I just finished an accelerated nursing program last December. I went to school with 40+ others who all had previous degrees/careers and found it interesting how everyone got into nursing and how their previous lives related to nursing. I was just wondering what everyone did before nursing?
I worked as a Medical Technologist in a hospital lab and ran all the tests. I also was a Mom before nursing. The lab part provided me with the knowledge and appreciation for lab tests. I've learned to really appreciate all of the allied health professionals, not just the lab. The Mom part has helped me (I think) in the "motherly" aspects of nursing, caring for patients, cleaning up and tolerating bodily fluids and such. Anyway, nursing has turned out to be a great fit for me and I'm so glad I did it!
I'm not a nurse yet (currently applying to nursing school), but I'll respond anyway.
I have a BA in Psychology. I worked with developmentally disabled adults for 2 years at a day habilitation center, and I've spent the last 3 years in a therapeutic group home for children who are emotionally disturbed and have a history of abuse. Both were direct care (mental health, not medical) positions that have very low pay (despite requiring a bachelors degree), and burn people out pretty quick.
I believe, when I become a nurse, that my experience in dealing with some very difficult populations (with the expectation that I have to stay positive and therapeutic) in a mental health capacity will help me when I have to interact with difficult people as a nurse. Also, I think enduring the stress of those positions helped toughen me up to handle the stresses of nursing school and working as a nurse. I'm hoping to end up in a relatively positive work environment with safe nurse-to-patient ratios, obviously, but I'm not pollyannaish about it.
I am not a nurse... YET! But I really hope to be soon. I am currently a firefighter in the USAF. In this field, there is a lot of interaction with many medical professionals, especially medics and nurses, and especially in a deployed enviorment (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc). I see all the hard work and the difference that nurses make and that really turned me on to pursuing a career as a nurse. Also, my mom is a nurse, so that might play a little part too.
Rhone
109 Posts
I'm not a nurse yet (currently applying to nursing school), but I'll respond anyway.
I have a BA in Psychology. I worked with developmentally disabled adults for 2 years at a day habilitation center, and I've spent the last 3 years in a therapeutic group home for children who are emotionally disturbed and have a history of abuse. Both were direct care (mental health, not medical) positions that have very low pay (despite requiring a bachelors degree), and burn people out pretty quick.
I believe, when I become a nurse, that my experience in dealing with some very difficult populations (with the expectation that I have to stay positive and therapeutic) in a mental health capacity will help me when I have to interact with difficult people as a nurse. Also, I think enduring the stress of those positions helped toughen me up to handle the stresses of nursing school and working as a nurse. I'm hoping to end up in a relatively positive work environment with safe nurse-to-patient ratios, obviously, but I'm not pollyannaish about it.