What do you wish you knew before you got into nursing?

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I am new to this board and am in the beginning

stages of getting into nursing as a second career.

What was the hardest things to get used to and what

are some things you wish you knew before

you got started?

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I wish I knew I wanted to do nursing before! I spent two years doing other things (biology major) that I wish I wanted to do nursing in the first place! Oh well, you live and you learn!

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Specializes in Cardiac, Rehab.

I'm assuming you are a guy since you posted in the male nursing forum, so... Hardest thing is getting used to working with mostly women, both as peers and instructors. Don't get me wrong, it's usually a lot of fun, but there are times when the estrogen level gets a bit high in the room. For me, its learning to bite my lip which also works well with the woman at home...;)

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Specializes in IMCU.

Don't think it is only men who find it hard working with women. I no more want the details of someone's menstrual cycle and diet plan than I wish to stick needles in my eyes. Also, the unpleasantness can be extreme when they gang up on another woman in class.

Nor do I wish to know the details of their family member's health problems ad nauseam.

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Wish I would have known that 75% of the job involves charting and secretarial work, only 25% patient care. I still love it though!

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Specializes in mental health.
I am new to this board and am in the beginning

stages of getting into nursing as a second career.

What was the hardest things to get used to and what

are some things you wish you knew before

you got started?

Had I known that I could work after my first two semesters, I would not be in an accelerated program.

Had I known that the tuition would double during my time in school, I would have signed on for government reimbursement.

Had I know how hard it is to get the hospital smell out of my nose, I would not have quit smoking...(just kidding)

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I wish I had worked harder on my time management skills. I jumped into nursing school at age 39 almost on a whim, an accelerated program opened up in my area with no wait list so a ran in, tested, and was accepted. The shock of being in said accelerated program and having to devote huge blocks of time to each individual class, plus work, plus family time is quite the juggling act. My school also changes the schedule every 4 months (we are on a quarter system instead of semesters). So one quarter I have classes 8 hours a day for 3 days like mon tue wed, then the next quarter I have classes 10 hours a day for 2 days Wed, Thur, and clinicals on top of that for 12 hours. We don't know the next quarters schedule until a few days before we start it so having to rearrange work schedules, kids sports and school events, and even little things like finding the time (and energy) to mow the lawn can be a hassle. I graduate in September 2010 and in 2 years I just got the whole time management thing down this last few months. So at the start of school i would clear my schedule and be prepared for awkward feats of time gymnastics to get in your homework, papers, studying, careplans, lectures, clinicals etc...and with the half hour you find you have between such events make that time count for yourself (sleep) or your family- I have Sundays as the day spend all day with my kids, cook all the meals, and watch a movie with the wife.

Good luck to ya

Semper Fi

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I am in a similar situation as the original post. I am 43yo and will be starting LPN class in the fall then moving on to RN. I will continue working my job during the day while taking LPN classes 4 nights a week for 21 months.

Luckily, my kids are 17 and 15, and they know and support my decision to return to school. I do like all of the advice on time management. It always help to know what you are getting into. Thanks everyone!

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I'm a bit of a career changer too. I have a sciencey degree from 2003, worked off and on as a "part-timer" paramedic here and there, and have largely spent my working years in some element of law enforcement.

The program I just entered (RN/BSN), on a whim more than anything, albeit with several years of consideration, is brand new, and I know nothing about it other than I have all of the prereqs completed from my first degree except for nutrition which they wrote a waiver for. I just hope that the program doesn't drive me nuts. I like a rather unstructured work environment (can you tell), and I'm hoping that nursing school doesn't cheese me off periodically because I get the feeling it's overly structured, if you will. Medic school was a crap shoot. We learned a lot and did a lot, but there weren't a lot of requirements for us as students.

I'm not entirely sure why I'm enrolled in nursing classes since I still like law enforcement, but as I say I've been thinking about it for years so here it goes. I'm hoping past experiences can land me a job in the ED. That always seems like the fastest, most laid back environment. I think one reason I'm interested in this is the curriculum. Then again, I may keep on doing what I'm doing and work some per diem as a RN. Who can say really?

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Specializes in Vascular Surgery.

The female Filipino nurses wild and freaking crazy. ;-)

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That gay male nurses are awesome wing men ;)

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Specializes in mental health.

that a term IUFD could have been hanging around in there for weeks...

that the missing toes might still be in the boot...

that a lady parts full of pennies is a reasonably effective contraceptive...only if they are copper pennies...

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