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.

I actually found a training program through Craigslist too. Thanks. I have avoided Craigslist like the plague in the past.

May I PM you? Is this free PCA training in North Jersey? Please say it is!

Pat, Can you get the name of the textbook from your friend? I'm assuming we'd be using the same book, but I would really like to scan the book. Maybe I'll swing by the book store to see what books are there.

Hey, guys. Are you ready to start? Does anyone know what to expect regarding the program?

OP, I have to say that I echo your sentiments. When I first found AN 2 years ago, I devoured it. I spent all my time trying to imagine myself as a nurse, accustoming myself to what I thought would be a "nursing lifestyle". I read about issues of doctor/nurse relations (and checked myself for authority issues), patient safety and a plethora of other things I won't list here. I do understand that working nurses need these forums, perhaps to expel the negatives they face. But like you, OP, I miss being inspired. Long before I thought about becoming a nurse, I used to marvel at the nursing gear, the mugs, the books (chicken soup for the nurse's soul, etc). It seemed to me that nurses had a distinct professional identity, one protected by principles and support groups (to combat burn out, for example). All this talk about lateral violence really pierces through my earlier idealization of the profession. I am aware that my earlier veneration of nurses may have been ill-informed, but I do miss the inspiration. While visiting the hospital recently, though, I talked to a couple of patient care techs who spoke of the "love of nursing" and even the "love of the patient" that got me to thinking about how I will develop and practice my own therapeutic care. I would like to hear more stories of nurses who love their career or who have a professional philosophy that incorporates a professional manifestation of love and caring. When I start my program in the fall, I am going to address this issue with my professors.

What is it that you dislike about sitting? Please include specifics - I really wanna know!

Congrats to you! And Congrats to me! I can't believe after all that time spent on prerequisites that nursing school proper is about to begin.

I'm sorry, what does SMH mean?

Also, I wish to say congratulations. Gosh, how I hope I will say the same thing in a couple of years!

This is the first article I've commented on. Just excellent - it has given me an idea of what correctional nursing can entail.