Are You or Were You a Nurse?

I went through three out of four years of a BSN program before I decided I didn't want to be a nurse after all, even though it was all I talked about from the time I was 5 years old. I went to computer science instead. Now, interestingly, I help train Nurses, Paramedics, and Respiratory Therapists in the Medical Simulation Lab. I never thought that was where I would end up. I see nurses and nursing students on a daily basis.

The training is intense. It is a full time job in and of itself. You are dealing with people's lives every day. You need to have a good support at home, and good stress relief and balance in your life. Not everyone is cut out to be a nurse, but I take my hat off to those who have the devotion, the drive, the stamina, the mind, and the heart for it. It is very hard work, but it can be very rewarding.

What ever you choose, I wish you the best. I think you are doing a good thing, putting feelers out there.

One thing you might want to ask youself...How do you feel about other people's bodily fluids and wastes? You will get to be around alot of it in nursing school, and in your career in most cases ;)

Best of luck.

I am a nurse and have been one for many, many years. I love nursing. It is a "calliing" rather than a job. I could not imagine my life without it. I am defined by my role in my job and family. I am a caregiver, I am a advocate, I am a supporter, I am everything I ever wanted to be. It is a noble profession (excuse me if I sound dramatic) and the criteria to stay licensened is to be morally sound. I did not always want to be a nurse and certainly never thought I would end up as a psych nurse for 12 years (locked unit) or as a case manager in an inner city hospital working as a rep for humanity as I dealt with the poorest of the poor. What a life God has given me. A chance to be productive, loving and make a living in what has to be one of the greatest jobs ever. Good luck and God bless.

I went back to school to become a nurse and graduated the day after my first was born. I really enjoyed my job (I only worked PT), but felt that I couldn't stay on top of what I needed to know at work and still needed to be at home. I'm taking time off now to be home with the kids, but will be back to nursing some day! I always wanted to be an ICU or ER nurse, but since I was only going to be PT I didn't feel like I would be able to learn what I needed to learn and only be there PT. Instead, I worked on an ICU step down unit that still provided PLENTY of action. One day I was 8 months pregnant and sent 2 people to the ICU in the span of a half hour (we only had 3 patients per nurse) - like I said, we were busy.

I know that you have an interest in the critical care side of things, but go in with an open mind. You never know what you may find that interests you or simply that you enjoy and it works best with your schedule. Nursing jobs are so varied that you may find with a family you have to put off your ideal and get a job you enjoy but gives you what you need to be around for your husband and kids also.

Oh, and the woman who said be comfortable with bodily fluids was on the mark! In a hospital, or nursing home, setting you WILL see and be elbow deep in all kinds of stuff. One time a pt had diarrhea so badly that it literally turned into a river running on the floor - luckily not my pt! I was just helping with clean-up.

I did find that my nurturing side was a little zapped once I got home, but I really loved advocating for my pts. I tried to work it so that I would get home after the kids were in bed so I had a few hours to myself before getting up and being mom again. My kids were little (under 5) though, so that makes a difference too.

I think the best thing you can bring to this job is a caring attitude and a sense of humor. If you don't have those, you will crash and burn. Oh, and my favorite aspect of this career is advocating for my pts. I get a sense of fulfillment and pride out of doing this, and the pts really appreciate it. I enjoy meeting the pts also, but my least favorite aspect is having to deal with the families. That gets hard for me because if they are being difficult it takes away my time doing for the people that need me the most. With that said, meet every pt like a blank slate no matter what the off going nurse said in report. Sometimes personalities just don't mix, and if you walk into a room with no preconceptions about how the "difficult" pt/family will react, you will solve your problem 90% of the time.

I am a nurse. I went to school when my son was one years old and I was pregnant with my daughter in my last semester (the nursing instructors did not like that). Nursing school is extremely stressful and you need to be very dedicated. I was lucky that my husband was very supportive.

My first job was in a rehab facility. I worked on a very heavy complex medical floor. I saw every type of patient imaginable. I was lucky to get experience with trachs, vents, tube feeding and a number of other nursing skills. I worked with families, patients, physical therapist, occupational therapist, psycologist, all kinds of medical specialist and many more professionals. I loved it but the work was extremely heavy and I needed a change.

I then went to a surgical floor at a small hospital working 12 hour shifts, loved the job, loved the people I worked with, but after working those long shifts did not have much care taking left in me for my family when I got home. After 4 years I injured my back, got burnt out and had to resign.

I just started with the visiting nurses and still on orientation, but so far love it, love the flexible hours and love the patients. Would love to write more, but now I must go to work!

Good Luck

A University Nursing program... has interning at certain hospitals... and hospitals are learning hospitals for students.
My friend, went to Nursing school in Seattle... they worked/interned at Harborview Medical Center. According to her, this is the best teaching hospital in Seattle....

Your University... will have you work/intern at a certain hospital... and they have the program all set up... where/with who/what department you intern/shadow in etc.
It is also per school/graduation requirements... what you do. And depending on the area you want to specialize in etc.

That's all the info I have... this friend, was not a Mom while going to school... just a single woman.

Ultimately... talk with the Program Adviser of your school... and ask about the demands AND requirements of their Nursing program... and about how it is for married/Moms/Moms with kids etc.
You need to research that... BEFORE you decide... what you want to do.
Nursing programs.. .are intense.

My Husband goes to school, not nursing... but the Advisers CLEARLY explain...that going to college or for advanced degrees... while married and with children/a family... is demanding.
My Husband goes to school... AND works a full-time job.

all the best,
Susan

My best friend wanted to be an ER nurse and worked for several years. She had a child and was divorced. Her parents watched her child a lot. She got burnt out and wanted to have nights and weekends off. The hospital was on a 4 day on, 4 day off rotation. She HATED that.
Finally she took a HUGE paycut and became a nursing home nurse.
She loves it. She is such a blessing to the elderly. I would never have imagined it, but she has found her calling. She was never emotional and did not express affection. She doesn't mind the pay cut.