nurshathaway

GO FOR IT! I agree with both the other posts, do what you think you will enjoy. You'll have enough to deal with learning this specialty and the stress that it will come with but if you enjoy it, it'll make your nursing experience so much better. You are the one who is going to have to live with your choices, so let them be YOUR choices. Good Luck! I hope to be following in your footsteps in a year or two or three!!!!

Mustangsheba...in no way did I think that you were a prig? My main purpose for this forum was to find out more from my future colleagues why they chose nursing, and I really appreciate all the feedback I've received. Have a Happy, Healthy New Year!! Kris

I have to be honest, a couple of the posts brought tears to my eyes... I especially find as I am getting a little older myself that I look at some of the senior citizens around where I live and realize the richness of their lives and I'm not talking a monetary means. Where when I was younger I would steer away from older people, seeing only the aging and sickness...know I've find myself looking forward to the times that I can talk with them and listening to the experiences they went through. Nursejanedough that was such a powerful post. It's important that we realize that we are not dealing only with sickness but with people who are sick and lonely and scared. The nurses that were influenced by other nurses when they were young are also great posts. Hope to hear more experiences and reasons for their choice of entering the nursing field.

First, Reg, thank you for sharing that...that is exactly what I was looking for. Second, Mustangsheba, I agree these forums should be used to vent and believe me on some of the topics, I do my share. In this particular topic, I just wanted to hear the reasons why you went into nursing and what you still like about it even with all the frustration that seems to be part of the job. Thank you though for your input.

Reg, you gave an excellent suggestion...why don't they have a reporter following a nurse through a full shift (preferably a 12-hour shift)? Maybe amongst we can petition a reporter from one of the national networks (such as Dateline or 20/20) to take this challenge. Any suggestions?

I would like this to be a POSITIVE forum. 1. Why did you go into nursing? and 2. Tell us a couple of NICE things that have happened during your career. There are many of us student nurses looking at this bulletins and seeing only the negative, but there has to be some positive experiences you've had. Your responses will not only be greatly appreciated by myself but by many of us student nurses and perhaps even experienced nurses, who may have pushed those reasons and experiences to the back of their mind.

Have you tried a the hospital(s) where you do your clinicals? Some do have opportunities to work while you are continuing your education.

I think that it is important that everyone who participates in this BB comment on this report and its half-baked story. And I don't just mean via the website comments section, but a letter directly to the reporter. Maybe if she gets enough responses back from the nurses, she may re-investigate her story and tell it straight this time. In regards to the mother, Mrs. Kroll, having to stay by her son all the time standing guard. I personally would feel that if a parent choses to stay by their child's bedside that they are in good hands. I would definitely check up often, but I would also find myself geared towards patients that have absolutely no one by them. And if Mrs. Kroll would leave the area, I would request that she inform me and then her son would continue to be looked at with the best healthcare I can provide.

Ocankhe brings up a very good point Even though a starting salary in New York City of $50,000 sounds astronomical when you are starting with only $30,000, you are not thinking about the cost of living. If you wanted to live in New York City, a 2-bedroom apartment (and not that big either) can run at least $2000 a month. If you want to compare, it is definitely better to look at the same geographical/cost of living area.

I can definitely understand your frustration with this event. The fact that they went through two levels already while cheating is definitely disheartening. I feel that what goes around, comes around...maybe the 4th level teacher will be a little more wise to this episode. I just pray that something happens where they are confronted before patients are harmed because of their deceitfulness.

I must admit that when I first decided to return to school (I knew I wanted to go further in the medical field), I was seriously considering medical school. Deciding to go back to school at 36, would of course mean that I would be 44 before I get into any internship, and 47-48 after I finish with a residency. The reason I've decided to go through nursing isn't just because I can become a nurse in a quarter of the time, but because I feel that I can help the whole patient, not just the illness which is what many of the doctors focus on. Many times, especially in hospital settings, doctors maybe check on their patient a couple of times a day, maybe for only 10 minutes. I believe that a nurse has the power to help the whole patient. Another important thing is that there are so many options for nurses, including furthering your formal education while working. Can you imagine having gone through three or four years of residency, finding that you are not happy with your selection and having to start all over again? Sorry, for the long message...