Nursing?

[MomOnBike]

I agree, before you invest all sorts of time, energy & money in a nursing degree, start at the bottom and become a CNA. Not only will you quickly find out if nursing is for you, but the consensus of opinion where I work (largish rehab hospital) is that those who have been CNAs make much better RNs.

I don't know about other institutions, but mine has a well-developed scholarship program to help CNAs move on to bigger and better(paying) things.

No, I am not a nurse, but I work closely with nurses and have the utmost respect for the field.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oops...I thought this was a breast feeding thread!

[Biciclista]

I'm not a nurse and I hope you become a good one. My stepfather is dying in a hospital (valley general for the locals) that is poorly staffed.
We were with him for about 3 hours last night, noticing he was in distress we asked for some sort of sophorific; pain killer, sleeping pill, something. The nurse said it wasn't on his chart. (actually it was, on page 1)
That was the first time we discussed it. when it became obvious that the poor man couldn't sleep we started making a lot more noise, got the head nurse involved. After 2 hours the nurse finally called a doctor who okayed some Atavan.. and we were told it would be there shortly so we went home. This morning he was in the same state, no, actually worse, and still had never gotten something to relax him. I'm furious.
that nurse was not sitting in a back room smoking a cigarette. She was running from room to room, getting interrupted each time we saw her with a phone call... (get xrays, do this, do that). She had not read his case file previous to treating him. (and no wonder, it was 2 inches thick!) She did not know him and she did not SEE (how could she not see !?!?)what distress he was in. So she did the things that she does; which actually made him a little more comfortable in that routine, but.. ok.. what I am trying to say; you young passionate idealistic future nurses you HAVE to get the state of care turned around or it will just be another crummy stressful job.

We need you, your passion and caring. We need your intelligence and the ability to act. Ok, so nurses can't prescribe drugs? call the doctor. You don't have enough time to care for patients? call your union. Tell your boss.

thanks for listening.