Question about nursing

[ezxoxo322]

I just finished my sophomore year of high school and I'm thinking about going into some kind of medical profession. I am a really good student so I was thinkinig I wanted to be a doctor, but I read something that said nurses are the ones who do all the patient care. Is this true? I just want to be in a profession in which I can help people. Thanks.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Hi and welcome. I will move your post to the general nursing discussions so that you can get more answers.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

Welcome! What I have learned from nursing school is that doctors take care of the disease/medical issue and nurses care for the whole patient (and family or whoever else is close to that patient). If the actual disease process or whatever the patient is being seen for is what interests you, than check into physician or even better you may want to look into becoming a nurse practitioner. The NP works under a doc (please correct me if I get this wrong) but can write some prescriptions and also sees patients much like a doc. They usually can spend more time with their patient. Let us know your thoughts and good luck to you.

[cjmjmom]

Nurses do take care of the whole patient, when there is time to do so. Nurses are the one who is at the bedside from the beginning of life until the end of life. We share very intimate times with patients and families, times other professions, including medical doctors, do not share. I have been in nursing for over 20 years and it has been a love-hate relationship though. The part I love is caring for patients and their families. The part I hate is how nurses are continuously taken for granted and how we allow others to abuse us and how we abuse ourselves.

I would recommend the career to anyone however I would definitely get a BSN so later on you would have an undergraduate degree that serves you well for a graduate program either in nursing or another field.

Good luck to you!

[Melony, RN]

I would say that Nursing is a wonderful field, but not right for everyone. We are the shoulders that patients cry on, the ones there with them through thick and thin, we celebrate their joys as well as nurse their wounds. To be a good nurse, one has to be dedicated, compassionate, and a life long learner. Its such a rewarding career. Yes we do not make $300,000 or more per year like some docs. But being able to care for someone in their time of need and when they start to make a turn around for the better, we are there with them. That in itself, makes nursing worthwhile. I have known since I was in high school that this was the profession for me. Just follow your heart and your dreams. Being a Doc is a wonderful profession as well. It just depends on what type of care you want to do.

[ezxoxo322]

Thank you! Your information really helped me. I would definitely go for a BSN if I decide nursing is the right career for me. Does anyone know how the nursing program is at Northeastern University? What are some other good programs in the northeast?

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

well, i guess it depends on what you mean by "patient care". fitting someone for a pair of eye glasses is considered patient care just as much as giving someone a bedpan so they can go to the bathroom.

this u.s. government site links you into information about some of the healthcare professions. happy exploring:

• http://stats.bls.gov/oco/oco1002.htm - links to health professions are listed at the bottom of the page
  • http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos074.htm - doctors
    
  • http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm - rn