NURSES

talk to me about your work. about your alma matta's. about your life as a nurse.

how do you like it? how did you really know it was for you?

did anyone do any of these accelerated programs they offer students already possessing a bachelor's degree?

I am thinkin about this as a career change. Any advise would be helpful and much appreciated!

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Im not a nurse but my GF has been one for over 20 years. She started as an OR nurse and now she works for a pharmaceutical company doing trials.

It seems like an interesting field to get into...I cant stand the sight of blood but as you can see....she moved out of the hospital setting.

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I'm an RN. I received my bachelors from Adelphi back in 2000.

I currently work in the ICU of a community hospital. I work three 13 hour shifts a week....allowing me to have off 4 days a week =) and also allows for plenty of overtime ($$$).

It's a stressful job...but highly rewarding and pays well (IMO). I always encourage anyone who has an interest in the field to pursue it!

Good Luck!

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I am an RN as well.. My DH is too.. he did the accelerated program at Stonybrook.. said it was VERY tough because of the demand on your time.. they suggest you don't work at all during the program so if you can do that go for it!! Also, I don't know if you have any kids but it would be tough with them as well.. i would suggest getting all of the core science classes out of the way first if you decide to do the accelerated program.. they are the toughest.
About MY work? well, i am a NICU nurse.. I lOVE it! i work for Stonybrook hospital as well as St. charles (per diem) and also work for 3 different agencies for on call work although that stuff only comes about once in a while.. i have also done a few home care cases..
In my opinion it is a great career.. i work 3 12 hour shifts (full time) and then for extra money i do the extras.. there is money to be made in nursing.. FM me if you want to talk money. i mean, its not like being a corporate lawyer but it puts food on the table and my husband and I live VERY comfortable in this economy. Plus the job security is unreal. the ICUs are typically not understaffed which i appreciate but we do work hard as well. its' flexible, works with kids, and its rewarding. I'd do it!! FM if you have any questions!

ETA: i did NOT know it was for me at first.. in fact i almost dropped out of nursing school so many times.. clinicals are tough and in my opinion nothing like the real thing. My first year as a nurse i almost lost it.. i thought why the h*ll would i have chosen this career it is soooo stressful.. but then again my best friend went thru that as a teacher and it lasted 3 years!!!! you start to feel comfortable when you start to learn more.

Message edited 5/2/2008 6:57:07 PM.

Re: NURSES

I'm not a nurse yet (I graduate in 12 days ), so keep in mind that my perspective is based only on 2 years of clinical rotations and an internship- not straight up nursing work.

I already had a Bachelor's degree but did the associates program for nursing. If I did the accelerated program I wouldn't have been able to work and I didn't want to make that sacrifice (though, I did only work part time through nursing school). Also, all of the Master's programs that I have looked into will admit you with an Associates degree in Nursing and a Bachelors in another area (depending on the area- mine was Psychology).

How did I know it was for me? I Didn't! I never would have thought that I would be a nurse. I used to HATE needles, blood and all bodily fluids. The first few weeks of nursing school involved alot of adjusting and overcoming fears. I got over my aversions really fast, but still got nervous over the next thing that might come up (once I was fine with needles, then I was worried about seeing amputated limbs, then of decubitus ulcers). It was really more that I was nervous about how I might react to seeing something new and I didn't want the patient to be upset by my reaction (the can totally read your expressions when they're looking to you for comfort). But somewhere along the line, that anxiety goes away because you realize that the priority is caring for your patient, your own feelings about it come secondary to that.

For me, when I look back, that was the hardest part. School is hard, the tests are unlike any others you have taken before (they're about applying the knowledge you have, not memorizing it, and prioritizing- there's usually more than 1 answer and you need to pick the *best*), but I was fine with those. I had classmates that were completely comfortable in the hospital from the get-go, yet the tests were so hard for them- so it all depends on you and your strengths in that area.

I agree with the others- whenever anyone mentions considering going to school for nursing, I always encourage them to do so. Besides the stability (esp. in this market), salary and schedule, I really do feel like there's an area of nursing for everyone. There's just so much opportunity to move around and so many different paths to choose (if you hate bedside nursing, you could go to a Dr's office, insurance Co., school, jail, teaching, forensics, etc). And you'll be surprised with what you end up liking. I thought that my pediatric rotation would devastate me, but some of my best experiences were with pediatric oncology patients. And I never thought that I'd love labor and delivery as much as I did, either. So it's not really that you go into it knowing that nursing is for you, but more that you really discover things about yourself along the way.

Sorry for rambling. I hope this was helpful in some way. I know when I was first thinking about it, I was always curious about everyone else's stories that brought them to where they were. Good luck with your decision!!! If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask!!

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I would love to go for nursing-- I don't have the $ or time

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thank you all for your responses.

You have all given me hope, but I still have to work out the logistics.

I will keep you posted!

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can I ask another question?

do you get to "specialize" in school?

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Posted by Ophelia

thank you all for your responses.

You have all given me hope, but I still have to work out the logistics.

I will keep you posted!

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one more thing...the NET.

I need to take it but I can't figure out where to register for it.

Can someone shed some light?

Re: NURSES