When I used to tell people that I worked in the NICU, their faces would light up because they thought I sat around and held babies all day.
Now that I'm back in the PICU, when I tell people what I do, I get these horrified looks and people(nurses too) will say "I could never do that!". Whats even better is when they say it's because they like kids too much!
So my question to my fellow nurses is ..... what could you never do?
I'll start.... I have a great admiration for Burn nurses! I admit that I do not know much about burn care because it has always been a fear of mine, but I have always thought you have to have a very special talent for this area!
Psych - after I did my clinical rotation, I was convinced I had a mental disorder for a few weeks after. Also, it just freaks me out the measures some patients will go to commit suicide.
OR - started out thinking it was pretty cool, but slowly started getting freaked out, mostly because of anesthesia. I've always been squeamish of being "put under" but now I'm REALLY afraid. I'm even scared of C-sections because I feel I'm going to be that person where the surgery goes all wrong.
Others that I don't prefer include Geriatrics/LTC and home care.
I didn't like OR in school. Not the blood thing, but having the mask and standing in one place. I hated it. I could do pre or post op though.
I didn't like OB/L&D either. I always thought I wanted to do pedes, then I did my pedes rotation and hated it. I hated seeing all the sick kids. Astrocytoma and caridac problems. I also knew kids who were abused by their parents so I would have a hard time not getting fired working in that department.
I also couldn't do burns because of the agony those patients go through. I didn't like psych either.
I also have no desire to do LTC.
I also can't do eyeballs.
My appreciation goes to all the nurses who work and love those areas.
My love right now is ICU. I currently work neuro ICU and love it. I am getting a little burned right now. If I do change I will try a different ICU. I know a lot can't handle neuro, but I like seeing the great progress a neuro patient can make. Give me a fresh crani over a med surg pt any day. Some days the famlies are harder to deal with than the patients, they sometimes have a hard time accepting the reality that their loved one will not get better. I did med surg for 5 years and I don't plan on going back. I think I might like to try my hand in the ER one day, and try SICU/Trauma ICU.
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.
There is nothing that I can think of. There are things that I don't WANT to do like take care of a premie or deliver a baby, but other than that I guess I would try to do what ever I could to help out in the situation if I had to (and I have had to do premies and deliver babies when I was in the ED) but I would not want to do it every day.
Now, as to outside the nursing profession I could never work in an animal shelter. I would be crying 24/7 and taking every dog and cat home with me. So I just send them money.
PEDS..... I hated my peds rotation. Im not gonna beg this kid to take his medicine and I hate dealing with the parents. The only kids I like are those in my family. even some of my friends kids annoy me
PSYCh....sorry but all your emotional baggage is too much for me. If I cant give you a pill for it...then I dont wanna fix it (sorry just being myself here)
Drug Rehab... Did it for a while and hated pep trying to manipulate every sitauation. They will hustle you for motrin. Crazy!!!
OB/peds definately. the thought of being elbows deep in you know what a good portion of the day possibly is not a thought i want to have! that and i couldnt keep my mouth shut when the same women are coming in to have another kid just so they can get more free handouts; amongst other things. no peds bc i dont like kids, mostly bc ive never been exposed to them. i dont want to deal with them whining and crying all day; not to mention their PITA family. i deal with that enough in the unit i already work in!
touch/deliver/look at a placenta. i get nauseous just thinking about them, and would vomit if i ever saw one up close. i need some reglan.
haha @ the comment above me. i couldn't do psych either! i tend to say things like "why are you making things so hard for yourself, just stop it." If only it were that easy for the crazies.
I could never work in NB nursery where I had to assist with circumcisions. No freakin way Especially since they don't use anesthesia at my hospital (just a sugar paci)
Especially since they don't use anesthesia at my hospital (just a sugar paci)
Brittany, RN
18 Posts
Psych - after I did my clinical rotation, I was convinced I had a mental disorder for a few weeks after. Also, it just freaks me out the measures some patients will go to commit suicide.
OR - started out thinking it was pretty cool, but slowly started getting freaked out, mostly because of anesthesia. I've always been squeamish of being "put under" but now I'm REALLY afraid. I'm even scared of C-sections because I feel I'm going to be that person where the surgery goes all wrong.
Others that I don't prefer include Geriatrics/LTC and home care.
But I love my kids!
Brittany