What exactly is it like to be a nurse?

[brooookeexo]

Hi everyone! I am currently an undergrad. I used to be a bio major, always thought i wanted to go to med school. For the last year or so i have been questioning that.

I work as an MA, and realized that i like the close patient care side of the job. I like getting to know the patients, and being there for them, and making sure they understand everything and have what they need. I feel like becoming an RN will give me more of that, but in an expanded role with more responsibility, and i will probably go on to get my masters eventually (after working for a few years). I also like the flexibility of the position, and the ability to go into different specialties. Plus i really am not up for the additional 4 years of school!

So i am really just wondering what it is like to be a nurse. I'd like to hear from some people about why they got into nursing and what they like/dislike about the career.

[eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN]

Honestly, I spend more time charting and doing meds then I do bonding with my patients. I work on a telemetry unit. I don't get the patient contact I thought I would. Sometimes I love being a nurse. Sometimes it's frustrating. Low census drives me absolutely crazy. I'll be a hobo soon. I'm considering returning to school so maybe I can work in something with less shaky hours. And a bit less stress. Anyways, I suggest contacting your local hospital and asking if they have shadow opportunities. A few shifts of shadowing may clue you in to both the good and bad. Good luck in your decision.

[GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

First of all Welcome to the site. Regarding your question it all depends on the level of nursing one practices for instance, when I was a staff nurse I spend most of my time charting and dealing with all sorts of medical staff and pt. care. Having said that, for the past 10yrs. as upper management I manage direct plans and coordinate the functions and activities of assigned areas; I oversee and administer assigned patient care programs and services; I assists the Hospital Chief Executive Officer. In addition, I sit on the panel of the Board of Trustees and other administrators in the development formulation and implementation of hospital strategic plans, and I serve as part of the hospital’s senior management team. Moreover, I may act for the Chief Executive Officer in his/her absence; I provide direct input regarding the organizational structure of the hospital; and I provide expert professional assistance to hospital executives regarding nursing-related matters; and perform other related duties as assigned. Needless to say, these are a few of my duties, I hope this answers your concern, as I wish you the very best in all of your future endeavors..... Aloha~

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

First off, :welcome: :) I love being a nurse. Some nights are horrible, especially when we are short staffed but overall, I love my job. I work nights on a progressive care unit, which is like an ICU stepdown. All of our patients are on telemetry monitors. Like eatmysox stated, I also do not always get to spend as much time with patients as I like. There is a lot of documentation that goes with nursing and the amount of documentation just continues to increase, it seems! I also suggest looking into local shadowing opportunities. Good luck!

[Hygiene Queen]

I interacted far more with my pts as a CNA/PCT than I do now as a RN.

I miss it terribly.

I don't just mean "interacting" on a social level, but I love really getting my hands on people and giving the physical care.

Sometimes, it's just so hard to get past the paper to get to the person (hey, I think I just coined a new phrase... and I like it, lol ).

Conditions can be overwhelming at times... or very laid back.

No matter which condition the shift starts in, it can suddenly reverse itself in the blink of an eye.

I had a shift wherein I was charge (for the first time) with another new nurse to work with, short-staffed and expecting admissions.

But, miracles of miracles, we got a nurse to come over and do the admissions.

A shift that looked bleak became manageable and smooth.

Then of course, you get the opposite scenario.

A nurse is responsible for so much and it can be daunting and frustrating.

It is a juggling act, and as person who tends to be clumsy, I sometimes wonder what he heck I was thinking when I decided to go to nursing school.

You never can allow yourself to stop learning.

My family and friends are often surprised to see me reading and studying in my spare time.

I don't love being a nurse, but I am a nurse and I don't want to be an irresponsible or stupid one, regardless of how I feel about it.

You must always teach yourself more.

You have to have a thick skin and push yourself beyond your comfort zone every single day.

Know that the first year is painful, but you will only rise above it if you stick with it.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Do you want to be a nurse? There's more to it than a calling. Here are some questions to consider

Being a nurse means…

You will never be bored.

You will always be frustrated.

So much to do and so little time.

You will step into people’s lives

And you will make a difference.

Some will bless you.

Some will curse you.

You will see people at their worst –

And at their best.

You will never cease to be amazed

At people’s capacity for

Love, courage, and endurance.

You will see life begin – - and end.

You will experience resounding triumphs

And devastating failures.

You will cry a lot.

You will laugh a lot.

You will know what it is to be human

And to be humane. -Melodie Chenevert, RN

Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community! Browse our site....use the search option inthe upper right hand corner of the page. Don't forget to visit the breakroom!

[artsmom, BSN, LPN]

What it is like to be a nurse is subjective, and depends on where you choose to practice. However, you said you enjoy teaching and ensuring the patient's had what they needed- I have a friend that does home visits with patients,teaching them specific equipment they need, and answering any related questions. She is allowed to spend up to 4 hours with one patient, and the pay is very good. She thoroughly enjoys her work. Now to me, home visits are not my cup of tea- I am very awkward in someone's home. You will probably need to try several different types of nursing to determine what nursing is like for you.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

If you ask a number of nurses what exactly it is like, you will get as many different responses!

Being a nurse is like, being responsible for patients and their care; being an advocate; encouraging independence; being frustrated with management (sorry, Gitano); working as a team with docs if you work with good, team oriented docs like I do; learning how to deal with whatever patient population you find yourself working with; being endlessly flexible; committing to a lifetime of learning. Being able to use both art and intuition as well as science and evidence-based practice. I work in a clinic setting now that happens to hire RNs, so what I do is probably not that different from what you are doing as an MA (but our MAs do not do any patient education- RNs do that at my site).

Patient education, care plans, chronic condition monitoring, telephonic followup and case management. That is "what I do exactly." :)

If you have a BS in biology, you are well on your way to getting into a direct entry BSN; a lot of the people in those programs seem to have been bio majors. It would not take you nearly 4 years to do that- the ones I see are 18 months but you might have some prereqs to do.