What do you wish you had known?

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 8, 2015

I wish I had known about the huge, huge number of alternatives to bedside work. I did it for years and loved it, but I knew pretty much nothing about alternatives while I was still a student. I don't mean clinics, NP, public health, and the lot. I mean things like biomedical engineering support, rehab, sales support, consulting, legal nursing, case management, parish nursing, nurse writing and editing, insurance, all kinds of educating like CDE and CLC, clinical specialists ... the list is endless.

I also wish I'd known (or that more nursing students knew) about how much they need to know math, science, and the like, how much individual professional autonomy and responsibility they will have, how nursing works independently of physicians in many of the areas where they work side by side, and that it's not just "following doctor's orders." They see so much to the contrary on TV it's a point that has to be made very forcefully.

Last, they don't know that they aren't going to school "for their RN degree." They should know about licensure vs education, practice insurance, labor relations, and the like.

MallysMama · May 8, 2015

Awesome ideas!! Thank you! I think last year I mentioned that there were so many areas within nursing- but I think most of what I mentioned were bedside specialties. I'll definitely point out all the ones you mentioned!! The other points are great too and I'll definitely highlight them! I appreciate your help!!

llg, PhD, RN · May 8, 2015

1. They should definitely be made aware of the many types of nursing roles out there -- both at the bedside and away from the bedside. But they also need to understand that some bedside work will probably be necessary at the beginning of their careers. I've worked with too many students and new grads who thought they could by-pass "all that yucky stuff" and go straight to some leadership role or role in the community that is very independent, etc. without having to get some some bedside experience.

2. They need to understand the different educational levels within nursing -- and how having different levels of education (and your experience) corresponds to the types of jobs being available to you. Once again, I have met some students and new grads that didn't realize that some of the jobs they found attractive require more than a BSN to get. They think all RNs are the same just because the basic licensing test is the same.

3. They need to understand that many health care jobs require a willingness to work your fair share of unpopular shifts -- nights, weekend, and holidays.

4. They need to understand that while nursing is in many ways, "just a job," it is a career that requires a commitment to serve the people whose care has been entrusted to you. I'm not saying it has to be a "calling from God" or anything like that, but I am saying that you have to be willing to make an adult commitment to give a high priority to meeting the needs of someone else -- even when it is unpleasant and inconvenient to do so. It's a job for "grown-ups" even if you are young in years.

... And you have to do teach them all of that while making it sound like the greatest job in the world -- because it is. We nurses are privileged to be invited in to some of our patients' most important moments in life -- when they give birth, die, experience pain, fear, joy, embarrassment, etc. We are the ones "allowed in" and we are the ones entrusted with the responsibility to help them through whatever they are having to deal with.

I suggest finding a few readings, good quotes, etc. to include in your presentation that will emphasize that profound aspect of nursing.

KJoRN81, RN · May 8, 2015

They need to understand that while nursing is in many ways, "just a job," it is a career that requires a commitment to serve the people whose care has been entrusted to you. I'm not saying it has to be a "calling from God" or anything like that, but I am saying that you have to be willing to make an adult commitment to give a high priority to meeting the needs of someone else -- even when it is unpleasant and inconvenient to do so. It's a job for "grown-ups" even if you are young in years.
... And you have to do teach them all of that while making it sound like the greatest job in the world -- because it is. We nurses are privileged to be invited in to some of our patients' most important moments in life -- when they give birth, die, experience pain, fear, joy, embarrassment, etc. We are the ones "allowed in" and we are the ones entrusted with the responsibility to help them through whatever they are having to deal with.

Loved all of this. So true.

"It never gets easier. You just get stronger."

MallysMama · May 8, 2015

I definitely want to share "the good, the bad, and the ugly." Thank you for all those suggestions!! I appreciate the help!!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 8, 2015

1. I wish I had known that bedside nursing entailed a great deal of traditionally clerical tasks (entering orders, charting, printing, stapling, making xerox copies, answering the phone, greeting visitors on the unit, etc).

2. I wish I had known that bedside nursing entails a largely invisible political component. Politics thoroughly permeate bedside nursing and can dictate who gets promoted, forgiven, disciplined, or treated in a certain way.

amoLucia · May 9, 2015

THERE IS NO NURSING SHORTAGE. Repeat - NO NURSING SHORTAGE!!!!!

Firstly, this A/E/B that 57% or so statistic in California for newly graduated nurses. It is DIFFICULT for nurses, newbie and experienced to find employment. They will be competing with older experienced nurses and nursing as second careers nurses (incl military)

Snowflake dreeeeaaammm jobs are not too likely for newbies. And downsized Armed Services nursing is very competitive and selective for the limited positions avail.

Secondly, nursing is NOT status quo; it is ever changing. And so many things impact our practice. Federal and State government regulates what we do. The insurance industry and CMS ('care & 'caid) drives funding for healthcare anf that's what funds our wages.

Am just being honest with what I've seen that has changed nursing, specifically, and healthcare, in general since I graduated. :nailbiting:

Libby1987 · May 9, 2015

I can't say I would do anything much different as I really like being a nurse and the duties involved in patient care but I wish I had known how the therapies would be treated differently. I actually used to think that with nursing having a more comprehensive responsibility that we would actually be regarded as so. I did not expect that we would be treated as the catch all while the therapists collected similar or bigger checks and could literally walk away after passing on so many things to the nurses, not their fault, just the way it is.

That actually still catches me. *They* regard us appropriately but the employers don't because of reimbursement and supply and demand.

MallysMama · Jun 10, 2015

Anyone else want to add anything you "wish you'd known" before jumping into the nursing field?

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 10, 2015

I may be repeating what others have said...but....these points still can be emphasized.

I wish I had know just how physically taxing bedside nursing is. Literally walking for hours on end with barely any to no breaks. Also, I wish I had known just how much secretarial work and documentation is expected of us. This varies from place to place. All part of the idea that if the responsible party is not being responsible, the task will fall to the nurse. I wish nurses could just focus on nursing nursing and not everything else we are expected to do that someone else is perfectly capable of doing. Also, the customer service expectations are not only totally unrealistic but dangerous! Things have changed a lot since I got my first hospital job summer 2011 and that was only 4 years ago.

JLV5646 · Jun 11, 2015

What do you wish you had been told about becoming a nurse before going to nursing school?

Hmmm... Lots! I wish I knew the realism of the stressors in this profession in relation to my body and my psyche. Being a staff nurse sucks. In my opinion I cannot stand it. What you see on TV is not what nursing entails. I was so eager to learn hands on and work in a fast paced environment that now I don't know why I even wanted that. You barely get a lunch break and when you do you're eating in front of your computer charting and getting interrupted by call buttons. There is more charting than patient interraction. I wish I chose a different field.