medicinelover

Thanks for all your responses. When I take vitals is under the supervision of the er tech who's a paramedic. Ill do it and she will write them, is never by myself. I have some training as I am a month away from finishing an EMT course. But once again thanks :)

Hello there, I volunteer in a branch of the main teaching hospital where I live and I have nothing but good things to say about it. When I first started I wanted to be a doctor and I guess I was blinded by my goal. I've been doing a good job but lately I've realized I have been avoiding the patient care and focusing on the medical aspect. No longer am I interested in becoming a doctor, I've fallen in love with the role of a nurse after many turns that my life has taken. Tomorrow I want to enter that emergency room a better volunteer then when I left. For this I ask, what are qualities that make a GREAT volunteer? How can I provide better patient care? The ED is not that big so the waiting room is not too big either. Would it be okay for me to approach the pts and ask if they need water or maybe have a talk with them? I am allowed to have pt contact, I usually assess vitals. Also how should I interact with the nurses, I respect them all so much and I want to help them have a better day even if it's just by smiling. What do you suggest?

You can get you CNA or EMT if interested in emergency medicine. Then work as one, once you are certified as an EMT or CNA you can take ACLS PALS ABLS NPR and a few more courses which will build up your resume, and volunteer as much as you can, if possible try to do so in the teaching hospital in your area, the reason why I say this is because I myself I'm doing an EMT course and I'm almost done (loving it by the way) but I also volunteer and I learn a lot there. Volunteering is also a way to try out the different departments and see how you feel about them. I've been in the Emergency Department for almost a year already and I love it but I am going to switch soon because you gotta try it all :) also shadow nurses, even doctors if you want. Hope this helped. Good luck

That sounds like a VERY exciting moment. Congrats on thinking on your toes and let more amazing shadowing experiences come your wayyy. I'm really lucky when it comes to shadowing and volunteering something always happens so I feel you. CONGRATSSSSS! :)

I've changed my mind about what I want to be more than a couple of times and I would love w/e it was at that certain moment and not want to know about anything else, lol. Butttt at the moment I'm open to everything BUT geriatric (my mom who's an lpn does geriatric diabbetic patients and when I go with her I'm so not into it.... boringggg) I'm a very hyper person so ED would be the perfect fit, I volunteer in the ED at one of the many local hospitals here in Miami, Fl and its so unexpected, every day is different and that's why I love it. However I want to try different specialties, I wouldn't picture myself in labor & delivery but who knows. I really would like to try it all, if that's even possible. By the way, I have a question. I ready some answers that said forensic nursing. I've never read or heard about it. I'd really appriciate some info on it. Thanks

walomom, thanks for the advice. After much thinking and more than a few days to take it all in I have decided to take the Nursing path, of course without stopping until I get the highest degree possible. What you said about maybe getting a mentor is true, I actually have two, one is an NREMT-P and the other is an ICU-RN. Both whom know A LOT about what they do and I respect very much. Thank again for your good wishes and advice. :) iluvpatho, i love the medics job, it's sooo interesting and always something new. I think one of the best decisions I've made in my life is to become and EMT, the actual class itself is sooo much fun so I can only imagine being in the field. That's why i made up my mind about working for the Emergency Department. While attending Nursing School I'll work as an EMT so hopefully I get to see a lot before joining the ED nurses. Good luck on your BSN. :)

Hello everyone, I am new on the site and well i am new to the whole Nursing or pre-nursing experience. Till a few days ago i had my life planned out. One more year and a half in college, summer abroad in Denmark for pre-meds, 2 more years in University, then off to Medical school. Or so i thought I am currently enrolled in an EMT program and I absolutely love it. The reason why i decided to do this program was to get more experience and a job that relates to medicine. My plan was to be a pediatric surgeon or a trauma surgeon. But due to family and MONEY issues I've had to change my plans. My mother is an Obstetrician from Cuba but here she is an LPN, aside from her I know a whole lot of nurses and they all love their job, I also know a few Paramedic who as well love their job. I figured if i went into nursing I would be able to start getting a much needed income faster than if I wear to go to Med school. As much as I like my decision I can't help to wonder if I will regret it later on in life. I always have to plan my education ahead so that i don't loose track of it and that is why I have come here. Maybe I'll read a few inspiring words and be sure that what I'm doing is the right thing. I'm not doing this for the money, i truly lovee medicine, but right now i need to help my family so money sort of is a priority. Sooo here's my plan, sort of: * finish my EMT course, take the exams and become an NREMT * take the ACLS, PALS, and EVOC courses to get certified * get a job as an Emergency Room Technician or work in an ambulance company * finish my A.A. in Biology at Miami Dade College (1 year and a half) * get into FIU's BSN program (2 years) * challenge the Paramedics exam and get certified * work as an RN in a hospital, specialize in surgery or emergency medicine * try out Pediatric nursing in surgery or emergency also * once i'm sure on what I'd like to specialize in and KNOW what scope of practice i love most go for a NP program, maybe FNP if i'm not sure if I want to do Peds or Adult. Now, i'm open to any sort of suggestion, ANYTHING will help. Also I'd like to know if NP's can specialize in Surgery or Emergency medicine? helpppppppppppppppp