Without Nurses We Have Nothing!

Hi! I'm a Senior in High School and a Future Nurse (Which I am THRILLED ABout) :chuckle . But I do have a few questions. How do you handle disrespect and abuse by doctors? What is your experience working with Docs vs NPs? Do you know anything about George Mason and James Madison Univs? Do you suggest getting my CNA and working as a CNA through college? I want to be a Pediatric Nurse, so if anyone has any Knowledge about that/ successes/ and struggles in that field it would be wonderful if you could pass that on to me. NURSES ROCK MY SOCKS! Thanks SO Much for all that You DO! We Have Nothing without YOU!

It's nice to see some high school seniors with some pep and who know what they want to do. I don't know much about george mason, but I know JMU has a good reputation for their nursing program. I applied there (i'm from maryland) and didn't get in, I ended up going to Georgetown instead, so apparently out of state applications there are getting somewhat competitive. If you live in VA, then you have much better chances and will pay less money to go there, which works out great.

I personally would suggest either EMS experience (becoming an EMT or paramedic) during college, or working as a nurse tech in a hospital in an area that you think you would enjoy. If you are interested in Peds, i'd look for local hospitals with good pediatrics in them for you to start working in. I would suggest trying to find a good pediatric ICU for you to set your sights on, you would learn the most intense things there, and it would be great experience. You'll just have to see where they are hiring and what experience you need first. Good luck!!

It's nice to see some high school seniors with some pep and who know what they want to do. I don't know much about george mason, but I know JMU has a good reputation for their nursing program. I applied there (i'm from maryland) and didn't get in, I ended up going to Georgetown instead, so apparently out of state applications there are getting somewhat competitive. If you live in VA, then you have much better chances and will pay less money to go there, which works out great.

I personally would suggest either EMS experience (becoming an EMT or paramedic) during college, or working as a nurse tech in a hospital in an area that you think you would enjoy. If you are interested in Peds, i'd look for local hospitals with good pediatrics in them for you to start working in. I would suggest trying to find a good pediatric ICU for you to set your sights on, you would learn the most intense things there, and it would be great experience. You'll just have to see where they are hiring and what experience you need first. Good luck!!

I'm from MD too! Thanks So Much for your help! I really value other's opinions

I haven't gotten any disrespect from the doctors I know personally (not working yet since I'm still a student) - in fact, when I was originally interested in med school, they encouraged me to do something like nursing (NP) instead!

I've been getting a lot of criticism from some friends who are EMT-Bs and in medic school lately, though. Go figure...

Glad to see a high school student interested in nursing. some people choose to be a CNA first but I think you can find out better by working in peds as a tech first, if that is where you want to be. I was recommended for peds when I was in LPN school, but my city wasn't hiring LPN's in there hospitals at that time. When I graduated from the RN program I wanted to work in Neonatal ICU but got side tracked.

I'm from MD too! Thanks So Much for your help! I really value other's opinions

what part of MD are you from?

what part of MD are you from?

Towson!....Thanks so much for All of Your Opinions. How do You become a TECH and what's the difference between a tech and a CNA and LPN? :balloons:

CNA= Certified nursing assistant- training anywhere from 2 weeks to 3months then tested works under RN's and LPN's

LPN= Licensed Practical Nurse- training/school 1 year than state boards works under an RN

tech= not sure of training usually more specific (med tech passes meds in nursing homes)

Hi NDBT-

I love your screen name. Nursing students are able to work as a CNA here after one or two clinicals. I did two shifts a week my last semester and highly recommend it. I was able to work eve shift around my day classes so got (at the time) $9/ hr plus eve differential plus wknd diff when worked. The money was most welcome. But for me, the experience was something I couldn't have done without. We only had two days/wk clinical. I never got really comfortable with vital signs, personal care and time management in general until I did it at my job. The nurses I worked with were really encouraging; when I had extra time they were happy to let me watch various procedures and that helped a lot when I had to do them in clinicals. Oh- and this is where I ended up working after I graduated! Good luck.

(BTW- DD is at school near you, but NOT in nursing. I guess having a mom in the field she feels she already has gotten way TMI about it already.)