michelle54

I wasn't a fan of cutting up the fetal pig we had to diissect in lab, and this may sound strange, but I put a paper towel over the fetal pig's head thoughout the weeks I was working on it. If I didn't have to look at it's face, I concentrated on the organs and disengaged myself from the actual creature, and that helped me get through it. My professor thought it was a hoot, but who cares. It worked for me. I work on a Med-Surg floor, have no desire to see them come into the ED or cut up in the OR ... I like them cleaned up and sewn/stapled up when I get them. Don't let this get to you. It's only one little facet in your journey towards your career.

I totally agree with imenid37, in that your best experience is to be a nurse first, then move on to being a nurse practitioner or a Clinical Leader. I've worked with "so called" clinical leaders who have no current acute care experience, and it's not pretty. What a busy floor needs is for the CL to be an asset; someone who can jump in with an extra pair of hands, not someone who has no idea how to take care of a patient. Also, at our hospital, we have NPs rounding on some patients, and I can tell they have either never worked on a floor or it's been years, as some of their orders are unworkable. I switched careers in my 40's, and had no idea what the healthcare industry was all about. It took more than my clinicals; it took working on a busy floor in a hospital to really get a good grasp at how a hospital works (and how screwed up it can be). I'd say, get in there and get your hands dirty before you commit the time, money and effort to get advanced degrees.

First of all, relax ... you never really know what a specific career is like until you actually do it. Being in nursing school is one thing; being a nurse in another (frankly, being a nurse is more fun than being a student nurse). Since you don't have an undergraduate degree, you need to take that step first for whatever career you ultimately decide on. Your career is a journey ... good luck.

I'm 52 and have been an RN for almost 7 years ... I work on a busy Med/Surg floor which I do actually love (when push comes to shove), but the amount of physical labor can sometimes be unbearable. Couple that with the emotional demands of patients/families and all the necessary interactions with docs, peers, other disciplines, and after my weekend on (2 12's), I'm totally spent. The 12 hour shifts make it more difficult, but I value having more days not at work. Decide why you're doing this (in my case, after being self employed for 20+ years, I needed the security of having paid time off and benefits), and if it makes sense to you in the long run. As I look at it, hopefully at 60, I can cut down to 2 12's a week, and at/after retirement, I can always work per diem if I need to. You will gain valuable, marketable skills as a nurse. Good luck.

When I graduated 7 years ago, it was just a nice thing to add to the resume that I had graduated with honors. Did it matter relative to the job I obtained?No. At our hospital, each fall, a new group of new grads go through an 8-week orientation program. You can tell who were smart in school vs. who may have struggled but are more competent RNs. There are plenty of book smart people who just don't have alot of common sense, good organizational skills and ability to think critically. Think less about grades and more about how you put your learning into practice. Good luck.

Like others are saying, some deaths are easier to take than others. When I am caring for the patient who happens to die on my watch, I always think of how it has been a privilege to care for this person as they are dying (and their family members in this time of need). I am fortunate in that we don't have that many deaths on our floor, and even more fortunate in that we rarely have any sudden deaths. They are mostly expected, and you can gear up your level of care to accommodate the patient and family during the final days/hours.

Chris - I'm not quite sure what kind of internship program in which you had interest ... If you're a new grad RN, why not go to work in a hospital through a new grad program and get some experience under your belt, then the "age" issue may be less relevent. I'm in the Boston area, have been an RN for 5 years and am 51 -- I know I could go anywhere in this area for a job because I have been successfully working in the field. Where there is a need for a nurse, you will be hired. I can sense the intense anger of your post, but you know how much time and effort goes into litigation ... What is more important to you at this time? Getting a job or maybe getting revenge ... Best of luck.

I agree with NickyLea. I was in the business world for 20 years before becoming a nurse, and worked as an aide per diem for four months prior to becoming an RN. Big deal ... it did help a bit, but you bring alot more to the table with your other "outside the field of healthcare" skills. In the short run it may help, but after a year of seasoning as a nurse, you'll be up to snuff. Good luck!

Heymickey - I hope that in the past few months, you've learned to be more patient with yourself. I'm a new member of this site and saw your spring posting. It's a very difficult profession to start into; lots of people will be better than you and lots not as good. You need to relax and allow the knowledge to seep into your brain. There's so much to learn, and believe me, if you give it time, your confidence level will increase. I've only been in the profession for 5 years, and after year 1, I was in charge of a busy 31 bed ortho/urology floor most shifts, and that is when I really learned alot and everything started to come together. Be patient; it's not easy. Michelle54