RNpreciousjade

Ironically enough, I am a manager in an emergency department. I consider myself to be successful in this position because: 1. I respect the employees. 2. I stick up for employees. You will find that this is a rare thing in nursing world. If an RN can't do a shift and no one can relieve them, I take the shift. If someone takes issue with the RN, I consider it part of my job to mediate on the part of the RN, LVN, CNA or whomever. I am very, very kind and patient to students. Take home message: The mark of a good nursing school is when instructors will take it upon themselves to help you succeed in some way. If it is a bad school, you will taste nothing but bile. I could go into detail, but I suggest reading posts by people who complain about maltreatment in school (and work, but this is a pre-rn thread). I don't know why there have to be so many hostile environments in nursing. In school, I read articles on nurse bullying, and one of the theories is that nurses tend to be powerless in the medical system. This breeds unhappiness, dissatisfaction, burn out, and "lateral violence," which is a fancy term for bullying and nurses eating their young. I think my way of managing has been successful in the year and a half I have been in this position, as evidenced by: A. No nurses have quit. In fact, some who left before I took post have asked for their job back. Before, there was a high turnover. B. State reviews have come up with either minor or no deficiencies. Before, that was NOT the case. This gives me street cred with people who are above me. C. People tell me, jokingly, "I love you." But I don't take this too seriously because people love you when they get what they want. I get when people say "Go find another career," but of course, it isn't that easy. I invested time and money into nursing school. I would love to go back in time and tell my twenty year old self to do anything else, but I can't. People who read these threads have an advantage over other students because you have a heads up. Sure, the school where you have been might have 100% of the students pass on the NCLEX. But do they fail 50% after a year? The nursing profession has changed exponentially over the past 50 years. Nursing schools have not, to your detriment. This hostility carries on into the work world. It is not cozy. It is not easy. Seriously think about going into this profession before you do.

Don't. Seriously. Don't do it. You are probably a nice person. Maybe you have kids and find nurturing a natural way of life. Maybe you were impressed by a nurse who took care of a family member. Maybe since you were five, you dreamed of becoming nurse Barbie. It doesn't matter because the best way to hate nursing is to become a nurse. Preserve that natural instinct to be nice and don't become a nurse. I started out as a CNA. I liked what the nurses were doing and decided it was the career for me. I had one B and all A's and had my choice of which nursing program I wanted to enroll in. Then the professors were rude, overbearing, burnt out, and, I truly believe, hated us all in a way. The girls were confused and started cannabalizing each other. The guys, from day one, were completely demasculinated. You will hate the medical profession. People will sh-- on you, literally and figuratively. You will stress out over hurting someone, since killing someone is a real risk. You will do long, hard hours, and you will be underpaid. Everyone will dump on you because you are at the bottom of the food chain. Google nurse-bullying and seriously consider if you want this to be a part of your daily life. Probably the mods won't like this post. I don't blame you, but thiss is the truth. I wish someone had told me the truth, and I would have instead become a radiology technician, dental hygienist, or any other comparable profession that pays well without the risks. Forget the ADN programs. Reputable hospitals have their choice of nurse applicants in this economy, and they don't want two-year nurses. In fact, many new nurses have to wait six months to a year to find their first job. Remember juicy sign on bonuses? Bid them farewell. I have not heard of a sign on bonus in years. This is the truth, and nursing is a mean, mean profession. I survived and floated, and now I am stuck. I lost a part of my heart and a piece of my soul along the way. Peace out, Asian Stone