Questions for All the Nurses

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2011

hello all!
i am new to this forum and i have some questions.
a little bit about myself first though. i am 23 years old and i am currently trying to figure out my future plans. i live in british columbia canada and if i decide to become an rn i would move back to ontario to study. i graduated secondary school with so-so marks because i wasn't interested in schooling since i didn't know what i was going to do. if i pursue nursing i will have to upgrade my courses before hand.
now onto the questions. please don't feel like you have to answer them all but i would appreciate it.
1. why did you become an rn? to help people, make a fairly decent living, variety of specialty areas
2. what environment do you work in? ie. hospital (public/private), doctor's office, retirement home etc. hospital
3. what do you most enjoy about your career? see #1
4. what do you least enjoy about your career? being a second class citizen in the eyes of some doctors, patients, families, administrators; that is, lack of respect from them;
5. what is the best experience you've had so far? being present for birth of healthy babies;
6. what is the worst experience you've had so far? benig present for birth of stillbirth;
7. did you ever worry about making mistakes that could potentially harm or cost someone their life while you were in school for nursing? sure
8. do you ever worry about making mistakes that could potentially harm or cost someone their life now that you are an rn? sure
9. how has being an rn affected your personal life? having to work holidays, weekends, evenings, and nights really messes us up - our bodies, our sleep, our family members' lives - can't go to kids' concerts, games, etc. if working evening shift, for example;
10. do you work shifts? do you mean rotating shifts? not any more;
11. do you have children or plan to have children? have
12. does shift work make it hard for family time? see above
13. do you have any regrets about being an rn? sure
14. if you had not become a nurse, what other career do you think you would have pursued? well, that's just it. i don't really know what else i would have done. i don't regret having the knowledge i've got as a nurse. i just wish i'd have picked something that pays better and earns me more respect.
thank you for your time!
louisa (:

i hope this helps.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2011

hello all!
i am new to this forum and i have some questions.
a little bit about myself first though. i am 23 years old and i am currently trying to figure out my future plans. i live in british columbia canada and if i decide to become an rn i would move back to ontario to study. i graduated secondary school with so-so marks because i wasn't interested in schooling since i didn't know what i was going to do. if i pursue nursing i will have to upgrade my courses before hand.
now onto the questions. please don't feel like you have to answer them all but i would appreciate it.
1. why did you become an rn? i was a graphic designer for kodak before i decided to go into nursing. my mother was very sick and passed away from renal small cell cancer. her hospice nurse inspired me to make a difference in the lives of others, just as she had for my mother and the entire family.
2. what environment do you work in? ie. hospital (public/private), doctor's office, retirement home etc. operating room
3. what do you most enjoy about your career? the continuous learning and the beauty of surgery.
4. what do you least enjoy about your career? politics. it is never ending.
5. what is the best experience you've had so far? doing open cardiac massage on a pt that had a ruptured aaa. we were able to keep him alive long enough for his family to say goodbye to him in the icu.
6. what is the worst experience you've had so far? taking a brain dead soldier to the or for organ donation. he was home on leave and got hit head on in an mva. his entire unit was walking with me in the hallway, his wife was sobbing and would not let go of the bed railing. it was the most horrible memory i have in nursing.
7. did you ever worry about making mistakes that could potentially harm or cost someone their life while you were in school for nursing? of course. but i knew that my instructors were right there with me and would not let me do anything that was unsafe.
8. do you ever worry about making mistakes that could potentially harm or cost someone their life now that you are an rn? this worry is always in the back of any nurse's mind. that is why we have so many standards and policies in place.
9. how has being an rn affected your personal life? it has improved my personal life because i am constantly learning, and that is what makes me the most happy.
10. do you work shifts? nope. just days
11. do you have children or plan to have children? i have a grown step son. and don't plan on having kids at my age. i think my husband's sperm are on walkers, so i don't see us having kids!
12. does shift work make it hard for family time? it can.
13. do you have any regrets about being an rn? not for one skinny minute.
14. if you had not become a nurse, what other career do you think you would have pursued? probably law.
thank you for your time!
louisa (:

now questions for you! why do you want to go into nursing? what inspired you to want to study nursing? what specialty are you interested in?

sunnycalifRN · Feb 13, 2011

canesdukegirl,

11. do you have children or plan to have children? i have a grown step son. and don't plan on having kids at my age. i think my husband's sperm are on walkers, so i don't see us having kids!

lmao!! great line!!

sunnycalifRN · Feb 13, 2011

1. why did you become an rn? too many lay-offs from high tech

2. what environment do you work in? ie. hospital (public/private), doctor's office, retirement home etc.

icu

3. what do you most enjoy about your career? everyday is different, constant challenges

4. what do you least enjoy about your career? losing a patient unexpectedly

5. what is the best experience you've had so far? good saves

6. what is the worst experience you've had so far? see #4

7. did you ever worry about making mistakes that could potentially harm or cost someone their life while you were in school for nursing? of course, that's why you check with your preceptor constantly

8. do you ever worry about making mistakes that could potentially harm or cost someone their life now that you are an rn? i don't actively worry but this is why you always double check your actions

9. how has being an rn affected your personal life? higher income, hypertension

10. do you work shifts? days only

11. do you have children or plan to have children? 3

12. does shift work make it hard for family time? days only

13. do you have any regrets about being an rn? nope

14. if you had not become a nurse, what other career do you think you would have pursued? have done many

lo24 · Feb 13, 2011

Now questions for you! Why do YOU want to go into nursing? What inspired you to want to study nursing? What specialty are you interested in?

I want to help people. I love helping people, it makes me feel like I've made a difference. I am interested in hospice care, ICU, L/D, Peds, OR, LTC ... almost anything except ER! (:

lo24 · Feb 13, 2011

Thank you to all that have replied. I appreciate the time you took to answer my questions and the answers have helped (: