What a coincidence. . .every single student nurse who shadows me. . .

Published

wants to ONLY work NICU or be a trauma flight nurse, but only for two years because then they want to get either their CRNA or FNP before 2015 because there is no way they are getting a doctorate!!

EVERY. SINGLE. STUDENT.

Sigh. . .

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
K'know I remember in intermediate/middle school everyone who used to run their mouth wanted to be a marine biologist.

All the girls in my grammar school just loved horses. They were all going to raise Palominos. Well, if their plan to marry Paul McCartney fell through anyway. He wasn't married then.

For being so empathetic and caring nurses sure do have a bad habit of over personalizing everything they don't agree with.

Actually, it's all these people who wrote lengthy and defensive explanations of their career goals who personalized this thread.

It was not directed at students, (I'm assuming as it's posted in General Nursing) nor did it indict any student, or say that it's bad to be ambitious or have long-term career goals. It's about less than 10 people most likely, the OP returned to clarify what she meant for all the students who perceived themselves to be personally attacked by her first post, yet people are still responding as if she said (your name) has no business being an (career goals mentioned by students).

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

The funny thing is, I've been most of those things. I've been in ICUs, ED, trauma, flight. None of it is all that special you know. They are just jobs, and those patients poop too, lol. Now I am a FNP and I just get pooped on figuratively. The difference is, I am my own boss, am paid extremely well, and for the first time in my career I don't have to smile and thank them for it. If I don't like the patient's behavior, I "fire" them. I just tell them we are not a good patient-provider fit, and give them their 30 days notice. In three years, I've done that about a half dozen times in egregious cases. The knowledge that I can do it at any time is usually enough!

The only students I work with these days are medical students, and they never say things like they are going to leave primary care and go cure ebola, autism and cancer. They pretty much keep their heads down and hold their tongues. I guess med students really are smarter. ;)

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Actually nursel56, she did attack all students and thought it was rather funny that we got our feathers ruffled. I'm assuming she would be one of the screamers if a new nurse came on here and attacked the "older nurses" and said how they were mean and bitter and dashed all their hopes.

Personally, do I care what she says? Not really. Am I smart enough to know that each nurse that asked me what floor I wanted to work on was using a sideways method of fishing for validation of their teaching skills and their decisions? Yep. Each time I was asked I replied with "This floor seems very interesting and there is so much to learn! Have you always wanted to work ___________?" and turn the questions to them so they feel validated. Then I've had some nurses who were genuinely interested in me as a person and would genuinely want to know, so I would express other ideas and round it off with, "Ultimately I just want to learn" which is the truth.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.
K'know I remember in intermediate/middle school everyone who used to run their mouth wanted to be a marine biologist.

YES!!! I honestly thought maybe I was missing the boat in some way shape or form because everyone else was going into marine biology and I wasn't even sure what a marine biologist even DID. To be honest, I'm still not completely sure. Sea World? Discovery Channel documentaries?

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Specializes in L&D/NICU/Pediatrics.

What's wrong with that? Seriously?? This board is becoming so negative, shame on you nurses for continuously discouraging new grads and students.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Actually nursel56, she did attack all students and thought it was rather funny that we got our feathers ruffled.

How so?

I'm assuming she would be one of the screamers if a new nurse came on here and attacked the "older nurses" and said how they were mean and bitter and dashed all their hopes.

I'm pretty sure if I went over to the Nursing Student Forum I would quickly find a post to get offended by. I understand that you don't get it - why should you? You aren't being addressed here. Not a big mystery. I try to stay out of those Student Nurse discussions though, because I understand each role has it's own set of frustrations. I don't assume I'm being attacked, and leave it be.

Personally, do I care what she says? Not really. Am I smart enough to know that each nurse that asked me what floor I wanted to work on was using a sideways method of fishing for validation of their teaching skills and their decisions? Yep. Each time I was asked I replied with "This floor seems very interesting and there is so much to learn! Have you always wanted to work ___________?" and turn the questions to them so they feel validated.

You should have no trouble at all getting hired if the nurses at your clinical site are preoccupied with thoughts of getting your validation. I would say most nurses have other ways to validate their decisions in life.

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Specializes in L&D/NICU/Pediatrics.
Holy cow! Yes!LOL!!What on earth inspired all the marine-biologist wannabes?

That's hilarious, I wanted to be a marine biologist as well but that's only bc my father is a biologist and I've been a fish since I was a wee one.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

I started out as an EMT, I still am , worked in ER as a tech and loved it. However I've always wanted to fly... Where I'm from (so fla) the only ppl who could do flight were flight medics who were also on the FD which was almost impossible to get hired on lol. Where I live now, I've had the opportunity to fly a few times and it further confirmed my want to become a flight nurse.

In the meantime ill do my CV nurse thing and work on what I need to reach that goal :)

K'know I remember in intermediate/middle school everyone who used to run their mouth wanted to be a marine biologist.

I grew up by the ocean, I haves legit excuse for wanting to be a marine bio @ sea world lololol

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

Quote from Hygiene Queen

Holy cow! Yes!LOL!!What on earth inspired all the marine-biologist wannabes?

Because we grew up watching The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, of course! Life on the Calypso looked a darn site better than on any medical show I have ever seen (disclaimer: I saw the pilot of ER the night it premiered, thought it was god-awful and never watched it again, lol), except maybe Trapper John MD, because living in the Winnebago in the parking lot seemed like it might have been kind of fun. :p

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THIS. I wish I could show every nursing student in clinical this post. Dream to the moon and back, the world is your oyster, but when a preceptor asks, "I just want to learn" is all you should say! That is, unless you want an eyeroll and a speech on how you'll never get a position like that or you shouldn't get a position like that. I'm speaking from experience!!

To be fair, though, when you're precepting somewhere you SHOULD be respectful and give that area your 100% just for the short time you're there. You don't have to love it, but give it a chance and don't think it's beneath you.

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Specializes in L&D/NICU/Pediatrics.
THIS. I wish I could show every nursing student in clinical this post. Dream to the moon and back, the world is your oyster, but when a preceptor asks, "I just want to learn" is all you should say! That is, unless you want an eyeroll and a speech on how you'll never get a position like that or you shouldn't get a position like that. Ugh.

Funny because I know of several students who've gotten hired at their desired positions which included ICU, ED.. That being said they also had prior experience as LPNs. I understand there are A LOT of student nurses who are not qualified.....

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

I've been doing back to school physicals for the past two weeks, including a lot of college and community college students. I have had several young ladies (no men) tell me all about their plans to be FNPs, CRNAs, cure ebola, autism and cancer. ;) I just smile and say good luck. I know full well most of them won't make it through prereqs. Of those that do, and actually complete a BSN, statistically, 1 in 10 of them will get a masters degree and 1 in 100 will get a doctorate (those are old and approximate figures, and I hope it is better than that by now and continues to get better). Is this girl sitting on the table in front of me, this one tossing her hair and snapping her gum, this responsible person whom forgot to bring her immunization record but NEEDS it all signed off TODAY (!!!), this respectful person texting and facebooking during her physical exam, this brilliant scholar that can't correctly fill out the history form, this intellectually curious student that doesn't appear to know even the most rudimentary things about nursing education or the profession- is she the one that will go all the way? I don't have any way of knowing and I really don't care. I won't begrudge her her dreams. I will wish her a heartfelt "good luck," because she is going to need it. And also because we all really do need someone to do all those things, it may as well be her!

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