How do I know if I can handle nursing?

I am somewhat interested in a nursing career, but sometimes I wonder if I'm really cut out for the job.  I don't mind looking at gross stuff, and medical things are really interesting to me.  I know that the job is emotionally demanding though, and I wonder if I could be happy doing this job.  How do you know if you can make it as a nurse?

*edited to not sound like breastfeeding

Wow!  I sure took that thread title wrong! I didn't even get it until the last line! 

My daughter was describing one of her nursing classes to me.  The teacher made each one of the students, one at a time, come up front and strip down and hop upon the exam table so that other students could come up and demonstrate a proper bed bath routine.  Considering the ick factor that she had as a child, I was quite impressed that she wasn't fazed by much of her training.  I do think that as with any emotionally demanding job, you often compartmentilize feelings so that your life isn't always turned completely inside out when dealing with something unpleasant.  There will always be a need for nurses, in lots of different fields, so you could move around somewhat until you found the type of nursing that suits you best. 

Hah!  Did you think I meant breastfeeding?

Um...yeah...sorry!

If you have the time, you could always spend a week following a nurse around to see if it is what you think it is.

The good thing about nursing is that there are a wide variety of fields and work situations you could go into - not all of them are quite as emotionally draining as others.  There are also other medically related fields that you might investigate, such as radiology.

Agree with Rux, and would like to add that you can volunteer in a hospital.  I volunteered in an emergency room and learned a LOT.

all i know is that it is an intense program... i work at a college as an academic advisor and i get lots of students in my office who were dropped from the program.. but if you enjoy it and can handle the work/training then its a great career, my friend is a nurse and she prob makes a lot of $ and has 4 days a week off! (but she works 12 hour days 3 days a week)

Im a nurse have been for a mear 3 years and personally love it. The program takes over your life so get ready for it. There is no going out there is however studying +++ and hmwk. But IMO so very worth it I love my job. The best part of being a nurse is that it is not just one job you can do/work in so many different fields.

Good luck to you.

It is a very well paying job, very much in demand, and you can find a job almost anywhere you want to go.  There is a lot of different things you can do as a nurse as some have pointed out. 

The burnout rate is also very high.  Taking care of a bunch of grumpy sick people caught in the cogs of the healthcare machine can be very difficult.

I'm an aspiring nurse too but I've always had my heart set on medicine. I'll be a 3rd generation nurse in my family (my gma and mom were nurses) so I have big shoes to fill. It'll be my third year in school and I'll be entering the nursing school in January. That being said.. if you're unsure about Nursing you might want to find out before you get started. After doing just the prerequisite courses I watched friends change majors and drop out of classes because they could make the grades. There are also people out there who want to put in the hardwork and dedication but still can't pass the tests or make the grade. I have a lot of friends like that too. And it's always a competition. Atleast where I'm in school. Don't ever think it's not. As far as the job goes, it has to be something you'll love doing every day. Nursing is so versatile because you can go into any specialty you want. Maybe you could get your CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant/Nurse Aide) and see if you like that. The responsibilities they have are also the responsibilities that every nurse has. Good luck with everything and if you have any more questions, I'm definitely around to answer them. I wish I would've had someone around to tell me all of this.

Original Post by fightinginsanity:

Wow!  I sure took that thread title wrong! I didn't even get it until the last line! 

My daughter was describing one of her nursing classes to me.  The teacher made each one of the students, one at a time, come up front and strip down and hop upon the exam table so that other students could come up and demonstrate a proper bed bath routine.  Considering the ick factor that she had as a child, I was quite impressed that she wasn't fazed by much of her training.  I do think that as with any emotionally demanding job, you often compartmentilize feelings so that your life isn't always turned completely inside out when dealing with something unpleasant.  There will always be a need for nurses, in lots of different fields, so you could move around somewhat until you found the type of nursing that suits you best. 

No, no... We did our practice bed baths on each other but fully clothed. Seriously, one does not need practice running a soapy cloth across bare flesh and rinsing it off- most of us do that every day. What you practice is how to do that efficiently on someone who can't move very easily on their own- it's the process that you learn. Did an instructor seriously have them get naked? Is that what I'm reading?

Original Post by pjwag:

Original Post by fightinginsanity:

Wow!  I sure took that thread title wrong! I didn't even get it until the last line! 

My daughter was describing one of her nursing classes to me.  The teacher made each one of the students, one at a time, come up front and strip down and hop upon the exam table so that other students could come up and demonstrate a proper bed bath routine.  Considering the ick factor that she had as a child, I was quite impressed that she wasn't fazed by much of her training.  I do think that as with any emotionally demanding job, you often compartmentilize feelings so that your life isn't always turned completely inside out when dealing with something unpleasant.  There will always be a need for nurses, in lots of different fields, so you could move around somewhat until you found the type of nursing that suits you best. 

No, no... We did our practice bed baths on each other but fully clothed. Seriously, one does not need practice running a soapy cloth across bare flesh and rinsing it off- most of us do that every day. What you practice is how to do that efficiently on someone who can't move very easily on their own- it's the process that you learn. Did an instructor seriously have them get naked? Is that what I'm reading?

The instructor had them get bare from the waist down, as they were practicing a very private washing procedure ;)  My daughter said that it was an excellent way to put themselves into the mindsets and feelings of their future bedridden patients.   They were desentizing the procedure for themselves as well as learning how to do the same for their future patients.  She may have been uncomfortable, but she did feel that it was a worthwhile teaching moment .

Original Post by fightinginsanity:

Original Post by pjwag:

Original Post by fightinginsanity:

Wow!  I sure took that thread title wrong! I didn't even get it until the last line! 

My daughter was describing one of her nursing classes to me.  The teacher made each one of the students, one at a time, come up front and strip down and hop upon the exam table so that other students could come up and demonstrate a proper bed bath routine.  Considering the ick factor that she had as a child, I was quite impressed that she wasn't fazed by much of her training.  I do think that as with any emotionally demanding job, you often compartmentilize feelings so that your life isn't always turned completely inside out when dealing with something unpleasant.  There will always be a need for nurses, in lots of different fields, so you could move around somewhat until you found the type of nursing that suits you best. 

No, no... We did our practice bed baths on each other but fully clothed. Seriously, one does not need practice running a soapy cloth across bare flesh and rinsing it off- most of us do that every day. What you practice is how to do that efficiently on someone who can't move very easily on their own- it's the process that you learn. Did an instructor seriously have them get naked? Is that what I'm reading?

The instructor had them get bare from the waist down, as they were practicing a very private washing procedure ;)  My daughter said that it was an excellent way to put themselves into the mindsets and feelings of their future bedridden patients.   They were desentizing the procedure for themselves as well as learning how to do the same for their future patients.  She may have been uncomfortable, but she did feel that it was a worthwhile teaching moment .

 

This just seems odd to me.  Am I wrong to think that being in front of a group being washed isn't acceptable?  Even in hospitals there are privacy curtains, and typically you are not washing co-workers/aquaintances so there is some emotional removal.  I can't imagine washing a classmate like that, then having to see them later to work on a homework assignment.  I suppose that's why I didn't choose nursing?  

Original

 

This just seems odd to me.  Am I wrong to think that being in front of a group being washed isn't acceptable?  Even in hospitals there are privacy curtains, and typically you are not washing co-workers/aquaintances so there is some emotional removal.  I can't imagine washing a classmate like that, then having to see them later to work on a homework assignment.  I suppose that's why I didn't choose nursing?  

Doesn't sound like it will necessarily happen with every instructor.  Perhaps she just had a rogue?  She did feel that it was beneficial though.  Kind of made the classmates look at each other in a whole new way, by actually taking ANY sexuality away from any of them! 

Original Post by fightinginsanity:

My daughter was describing one of her nursing classes to me.  The teacher made each one of the students, one at a time, come up front and strip down and hop upon the exam table so that other students could come up and demonstrate a proper bed bath routine. 

I trained to be a CNA, LPN and now an RN.  I have even taught a CNA class. This sounded acceptable to you?  No, this is not a normal teaching technique.  I have practiced drawing blood on my classmates, but not ever, ever did I wash my classmates genitals, and in front of the group, really?!

Nursing is one of those jobs that you have to like working with, and being around every day, CRAZY, sick, demanding people.  You have to be able to do gross stuff every day, Poop, pee, blood, mucus, just to name a very few.  You stand on your feet all day.  You can't have a bad day, you always have to be nice to the pt. You have to be organized, manage time well, and be obsessed over small details. You do a lot of paper work. And you could get sued at any moment. You have to put up with doctors, therapists, nurses aides, head nurses always changing around your day.  This job is hard, to train for it is hard.  But if you can do all of this it will be the most rewarding thing you ever do.  Not in every job do you get to save lives, see new life, hold the hand of the passing, comfort and protect the suffering.  To me it is the best job in the world.  At the end of the day, I know that I made a difference, and that makes up for everything else. 

I am a nurse as well. I must say it is a difficult, stressful, exhausting, gross, and wonderful job.  While nursing may not be for everyone, there are a very wide variety of opportunities in nursing.  It is a hugely rewarding career, how many people can honestly say they have saved a life, how many save lives on a regular basis? If you are considering a career in healthcare, I would second the recommendation to try working as a CNA. It will give you an idea of what to expect, an opportunity to explore different roles and specialties, and often makes nursing school "easier" - you can concentrate on the science and theory parts verses how to give baths and turning patients which are very intimidating and embarrassing to many who are starting out. I was very glad I worked for a nursing pool in college, and worked on nearly every floor in every hospital within 100 miles. It gave me a very good idea of where I would like to work after finishing school.

Also, I would concur with the others that bathing classmates sounds odd. While in nursing school, we often practiced on each other, particularly taking vitals, starting IV's and assessments, the students were always clothed. The only exception to this (that I can think of) would be learning to listen to heart and lung sounds, when one student would place a stethoscope on another's bare skin (under clothes, over undergarments.)

Well darn, I was happy to go on believing that all or least many of the nurses that have or will ever nurse me had gone through a similar experience.  From a patient's perspective, I think that it is wonderful that a nurse might have practiced most things handson before touching someone who is sick or injured.  I once had a "first-timer" do a blood draw on me (I don't think he should have shared that information with me ).  He was so nervous that I tried to joke around with him, to let him know I was "game".  Didn't work, made the situation worse.  Much worse.  Poor fellow.  Poor arms.  Both arms.  Another nurse came to finish the job. 

Anyway-  I don't that any of the students in my daughter's class (CNA) felt like there was anything sexual about the training- at least they didn't when it was over!  I think I would have been worried if it was just the teacher doing the washing, though!