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I honestly believe that most people don't know what their getting themselves into when they try to pursue a career in nursing. Like seriously!
Today, I asked my closest friend why she wants to be a nurse (she's pre-nursing with me) and she said, "Because of the money, the hot male nurses, and because I like babies".
Lol, she also wants to get her CNA license next spring because she witnessed the birth of her neice and an actual CNA woman who helped "deliver the baby" told her she could be that in just 3 to 5 weeks. I really just wished that woman would've told her that she'll first probably end up working in a nursing home until then some. So now my friend is saving up to become one.
I'm not going to tell her the truth about nursing though, only because she's a grown woman and is capable of making her own decisions and learning about nursing on her own like I had to.
Although, I am secretly steering her to get her ADN first before she goes in debt trying to get her BSN, blindly.
It is if all you do is sit up and play candy crush all day at the nurses' station...
NEVER play candycrush at the nursing station. The nursing station is a center which other staff and family members will attend for a lot of things. The correct place to be playing candycrush is a location where only you have access to. As the charge nurse, I am very fortunate here. I know another staff nurse who uses empty patient rooms and this is another way to hide because no one is going in there at night. Either way, nursing station is a no-no.
On another note, being able to earn $50,000 on a two year degree is good. Some nurses stretch things and pull a ridiculous amount of hours per week and have six figure salaries. For a two year degree, this is a lot of money.
I know another staff nurse who uses empty patient rooms and this is another way to hide because no one is going in there at night.
I had a terrible week my last week at work. One of those weeks where the patient load was so heavy and busy that charting just wasn't happening. After one of my patients left and the room was cleaned, I told the CN I was hiding in it to get charting done.
Let me back up a sec. The tech assigned to my rooms that day came from another floor, had as much sense as a doorknob, and socially inept. Chatty beyond any ability to actually do her job, or to let those around her work either. I don't dislike many people, but her? She's on that short list. Twice I told her within a half hour, I'll be stepping away ASAP to hide and chart - call me if you need me. I had tried hiding in what is referred to as the "cubby", a spot hidden from view off the hallway with a couple of chairs. She followed me there. So the second time I told her I'd be hiding, I emphasized the "too many interruptions to finish" part.
So I go to the empty room, feel joy over the small glimpse of quiet, draw the curtain closed (but leave the door open in case anything happens), and sit my butt down to chart. Not two minutes later, guess who finds me? And guess who won't shut up, regardless of me telling her I really needed to get my work done?
Then my phone rang and my computer wouldn't work. That was a terribly late night. Didn't help that she didn't do half what she was supposed to in one of my isolation rooms (convenient? :\) so I spent way too much time either tracking her down (first half of the day) or just doing stuff myself (last half - honestly how many times should she be reminded?).
Anyway, rant over. I second the angry birds in an empty room sentiment.
In my experience, there are two types of men who go into nursing. The young ones who go into it in their 20s tend to be gay. The ones in their 30s and 40s tend to be second-career nurses, who typically have wives (or husbands, yay SCOTUS!) and children. Either way, she's probably not going to find too many "dating pool" male nurses. And particularly if she wants to work in OB.
Hey! I'm ... wait, that actually applies, except for the wife and kids part. I forget I'm not in my 20s anymore, and nursing is my second career. Maybe your description of my demographic should include, "... or socially awkward."
Plus, dating at work is tricky. It's hard to find an empty supply closet to get busy in with all the residents hooking up with the nurses, or the nurses hooking up with other nurses, and the environmental services people with homicidal ideations because they can't do their jobs with all the attractive people bumping uglies in their workspace.
In my experience, there are two types of men who go into nursing. The young ones who go into it in their 20s tend to be gay. The ones in their 30s and 40s tend to be second-career nurses, who typically have wives (or husbands, yay SCOTUS!) and children. Either way, she's probably not going to find too many "dating pool" male nurses. And particularly if she wants to work in OB.
Yep. When I was in nursing school the one guy in the program was gay. Lol.
I honestly believe that most people don't know what their getting themselves into when they try to pursue a career in nursing. Like seriously!Today, I asked my closest friend why she wants to be a nurse (she's pre-nursing with me) and she said, "Because of the money, the hot male nurses, and because I like babies".
Lol, she also wants to get her CNA license next spring because she witnessed the birth of her neice and an actual CNA woman who helped "deliver the baby" told her she could be that in just 3 to 5 weeks. I really just wished that woman would've told her that she'll first probably end up working in a nursing home until then some. So now my friend is saving up to become one.
I'm not going to tell her the truth about nursing though, only because she's a grown woman and is capable of making her own decisions and learning about nursing on her own like I had to.
Although, I am secretly steering her to get her ADN first before she goes in debt trying to get her BSN, blindly.
Why is it any of your business if she decides to go to nursing school? Why is it your business which educational path she chooses?
You don't know the truth about nursing...you're not even in nursing school yet! What you know about nursing could probably fit on the head of a pin.
Either be a better friend and support your friend, or if you can't do that, then leave her alone. You sound like a Nosey Parker, IMO.
The money difference between getting my RN and what I was making as a 10+ yrs. experience LPN at the time was not a lot, considering. It was literally $5/hr. and change. In some ways, I was happier as a LPN because my work was just slightly less complicated. I really felt the responsibility and pressure when I transitioned from LPN to RN. And, as far as nursing in general, I think it's a tough call as far as the stress being worth it for the pay. It's a close call. I have had days (mostly in the hospitals) when I thought 4-5x the pay would not be enough to relive that day. I agree people don't know what they are getting into. Luckily, I went into nursing for other reasons than pay. I actually wanted to help people...and I do.
ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP
1 Article; 2,594 Posts
It is if all you do is sit up and play candy crush all day at the nurses' station...