I'm certain that this has been done before, and gets done quite a bit on this forum itself, but what do ya'all tell people who ask you about becoming a RN?
Firstly -- do you get asked this? (I do, both IRL and on different internet forums.)
Do you feel that your employment status or lack thereof has any relationship to the advice that you give?
Would you give different advice to, say, a highschool student who wanted to become a RN vs. an established second-career type?
Does the economy play any part in the advice that you give?
Would you give different advice to someone who approached you in real life versus someone who posted something on AN?
I usually tell them to shadow a nurse in the hospital for a day/shift to see what a nurse really does. But I dont think anyone has ever taken my advice- what do I know
Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.
i'm certain that this has been done before, and gets done quite a bit on this forum itself, but what do ya'all tell people who ask you about becoming a rn?
firstly -- do you get asked this? (i do, both irl and on different internet forums.)
yeah, it has happened. =)
do you feel that your employment status or lack thereof has any relationship to the advice that you give?
well, in the past few months i have found myself employed, and then not employed for a little while, and then employed again... i don't think i would have given a different response at either time.
would you give different advice to, say, a highschool student who wanted to become a rn vs. an established second-career type?
i'm probably going to be a bit more careful with the high schooler who insists that their life long dream is to become a nurse, that they've wanted to be a nurse since the age of three when they had leukemia.. blah blah blah. i don't want to be the one to try to crush that person's dream in any way. now, the second career person... i'm going to tell them to think looonnng and hard about the decision they are making... nursing is terribly stressful (at first, at least), jobs aren't as plentiful as it would seem, and it doesn't pay as much as one would think...
does the economy play any part in the advice that you give?
sure, see above. nursing jobs are much harder to find these days and it is directly related to the economy!
would you give different advice to someone who approached you in real life versus someone who posted something on an?
probably, only because i tend to be more open with my thoughts and opinions when i am able to write or type them. i don't think being online has as much to do with it.
I tell them to be realistic....nights, weekends, long hours, difficult families, OT, not enough staff, and everything in between is the life of a nurse. But, it's also very rewarding, too. When my residents hug me and say, "Where have you been? I missed you." It's all worth it.
I initially wanted to become a nurse because of the money/job and ended up actually liking it (and hating it too sometimes). Kinda a coincidence that i was thinking during my break today about the reasons why i became a nurse. I never really wanted to become a nurse. In fact my mother was/is an RN and came home every day tired with mountains and mountains of paperwork. So from an early age i knew that i absoutly, never, ever wanted to be a nurse. But she always had a job, and she loves her patients. After school I needed a job and reality set in that i needed to go do something that i could actually find a job in and nursing just happened be the only thing i could think of. Im glad i did nursing. I really enjoy learning new things and applying them in my job. And besides, if it werent for nursing i would have no clue what i would be doing today...So i think you can still go into nursing for (seemingly) the wrong reasons and end up being a good nurse who likes her job.
I try to give sober-minded advice, discussing the realities of the work both pro and con. I try to be fair, measured and realistic in my responses. Sometimes just asking the person a few questions about their interest gives me an idea of how to best guide them.
Some walk away still interested, others say, "not a career for me."
Meh. I guess I get caught up in the little things. Like I get friends who are like OMG I want to be a nurse because jobs are great! It's recession proof and I can find a job anywhere doing whatever I want!
and my initial reaction is "HAH HAH GOOD LUCK FINDING A JOB" but I always bite my lip because, hey, what if the economy does pick up in two years? or four years?
I don't begrudge someone choosing to go into nursing because of job availability and/or stability 'tho in this economy, those seem like absurd choices.
Honestly, it's easier to find a job in nursing even as a new grad than it is in a LOT of other fields, esp. if one is willing & able to relocate. So I can understand that desire.
I'm not saying that it's bad to allow such benefits to influence one's decision--they certainly played a role in my choosing to go into nursing. Still, it's important that someone be interested in nursing for the sake of being into nursing--whether it be being intrigued by health care, desiring to comfort others, or what have you. Otherwise they're not going to enjoy their careers.
Recently, my college bound son was asking about a healthcare related field . I told him to compare his mother's job ( a PT) to mine. Grasshopper chose wisely.
How many people enjoy their careers, i ask you. Most of the people i know do their job because of the fact they need money. Every once in awhile something happens in your job that makes you glad you do what you do. Me personally im into the health care and clinical reasoning aspect of the job.
i'm certain that this has been done before, and gets done quite a bit on this forum itself, but what do ya'all tell people who ask you about becoming a rn?
firstly -- do you get asked this? (i do, both irl and on different internet forums.)
[color=#b22222]yes. i say research the career and school before you make a decision to attend nursing school. nothing more dissuading than getting in school and finding out its not meant to be. nevermind, that it will be a costly error as well. educate yourself.
do you feel that your employment status or lack thereof has any relationship to the advice that you give?
[color=#b22222]no. employed or not does not change my opinion.
would you give different advice to, say, a highschool student who wanted to become a rn vs. an established second-career type?
[color=#b22222]no. in general, both types are seeking the same information.
does the economy play any part in the advice that you give?
[color=#b22222]no. economy changes. there will always be a need for nurses.
would you give different advice to someone who approached you in real life versus someone who posted something on an?
[color=#b22222]no. behind every computer is a person. just because i cannot see their face or here them speak does not make them any less real.
I guess I tell them my experience which is that I love my job and the area that I work in. I do touch on stuff that makes my job difficult (politics, limitations as deemed by the higher ups, families and social issues) but for the most part I encourage people. That said, if there is someone that doesn't show respect for the profession or they are someone I don't really want representing the profession (or being my coworker), I might not be as encouraging. Not that I tell anyone they can't or shouldn't do it. I remember when I was looking into nursing I asked every nurse I knew why they went into nursing and why they work in the area that they did. All but one was positive. The one was an older, negative woman who went on and on about "no, don't go into nursing. It's the worst job ever.", etc, etc. All I got from that was, "wow, I feel sorry for your patients and coworkers". And I wondered why she didn't analyze her own life and either get out of nursing or choose a different area. She seemed like the epitome of burnout.
I do tell people too that they should look into getting their CNA and work their way up. That it will make them a better RN and will give them an idea of what nursing entails.
I can only speak as a nursing student....Don't do it. Nursing school is stressful, it eats at your self confidence and the catty competitiveness is just too much to handle sometimes.
colleennurse, ASN, RN
342 Posts
I usually tell them to shadow a nurse in the hospital for a day/shift to see what a nurse really does. But I dont think anyone has ever taken my advice- what do I know