Should I Pursue a Career in Nursing?

RN403, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2014

You might try to shadow a nurse at your local hospital, preferably a teaching hospital as they seem to be more open to allowing shadowing experiences. You can call the main line of the hospitals near you and they can direct your call to the appropriate individual. This would help you gain real insight into what really goes into being a nurse, what a typical day might be like, and if you can handle the "dirtier" aspects of the job.

mvm2 · Aug 8, 2014

I can see why the helping others is a plus in wanting to become a nurse, but I have to say that 80% of nursing is dealing with all kinds of gross things. It is just a fact of life and if you truely do not think you can handle puke, blood, poo, urine extra I don't think nursing would be for you. If you are a person who wants to be in health care but not deal with these things what about physical or ocupational therapist. Though I guess even they have to deal with things like angry looking injuries and such sometimes

Mr. Murse · Aug 8, 2014

It really depends on what kind of nursing you get into, but chances are you will have to deal with some "gross" stuff for a while before you get to have more say so in what part of nursing you end up in. If you really don't have a stomach for blood, stool, urine, vomit, phlegm, bile, pus, and all kinds of other unimaginable stuff the body can produce you might want to reconsider unless you somehow manage to avoid that kind of nursing entirely.

To me though, the gross stuff isn't even really the main thing you have to worry about. Yes, you get to help people, and yes, you have moments where all the stress and business and crap (literally and figuratively, ha) that comes with the job pays off, but on your average night you probably won't see those things. Your average night on a hospital floor will consist of being a drug dispenser and sitting in front of a computer charting stupid monotonous details of your routine, interspersed with cleaning up all kinds of bodily fluids, wiping backsides, dealing with unstable patients and family members, and all the workplace politics of working in that environment.

Don't get me wrong, I love my job, probably more than most nurses do, but I want you to have a realistic picture of it too. You will have those stereotypical moments of "ah, this is why I do this job", but they are often few and far between. A lot of it is attitude and expectations too. Be realistic about the fact that it IS a job, in many ways like any other job. Go see about shadowing nurses at a local hospital for a few days, as someone else mentioned.

Good luck. If it's what you have a heart for then go for it, just be realistic about what all it entails.

CherryBlossoms · Aug 12, 2014

Thank-you for your suggestions and input, I have been in touch with a hospital near me about job shadowing so hopefully I can do that soon. :yes:

Thank-you so much Mr. Murse for the very realistic explanation! That's exactly what I needed :) I might look into different health careers other than nursing. After reading your comments, I don't know if nursing is for me, but only time will tell! I will see how this shadowing goes and decide after that. Again, thanks everyone for your input!