Just needing encouragement

[Safari Giraffe]

I am about 3 weeks from FINALLY getting through Nursing school. It has been a tough and exhausting road. In a certain way I feel like I should have just gone to be a Doctor (kind of kidding).....! I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but just need some extra pushes to get through the hole. It seems as though Nursing Instructors / Nursing Programs like to completely stress you out by making you take Lab finals and Lecture finals and Clinical evals all in practically the same week. It wasn't bad enough that they make you take quizes every Monday and return demonstrations every Tuesday??? THEN......at the end of the Program they make you take an EXIT EXAM to get out of the program (it is called HESI) to make sure you are ready for NCLEX. If you do not pass HESI they will not give you your Degree at graduation until you do! I have done very well throughout the program, but it still does not alleviate the severe anxiety that I feel about the next 3 weeks........HELP!

If anyone out there has any similar experience to share, let me know. Also any experienced Nurses that have any handy tips for a soon to be graduate R.N. I would greatly appreciate them. Tips on NCLEX would be great also!!! If I survive........A disney vacation is my reward (May 23rd through the 31st) and believe me I desperately need it. Thanks for listening, I appreciate it

The good new is.....I do have a job offer if I want it....But I want to have my license first before I commit to anything. It's not the exact opportunity that I am looking for, but it may be a good start. Thanks again for listening to me babble.

 

[tigsmom]

Don't trip at the finish line!!!!

Look for a job that will offer you an extended orientation from GN to RN. (you don't need your license to start just your permit, many new nurses are still waiting for the final results when they begin work).
The change from theoretical to practical is a very big one so look for the institution that will support you the most. Keep that job for at least one year and then re evaluate you position (don't quit until that year is up). Are you happy in your unit? Hospital vs nursing home? One year of med Surg Nursing is still the standard requirement for most units.

Can't help you on the NCLEX, my DH & I took ours in 1978. I no longer practice but he still does. Believe me when I say that the changes in Nursing have been wide and varied, some for the better others not so much.
Never had to take a special test to graduate, we just had to pass all our Nursing courses with at least a C to be eligible to sit for the boards here in NY.

Best of Luck to you! :wave:

 

[barnum42]

My only advice is listen to TigsMom!

But good luck and let us know how you get on. Feel free to vent here when it would prove helpful to you :wave:

 

[CleveRoks]

This is what I do when I feel overwhelmed by college:

Look, college is your final step towards your career goals and your diploma is your ticket to your future. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by studying and things of that sort I always like to look at a poster I have in my room, it says: "Justification for the higher education" and has a picture of a ocean view house with MANY very expensive cars in the drive way! Thats all the modivation I need!

So, that is my take, I really can't relate to Nursing at all! Sorry!

I am a Fianace major and hope to go back to school for the MBA program, so the way I figure it I have about 7 years left!

Dah well, I think it will all be worth it!

Good luck!

 

[Safari Giraffe]

Thank you to all for the words of encouragement. Whenever I feel overwhelmed I think about my upcomming trip to Disneyworld and it seems to push me forward. My husband is also a big driving force for me to be my best. I will keep you all updated on my adventures in the next 3 weeks. Hopefully all will go smoothly!

Thanks again for all the advice!

 

[dandaman]

I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but just need some extra pushes to get through the hole.

I take it you deliver babies? :lookaroun :lol:

 

[Safari Giraffe]

Not even close!!!! It was a figure of speech only. When I become a surgical nurse I will look you up and assist in your lobotomy (just kidding). I guess that sentence did sound like that though......Thanks for the humor, I needed that.

 

[dandaman]

I'll take that lobotomy. Most of my doctors have recommended it because I'm a special boy.



:lookaroun

 

[dandaman]

Seriously, though, I'm actually debating whether or not to become a doctor.
Everyone else keeps suggesting dentistry because of roughly the same pay and better hours...

 

[Safari Giraffe]

You're young. I'm sure you will make the right decision when the time comes. Maybe the state of healthcare will be better when you get to that stage in your life. By the way, I don't care much for Dentists because they have always caused me so much pain. Sorry!

 

[tigsmom]

Seriously, though, I'm actually debating whether or not to become a doctor.
Everyone else keeps suggesting dentistry because of roughly the same pay and better hours...

One note of motherly advice... pick something that you love. Just because everyone else says to study something doesn't mean its right for you.

There is nothing more sad than having to work at a job/career you hate (and I speak from experience).

 

[CleveRoks]

Seriously, though, I'm actually debating whether or not to become a doctor.
Everyone else keeps suggesting dentistry because of roughly the same pay and better hours...

Personally, I would recommend Optometry over all other fields. I work, over the summer, for two eye doctors.... they work five days a week, about 6 hours a day and easily make over 200 G's! I'm not saying it is an easy field though! The schooling is fairly difficult, but the rewards never stop coming!

Another advantage of Optometry: NO MAL-PRACTICE INSURANCE! Thats a huge factor! Mal-practice insurance is the biggest crime in the history of crimes! Ohio (my home state) is losing a rate of 6 doctors per month due to our very expensive mal-practice insurance premiums.

Just a little food for thought.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

One note of motherly advice... pick something that you love. Just because everyone else says to study something doesn't mean its right for you.

There is nothing more sad than having to work at a job/career you hate (and I speak from experience).

That is a fantastic point

Mrs sak has been a nurse almost as long as ive known her, taking a break only when we moved overseas as part of my service career.
she had wanted to be a nurse since she was a teen. The pay, conditions, hours of work and emotional drains never fazed her as its what she truly wanted, something I have never been.

By a complete accident she ended up working with kids, and is now clinical team leader in a burns and plastic surgery unit for kids. An agency tried to tempt her to the US but the exam they give foreign nurses put her off. But she loves working with kids especially as some of the reconstruction and repair work is so effective

But I have always envied her, she does get peed off and frustrated as her career development is now limited and she doesn’t want to be a manager. She’s spent a 6 months placement working in child protection, I know she found it rewarding but also the issues she was having to deal with.....

Its too big a price to pay on the emotions. However the thing with nursing is that there are so many avenues and specialisations that you can go down. Exams are always easier if you are interested in the subject being examined.

And as has been said there’s nothing worse than having to get up everyday to go and do something you despise, cause eventually it will eat away at your very being.

 

[Safari Giraffe]

You definately have to choose a career that you love. I have worked in the medical field for over 10 years now and have honestly worked my way from the bottom up. I have wanted to be a nurse from the time I was little (5 or 6 years old) and was putting bandaids on my dolls and wrapping their arms with gauze. I love to work with patients and see the look in their eyes when I have made a difference for them. This is what drives me. I have met many wonderful people along the way (both patients and other nurses) that have encouraged me to take the next step to be an R.N. and that is exactly what I am about to accomplish in approximately 3 weeks (GOD WILLING). I know nursing is tougher today because of all the added responsibility that is put on us, but if you have a passion for it--it hopefully will help to offset the difficulties. Because of my slow rise up I have also come to appreciate the people that work so hard as part of the nursing team (Patient care techs, CNA's, just to name a few). If we all didn't work closely and well together, the patients would suffer. This is what needs to be remembered.

That is a fantastic point

Mrs sak has been a nurse almost as long as ive known her, taking a break only when we moved overseas as part of my service career.
she had wanted to be a nurse since she was a teen. The pay, conditions, hours of work and emotional drains never fazed her as its what she truly wanted, something I have never been.

By a complete accident she ended up working with kids, and is now clinical team leader in a burns and plastic surgery unit for kids. An agency tried to tempt her to the US but the exam they give foreign nurses put her off. But she loves working with kids especially as some of the reconstruction and repair work is so effective

But I have always envied her, she does get peed off and frustrated as her career development is now limited and she doesn’t want to be a manager. She’s spent a 6 months placement working in child protection, I know she found it rewarding but also the issues she was having to deal with.....

Its too big a price to pay on the emotions. However the thing with nursing is that there are so many avenues and specialisations that you can go down. Exams are always easier if you are interested in the subject being examined.

And as has been said there’s nothing worse than having to get up everyday to go and do something you despise, cause eventually it will eat away at your very being.

 

[dandaman]

Question for Tigsmom, what job did you have that you didn't like?

 

[Kandi]

i am training to be a nurse too and ive just started my second year so i know how you feel! i when i graduate i want to nurse in america but i have to stay in the uk for at least two years to pay back my fees!

 

[Tigggrl]

Having been hurt at work, and dealing with LOTS of doctors and nurses, I can honestly say that the Nurses are the ones who always explain things to me, and made me feel most relaxed and comfortable! I would never have made it this far with out the wonderful nurses I have had! I am sure that you will be the one who makes a difference in a patients recovery. Attitude is everything for a patient, and the support and encouragement I recieved was instrumental in my recovery!
Good work!

 

[Safari Giraffe]

Best of luck in your second year of Nursing school. I'm sure you will do just fine! It is a tough road but I am glad I made the journey because it has been my dream for a long time. I am graduating in about 2 weeks (May 21st to be exact). I am suffering through final exams right now and am in the midst of a mini-nervous-breakdown. I can't fail now......I'm too close!!!!!

 

[Safari Giraffe]

I'm glad to hear that you had a wonderful experience with caring nurses. Nurses truly are the "advocate" for the patient. With all the responsibility that the doctor's seem to throw at them, they still have the time to spend with the patient and make sure they have what they need. It is a hard balance to do that. As a soon to be R.N., I do not want to ever loss sight of what is most important.......the patient and their family. Thank you for sharing your experience!

 

[MouseMadness]

Best of luck to you... and congratulations! What a noble profession to choose. :wave: