Super interested in Nursing

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Hi,

I'm a certified veterinary technician looking into the registered nursing field. I love helping people and love being hands on. I do suffer with social anxiety and have issues with bigger groups but one on one interactions for me are enjoyable. Question is: Do hospitals allow shadowing? I want to see the daily life of an RN. Do hospitals allow hands on training or do I need the college degree before I can assist in any medical facility? I'd just like to see if it's truly the field for me before forking out thousands for school. I'm a very hard working and driven individual. Doing the bare minimum just doesn't work for me, I like to get into everything. I'm in Tampa, FL. If anyone knows of a facility offering these opportunities to shadow, please let me know!

Thanks!

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As far as I know no hospitals allow shadowing or provide hands on training.

You could try volunteering but often volunteers are only in the gift shop or escort visitors to their loved one. Not working directly with nurses or patients.

You should be able to find an inexpensive CNA or MA class. Adult schools and community colleges should not cost "thousands".

There is an Allnurses section "United States" that lists all the states, you can click on Florida and maybe get better advice about classes in your area.

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you will have clinical rotations in the hospital or community health each semester of nursing school.. Contact the local hospital and see if you can talk to a nurse educator (many large hospitals have one for each department). Also go talk with some of the instructors at the local nursing college programs you are interested in. Due to HIPAA laws, shadowing is limited without already being in a program

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Specializes in Med-surg, telemetry, oncology, rehab, LTC, ALF.

Try to get your CNA through a CC or even a hospital program first. This would allow you to get hands-on experience with patient care.

Just wanted to say that I have had to overcome my own struggles with social anxiety as a nurse. It's been a long road, but it's definitely not impossible to do. I've found lots of people in the field who struggle with social interactions more than I do. You can do it, if it's something that you really want to do for the right reasons.

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If you have a family doctor, ask if you can shadow him in his office for a day.

Will give you an idea on what he does.

He may be able to help you find a facility that would let you come in and be at the desk on a floor or ER for a day.

Nursing Homes/Rehab Centers and Assisted Living Facilities always need and love volunteers.

That may be an option as well.

Don't be surprised if you have to sign a confidentiality form wherever you are. HIPAA is Important!

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