i am 16yrs and going into college next year, i am considering a career in nursing, but i have heard so many bad things about the profession
i am thinking of getting a four year degree(bsn) in nursing and i will like to know the role a person who has a four year degree in nursing will do in an hospital??
will you have to do lots of the dirty and disgusting jobs of cleaning and washing up of patients???
i will also like to know if a bsn in nursing is really worth it?? Congrats on selecting Nursing as a career path!
BSN degree is what most will reccomend as per education. The state of NY is trying to do away with the associate programs.
However, I don't reccomend BSN for everyone. If you are married, have kids or if finances are an issue, Associate programs might be the way to go. You can get the degree faster. Start working, get experience and go back to school with a tuition reimbursement program paid by your employer.
If you are young, I would reccomend the BSN.
I run a Mentorship program for HIspanic Nursing Students. That's what I tell them.
If you are concerned about cleaning and disgusting... maybe you should reconsider Nursing. Trust me .. icky jobs is not the worse of it. Nursing is hard but not for that reason.
Nursing is a calling. Is more than a job. Its a passion. Its caring, loving and nuturing.
If you have the calling, there is nothing better in this world.
I consider it a blessing to be a Nurse. I love my job and if I had to do it all again I would. those who go into the nursing profession and are successful at it, do so because they love humanity, they want to take care of people, that includes all the dirty and disgusting things that people are prone to. If you have problems with such things, and you will have to deal with them in school, then I urge you to consider a different profession. Nurses that succeed in this job are not bothered by such things and do them without any squeamishness. And yes, it is all a part of the job. Go to the link below. Nurses talking to nurses about nursing, and those inquiring about nursing. You will find LOTS of threads from people such as yourself looking to go into nursing, as a first or even second or third career.
One of the beautiful things about nursing is that there are plenty of areas to choose from. (Floor nursing, office nursing, operating room, emergency room, ICU, community nursing, travel nursing, and much, much more.)
If you have the resources and the desire, I would go for the BSN. An ADN (2-year) or diploma (3-year) program will pay the same (in most areas, most cases), but a bachelor will open more doors, and possibly mean more money, or the potential for more money. One type of program does not make for a "better" nurse. That is totally dependant on the individual and what you choose to get out of it. I could go on and on, but you'd be better off seeing all the opinions at the link that I provided.
P.S. - After graduating an accredited school of nursing, you then need to take and pass the national board exam (NCLEX) in order to obtain a license in your state to practice nursing. One thing is for certain, as a nurse you will always have a job and you will never starve!
Guess what my profession is? My wife has been a nurse for the past 3 years. (She is an RN).
From what I've seen and discussing this with her here are some positives and negatives:
Positives:
-Great Pay (She's had 6 raises in 3 years).
-Extremely Flexible Hours (you can pretty much pick and choose your schedule, Three 8 hour shifts are usually considered full time in most hospitals).
-Sign On Bonuses in many areas (She received a $20k sign on bonus just for taking the job).
-Excellent Benefits (401k, Retirement, Health, Sick Pay, Vacation, etc).
-Great Potential to advance (you can become a "charge nurse" "managing nurse" etc --all come w/ extra pay).
-Holiday Pay (usually "time-and-a-half" pay, sometimes 2x normal pay for holidays).
-Overtime pay (something that is very rare in most professions).
-Your helping People and doing good in the world
-A job you can feel very proud of and good about
-Not as much office politics as most professions
-There is always work, can't be outsourced
-You can work in almost any city in the world as a nurse.
-Your job can't be taken by someone who is not qualified for the position (there are strict rules set up for experience and years required for various positions). You won't have to worry about the bosses son/daughter taking your position!! (which happens quite often in office settings).
Negatives:
-Psychological stress -you often become attached to patients
-Physically demanding, your on your feet for your entire shift and required to lift heavy people/objects at times
-Responsibility -you mess up and it could be someone's life.
-Tough profession to get a degree in (requires lot's of school and studying -chemistry/science/math) Hi Im a qualified Staff Nurse and I hold a degree for my profession.
Nursing is extremely hard work but very rewarding.
Even if you have a degree, youare expected as part of theCode of Conduct to attend a patients' needs completely.
My dear if you think that washing and cleaning patients is dirty and disgusting I strongly advise you NOT to even consider this career pathway.
And your sencond question .... is it worth it? Ask any person who's been nursed. One day dear, you will be old in your hospital bed watching the nurse hard at work and you will see that it was all worth it.
I myself am proud ro assist many of the individuals in my care to maintain their dignity. I would not for once saythat they were dirty or disgusting.
Go and do something you'llenjoy instead. If you have to ask those questions I think you should choose another profession |
