jc0322

I'm just returning to this site after several years, I've been reading posts but haven't logged in in a while! First off, thanks everyone for your replies! I did eventually go to nursing in school in fall 2017 at Chamberlain university and graduated this past December and took my NCLEX Jan. 15, passed I'm officially an RN with a BSN!!! I will be starting on a Medsurg floor at a hospital that I've been working at for over 4 years and I'm excited and blessed! As for the stigma, it's still there but I've gotten over it. Even after graduation, I got people asking me, "So whats next? You're gonna continue and become a doctor right?" I just tell them I'll see where life takes me. I'm damn proud to be a nurse and I know what I had to go through these past 4 years to become one! In other words, I'm so proud to be part of the profession and could care less what others think anymore!

I'm still a rookie myself, started in home health back in April 2014 and just started a per diem position at the hospital back in May. I highly agree with what most are saying about giving what you get and etc. I've worked with nurses who are excited to hear that I'm starting nursing school next year and who are grateful that I volunteer to help (other CNAs too) and some who don't even give me the time of day. (I just assume they had/having a bad day and let it be). I've had patients in home Heath who would cuss me out for being 10 mins late (even after I called them) at the hospital I've been peed on, gotten poop on my uniform spit on, but at the end of the day, I know that I'm making a contribution to getting that patient better and home, or making them more comfortable in their home setting.

Have you considered home health? Per diem of course. I've talked to many nurses who work at my hospital part time and do home health per diem. One in particular loves the flexibility and the hours. (She makes her own schedule with her patients) and you have the right to refuse assignments. I plan on doing home health per diem and work at my hospital per diem while getting my bachelors.

Correction, I am still doing home health with one client twice a week and I work per diem at the hospital. School full time. :)

I've just started my journey in healthcare and I have to say I love it. I did home health care for a year to get my experience, got a job at the county hospital (I live in Fort Lauderdale) as a patient sitter, and just waiting to be cross trained on the floor as a PCA. I'm going to take my HESSI at some point this semester and get my application in for next year for nursing school to start in May. I always love hearing how current nurses started their journey or current PCA/CNA's who are just trying to make it and move up in the world. Share your stories! Also open to hear any advice! As a side note, I feel like there's a still a stigma with being male and wanting to go into nursing (or maybe that's just my family...) I'm actually looking to earn a doctorate in nursing or considering medical school. I hate when I tell people what I do and the first thing they say is "oh you have to clean people's poop??" Yes... But not always.... I always viewed my job as helping those who can't help themselves, and i always imagine myself in whatever situation my patients are going through, and how I would want to be treated, and I deliver that same care. Isn't that what it's all about? (Guess that was more of a vent, oops lol...)

I commend you for working in mental health. I'm at patient sitter here in Fort Lauderdale, fl. I have a love/hate relationship with my position, but I honestly took it just to get in, I'm hoping to be cross trained to work on the floor soon. (got my CNA back in December) I'm also doing home health twice a week. I have had nights were I wasn't doing much and had time to study, but of course that's not always the case. In my hospital us sitters are sometimes floated to psych which allows no study time, and I find personally are my most challenging nights.