Registered nurse

rob4546, BSN, MSN · Jan 15, 2025

Hello Cesar, it is great to hear that you are looking into nursing as a career change. Nursing has been difficult but rewarding for me and I believe it can be wonderful for you also. I was a mechanic for over 20 years before I made the move, so it can be done, even from fields that are different or unique.

There are many things that I had to learn entering the medical field. One of the most difficult for me was time management in my education. Plan on spending more time studying than you would initially expect. I did not work during nursing school, so it was nearly a full-time job. It was common for me to study 40 hours a week, if not more.

Be able to be wrong. Not everything is black and white; it is more grey. Be open to learning and less interested in proving you were right. It seems harsh, but what may be 100% correct in one situation might not be appropriate in others. On the same note, do not make yourself crazy trying to be perfect. Getting straight "A's" is not the goal, understanding nursing is. Your grade is not the perfect identifier of a good or bad nurse. You have to pass to move forward. Trust me on this, you can make yourself crazy trying to be perfect.

There are so many hints you can gather from forums like this but what are some of the concerns you have that we could help with?

Cesar jaramillo · Jan 15, 2025

Thank you so much for the encouraging message! It's really helpful to hear your perspective as someone who made a similar career change from mechanics to nursing. I was also a mechanic for 12 before I came a Barber.

Your point about time management in nursing school is definitely something I'm considering. It's great to know that I should expect a significant commitment to studying, even if I'm coming from a different field.

One of my biggest concerns is the idea of "being wrong" in a medical setting. While I understand that learning to adapt and be flexible is key, it can be nerve-wracking to think about making decisions that could potentially impact a patient's health. Also sometimes I have a mix of excitement about the career path, potential challenges due to the female-dominated nature of nursing, but I know it'll be worth it.

Do you have any advice on how to best manage that anxiety and develop the confidence to make sound judgments, even when faced with uncertainty?

rob4546, BSN, MSN · Jan 15, 2025

Cesar jaramillo said:

Thank you so much for the encouraging message! It's really helpful to hear your perspective as someone who made a similar career change from mechanics to nursing. I was also a mechanic for 12 before I came a Barber.

Your point about time management in nursing school is definitely something I'm considering. It's great to know that I should expect a significant commitment to studying, even if I'm coming from a different field.

One of my biggest concerns is the idea of "being wrong" in a medical setting. While I understand that learning to adapt and be flexible is key, it can be nerve-wracking to think about making decisions that could potentially impact a patient's health. Also sometimes I have a mix of excitement about the career path, potential challenges due to the female-dominated nature of nursing, but I know it'll be worth it.

Do you have any advice on how to best manage that anxiety and develop the confidence to make sound judgments, even when faced with uncertainty?

It is interesting to think of working as a nurse and being worried about negatively impacting a patient's health. I have made mistakes; all nurses have because we are human. But the best way to think about it is to know what you don't know. I learned in nursing school that there is always someone who is there and is willing to help you. Even now, I ask others if I am unsure how to proceed in any patient care situation. Maybe I was worried more as a student, but now, with more than 10 years of experience, it never crosses my mind now.

Assuming that you are going to attend a reputable school, there will be guidance and someone to ensure you will not hurt anyone until you have gained the necessary knowledge to care for patients. So, no, that is not a worry of mine, but I could see how it can give others pause. If I did it over again, I would be more concerned about fellow students and some of the drama that can ensue in a stressful educational experience.

I am a full-time instructor now, and many of the "problems" encountered in nursing education are usually due to "high school" drama tropes. Sometimes, it can be instructor-induced, but mostly, I find it is student issues. Like I said earlier, do your best. Don't always assume you are correct. And be okay with being wrong. Being wrong is powerful, as this is when learning takes place. Once you get your license, you should have the ability to recognize when you need assistance.

I hate to take over this thread. Maybe someone else can chime in with a bit of first-hand information. My experiences are just that, my experiences. Nursing education and the field of nursing may vary in different areas. Hope this helps.