ni_col

My question to you is...Are you hating nursing because of some people's reactions to the field or are you hating nursing really for not liking what you do, how you make people feel, what your responsibilities will be? I hope you are basing your decision on your personal feeling and not what people are telling you. I chose nursing first because of the flexibility it allows me to have in my schedule, my career, my family and I am almost solely working on my own. It can be a hard job at times when someone you've been working healing their womb goes to the hospital for a week and comes back with additional ulcers, etc. I have came across some nurses whom have burned their selves out and I've seen nurses whom have awesome attitudes and teaching personalities. You can always change where you are in the nursing field if you get tired of doing one thing. ex. Pediatrics to Med-Surge. I'm definitely not going to make your decision for you but make sure you have fully thought about the opportunity that is in front of you and what's best for you. I support you either way. You just better have a strong fall back plan if you do decide to stop going...

My personal opinion... Go to school for LVN, you'll learn CNA work your first month and can take the test to get certified, work as a CNA while you go to school for LVN. CNA's unfortunately do all the dirty work, all the time. I just finished LVN schooling and am prepping for the state boards. I didn't become a CNA because I didn't want to be cleaning feces, changing beds and all the grunt work all the time. Yes as an LVN, I am responsible for this and will have to do this sometimes but this is not my assignment day in and day out. As a LVN, and one day a RN, I will have greater opportunity to move around and the pay is definitely better. DON'T PAY AN EXTREME COST FOR CNA! You can take a class at a community college or something for that.

Clinicals was the best part of the schooling for me. It's where you actually get to apply some of the skills you have been reading about. First off, don't be soo nervous, your instructor will walk you through a lot of things and check to make sure you are performing correctly. Some of your task will depend on your site you're assigned to and what your instructor will allow you to do. My advice is listed below: - Volunteer to perform EVERY task you can because that may be the one opportunity you will see it or get to perform it. - Your scrubs and shoes are not so dirty that you can not walk in your house with them. I would usually wear the same shoes to clinicals and place them in a corner in my room. I would not let my kids hug me though until I had taken off my scrubs. - Try to always have your stethoscope, some strip thermometers, a small notepad, and a pen. If you are performing assessments, you will also need a pen light. Later in your training you may want to have a pair of nursing scissors. I would also keep some hand lotion and chap stick in my pocket...my personal preference. - Be professional at all times, double and triple check your work, if unsure, ASK, do not assume, some clinicals sites will use you as the escape goat for their errors - The nursing world is VERY small so make sure to be friendly and show that you know your skills, you may need those nurses one day to get a job....many nurses and doctors work at several facilities Feces you will get used to, the sputum you will not.