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As a high school pre-nursing student, how do I know if becoming a nurse is the right career for me?
I have been a pre nursing student since I was 15 years old (almost 3 years). While I love learning new things in the healthcare field, I sometimes wonder if I'm taking all these college classes for nothing.
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Mary Beth’s Answer
You Won’t know if nursing is right for you if you have never done any kind of work in healthcare. When I went to school, many years ago, the first 2 weeks was dedicated to letting students get an understanding of what nursing care encompasses, as many of them had NO idea other than what they read in story books. Needless to say we lost about 15% of prospective nurses in those 2 weeks. Then we lost another 10-15% within the next 3 months. NOT everyone is cut out for what nursing entails, and there are many grueling tasks needing to be done,that are far from pleasant. All the education in the old wont know if nursing is right for you until you get some basic experience.
I would suggest you either shadow a nurse, volunteer, or work in some kind of care center where you will be able to provide care to those in need. Things like making beds, cleaning rooms, provide bathing and toileting care, feeding, etc. if those tasks are not things you are willing to do, then nursing isn’t for you, IMO.
I had a senior student once who I discovered had somehow manage to NOT do one bed bath in 3:years. The student justified it by saying ‘that’s what CNAs are for…I’m going to be a leader and NOT do menial things’. Wrong answer for me. I spoke with the floor nurses and arranged for said student to do ALL the bed baths and showers the remaining 3 weeks of rotation. Told student if couldn’t provide basic care then they would never be a leader.
Nursing is an amazing profession, but can be arduous and even dangerous at times. Do Not choose it unless you know what are getting into first. Far too many new nurses leave in the first couple of years because school experiences do not prepare them for reality they will face as an RN and no longer a student. Choose well now before you put more time and $$$ into it.
Best of luck in discovering your path in life.
I would suggest you either shadow a nurse, volunteer, or work in some kind of care center where you will be able to provide care to those in need. Things like making beds, cleaning rooms, provide bathing and toileting care, feeding, etc. if those tasks are not things you are willing to do, then nursing isn’t for you, IMO.
I had a senior student once who I discovered had somehow manage to NOT do one bed bath in 3:years. The student justified it by saying ‘that’s what CNAs are for…I’m going to be a leader and NOT do menial things’. Wrong answer for me. I spoke with the floor nurses and arranged for said student to do ALL the bed baths and showers the remaining 3 weeks of rotation. Told student if couldn’t provide basic care then they would never be a leader.
Nursing is an amazing profession, but can be arduous and even dangerous at times. Do Not choose it unless you know what are getting into first. Far too many new nurses leave in the first couple of years because school experiences do not prepare them for reality they will face as an RN and no longer a student. Choose well now before you put more time and $$$ into it.
Best of luck in discovering your path in life.
Updated
Amy’s Answer
It's fantastic that you've dedicated the last three years to studying pre-nursing courses. You might consider reaching out to local clinics, nursing homes, or hospitals to see if they offer shadowing opportunities. This could provide you with a real-world glimpse into the nursing profession, helping you confirm if it's the right path for you.
If you know any friends, family, or acquaintances who are nurses, don't hesitate to ask them about their motivations and experiences. Understanding the positives and negatives they've encountered in their careers could provide valuable insights.
In my younger days, a hospital stay opened my eyes to the compassionate care provided by nurses. That experience sparked my interest in nursing, a path I might not have considered otherwise. Later, I discovered that my grandmother had always aspired to be a nurse but was unable to pursue higher education. Being able to realize her dream through my career has been incredibly rewarding.
Nursing, in essence, is the art of caring. There's a profound sense of fulfillment that comes from providing help to others in their times of need. It's a career that truly allows you to make a difference in people's lives.
If you know any friends, family, or acquaintances who are nurses, don't hesitate to ask them about their motivations and experiences. Understanding the positives and negatives they've encountered in their careers could provide valuable insights.
In my younger days, a hospital stay opened my eyes to the compassionate care provided by nurses. That experience sparked my interest in nursing, a path I might not have considered otherwise. Later, I discovered that my grandmother had always aspired to be a nurse but was unable to pursue higher education. Being able to realize her dream through my career has been incredibly rewarding.
Nursing, in essence, is the art of caring. There's a profound sense of fulfillment that comes from providing help to others in their times of need. It's a career that truly allows you to make a difference in people's lives.
Updated
John’s Answer
Hello Kaitlyn,
I might not be fully versed in the specifics of a pre-nursing program, but I can tell you this - if your program includes science subjects like biology, chemistry, anatomy & physiology, as well as math subjects such as algebra and statistics, and you're enjoying these classes, then rest assured, your hard work will certainly bear fruit.
In the world of healthcare, it's not just nurses who need to grasp these subjects. A wide array of professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, radiology technicians, lab technicians, researchers, and many more, all rely on a fundamental understanding of science and math to excel in their roles. If you're considering nursing programs, they will typically include not only the essential nursing classes, but also subjects like algebra, anatomy & physiology, microbiology, psychology, sociology, among others. These are all part of the degree program you'll need to complete. If you're already taking these or similar courses, it should help you focus more on the nursing program, rather than juggling these corequisite courses simultaneously.
Even if you're contemplating a different route in healthcare, these courses will likely still be required or, at the very least, incredibly beneficial for building a solid knowledge foundation. So keep going, Kaitlyn, your efforts are paving the way for a bright future in healthcare!
I might not be fully versed in the specifics of a pre-nursing program, but I can tell you this - if your program includes science subjects like biology, chemistry, anatomy & physiology, as well as math subjects such as algebra and statistics, and you're enjoying these classes, then rest assured, your hard work will certainly bear fruit.
In the world of healthcare, it's not just nurses who need to grasp these subjects. A wide array of professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, radiology technicians, lab technicians, researchers, and many more, all rely on a fundamental understanding of science and math to excel in their roles. If you're considering nursing programs, they will typically include not only the essential nursing classes, but also subjects like algebra, anatomy & physiology, microbiology, psychology, sociology, among others. These are all part of the degree program you'll need to complete. If you're already taking these or similar courses, it should help you focus more on the nursing program, rather than juggling these corequisite courses simultaneously.
Even if you're contemplating a different route in healthcare, these courses will likely still be required or, at the very least, incredibly beneficial for building a solid knowledge foundation. So keep going, Kaitlyn, your efforts are paving the way for a bright future in healthcare!
Updated
Donnie’s Answer
Hi Kaitlyn,
I would suggest getting to know other people in this industry. I am sure there are a multitude of people you probably are already connected to that work in the healthcare field. My favorite question to those people are "what does your daily work look like?". This question always provides a lot of detail that textbooks and classrooms don't always highlight. How many hours are they working a day/week, etc. What challenges do they have in their everyday work? Those are the types of questions and answers that will help you to better understand if this career field is something for you down the road. Hope this helps!
I would suggest getting to know other people in this industry. I am sure there are a multitude of people you probably are already connected to that work in the healthcare field. My favorite question to those people are "what does your daily work look like?". This question always provides a lot of detail that textbooks and classrooms don't always highlight. How many hours are they working a day/week, etc. What challenges do they have in their everyday work? Those are the types of questions and answers that will help you to better understand if this career field is something for you down the road. Hope this helps!
Updated
Stephanie’s Answer
Hi Kaitlyn!
First , I have to commend you on having such a strong commitment to learning and taking on challenges! All professions, including healthcare, require life-long learning to be successful and stay competitive.
If you have a love for caring for people, there are a multitude of ways to do that - healthcare has many facets to it. The key ingredient in any nursing career is compassion….and if you have that, you will most certainly be in the right profession. Nursing practice is vast in scope and can be applied in many different settings.
Here are a few:
Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Outpatient clinics, Doctors offices, Schools (elementary-college), Medical Supply and Equipment companies, Insurance companies, Homecare/Hospice, Technology companies (nursing informatics and/or Sales), Recruitment, Pharmaceutical companies, Medical Consulting companies….and the list goes on and on. It would be good for you to research what healthcare occupations align with your passions….I’m positive all the work your currently doing will not be a waste of time, but a valuable asset to a successful future!
Keep at it and the best of luck on your career journey!!
First , I have to commend you on having such a strong commitment to learning and taking on challenges! All professions, including healthcare, require life-long learning to be successful and stay competitive.
If you have a love for caring for people, there are a multitude of ways to do that - healthcare has many facets to it. The key ingredient in any nursing career is compassion….and if you have that, you will most certainly be in the right profession. Nursing practice is vast in scope and can be applied in many different settings.
Here are a few:
Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Outpatient clinics, Doctors offices, Schools (elementary-college), Medical Supply and Equipment companies, Insurance companies, Homecare/Hospice, Technology companies (nursing informatics and/or Sales), Recruitment, Pharmaceutical companies, Medical Consulting companies….and the list goes on and on. It would be good for you to research what healthcare occupations align with your passions….I’m positive all the work your currently doing will not be a waste of time, but a valuable asset to a successful future!
Keep at it and the best of luck on your career journey!!