Do I have what it takes to be a nurse?

Yikes!

I sailed through my first semester (92 average) and really enjoyed all the classes-even Anatomy & Physiology! :) But now, here I am in my second semester....and I just had my first placement. Well, my first REAL placement anyway.

It was an 8 hr shift in a LTC facility. It was my first time ever being in a "home", and I felt extremely uncomfortable the entire shift....to be honest, I found the place to be kind of scary and depressing. There were so many people there with absolutely no quality of life (at least not by my standards)-they were all wheeled up to the breakfast table and sat staring off, drooling, unable to communicate, unable to feed themselves.

After my shift, I started questioning whether or not I made the right choice to study nursing. I mean, it's one thing to be good at the classes....but the clinical placements are the most accurate indicator of whether or not you can do this job, aren't they?

Could it just be that LTC isn't for me? I'm so freaked out and overwhelmed by the whole thing. I suppose I was naively expecting my first placement to leave me feeling fulfilled and proud of myself that I helped someone-but instead I'm just feeling............................unsure

LTC isn't for a LOT of people- I could never do it! It'll get better once you get into the hospital. After clinicals I knew that I definitely never wanted to do Med/Surg or LTC. I started in Peds as a new grad, and now I work in ER, and I love doing both!

Agreed. My best friend did LTC for years and loved it. I don't have what it takes to do it, but I'm pretty good at what I do. Don't give up- there are so many options for nursing. You just have to find the one that suits you best.

Rachel, the great thing about the nursing profession is it is wide open. So many different areas of expertise & specialties. Just like the excellent replies before mine have stated. Maybe LTC is just not going to be your niche in nursing. I'd wait until your other clinical settings before pondering your place in nursing. Good luck!

BTW, welcome!

Thanks for the replies and encouragement. It's funny, I chose nursing because of all the options/different places you could take it....and I totally forgot all that when I was faced with a situation that wasn't for me.

I'm so much better now, I'm still doing my placement there (because I have to)-but I've just accepted my limitations (that I would prefer not to work in LTC) and that has made a world of difference.

My next placement is in 4 weeks, in the Maternity ward at a hospital and I'm really excited about that! :)

Yes, once we accept what we must time passes by much quicker.

This is why I am doing a through research before becoming a nurse. I also have many questions. I held no real job until now and i am 37 since I had my own business. The following is what I like to do.. Would this mix with nursing? The reason I am thinking about advanced nursing since they offer excellent opportunity in life.

I am completing my MBA concentration in healthcare management (I will be 96% complete by summer of 08). I am Asian Indian and previously owned a real estate business for 10 years. My hobbies are improving historic houses, Koi ponds (built 3 so far), landscaping, nature, traveling, natural food, cooking, traveling and making new friends. I am scared to death to apply for the MSN program since I have not seen any Indian male nurses. I am not sure how minority male nurses get treated during the process in the nursing school. Also with MBA/MSN, can anyone decide to go into administration without practicing clinical aspect of it? What are the benefits of having MBA and MSN instead of just having an MBA with healthcare administration? Are there any Indian male nurses in this field? I would also like to get some information to the universities that are two year program for non-nurses and enjoy a diverse body of students. Preferably a nursing program, where 50% are males instead of only 10 to 11% standard male enrollment in most universities.

RPNStudent_Rachel wrote:Thanks for the replies and encouragement. It's funny, I chose nursing because of all the options/different places you could take it....and I totally forgot all that when I was faced with a situation that wasn't for me.

I'm so much better now, I'm still doing my placement there (because I have to)-but I've just accepted my limitations (that I would prefer not to work in LTC) and that has made a world of difference.

My next placement is in 4 weeks, in the Maternity ward at a hospital and I'm really excited about that! :)

Way to go! Good luck, Rachel.

R