After Doing Research About Registered Nurse, Do I Still Want To Pursue This Degree?

One nurse helping another with a computer at a nurse's station

Jumping into something new is scary when you lot don't accept all of the facts. That'southward exactly why choosing a career is so challenging. Information technology's not similar you tin only spend a few years in school, try out a job for a bit and bound to another if you don't similar information technology—well, at least not without more than education and training.

Becoming a registered nurse (RN) is no different. We all remember nosotros know what an RN does, based on Idiot box shows or our real-life interactions at hospitals or doctor's offices. Just what goes on behind the scenes? Is nursing school worth it once you're on the other side?

What is information technology like to be a nurse? It'southward not easy to get a clear pic of this career without speaking to those who've walked the walk. So to assist, nosotros rounded upward nursing experts to tell you what they wish they'd known BEFORE becoming an RN.

Read their advice and find out a few lessons they learned along the way.

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I wish someone told me …

1. How much critical thinking nurses do

"What surprised me the most when I began working as an RN is the level of autonomy that you experience—even as a new graduate nurse," says Sarah Pruitt, RN and manager of clinical operations at Abet Christ Medical Center. "A lot of people mistakenly believe that nurses are at that place to follow whatever orders the doctors give us. While nosotros also do that, nurses must besides thoroughly assess a patient or situation, critically call up and then implement the plan of care."

This skill is then of import that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) highlights critical thinking as the most important skill RNs need for the job.^one "You will probably experience unprepared, just will soon realize that you lot actually know more you call up you do," Pruitt says.

2. You can observe mean solar day shifts—even as a new nurse

"I was led to believe anybody had to put in their time on nighttime shifts before they could work on days," says Brittney Wilson, BSN, RN and CEO of The Nerdy Nurse. "But that just wasn't so."

Though specific hiring situations will vary depending on location, there is no rule against new nurses finding their ideal shifts as soon as they begin.

"Many local hospitals as well accept new graduates into specialty and critical intendance roles, which was something I was led to believe was not common practice," Wilson says.

3. Hospital jobs are competitive

While some nurses might find work immediately in a hospital setting, others will need to augment their horizons to other healthcare facilities.

"I didn't know it would be so difficult to notice a chore as a new grad," says Ciji West, RN. West says people were talking about the nursing shortage with the full general impression that it would be easy to go a job. "At that place certainly is a nursing shortage, but most hospitals accept residency programs that only accept a certain number of new graduates."

When you are a brand new graduate, keep your mind open up to all kinds of jobs to gain the experience that will give yous more than opportunity.

"If you can't go in the infirmary right away, consider other facilities," West says. "Yous may fifty-fifty observe that you become paid more."

iv. Certain experiences matter more than others for the ER

If you love emergency intendance and want to work in a hospital, there are means to be more competitive for those positions. "I wish I had known that I needed experience in medical surgical nursing earlier specializing in something similar the emergency section," says Mary Sweeney, RN, BSN, CEN, ONN-CG and medical consultant at Mom Loves All-time. "I had been a tech in the ER all throughout nursing school and was desperate to exist an emergency nurse."

Med/surg nursing offers the ideal foundation to build on for emergency situations, Sweeney explains. "You need to develop that 'sixth' sense that tells y'all when a patient is going to go downhill, even when their vital signs say that they're fine."

"I ever recommend that new graduate nurses gain at to the lowest degree a year of general medical nursing feel before going into emergency and disquisitional care."

5. Witnessing patient suffering is never piece of cake

Even if you've never felt squeamish at the sight of claret or injuries, seeing people in hurting tin be much less clinical than you lot think. "I wish I knew how hard it was going to exist to see people suffering in physical, mental and emotional pain," says Jeanne Dockins, RN, BSN and CNOR.

Consider your specialty with intendance, and give some thought to how y'all volition react when your patients are hurting or dealing with grief. Certain types of nurses volition deal with more severe wellness bug on their shifts than others.

"Equally a surgical nurse for over thirty years, I saw some horrific traumas which afflicted me deeply. Some things y'all tin never united nations-run into," Dockins says.

half-dozen. How busy your shifts will get

"Nurses have and then many different responsibilities and tasks that they are continually prioritizing," Dockins says. "Nursing is one of the most enervating professions, but the rewards are indescribable."

Though y'all might take shifts where even wolfing downwards a granola bar feels like a luxury, the intrinsic value in caring for people makes the chaos worth it. "Over the years, I have nerveless thousands of vignettes of love, kindness and compassion. These memories are forever etched in the memories of my heart. The rewards of beingness a nurse are priceless."

vii. How attached you'll go to your patients

Despite all the dashing about, nurses still observe time to grow fond of the people they care for.

"Before I became an RN, I didn't know how attached y'all really become to your patients and their families," Pruitt says. "Day in and 24-hour interval out you lot treat and so many unlike patients, just there will be special ones that leave an impression on your heart."

Pruitt says saying goodbye to these patients can be difficult.

"Just being a nurse ways that you know you fabricated a difference in their lives, no matter how big or small."

8. How to save your legs

"I wish I'd known about compression socks," West says. Nurses spend so much time on their feet that information technology'southward vital to make smart vesture choices. "Beautiful shoes are great, just pinch socks are what'south going to save your anxiety and legs. One time I discovered them, my foot, leg and knee pain went away. And no one notices them underneath your pants!"

Information technology may seem like a pocket-sized thing, just take it to heart and brand comfort a priority when choosing footwear—your body will thank you.

ix. That nurses really practice eat their immature

This expression refers to a type of bullying in the nursing world where older, more established nurses treat their new recruits poorly, but for being new recruits. While y'all certainly hope it doesn't happen to yous, Wilson has experienced this tendency and advises new nurses to be set, just in example.

"At that place are skills you can larn to prevent being a victim," Wilson says.

Brand sure you understand your rights every bit a professional, and don't put upward with workplace abuse. New nurses naturally desire to make a good impression and go along in their beginning jobs, but certain behaviors are never okay. Wilson offers a great commodity on resources and strategies for how to stand up up for yourself.

Sweeney encourages nurses to be ready, but also not to expect bullying behavior from their colleagues. "There'southward often a feeling of more experienced nurses eating their young, so to speak. While that does happen, more oft than non, experienced nurses are willing and able to help guide new nurses when they are struggling."

New nurses may ofttimes demand support from more experienced nurses, and Sweeney emphasizes that they should experience free to inquire for assist. Anybody has been the make new nurse at some point.

ten. How easy it is to forget yourself

A sacrificial attitude is one of the greatest strengths of the nursing profession, but it can as well be a detriment.

"People don't understand that nurses sacrifice eating and going to the bathroom to become work done," Due west says, adding that nurses can sometimes sacrifice to the bespeak of harming their own health.

West emphasizes the importance of passion in nursing. "Burnout is existent. I certainly experienced it and wanted to quit nursing altogether." West says a perspective on how nursing matters to your passion or purpose volition assistance you lot stick with information technology in hard times. That, and equipping yourself with potent nursing cocky-care habits to make sure you don't sacrifice your wellness.

"We have on a lot, and it's important to keep yourself grounded and take care of yourself," West says.

xi. How capable you tin be under force per unit area

"The one thing that genuinely surprised me nearly life as a nurse was how well I worked nether pressure level," Sweeney says. "Nursing is not an easy profession—it requires both physical and mental stamina to arrive through those xiv-hour shifts."

If you love the work you are doing and believe in the affect it makes on every patient's life, you might find yourself thriving even in a whirlwind of action. "I surprised myself with how much I could accomplish in the organized chaos that the ER exuded, all while remaining calm."

12. How many ways there are to be a nurse

"Almost people think that beingness a nurse means wearing scrubs, starting IVs and taking intendance of patients straight at the bedside," Wilson says. "Just nurses piece of work in so many unlike roles with varying levels of responsibility. From executives to software consultants to professional bloggers, there is no 1 way to be a nurse."

As you lot brainstorm your career, y'all might envision 1 path for yourself, but your skills and desires tin can lead you in dissimilar directions every bit you get. Nurses work in many different industries and settings. "Y'all will never be bored," Wilson says. "Yous will have unlimited potential for fulfillment."

Are you gear up to become an RN?

If you've been asking should I become a nurse? yous know just how many factors go into the career decision. These insights from nurses can illustrate what becoming an RN really means. Do yous recall it'southward the job for you?

"Retrieve that you will take some very challenging days both in nursing schoolhouse and as a nurse," Pruitt says. "Just it is all worth it! Nursing is a calling. You see people at their absolute everyman and have the privilege to help them. It takes a special person to be a nurse."

Is it difficult to get a nurse? If you've been looking into nursing credentials or considering the path to become an RN, you might observe all the different levels of nursing (and their requisite educations) confusing. Don't worry, all those options make nursing 1 of the more than customizable educations out in that location! Check out "A Beginner'south Guide to Understanding the Levels of Nursing Credentials" to larn more nearly educational paths you tin can take. Or, if you're ready to get started on the path to condign a registered nurse, visit the Professional Nursing program page.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed April, 2020] world wide web.bls.gov/ooh/. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of didactics and experience. This information does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.).

EDITOR'S Note: This commodity was originally published in Baronial 2014. It has since been updated.