types of people you're talking about - in any job! The important thing is not to miss the important message when it comes. Sometimes, people need someone to listen cuz they have to unload and maybe nobody else will listen. My attitude has always been: this is 10 minutes out of my life that might make this person feel better. I can afford it. I don't have to agree or promise anything, just listen.

I really like Klogs. They are expensive but if you go cheap, you'll be buying new shoes every 6 months! They have replaceable insoles. I've had the same pair going for over 1.5 years and no degradation yet. They're nice leather so they look new much, much longer. and they look a lot nicer than tennis shoes. We also had crocs banned (the ones with holes anyway). My feet would be way too hot in them anyway. Sounds like good bacteria breeding grounds!

I started college at 41! There are many reasons how I ended up there then: no money, no transportation, no motivation when I got out of high school. Later I was a military wife: moved around a lot. Then I was a mother: still am, but got over that as a reason. My point is, there will always be hurdles. You have to want it and have the support to do it. I did it all with student loans (responsibly!) and a helpful family. It actually wasn't as hard as I thought it would be but there were others who really struggled. Be realistic and flexible. You might not see every one of your kids' events, but you won't once you're working either. Good luck.

I think taking a job as a CNA would be really beneficial to you. You might not get the "full effect" just taking the course. I know around here anyway, the course is offered to people they will hire, not just someone who wants the certification. I'm not sure if the certification would get you anywhere with nursing schools if you don't use it. I think they are looking for experience not credentials.

The hospital I work at hires RNs. They pay the same regardless of ADN or BSN. They are expected to do the same job. As was explained to me when I decided to go ADN or BSN: BSN prepares you more for management and teaching jobs. ADN will see more direct patient contact. I chose the latter because management and teaching do not interest me. I wanted to work with patients. That's what appealed to me in nursing. That doesn't make you, or me, a better -or worse -nurse. Not to belittle all the money you spent on your education but, I think you spent alot of time and money on stuff I don't need. That is why I don't make an issue of ADN on my name tag: I'm a nurse, that's all and it's just fine. Actions speak louder than words and I don't think your patient gives a hoot which degree you hold if you give excellent and compassionate care. I do think nurses, aides and other personnel should have some sort of identifier for their profession so that patients understand who does what. It is awfully confusing with everyone dressed in scrubs, going in and out of patient rooms.

What RN Cardiac said is all right on. If you have interest but don't really know what to do - a great idea is to take a job as a CNA, for many reasons. 1. You can see what nursing is about and whether it is for you or not. In the meantime earning a living. If you decide it's not for you, you haven't committed too much time and money. 2. If you've never worked in the medical field it will give you great experience in general medical stuff. I think nursing schools look favorably on people with medical experience when sorting through applicants. 3. As an RN later, you'll have a greater appreciation/respect for what CNAs do everyday. 4. While you're going to school you can probably still work some shifts as a CNA to help with finances. ALot of places will work with your schedule when you're going to nursing school. 5. You may have a job with whatever facility you worked for as a CNA when you graduate.

Re: moonischasingme1 Ditto!!! It really WAS that big an accomplishment - which I probably didn't let myself realize until it was over.

THe HESI and ATi stuff was just more testing. I didn't really worry about that. I was extremely ecstatic when I saw I passed the NCLEX and the reason for that was that when I finished doing the NCLEX exam I honestly felt I had no idea how I did, good or bad. And that was after finishing the exam in the minimum # of ?'s. I think the strategy of the exam is to test you to the limit of your abilities and so you'll never feel "good" after the exam. It will always leave you feeling inadequate. It was a huge relief to know it was done and over. To redo it would have been a real pain: financially, travel wise and emotionally!

You lasted longer than I did! I also felt very overwhelmed and incompetent. I worked on an ortho/neuro/surgical unit. Everyone kept telling me I, too, was doing a great job - which I think they gauged on the fact that I didn't constantly pester them for help - cuz other than that I don't know how they came to that conclusion. A hospital setting, at least this one, was just not the "right fit" for me. I wanted better supervision and training to be sure I was doing things properly and I didn't like the "just get it done" mentality. I also wanted to know the people I would be working with everyday and feel I was part of the organization. These things were definitely lacking in the hospital setting. When I interviewed for my subsequent job I mentioned all these things as being important to me. WHen asked why I left the hospital I just said those things I valued weren't there for me. In the end, after getting that job, it turned out most of my coworkers admitted the same thing. They also left the hospital for the smaller setting. Not to mention - it's more focused, I don't need to know everything about everything just yet! It's not failure to realize what you don't want. It's smart to recognize it and move on!

Thanks for your reply. I have more ?? for you. What meds were you using for sedation and did you have a CRNA on staff or was it the OS directing sedation? What monitoring was going on during surgery? Were you one of many nurses on staff or just you?

I'm curious to know if anyone out there, past or present, has worked as an RN in a dental setting. I'm aware of nurses in specialty offices such as Oral Surgery and Periodontics. I'd like to know what skills you would use in those settings that set you apart from the Assistants and/or Hygienists. Were you satisfied in those jobs? Did you make use of your nursing skills and knowledge? The reason I ask is this: I'm a new grad RN with many years dental assisting experience. I have considered taking a position back in a dental setting with my RN degree and just wonder if that's too wierd a combination?? ...

I graduated in May '08 and accepted a position in the local hospital's ortho/neuro/surgical unit. I lasted only as long as the orientation. I was completely overwhelmed, unsupervised and dumped upon. I hated it! In the 3 months I was there, I met my supervisor once - to quit. I also came from a previous career. I spent 20 years in the dental field and enjoyed it - I just needed a change/challenge/pay raise. I now work in an ambulatory surgical center. I enjoy it but, I'm still thinking about going back to my previous job in dental but as a nurse. I would basically be a surgical assistant with a nurse's pay. Sometimes, I think that would be a step backward, but really it's not. I would be working in the environment I like with the people I love. And using all my new found knowledge in dealing with patients' treatments and education. Kind of sounds like your situation, too. I say: if you know what you want make it work for you. That's what is supposed to be so awesome about nursing: it encompasses so much for all of us. Good luck!