Working Alone

[clarinets, CNA]

Can someone that wants to be a nurse, NOT BE ABLE to work independently? When I was in clinicals, sometimes I felt alone. I know I was not the only one.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I'm sorry...what are you asking?

[clarinets, CNA]

Can someone be a nurse and NOT WORK independently?

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

What does that mean?

Nurses are responsible for their own practice, but collaborate all the time with the healthcare team.

I still don't get it...

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

Yes, you can work in a practice or clinic setting. You are always responsible for your own actions as a nurse.

[RNperdiem, RN]

If you like company, OR nursing gathers people together in a shared space to perform surgical work. Of course having nowhere to be alone can be exhausting, and if you are easily irritated by others, too much togetherness isn't a good thing.

Now if you mean not taking on the responsibility of a nurse, as in being more of a "helper" then you won't find much. The unlicensed "techs" and MAs do most of those functions.

[loriangel14, RN]

As a nurse you will need to able to work independently. Not alone, but independently.No one is going to hold you hand through everything and you will need to be able to think independently and make decsions independently.

[Umberlee]

One of my jobs is as a nurse contractor, and that's about the "alonest" of a nursing job I've gotten. I do 90% of my job via phone calls, texts, emails, and faxes. I don't have to staff appointments or worry much about the day-to-day goings-on in the houses, just make sure that staff is trained on meds, that MARs are accurate and have orders backing them up, that we have stock of medications, and dealing with disposal of medications. And putting out fires for weird health issues that pop up in the specialized population being served. It's pretty sweet in a way but means I'm sort of at their beck and call all the time and have to deal with some weird breakthrough issues. I'm new to it but since I can do most of my work from either home or my other job sites, it's an easy way to just pull in some extra money. And not having to actually deal with people often is kind of nice in a way.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Can someone be a nurse and NOT WORK independently?

No. You must be able to function independently to be a nurse. That does not mean that you work alone. Most nurses have colleagues nearby.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

Are you asking if a nurse can work alone if she/he wishes or work with others if she fears being independent? Your sentence structure is a little confusing, I can not figure out exactly what you are asking. I THINK you are referring to the feeling of fear common to students and new nurses. Let me tell you, after 25 years I still run into situations where I think to myself" O, good Lord-what do I do now?,I need a freaking nurse" and then I realize that would be me. We all have self doubt-I think it's healthy. Learn the basics, know how to ask for help when you need it.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Nursing is not really a group activity. Even though there is collaboration and consultation available (in an ideal situation), you and you alone will ultimately be responsible for your patients and for your actions (or inactions) on their behalf. Every single licensed nurse is responsible for performance that is within the scope of that nursing license.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

OP, I wonder if the better question is one to ask of you: what is it that makes you feel "alone", and why would seek to avoid working independently? What is it about working this way that concerns you?

Maybe we could better help if we knew the question BEHIND the question :)