Hey everyone! I'm new here and I just had some questions to ask you. I'm 26 and I'm still trying to figure out which career is right for me. Nursing has been coming up in my mind off and on for a while. Thing is I'm not sure if it's for me or not.
I love helping people. I've been told I'm a very caring, encouraging person. On the downside I'm not sure if I could handle the school work first of all. I have many friends who are nurses so from speaking to them I know it's very difficult. I'm horrible at Math and Science also which I know I would have to take. Besides the school work I don't know if I could handle the work itself. It's not really the blood and stuff that bothers me it's more of giving people shots and bathing patients (especially of the opposite sex). (I'm a female) I know that would be very weird for me. I'm also a very emotional, senstive person and I've heard that patients can "get out of hand" and yell and try to hurt you etc. So, I'm not sure if I could handle that either.
I do know that I want to make a difference in people's lives and help as best I can but I just don't know about this nursing thing. . .I've also thought about the Vet Tech program since I adore animals. Don't know if anyone on here does that but thought I'd throw that out there. Thanks so much!
"it'sthedude" said not to listen to the "wimps and whiners". wow, what judgement; hope his attitude and behavior are better at work. "zookeeper" got it right: it isn't whining. we don't "whine", we vent because we care and are concerned. someof us really perseverate over the decisions made during our shifts and come to this board to vent about it...because we care!
nursing is a difficult career; and although fairly rare,it can also be dangerous. try telling the nurse who was beaten then raped at our hospital by a psych patient that nursing "isn't dangerous". try telling the techs who've received broken noses, fractured legs(by psych pts again) among a myriad of other injuries that nursing "isn't dangerous". what's more is this: we cannot turn these pts in for abuse because "they don't now any better"! quite the environment, eh? at least it's a job in this economy.
Thanks for the replies everyone! I'm actually looking into a CNA program just to see if it's something I would to do. I never know unless I try I don't guess. Thanks again for all the responses!
That would definitely be a good alternative for the meantime. You will gain experience and get to see the workplace. However, remember that it still does not completely compare to being an actual nurse...in the sense of workload/responsibilities. That's not to say that CNAs don't work hard or lack knowledge....quite the contrary. But there are many things that you will never do as a CNA, that you would have to do as a nurse.
I'm glad you picked up on that - nursing has one of the highest rates of injury and ED and psych are among the most dangerous.
Don't fret about the math and science - if you get a good professor, they'll explain everything you need. Always use ratemyprofessor.com and if you're having trouble, utilize the tutors and talk to the teacher. Get into some study groups or post questions here. Definitely stay on top of your studying from day one or you'll get behind, and you'll be playing catch-up the entire semester.
You'll be more prone to abuse in certain departments, but at the end of the day, verbal abuse is just verbal abuse. You do what you need to and smile. Stay clear of departments that have the more frantic and confused patients - ED and psych mainly.
If you think it's for you, do it. There's almost an endless list of things you can do as a nurse, it's not all hospitals and baths. I like the volunteer approach that a couple have mentioned - you'll get a much better feel of what it's like.
Oh Gosh - I know that there will be negative splashback, but I just gotta say . . .
Cold splash of reality here. One of the main reasons we have such as high attrition rate in nursing school is due to the fact that it is just too hard. Sometimes, the academic preparation was inadequate - pre-requisites were not rigorous enough. But more often than not, students simply haven't learned how to learn, and schools cannot provide individual tutoring when it is needed.
Too many people understimate the level of 'intellectual horsepower' it takes to get through nursing school - and practice nursing. Instead, the profession is idealized with emphasis on caring & compassion. Not quite an accurate picture. Nursing students not only have to be smart, but they have to be capable of 'hunkering down' and learning very difficult concepts and and absorbing large amounts of information in a relatively short period of time. At the very least, nursing curriculum requires the ability to read and comprehend complex materials (that incorporate science & math fundamentals) very rapidly.
We are our own worst enemies. Case in point - contrast pictures of physicians to those of nurses. Physicians have the "I'm smart & capable" (crisp lab coat, arms folded across chest, looking directly at camera, etc) pose and nurses are posed to personify 'sweet & caring' (cute scrubs, sappy smiles, etc). Why don't they show nurses doing math to titrate vasoactive drugs? Adjusting balloon pumps to achieve maximum output?
Never forget inside each successful 'angel of mercy' is a warrior tirelessly battling for his/her patients - armed with a keen mind and sharp intellect. Some of the posters have already mentioned other career fields that are also 'caring & compassionate' which may be a much better choice for anyone who admittedly 'hates' math and science.
oh gosh - i know that there will be negative splashback, but i just gotta say . . .
cold splash of reality here. one of the main reasons we have such as high attrition rate in nursing school is due to the fact that it is just too hard. sometimes, the academic preparation was inadequate - pre-requisites were not rigorous enough. but more often than not, students simply haven't learned how to learn, and schools cannot provide individual tutoring when it is needed.
too many people understimate the level of 'intellectual horsepower' it takes to get through nursing school - and practice nursing. instead, the profession is idealized with emphasis on caring & compassion. not quite an accurate picture. nursing students not only have to be smart, but they have to be capable of 'hunkering down' and learning very difficult concepts and and absorbing large amounts of information in a relatively short period of time. at the very least, nursing curriculum requires the ability to read and comprehend complex materials (that incorporate science & math fundamentals) very rapidly.
we are our own worst enemies. case in point - contrast pictures of physicians to those of nurses. physicians have the "i'm smart & capable" (crisp lab coat, arms folded across chest, looking directly at camera, etc) pose and nurses are posed to personify 'sweet & caring' (cute scrubs, sappy smiles, etc). why don't they show nurses doing math to titrate vasoactive drugs? adjusting balloon pumps to achieve maximum output?
never forget inside each successful 'angel of mercy' is a warrior tirelessly battling for his/her patients - armed with a keen mind and sharp intellect. some of the posters have already mentioned other career fields that are also 'caring & compassionate' which may be a much better choice for anyone who admittedly 'hates' math and science.
ok - let the flames begin
thanks for the honesty! i reallly do apperiate it!
Midwest4me
1,007 Posts
"it'sthedude" said not to listen to the "wimps and whiners". wow, what judgement; hope his attitude and behavior are better at work. "zookeeper" got it right: it isn't whining. we don't "whine", we vent because we care and are concerned. someof us really perseverate over the decisions made during our shifts and come to this board to vent about it...because we care!
nursing is a difficult career; and although fairly rare,it can also be dangerous. try telling the nurse who was beaten then raped at our hospital by a psych patient that nursing "isn't dangerous".
try telling the techs who've received broken noses, fractured legs(by psych pts again) among a myriad of other injuries that nursing "isn't dangerous". what's more is this: we cannot turn these pts in for abuse because "they don't now any better"! quite the environment, eh? at least it's a job in this economy.