Advice- To become an RN or not to become an RN.

[Unregistered]

Hi! I am a pre-nursing major, who will probably be entering the spring 2004 class. However, I have been having second thoughts.

I want to help ppl. That was the main reason for wanting to become a nurse. I want to make a difference. My sights were set on getting my ER NP degree, because of the constant challenge.

However, lately after hearing about the intensive physical labor involved, underpay, long hours, and lack of appreciation those in the medical profession face.

I am not so sure anymore.

I want a profession that is academically challenging as well as hands on. One in which I can grow intellectually and be constantly intrigued. I am very interested in biology, specifically virology. I am thinking of pursuing that instead.

I am thinking of changing my major.

I was hoping someone could help clarify what to expect as an RN.

Is cleaning bed pans a regular procedure?

What are the pros and cons?

-confused in TX.

[Unregistered]

It sounds like you have a major decision on your hands. I am not a nurse, or a biologist, but hopefully someone can help you. All I can say is good luck!
-Jen

[Unregistered]

bump

[FOLLOW UR HEART]

I POSTED THIS REPLY IN ANOTHER STORY AND THIS MIGHT HELP YOU INFLUENCE YOUR DECISION. NURSING IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY, IF YOU THINK YOU CAN BE, THEN YOU SHOULD BE. UNLIKE IN THE MOVIES WHERE NURSES WEAR THOSE SEXY UNIFORMS CARRYING CLIPBOARDS CONSTANTLY WALKING IN HALLWAYS OR NURSES IN ER WHERE THEY SEEM TO BE DOING HEROIC STUNTS EVERY SHIFT, NURSING HAS A LOT OF REALISM THAT'S NOT THAT GLAMOROUS.

"NURSING LIKE OTHER JOBS HAS ITS HIGHS AND LOWS. FIRST OF ALL THANKS FOR THIS SITE FOR ALLOWING NURSES AND NON-NURSES TO VENT THEIR FRUSTRATION ABOUT THIS PROFESSION. I STUDIED IN A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY AND LIKE MOST OF THE NURSES THAT POSTED HERE, I HAD SO MANY EXPERIENCES THAT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE ME QUIT. I WAS BLESSED WITH VERY GOOD TEACHERS WHO NEVER, AT ANY MOMENT GAVE US AN IDEA THAT NURSING IS A GLAMOUROUS PROFESSION. WE WERE TOLD BY OUR PROFESSOR IN FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING( THE FIRST NURSING SUBJECT OFFERED AFTER THE BASIC COURSES FOR A SCIENCE DEGREE) THAT NURSING WASN'T JUST A PROFESSION, IT WAS A VOCATION. SHE DESCRIBED IT TO US AS LIKE BEING A NUN. MY CLASSMATES WHO FELT THAT THEY COULDN'T KEEP UP TO THAT DESCRIPTION, DROPPED OUT AND WENT TO DIFFERENT COLLEGES. ONE OF THEM WENT INTO JOURNALISM AND YES SHE LIKED IT MORE, AND THOSE OF US WHO STAYED STILL PRACTICES NURSING AFTER 20 YEARS. READING ALL THE ENTRIES HERE MADE ME UNDERSTAND MORE WHY SOME NURSES ARE BITCHY THAN OTHERS OR WHY SOME OF THEM SEEM TO BE ANGRIER THAN OTHERS. IT WAS SO OBVIOUS THAT EVERYONE WERE ALL OVERWHELMED BY THE PATIENT-NURSE RATIO BUT THERE WERE NURSES THAT CAN BE SEEN SMILING AND NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE BETTER ASSIGNMENT BUT BECAUSE THEY TRY TO USE HUMOR IN THE MIDST OF FRUSTRATIONS AND ENDLESS DEMANDS OF PATIENTS. I HAVE READ A POST THAT SHE GRADUATED CUM LAUDE BUT WHAT SHE REALLY WANTED WAS TO BE A TEACHER. EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS, THERE ARE LOTS OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT NEEDS PROFESSORS AND CLINICAL INSTRUCTORS. IF YOU LOVE TO TEACH, YOU DON'T NEED TO LOOK TOO FAR. JUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET THERE WITH YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS NURSING. I THINK THE NURSING CURRICULUM NOWADAYS ARE SO HAPHAZARDLY DONE AND THEY ARE NOT CONCENTRATING ON THE CARING PART OF THIS PROFESSION. THOSE WHO WANTS TO BE OUT OF THIS PROFESSION SHOULD DEFINITELY DO SO AND I THINK THAT IS THE BEST MOVE, I DIDN'T THINK YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO HAVE ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS TAKEN CARED OF A NURSE WHO'S DISGRUNTLED ABOUT HIS OR HER JOB, LIKE YOU".

[Unregistered]

Thank you so much for your replies. I wanted to ask "Follow Your Heart" that when you stated that nursing is also a vocation, what do you mean by that? What type of things do you do. Also, how in depth is science in the nursing field? Would you recommend the nursing field as a financial stepping stone to go back to school to get another degree in something else?

thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate it.

-confused in TX

[Unregistered]

bump

[revive]

dump