Questions about nursing??????

Nrsen99-Sorry that you feel I am "stone cold" because of my comments. I also am a critical care nurse and work the night shift. I only comment on what is on the bulletin board, and I do not know anyone, nurse, doctor, or other healthcare professional who displays your type of "burping and farting" while on the floor. Sorry, but that has its place elsewhere (where, I don't know). Have a nice day anyway.-Erbn Girl

Erbn,

i have to support nrsen's comment that you need to have fun to keep your sanity. we are always doing wild things to keep the job from overwhelming us. as long as we are doing it away from the patients, what is the harm? if your unit is so serious, i would not want to work there or be a patient.

i should also say that my patients love me BECAUSE i make them laugh.

peck13---Thanks for the support! I'd work with you any day. I'd also let you take care of me or my family. I wouldn't let Erbn Girl anywhere near me. She obviously has no idea about REAL LIFE nursing. Nursing is not all Florence Nightengale. It's hard, stressful, heart wrenching work. Let's all keep in mind that we are all human.

Fireman,

I have an associate's degree. It took 4 year's to get it. 2 of prerequisite's and 2 of nursing, so don't be fooled a 2 year degree takes at least 3 if not 4 years to complete. 2 year nurses get more clinical experience in school but do not get the community nursing or management components. 4 year nurses get the theory, communtioy nursing and management but not as much clinical. As others have said, it depends on who the nurse is. Some are good and some are not. I would advise you to either get your associates, if you need to work sooner and then go for a RN to BSN or RN to MSN (accelerated) since nursing is changing so much and we are now more managment than clinical after a few years experience. Also certification requires a BSN now. If you are an associates you cannot become certified. ANA is trying very hard to make nursing have a BSN for entry and they may succeed although they have been trying since 1960 and have not yet. Who knows?

Nursing is still female dominated but there are plenty of males. Most males specialize in ED, critical care,surgery, cath lab, management etc. They don't seem to like floor nursing much. Maybe because it's the "grunt" work. It's probably a "male" thing. These types of nursing are more technically oriented and that suits a lot of guys.

As for the nurses who are fighting while we are trying to answer your questions, be prepared; many nurses are like that and we defintiely don't like to "care" for our fellow nurses. Remember, "when swimming in shark infested waters, be careful not to bleed." That's all I have to say about that issue. By the way, I agree with the ones who feel it's OK to be loose not so stuck up.

Dear Folks: My apologies for "arguing" on the bulletin board, it is definitely inappropriate. For Peck13 and Nrsen99, believe it or not I am not stone cold, I enjoy the same things you do and am VERY professional. I am sorry I offended you and sometimes comments are better left unsaid. My unit is very close-knit and my patients love ME as well because I make them laugh too, but not in the same way you do. After thinking about it awhile, I remembered when I worked as a 911 dispatcher for umteen years and all of the policeman would do those things to keep their sanity (the body noises!) and yes..I did think they were funny too! It helped the stress immensely. Again, with tears in my eyes (no joke) I extend an apology to all I have offended and like you said, we are all human (and make mistakes). Respectfully, Erbn Girl

Nursing is a great filed to go into--for the right person that is. I do not regret my decision, and enjoy the daily challange, despite the "choice" words that often come out of my mouth on my drive home! So what are my thoughts on the questions you posed?....Well, i enjoy working with male RNs, and there is certainly much more estrogen in the air then testosterone. The medical community is very sexist--still. My male RN friends have said they are often mistaken as the doctor by their patients, simply because of their sex. They are also more selective in their attire for that reason.

I graduated from UVM with my BSN, and as I said earlier, i do not regret it. Being BSN, I am bias....If you have the time/commitment/financial resources to do a BSN as opposed to AD, DO IT. More and more places are leaning toward, if not requiring BSN. My peers are all RN, BSN, and many are pursuing their master's. You definately need your BSN if you want to pursue other careers in nursing outside of the main stream acute/long-term care.

I always thought I'd go into peds or OR work, but I fell in love with cardiology and can't imagine doing anything but! You will find your speciality to feed your need.....

dear friend,i am also a male nursestudent ,20,and i sometimes worry about the same thing.is nursing a feminine job or not?anyway i enjoy my studies,i think that i am not going to work as a floor nurse but i will take some specializationeg.surgery etc

2 years of strudying in greece are not enouugh you cant work in a public hospital .university degree is 4 years

good luck!send an email if you want

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fireman *smile* you will probably make a great nurse! My husband is a volunteer firefighter and loves the rescue calls..I know he would be a wonderful nurse, but he doesn't seem to have the confidence to attempt nursing school. BSN vs ADN: I would advise get your adn first and then find a "bridge" program to get your BSN. That way, you will have valuable clinical experience behind you as a BSN.(Not to mention a paycheck) It took me many yhears to find my "niche" in nursing, which is picu.

Give it some time

Sandy

ps Thanks erbn girl...I had been trying to think of an appropriate signature line for myself and you gave it to me!

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"If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane"

(Thanks, Jimmy)

Fireman,

I went to a community college and received an associate degree in nursing; this seems to be adequate for now, I may continue to a BSN later but am not interested in management at this time. Most hospitals have little financial compensation if any for a 4 year degree over a 2 year degree.

I have been an RN for 7 years now, 1 year on a med-surg unit then 2 in a Med/Surg, CVICU. That was a unit that did just about everything except trauma, peds or burns.

After that I went to a critical care flight team, one of only 3 in this country that transport patients on bypass or with ventricular assist devices. Then a year of travel nursing that was more of a learning experience than any college can offer. Now I am back in a Med/surg ICU and doing airambulance out of a small county airport in my area on my days off (and a little volunteer ambulance time which keeps my skills well rounded) Nursing is only as enjoying as you allow it to be.

As far as men being nurses, go for it...I have worked with a number of wonderful male nurses and recommend it for anyone interested in helping people and especially for someone with your background. I was a paramedic prior to going to nursing school.

Good luck

Deanna