Phoenixbyrd

"Er--excuse me. Is Ms. Smith cleared for more pudding? She likes tapioca."

Ugh. Same here. Usually I don't like to post just to say, "Me too," but I've been trying to break into healthcare with a basic entry level nursing job for so long, it's hard to keep focused on the goal. But despite my boo-hooing, I am sure you will get your entry soon, Open. (side rant over....)

I sent you a PM with a question....

Hey, I am glad to see this article. I became interested in the nursing profession after my own icu stay with a brief stint of PTSD. I wondered why no one addressed my PTSD at the hospital. Later on I thought it was the perfect topic to write a capstone project. This issue really needs to be addressed, although I haven't had the chance, after getting my prereqs done, to re-focus on this issue.

Thanks, Kara. I was a hard-headed tool. It is a year and a half later but now I'm going for my CNA license. It's good to re-read threads:cheeky:

I found your post compelling - I have a question for you. Have you found that your logical nature allows you to clearly communicate with overly emotional or irrational patients? Would you say that "empathy" can be a weakness in some incidences, specifically in the cases where patients may try to manipulate by victimizing themselves? My real question is, how does your INTJ status helpful to you as a bed side nurse? I am also an INTJ, and I am of the belief that my logic-seeking nature can be a strength in the nursing profession.

Since I'm on the cusp of getting my CPR training, I've become a bit apprehensive about real possibility of death, and how I will personally and professionally handle it. That is, I know I will spring to action once I master the skills - but how to deal with the reality of failing to revive someone? How will I deal with seeing life ebbing away? My imagination is running on overdrive.

I am pulling up the rear. My orientation isn't until later next month, but I'm puttering along. I just finished getting my immunizations, and I'll sign up for CPR next week. Just wanted to chime in, because I, too, am feeling the 'realness' of it all. I am SO ready and excited.

I read your post with interest, because I was considering working as a scribe - were you a nursing student while working as a scribe? May I PM you? I'd like to pick your brain - if you don't mind talking about what made your experience a bad one, that is. I also notice in a past posts references to your overcoming your quiet nature - which interests me because I do consider myself quiet. I am wondering whether your relatively quiet/introverted (?) nature figured into your dislike of emergency nursing? Questions, questions; I've got so many questions I wish to pose:nurse:

Ok, ok...let's NOT psych each other out here. I see these are some pretty universal feelings/emotions we are all going through now. These emotions must be the first initiation rite into nursing. I'm done with prerequisites - and I miss the excited person I was when I first 'hatched the plan' to become a nurse. I'm in the same boat with you OP. I am running around trying to get my immunizations done, making a BIG production out of it, and I was wondering why the drama when it dawned on me that I'm running the last leg before actually becoming 'shaped' into a nurse. Well, that's how I see it - I'm a fruit bowl of emotions, which is very unlike me. I wish you well, OP and I believe your emotions (and mine) will transform into the stuff that'll make us excellent nurses.

Thanks MissRN2b for sharing. How did you answer the question regarding handling high stress situations? I am not coming from a hospital/medical background, but I would answer something like, "I continue to try to maintain my composure while continuing to ask questions to gather the information I need to help." Would you consider that a weak answer? How did you answer? Are you at the beginning of your nursing training? Before finding your post I was concerned because I will begin clinicals this fall and the job I am interested in also requires me to work 2-3 twelve hour shifts. The position sounds ideal, but I may have to forgo it as well. Drat.

Ditto what Josh said- if you don't mind, will you describe what makes med/surg difficult? Is it the patients? The conditions? The work itself? Is it seeing suffering? Being overworked and understaffed? Since reading these boards I have long since discarded the idealization of the profession. But please do give examples of what makes it a drudgery. :heartbeat Maybe a good ventin' is in order.

May I PM you? I want to get a medical scribe position, and I would like to talk with you/ask you questions about your obviously winning resume. I really, really want this position and hope you will be willing to share what skills, attributes you highlighted to get your position. Please? :bowingpur:clown:

Ditto. 2 years ago when I began my prerequisites, my concern with how I would deal with death was the only issue that gave me pause. The responses here have been very instructive. I look forward to sharing my concerns in the future with AN - this community is awesome with its support and advice.

Thanks for that congratulations. It is amazing to me that 2 years after first conceiving to become a nurse - finding All Nurses and ravenously devouring the posts, I will begin my nursing program at my local cc. Thank you, not.done.yet for those guidelines. I've read other people's stories not really knowing what to expect for myself, so I now appreciate some points to pay heed to. I imagine I will be posting more on this site with my nursing diagnosis questions in the future.