jwalker03

Okay thanks everyone I think I got my answer. Finally got this unbookmarked, those email notifications were filling my inbox haha.

You two nailed it. Thanks for your thoughts. Remember though that the word narcissis is often taken as always negative when it is not always. I meant no offense. Thanks again!

Maybe if I rephrase my question. Why is there a group (not saying it's small or large because let's be honest I don't know) of current nurses that talk down to future or junior nurses? I have already experienced it. It doesn't make sense to me due to the nature of the profession. I feel like my question got dissected without ever getting anyone's thoughts on the actual question. I tried to present the question in a tactful way that didn't mesh well with some and I apologize for that. I haven't always been the best at communicating and tone is very hard to convey in word form. See I'm already learning things; less words, more direct.

I'm not offended I was just curious and it seemed like me not being a student yet made my question invalid. I asked before I realized that the people that would be likely to answer it probably doesn't even apply to haha.

I appreciate your post Zara and I understand where you are coming from. I'm not trying to undermine any task or duty that you perform. I'm just curious as to why you would say that "no one else can do what I do as a nurse". That's what I'm talking about. If that were the case then who do you work with? Why do nurses act as if no one else can do what they do? When I talk to current nurses and the conversation gets around to me STARTING nursing school in the future (for you MrChicagoRN) I get this almost condescending response of "this will be the hardest thing you'l ever do in your life. Ever. Period". I'm trying to find out why THAT is? It doesn't take a person experiencing it to understand that that is simply not true. Maybe I should go back to creeping as a guest until I've completed school rather than asking questions.

See I knew this would happen. Since I haven't started yet am I inferior or am I not allow to ask a question? I'm confused. All I am saying is that I have noticed a trend in the way that people talk about a subject (whether it be here, at school, or at the hospital that I volunteer) and was interested as to what others thought. Seeing as we can't discuss this without people's feelings getting involved and you took this as a personal attack MrChicagoRN, I'll just keep my questions to myself.

Unrealistic positive views like exaggerated beliefs of control, and unrealistic beliefs in self. We all do it, but some more than others. I have begun to notice that in the nursing field it tends to be more common. I’m just curious as to what others think about this; bad, good, benefits, anything really. It is almost as if a lot of people in this profession that I’ve noticed (and please don’t shoot me for this) are narcissists. Now I know this is not the case because the role requires a person to have at least a shred of self-less attributes. Now before I get stoned at least give some input. Whenever students or nurses talk about nursing they portray it as if it is the most difficult profession. Hell I had a vehicle mechanic recently talk to me as if his job was equal to that of a theoretical physicist and I couldn’t possibly understand. Now I understand that nursing is difficult and there are many other difficult professions, but why feel this need to broadcast one’s profession as more difficult or superior to another’s. I guess what I’m really asking is what is the point of this in not only nursing but all professions? Who cares how difficult or ****** your job is? I feel that when professions begin to broadcast themselves as superior to others they come across as insecure; almost like a sort of inferiority complex. How often do you hear or see posts that talk about MDs and their arrogant, ego-driven ways; ICU is harder than Med-Surg; no med-surg is harder; those psych guys don’t do anything; no night shift really does nothing. Its like a ******* disease. Is this not the same thing? Is this not the “being a mother is the hardest job” argument? I’m I the only person that thinks about this? What I’m try to say is that I’m super excited to be going in to such a wonderful profession but these things make me embarrassed. If people do what they love why do they feel the need to exaggerate their beliefs of control and self? I’d love to hear some psych nurses’ thoughts on the matter.

Let's just start by saying that I am but a mere nursing student but I genuinely am curious about this subject. We all hear that nursing school is the hardest thing in the world and that nursing is so much harder than other professions. Now I have no doubt that nursing school and the nursing profession is hard but let us not get too carried away or embellish the truth. Is this not the same thing that other majors and professions do that irritates most people. This leads me to ask; why do the majority of people think that they (almost WANT to) have it worse than others? With that being said- 1) Do you all think that the majority of students and nurses are utilizing positive illusions? 2) If so what do you all think could be some of the reasons for doing so? 3) If so what would you say are some of the positives and negatives to these? 4) Are the ways in which nurses view themselves any different than other professions? (i.e. there are many professions where many members have a sense of illusory superiority; I'm sure you all can think of at least one)

Fortunately I've been to more places than I can count (military brat and served 6 years myself). Also this IS fun to me sadly.

Haha, that genuinely made me laugh. I would have never thought of card tricks. I might look into that.

Okay so heres the deal. I am at a loss of what to do over this summer. My first semester of nursing school starts at the end of August and I'm wanting to know some things that I can do to not so much "get ahead" but learn. I know that the majority of people are going to say "just take it easy and enjoy your summer, school will come soon enough, enjoy your freedom, something about burnout, etc." but I don't see any of those being an option; that is just not how I am. The problem is I love to learn. I have already been exercising daily, volunteering at a local hospital emergency department, and just reading about anything that strikes my fancy. So does anyone have any recommendations as to what I can do or teach myself to fill in these last 7 weeks? So far I have completely reviewed all anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology. I've also taught myself and did numerous practice questions for ABGs, EKG interpretation and anything to do with the blood & the heart, all forms of drug dosages, and lab values. Any ideas anyone?

Thanks again everyone! I think I'll just take it later down the road while I'm getting work experience so that schools can see that I can handle a more difficult pathophysiology course. I did some digging as per your advice TCU15SRNA and found out that Rush University here in Chicago allows up to 12 C.H. to be taken as a student-at-large. Surely if I take Advanced Physiology, Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and one more class that one C will become less and less significant. Now to stop worrying and focus on what i have to do NOW. Best of luck in CRNA school and nursing school TCU15SRNA & jaykalkyn! P.S. I'll help spread the word RunBabyRN!

Thanks TCU15SRNA! I am for sure going to bust my *** until then. I am aware that of the pathway that I need to take I'm just very preemptive. I know that schools look at GPA as well as other things. Since I'm assuming that you are an SRNA from your name, how would you say the difficulty of classes weighs in? Is a 3.44 really that bad for CRNA and AACNP admissions if the courses taken are regular BSN courses as well as more difficult courses unneccessary for the BSN such as Calculus I & II, General Chemistry I & II, Physics, and Organic Chemistry?

Thanks RunBabyRN. I was leaning towards not taking it anyway and I think you swayed me that direction even more. I'm thinking that I will just take a graduate pathophysiology course down the line if you think that that would be beneficial, considering most if not all programs require it. That's also odd that you mentioned vocational rehabilitation because I have been using it since day one and not many veterans know about it.

Hello and thanks for taking the time to look. I am a male nursing student in a BSN and military veteran. I've been lurking these forums for a while now and finally am actually going to post something. So basically I had no clue what I wanted to do after I got out of the military but knew I loved science. So for my first two years of school I blindly took any and every biology, physics, and chemistry class that I could with no plan. Unfortunately not having a plan to motivate myself and/or studying got me a C in Pathophysiology. After I found my calling (nursing!) I realized that this C I got could really hurt. I am contemplating retaking it for a couple of reasons but I am unsure: 1) I have all As and Bs and this C is a dent in my GPA 2) I will 100% be pursuing an advanced practice degree (AACNP or CRNA go figure right) and fear that this C would hurt my chances significantly as not only is it a C but in a course important to nursing. Would taking this course again be worth it? My current GPA is 3.4 and I am extremely confident in my ability to get all As and Bs in my next 12 classes. Will the fact that I got Bs or higher in General Chemistry I & II, A & P I & 2, Organic Chemistry I, Physics I, Microbiology, and Astronomy help to negate this C? My rationale could be wrong here so please correct me. Also veterans affairs pays for my schooling but any retakes I would have to fund myself. Should I just take an graduate level Advanced Pathophysiology course when I am done and call it a day?