LostEMT

By the way, now that I have randomly replied to a few people, I want to thank everybody who's commented so far. Most of you have been really helpful, and I feel much better about the field I'm going in to. So far, anyway. Hospice clinicals in two weeks... but I guess I'll grin and bear it. (Is grinning appropriate?)

It is not that there is something wrong with the concept of hospice. I heartily agree that they should exist. I just can't do it. It is not something that I could ever do and maintain any form of pleasure in my job, which, if I were to work as much as most nurses do, will be most of my life.

I realize that it probably sounds like I am being immature, but in reality I am searching for the proper information and support to make a decision that will effect the rest of my life. I actually have called triage on a MCI before (it wasn't called in as such, so our BLS unit was the first on the scene), but I still sleep just fine at night. I did what I could, for who I could, the best that I could, and some people lived and some people didn't. I have trouble with watching people die and not being able to even try to help. I don't think that I could ever be happy in a nursing home or hospice setting, and as much as I love my fellow man (most of the time) my own mental health is important to me. However, I do realize that my issue may be avoidable by specializing. I just have to get through college, I think, and then perhaps I can just avoid the two healthcare settings that would make me miserable. My resume should predispose me for ER and ICU anyway. However, it sounds like you have some viable experience to share if you would care to share information in a less derisive tone.

Wow, DollBaby, I'm so happy I'm not alone. I actually went and talked to my mother-in-law, who's a nurse practitioner. She pointed out that although it is technically against the rules to apply O2 to the cyanotic patient (this was one of my major rant points) A good nurse will do it anyway, and most doctors will just sign off on it. Also, they say ER nursing won't be too bad, so I'm looking forward to it. If necessary, I'll go all the way through to the Masters Degree so that I can do whatever is necessary to keep the person going. But I'm still going to have a sucky attitude toward the necessity for doctor's orders, and probably the concept of hospices. I guess, just like anything else, I just should shut up and do it. At least, you're right, Pathology and in depth Anatomy etc. are interesting.

First year clinicals are in the local nursing home. I realize that everyone needs someone to be supportive as they're dying, but how healthy is that for us? Getting emotionally attached to several thousand people who subsequently die over even just a few years of a career as a nurse seems really bad for our own emotional health. Where is the benefit? I realize that we're supposed to do this, because it's the right thing to do. But is it pure martyrdom? I'd like to know before getting into it. :)

Hey everyone, I'm an EMT who recently got accepted into nursing school. Our local nursing school is very selective and I'm proud to have gotten in, however, I'm beginning to become depressed about the course content. I spent a year learning how to keep people alive in EMT school, and now it seems like I'm going to spend two years learning how to watch people die. Would someone please tell me it gets less depressing from here? I don't mind learning how to care for the dying, but I don't want to continue in this field if that is 100% of what I'll be learning.