What does your nursing career repair bill say about you?

Nurses General Nursing

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The title just asks those about their experiences and what they learned they could have done better..

Question for those in nursing school or who graduated nursing school.

No sassiness, please! This post is for educational purposes only!

If you guys could go back in time when you failed or graduated nursing school, what advice would you give yourself that could have helped you be a little bit better? What would you change? What would you have said to yourself that you could say to those who are new in school? Those that graduated, I'm sure there are things you still would have gone back and changed a little bit.

Would have become a pharmacist or anything but a nurse.

Specializes in Float Pool - A Little Bit of Everything.

Thank you.

Even though everything was pointing to switching careers and be a nurse, looking back it was the worst choice I ever made. There are many, many reasons for this but I wish I had not done it. Maybe in time I will not feel this way but that's how it is now.

Specializes in ED, med-surg, peri op.

I'm in my last year of a bsn, graduate in November, and it's stressful!!!! I'm counting down the days, which is actually a great motivator.

the advice I would give some one starting nursing school:

1 go to class

2 work hard

3 don't expect to like everything

4 keep an open mind

5 ask for help when you need it

6 if you fail it's not the end of the world. Pick your self up and keep going.

7 have a person you can vent to when times are tough and also celebrate your achievements with

8 have fun and enjoy it.

Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Debriefing after stressful situations is an incredibly powerful tool. I wonder if I would be any different had I done it more early in my career

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I wouldn't change anything. I did an ADN program instead of an ABSN. Got a great education. Had a great class to go through it with. I am one of those that don't believe in regrets because everything that happened, got me where I am and I am very happy where I am. I am 52, been nurse for 5 years soon. Have a great job at a great facility, they are paying most of my MSN which I will finish in Dec and then I am going to to get my DNP, again, they are paying for most of it. Gotta always look forward :)

Debriefing after stressful situations is an incredibly powerful tool. I wonder if I would be any different had I done it more early in my career

How does one debrief?

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I wish I'd gone back for a master's degree so I could teach. I was a substitute clinical instructor for a brief time early in my career when an ASN could do that, and I loved it. Shortly after that they made the BSN a requirement for the position so I was out, and I never did make it back to school. Now I'm pushing 60 and am on disability for both physical and mental health reasons, so it doesn't look like I ever will. Maybe in my next life, haha.

Specializes in INTERNAL MEDICINE, PSYCH.

I wish 18 year old me had all the knowledge of 30 year old me:) I wouldn't have gone to a 4 year school at 18 just to take 5 years to graduate with a fancy piece of paper (useless bachelor of arts in psychology degree). Did LPN a year later because all the RN programs were waitlisted 2+ years at the time. So I wish at 18 I had the discipline for a BSN program and I wish I knew nursing was my calling at 18!

Specializes in INTERNAL MEDICINE, PSYCH.

I love every word of this! Perfectly said!

Specializes in CCU, MICU, and GMF Liver.

To enjoy the journey as well as the destination. Nursing is a CAREER. A long one. So problem solve to enjoy every minute of it.

Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.
I would tell myself the following: Remember that coworkers are coworkers and nothing more, nothing less. Learn how to take nothing personally and not have to be liked by everybody. Learn to be okay with not being everybody's friend. Not everyone will like you, and that's okay. Realize that when management and the system is broken and corrupt, you cannot fix it from within, and it is best to move on instead of beating your head against a wall trying to change things. Trust your gut, because it is rarely wrong. Speak less and listen more: to patients, to coworkers, and especially at the nurses' station when you are "charting" and everyone around you is chatting. You learn a lot about the unit culture that way. Keep your ears open and your mouth shut, this is a very valuable skill. Lastly, for the love of God, AVOID THE VENDING MACHINES. Especially after midnight.

Ditto, plus...DONT RUSH. Be as efficient as possible, but stop rushing. Taking a minute or 2 to get yourself organized and think through the dilemmas of what to do first when all hell breaks loose will serve you well and help prevent mistakes. Trust your gut is especially important. Can't stress that enough.

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