Questions about Nursing as a profession

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2011

Here is my question how bad are nursing clinicals, meaning is the gut work really that bad.

The quality of your clinical rotations is largely dependent upon the school that you attend. I attended one school where I had to wipe butts, give bed baths, change dressings on nasty wounds, suction phlegm and sputum from trachs, and complete other humbling tasks. I attended another school where clinical shifts consisted of sitting somewhere and completing care plans. The more hands-on stuff you do, the merrier.

I have a fear, phobia of poop, which I understand is silly, but never the less a fear. How do you just get in there and do what you have to do lol ?

You'll become desensitized to the smell and sight of poop as time passes. Poop used to really disgust me, but it doesn't bother me too much these days. I'd rather change a poopy diaper than deal with other aspects of nursing.

I understand you are exposed to various different sicknesses how are nurses protected aganist catching anything.

Besides your PPE (personal protective equipment) and a strong immune system, you are not really protected against catching disease. This is one of the risks of being a bedside nurse.

Also, is it possible to be able to jungle having kids and going through clinicals.

Yes, it is possible to have young children and still complete clinical rotations. Although I do not have kids, the majority of my female classmates were mothers of young children.

I am looking for a rewarding career. I can't stand to be mentaly abused by ungreatful students and taking home the work a teacher has to bring with her after my day is over at school.

Keep in mind that patients, family members, doctors, coworkers, and visitors can be verbally abusive toward nurses due to the 'customer service' environment that permeates too many healthcare facilities. Some people love nursing and have found it to be a rewarding career. Other people cannot stand nursing and want to head for the next exit door.

Also what is a typical schedule for a nurse including hoildays?

Since people become sick 24 hours per day, 7 days per week (including holidays), nurses must work nights, weekends, and holidays. It is unlikely that a new nurse will get a daytime Monday-through-Friday 9-to-5 schedule. Many hospitals staff with 12-hour shifts. You will need to work on some holidays. You will probably miss some family outings and events with the children.

GRUNGE · Apr 26, 2011

Try being mentaly abused by a doctor who acts like a 4 y/o when they dont get their way

mmoton · Apr 26, 2011

I can't answer any of your questions but you sound like me. I have been teaching now for 7 years and want out. I totally understand about the bring work home that teachers have to do. My plan is to do 3 more years as a teacher and then start nursing school. I am starting my pre-reqs this summer I'm only taking one class at a time because I also have two small kids (twin 2 year olds) and I still need to work. Also, I have student loans debt so I'm paying completely out of my pocket (no more loans for me). I'm 31 and hope by 40 to be a Nurse Practioner. I'm going to take it one day (semester) at a time and just try to work my plan. Just wanted to add my :twocents: .

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Apr 26, 2011

I would second everything that The Commuter says. I'd add that in my experience, clinicals were by far the most grinding and stressful part of nursing school. I was in an evening/weekend nursing program and there were a number of moms with kids in my class - so it's tough (and tough on the family I'd think) but obviously doable.

While nursing can be a rewarding career, I'd urge you to also consider the economics involved. You already acknowledge the financial aspects in your post and you also say you are considering NP, which means grad school and even more cost. I'd urge you to look closely at the employment statistics and salary data for RN's (and NP's) in your area before making the commitment to nursing. You are going to invest a very significant sum in your nursing education - how will you finance this? Will you be able to find a position in your area after graduation or will you need to relocate? Can you afford to wait 12 -18 months or longer to find a job? Will the remuneration level as an RN (or NP for that matter) be high enough to allow you to repay your education loans?

This isn't intended to be a comprehensive list of the questions and issues you should address nor is it intended to dissuade you from choosing nursing. I'd urge you to think long and hard about the economic issues involved before making your decision though.

nursecass · Apr 26, 2011

A big part of nursing is education-a BIG part. I cannot think of one area of nursing that does not include teaching/educating patients and family members. It may not be the traditional standing in a classroom sense, but I can tell you I educate every patient that I come into contact with-sometimes I educate the same patients about the same things repeatedly. I say this because if you are not interested in continuing with teaching/educating then maybe nursing is not quite the direction you want to go. And if you decide to be a family NP (or PA) then it is even more teaching of the same people again and again.

As for the rewarding career, I'm not sure nursing is much more rewarding than teaching from what you are saying. You have kids throwing spit balls at you, I have patients throwing full urinals at me because they are drunk/high and don't know what's going on. You have kids that give excuses for not doing homework, I have lab giving me excuses why a lab result that should take 5 minutes to turn around is taking over 30 minutes. People swearing at me because the doctor didn't give them a prescription for narcotics. Parents ticked off because their kid that has had a sore throat for a week has to wait to be seen because someone else is having difficulty breathing. Things like that are every day reality for nurses. I don't mean it to sound negative because I really do love my job, but ultimately you cannot allow someone else to determine how rewarding your career is for you.

The holidays depend on your unit and how big it is. My experience is usually that you have to work 2 shifts of major holidays (for nights that includes Thanksgiving, Christmas eve, christmas day, new years eve, new years day). Plus other "lesser" holidays are dependent upon dynamics of your unit. I've worked some places where no one cared about 4th of July, the last place I worked EVERYONE wanted it off, so it was a battle to get it. Plus most places require you work at least X amount of weekend shifts as well.

I don't mean this to come off as a debbie-downer sort of post, but I think before you invest your time/energy/money into nursing school I would take a closer look at the profession. See if you could job shadow someone that is doing what you would like to do (NP, PA, floor nurse-whatever) to see if that is something you would indeed like. Whatever path you choose, good luck and I hope you enjoy it!

mama_d, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2011

How strong of a support system do you have? How many years do you have to dedicate to school? How flexible can you make your personal schedule?

Yeah, poop can be pretty gross, but the vast majority of people who go into nursing who have poop/sputum/vomit/blood aversions manage to eventually get through them.

You'll still have plenty of people who are verbally abusive that you'll have to deal with, but at least you can clock out and go home and be done for the day. And if you're hospital based, you'll only be dealing with the same pts/family members for short periods of time, instead of having the same crazies for months at a time. Honestly, the diplomatic skills you've acquired as a teacher will probably serve you well.

As far as the germs go...if they have a resistant bug, you'll utilize special precautions to help protect you. Otherwise, it's up to your immune system. For me, it was like when kids go to school or day care for the first time...I was sick pretty frequently my first year, but since then it's been rare. Most of my being sick has been from my kids bringing stuff home from school.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Mrs. SnowStormRN, RN · Apr 26, 2011

A big part of nursing is education-a BIG part. I cannot think of one area of nursing that does not include teaching/educating patients and family members. It may not be the traditional standing in a classroom sense, but I can tell you I educate every patient that I come into contact with-sometimes I educate the same patients about the same things repeatedly. I say this because if you are not interested in continuing with teaching/educating then maybe nursing is not quite the direction you want to go. And if you decide to be a family NP (or PA) then it is even more teaching of the same people again and again.
As for the rewarding career, I'm not sure nursing is much more rewarding than teaching from what you are saying. You have kids throwing spit balls at you, I have patients throwing full urinals at me because they are drunk/high and don't know what's going on. You have kids that give excuses for not doing homework, I have lab giving me excuses why a lab result that should take 5 minutes to turn around is taking over 30 minutes. People swearing at me because the doctor didn't give them a prescription for narcotics. Parents ticked off because their kid that has had a sore throat for a week has to wait to be seen because someone else is having difficulty breathing. Things like that are every day reality for nurses. I don't mean it to sound negative because I really do love my job, but ultimately you cannot allow someone else to determine how rewarding your career is for you.
The holidays depend on your unit and how big it is. My experience is usually that you have to work 2 shifts of major holidays (for nights that includes Thanksgiving, Christmas eve, christmas day, new years eve, new years day). Plus other "lesser" holidays are dependent upon dynamics of your unit. I've worked some places where no one cared about 4th of July, the last place I worked EVERYONE wanted it off, so it was a battle to get it. Plus most places require you work at least X amount of weekend shifts as well.
I don't mean this to come off as a debbie-downer sort of post, but I think before you invest your time/energy/money into nursing school I would take a closer look at the profession. See if you could job shadow someone that is doing what you would like to do (NP, PA, floor nurse-whatever) to see if that is something you would indeed like. Whatever path you choose, good luck and I hope you enjoy it!

I agree with this post 100%. I would like to add though that hospitals arent the only options, you can do primary care and be off holidays and weekends but those jobs are hard to come by and the pay sucks. Maybe rehab, or school nursing (if you wanted to go back into the school system). BUT if you plan to be a NP, most programs require you work a specific amount of time in an acute care setting (some say it has to be critical care for a yr or so) which is very demanding, before even applying to a program. I agree you should shadow a nurse before you invest in the career, because it is a strenous job and it is possible to take your work home (emotionally). Also hours are usually long (12hr shift in most facilities, generally 7a-7p/7p-7a). You are expected to come in during bad weather (where schools may be closed, hospitals are not and are usually the busiest during bad weather (tornados, snowstorms, hurricanes, etc.) in which you may be required to spend the night (I know I have in the past) It is a different field than teaching, but I dont know if it would just be different for you or better. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR VENTURE. AND REMEMBER shadow a nurse for a week (and maybe even a STUDENT NURSE also, because school is demanding and stressful, I didnt get to give my family the time I wanted because of it. Its a science field and you have to learn to care for someones life, I had children while in school, a husband who was deployed twice while I was a student and if it wasnt for neighbors and family it wouldve been impossible):)

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2011

Honestly, if you don't want to deal with poop and verbal abuse, PA might be a better route for you. Simply because you will presumably have to work as an RN before getting through school to be an NP, and you will then have to find a job as an NP (which will probably be easier if you have some RN experience). And as an RN, you are going to see a lot of poop. You are going to be elbow deep in it some days, LOL! You are also going to be the one who takes the brunt of everyone's frustrations (patients, co-workers, doctors, managers, etc.) It is sad, but it is the truth.

Besides, no one can predict the future. What if you get your RN, then your family situation changes and you cannot go to NP school? Will you be happy as an RN if you are never able to fulfill your goal of being an NP? Unless you can answer yes to that, strongly consider PA school.

Not trying to be Debbie Downer, just wanted to give you a cautionary perspecitve. I have TONS of respect for teachers...as a school nurse I see all the BS they have to deal with. I would hate to see you get out of one profession you aren't happy with and into another you are equally unhappy with. Good luck!

sourapril · Apr 26, 2011

PA, it's faster if you are not a RN already.

systoly · Apr 26, 2011

Do you know any special ed teachers? They might be able to help with the poop phobia.

VioletKaliLPN, LPN · Apr 26, 2011

Clinicals are all about poop, at first.. Part of Nursing care involves hygiene, so this type of care is pretty typical.

BTW, I have cleaned poop out of the lady parts, from obese skin folds, etc. It happens, and you have to do it. Heaven forbid someone sits in that too long, the thought of that grosses me out hardcore. Cleaning? Nothing gross about it to *me*. Thinking about "What if they sit in this mess?" Makes me want to get in there and work some student nurse magic. I like to make sure my patients are clean, because it is good for morale and skin integrity.

You have to get used to the idea that you will be cleaning up poop, and it will be in places it really should not migrate to.