I'm just a CNA right now but I started my prereqs for nursing and my boyfriend is in the nursing program presently. I started as a CNA to see if I liked the medical field. Nursing isn't always high stress. There are so many ways to be a nurse. Honestly one of the biggest hiring areas is geriatrics which is what I prefer to do then OB stuff. A lot of nursing school is biology and pharmacology. Aim for an LPN then RN cause you can work as an LPN while finishing up once you pass your tests.
When a resident tells you they love you or a genuine thank you. Or specificlly ask for you. That's the best. Also in geriatrics you often become their family. That's pretty awesome. Worst - work place drama but that's everywhere. Other than that I can only say getting hit (I got punched in the face once). I can handle bodily fluids and gross stuff
It sounds to me like you and nursing would be a good fit. I will say, though - nursing school is hard. It takes a major committment. The gen eds are nothing like the clinical and majors courses. I went to a community college for my ADN and it was a major undertaking. The school I went to was one of the most difficult in the state, but they also had a 99% pass rate for the NCLEX... And ultimately, passing the NCLEX (nursing boards) is what matters. I would recommend doing a ladder program - working you way up from CNA to LPN to RN. In my experience, it makes for a better nurse. I'm an ADN-prepared RN (working on my BSN) and I think my time spent on lower rungs of the ladder make me a better nurse. Also, in the military, doesn't being an RN make you an officer? (Yeah, I know nothing about the military.) Good luck!
That is, for the most part, what I plan on doing. I'm going to try to get a part time job as a CNA while I'm taking my pre-requisites so that I can get some nursing experience under my belt.
Being an RN would allow me to re-join the military as officer, a medical officer to be exact, but I'm getting out of the military. :P
Both my mother and brother-in-law are RNs. If you like, I can get you some 'real world' advice from actual RNs who have been doing it for a while. Most other RNs I know have told me it's way too stressful and not nearly as glamorous as many people seem to think it is.
Glamorous. I lol'ed. If you want glamour, be a doctor. No one ever remembers a nurse's name. The doctor is there for 3 minutes, and they're memorable. *sigh*
A few people I know that became nurses admit they did so believing it was a glamorous life of a life saver or summat like that, or that they imagined swanning around the hospital helping people at a leisurely pace, being like a parental figure. All admit they were so, so wrong when they got there. It's stress, impatience, bodily fluids, abuse and regularly inserting things into and removing things from people's orifices
( ... )
Thank you so much for asking your brother-in-law for advice for me. I think I can accept all of that, and deal with it, and be happy doing so. I work well in high-stress environment, and contrary to popular belief, and I'm a great people-person. :)
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Nursing isn't always high stress. There are so many ways to be a nurse. Honestly one of the biggest hiring areas is geriatrics which is what I prefer to do then OB stuff. A lot of nursing school is biology and pharmacology. Aim for an LPN then RN cause you can work as an LPN while finishing up once you pass your tests.
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Worst - work place drama but that's everywhere. Other than that I can only say getting hit (I got punched in the face once). I can handle bodily fluids and gross stuff
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I will say, though - nursing school is hard. It takes a major committment. The gen eds are nothing like the clinical and majors courses.
I went to a community college for my ADN and it was a major undertaking. The school I went to was one of the most difficult in the state, but they also had a 99% pass rate for the NCLEX... And ultimately, passing the NCLEX (nursing boards) is what matters.
I would recommend doing a ladder program - working you way up from CNA to LPN to RN. In my experience, it makes for a better nurse. I'm an ADN-prepared RN (working on my BSN) and I think my time spent on lower rungs of the ladder make me a better nurse.
Also, in the military, doesn't being an RN make you an officer? (Yeah, I know nothing about the military.)
Good luck!
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The nurses who go up the ladder are better!
I've seen nursing students not even know how to turn a person!
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Being an RN would allow me to re-join the military as officer, a medical officer to be exact, but I'm getting out of the military. :P
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I lol'ed.
If you want glamour, be a doctor. No one ever remembers a nurse's name. The doctor is there for 3 minutes, and they're memorable. *sigh*
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I especially like that little bit about the $300k a year... Hehe, but I'll focus on getting accepting in college first. :D
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