Community Chat

[just bee]

On 9/21/2014 pitdakota said:

I won't sugar coat nursing school. It is hard and it takes a tremendous amount of work. That is one thing I have to say as an educator. Our students always seem shell shocked at the amount and difficulty of the work. Once they tackle the chemistry, microbiology, A&P, and patho they tend to think the rest is smooth sailing. Somehow they know that dental or medical school is hard, but just don't anticipate nursing school being that hard. But it is. No way around it.

Another point I might offer is that in general our older students tend to do better. They are more mature and focused along with being more willing to give up their time to dedicate to studying and completing the work required while in school.

It is shocking. And my instructors used to joke about how many of their students had nervous breakdowns, ended relationships, and were diagnosed with cancer just months after graduation.

It's true: Relationships are tested because you will be married to nursing school. The stress levels are unimaginable. Just when you think you're okay they put another obstacle in your path. In my program, there were tests every semester for math and for certain nursing skills. If a student failed a test, he/she was out of the program -- no questions asked, they were gone. Poof.

I'd make friends with someone and then that person would just disappear.

The amount of reading, studying, and memorization was staggering. Yes, you really do have to memorize the names of all the bones and muscles.

If you have a job -- and I did -- it's a real challenge. I saw way too many techs try to rush their way through it and they'd register for too many courses at once, then fail. I was mocked -- yes, mocked -- by my coworkers when I started because I said I planned to take one course at a time. Many of the prerequisites feel like two courses anyway because you have to register for the lab, as well. They laughed at me and said I would never get through it.

Ah, but remember the tale of the tortoise and the hare? I graduated and they're still in school. And they're running out of schools, too. If you fail a program in one institution, you'll need to find one in another.

So be smart. Pace yourself. My ASN took longer to get than my BA.

Once nursing school goes full-time, full-time employment is impossible. I had to drop to part-time at the hospital and switch to nights. (Most of my meager salary went to pay for health insurance because I lost my coverage by going part-time. I learned to be frugal; hence, the ComPact thread on Beauty Banter.) I was in class on Tuesday and Wednesday, then I was in clinicals on Thursday and Friday. I'd work 12-hour shifts at the hospital on weekends and then just have part of Monday to hit the books. I was so tired that I'd get in the car and I'd get confused. Am I driving to school, the hospital where I work, or the hospital where I'm doing my clinicals? Who am I? What day is this?

Social life? Non-existent. I couldn't even get involved in a television series. I had to wait until I finished nursing school before I could finally sit down and watch Breaking Bad. Last summer was my Breaking Bad summer -- I binge-watched a season a day. Then I took the NCLEX. No one could convince me that I'd passed the exam. The screen went blue after 75 questions and I still wasn't convinced that it meant I passed. I had so many select-all-that-apply questions that I felt I was doomed. Asked about things that I swear we never covered in school. But I took my time and read every question at least six times. You are being filmed during the test. (I hope they didn't mind that I was mouthing profanities throughout.)

But the whole thing was really quite the adventure. I'm not sure I could have done it when I was 17. And I remember how many posters here told me that I would not succeed because I was "too old" to do the job. I know nurses who are in their 70s and 80s and they are still working. So there.

[just bee]

On 9/21/2014 azureblue said:

Just Bee *waves to you* --

Great hearing from you. You certainly have a way with words. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply and the great detail in your response as another poster already stated. I actually feel like I am walking through your shoes and experiencing and seeing exactly what you went through. You mentioned working both days and nights? What does a typical work week schedule look like for you? It sounds like you have quite an experience and you've only been in the field officially for one year - so exciting. I am trying to keep an open mind in terms of where I will end up even though the pull has been in place for Pediatrics and NICU. Great minds. In college I wanted to major in veterinary medicine but decided it would be too many animal systems to consciously master. I went for Bio-Pre med and the science classes literally kicked my booty. I had a friend whom was a nursing major. I thought briefly in passing but never explored it then.

I am extremely hopeful (now that I am older) that I will have the focus needed to meet this new goal. I imagine in the nursing world you literally have to take things one step at a time knowing the end goal will be in sight. I have done a lot of research and am certainly not disillusioned about nursing school being a challenge. I guess being in nursing school will really test what I am made of. Did you have to make alot of sacrifices in your nursing program? The first step is securing a position at a hospital and seeing how I would like it. What type of course did you take (I did not know if it was name specific?). I imagine any position in a hospital is helpful. It sounds like this field is full of endless possibilities with ample opportunities to grow and hone your interactions and care of patients. By chance do you have a contact email where I can keep in touch with you? I would love to do that. Agreed, it is certainly interesting where one ends up. I feel more empowered to get going. Let me know your view(s).

My schedule has changed a bit since I started this job, but it's still one day, two nights. Ironically, I've become a "morning person" over the years so even on my days off I'm up early. I've been up since 4:30. And I'm not good at sleeping during the day when it's light. Nurses have many techniques when it comes to daylight sleep, but I don't take pills. I have an old bottle of melatonin, but I don't use that, either. I'm lucky that I don't suffer with insomnia -- I can sleep on a meat hook -- but I don't get much sleep on the days I work nights. It's not an ideal schedule -- days and nights -- but I actually like it. Variety.

I discussed some of the sacrifices in my previous post (no Breaking Bad until graduation). No life, either! But now that I'm working I'm still not doing as much as I thought I'd be able to do. People say that nurses have it easy because they only work three days a week. True, but a 12-hour shift is longer than 12 hours. They do take their toll. Sometimes you really do miss meals, breaks, and trips to the bathroom. A reliable bladder helps here.

One needs time to rebuild after a shift. You'll discover what works best for you.

It's been my experience that coworkers call in sick a lot. Knock wood: I haven't used a sick day since I started last year. My goal is to have zero sick days this year. I was supposed to have a week off between the end of my tech job and the beginning of my nursing job, but that didn't happen. My boss wouldn't let me go. I haven't had a vacation in... well, I can't remember the last time I took time off. I did put in for time off during Balloon Fiesta in October because it will be near my one-year anniversary and I'll be starting classes again.

So, because coworkers take time off, you will have ample opportunity for overtime. There are days you'll live in fear that the phone will ring. You really need time to rest. Yesterday was my day off and I spent half of it in a class at the hospital. I used to laugh at the nursing students who thought the NCLEX would be the last test they'd ever have to take. Ar, ar, ar. I still chuckle.

I worked for a Silicon Valley company and I liked the 12-hour schedule and a cleanroom environment, so the transition to working in a hospital made sense. I took a Health Unit Coordinator course and my first job was as a HUC. But, to save money, that position has been eliminated in many hospitals. Part of that job was transcribing doctors' orders, but now that most places utilize the electronic medical record, the physicians input their own orders. Many units combined the clerical duties of the HUC with the clinical/patient care duties of the tech. A combo position. A tech job is excellent training, but the position is very different depending on the unit. The best scenario for a tech is to work as a partner with the nursing staff instead of as a slave or personal assistant.

Rule 1: Be good to the techs.

[azureblue]

A big thank you to all the additional responses I have received from everyone. This is certainly something that I am addressing the pros and cons in my mind and on paper prior to proceeding. I am excited about the possibilities of this career as there certainly seems to be nowhere to go but up. If not up (as I know for a fact I don't want to go to the administrative side at least right now) I would like to expand out and explore some of the different subfields within the overall field. I will keep every one posted.

JustBee, I will be sure to locate that other post that you referred me to check out.

To any one else that would like to add their $.2 to this post, please do as I am all eyes and ears. Thanks in advance.

azureblue

[Major Shopper]

Hi Azureblue, I just ran across your topic and thought I would chime in! I have been a Registered Nurse for 30 years. Started out with a BS in Psych because my mother talked me out of Nursing School. Didn't listen to her (sorry mom!) and enrolled in an AD program. Went on for a BSN and MSN. My career has been varied and wonderful! From bedside RN on a Med/Surg and Oncology Unit to 16 years in an inner city Emergency Department to Nursing Supervisor and Nurse Manager, there was never a dull moment! I am presently teaching in a University setting and still work one day/week in the hospital.

Azureblue, if Nursing is what you really want to do, please don't let anyone keep you from achieving your dream! We need nurses who want to be nurses! I have taught many who are in Nursing School because they have been downsized and think Nursing will be "a steady job" or those who are there because they can't find a job in whatever they went to college for.

Don't let anyone kid you, Nursing School is no day at the beach! But if you are willing to give it your all, it will be the best move you ever made!

Best of luck in whatever you choose to do. We would be happy to have you join our profession!