Showing posts with label Bedside Nursing Stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bedside Nursing Stories. Show all posts

Thursday, May 5, 2011

A Nurse Is More, by Richard G. Shuster, Nursing Poems, Inspirational Stories

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A Nurse Is More, Why?
Though nobody, can say why, for sure,
Nurse's desire, for service, is pure.
Not for themselves, it has to be for others.
A life dedicated, to their sisters and their brothers.

A Nurse Is More, How?
Through reserves, of strength, care and love,
Nurses take their lead, from the power above.
Above and beyond, their duty comes first.
Their patient's needs paramount, before even hunger and thirst.

A Nurse Is More, When?
When we need them the most, at our times of ill,
Nurses come through, with their care and goodwill.
When we feel we can't go on, and wish, to give up the ghost.
That's when our Nurses, give it their most.

A Nurse Is More, Where?
In the hospital, the battlefield, the clinic and hospice,
Nurses are there, in the ER, the OR, the workplace, and medical office.
Where we are, to go for our care, thankfully, we find Nurses there.
Aging, sick, fearful, weary, we turn to Nurses, and know they care.

A Nurse Is More,
A Nurse Is More, much more than all we've said, or all we can say,
other than, to acknowledge the Nurses, who so brighten our day.
In gratitude, we thank Nurses, their willingness to serve, we find so
appealing,bringing to us, their comfort, wisdom, compassion and healing.

Richard G. Shuster
05/10/99

Author Mini-bio
For those requesting permission for reprint use, of the poem "A Nurse Is More", the following is a brief mini-bio, of the author.

Richard G. Shuster, is a Quality Assurance professional, in the bio-medical research industry. He lives in the Reno, NV area, with his spouse, Jeannine E. Shuster, R.N., employed by the VAMC-Reno.

Email: rgsjesshuster@sierra.net or rshuster@sierrabiomedical.com

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Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
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Notes of a Student Nurse: A Dose of Reality « Off the Charts

It’s been said before that we are our own worst enemies, our own worst critics. I can’t imagine a time when these phrases are truer than during nursing school. Little more than a year ago, when I was starting my prerequisites for admission to the BSN nursing program, I was giddy with excitement. Images of what life would be like played in my head like episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, or, on a day I was feeling a bit more goofy, reruns of Scrubs.

I took any opportunity I had to share with friends, family—even new apartment neighbors—that I was well on my way to nursing school with the confident smile of a person destined to save the world, one patient at a time. I scoured discussion boards and nursing student forums late into the night, anticipating the day that I, too, would have something profound to contribute.

I laughed off those who warned me that the path was difficult and ridden with challenges. There was no bridge I couldn’t cross, no task I couldn’t do, and no test I couldn’t pass with flying colors. The world was mine. Now, I’m living those moments as a first semester nursing student—but a funny thing happened on the way to the present, a thing I will lovingly refer to as reality.

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
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Sunday, May 1, 2011

What Nurses Wish You Knew - Philadelphia Magazine - phillymag.com

No matter what health-care reform winds up looking like, one thing’s certain: Nurses will play a bigger role than ever, taking over duties from doctors, moving out of hospitals and into the community, looking after frail aging boomers, leading the push to keep costs down and improve outcomes. So this seemed the perfect time for a consult with the people who really run health care in Philadelphia. As one nurse told us, “Doctors only think they’re the quarterbacks.” Here’s what nurses had to say about their work, their patients, life and death, and those little white caps they used to wear.

1 // It’s okay to buzz // Really. Go ahead. Room too cold? Need a pillow? Got a question about your meds? Use the buzzer; that’s why they put it there. “My 82-year-old mother was just in the hospital for a stroke,” says Presbyterian Hospital’s Michael Becker, “and she said, ‘I can only hit the buzzer two times a day.’ I asked, ‘Why is that?’ and she said, ‘Because they’re going to get tired of seeing me.’ I said, “No, no, Mom, it doesn’t work that way.’” If somebody’s pushing the buzzer all the time, nurses know there’s a deeper issue and work to address it.

2 // You don’t have to be afraid // Nurses understand that patients often don’t speak up because they feel vulnerable. But when we don’t voice our thoughts, they have no way of knowing what needs improvement—until the patient-satisfaction survey arrives after the fact. And they hate finding out there was something they could have fixed if they’d known about it. “It’s natural to be fearful,” says Pennsylvania Hospital’s Mary Del Guidice, “because you’re lying in bed with all these faces looking down at you. But don’t be afraid of us.”

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

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Friday, April 29, 2011

Confessions of a Psych Nurse, Nursetogether.com

By: Angela Brooks

A Nurse Confesses:  There is no way to work on a psych ward of a mental hospital and not learn something about life; I have met some of the strangest and most original individuals.  When people find out where I work, and have worked for almost 22 years, their mouths hangs open in awe.  Most of the time the phrase, "I don't know how you do it" is mentioned, as they shake their heads.

 

I confess there are things about working in a mental health institution that I do not like, and there are times when I have to bite my tongue and keep my lips glued together because I become so agitated.  I thought I would list for you my dislikes and explain later what I have learned.  Deep breath…here I go.

 

I dislike when someone comes into the hospital just so they can get a check (aka crazy check) when they are clearly healthy but truly too damn lazy to work.

 

I dislike when someone is purely and simply mean spirited and uses their diagnosis of being mentally ill as an excuse to cling to.

 

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

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Sunday, April 24, 2011

Nurse as Writer, Writer as Nurse Theresa Laurel Brown, BA, MA, PhD, BSN, RN, OCN®

Nurse as Writer, Writer as Nurse

Theresa Laurel Brown, BA, MA, PhD, BSN, RN, OCN®

 

The first column I ever wrote for The New York Times, called “Perhaps Death Is Proud, More Reason to Savor Life,” generated a firestorm of attention. Literary agents sent me e-mails, my piece hit The New York Times “most e-mailed” list, and within three days I’d been offered a book contract with a major publisher.

 

The column described a sudden and grisly cardiac arrest where a patient with lung cancer exsanguinated. I felt happy and lucky when The New York Times accepted it. I thought the piece would come out and my friends would read it, and that’s where the endeavor would end. Instead, from that one piece, I ended up becoming a professional writer about nursing. My book, Critical Care: A New Nurse Faces Death, Life, and Everything in Between (HarperCollins), was published in June 2010 and comes out in paperback in April 2011. In addition, I am a regular contributor to The New York Times’ Well blog.

 

Whenever I talk about my two careers, people often ask the same questions. I have answered some of those recurring questions here, in part, because that is what interests other nurses, but also because those questions get at the heart of how I combine these two very different jobs.

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
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856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Nursing Stories, Nurse Poems, Bedside Tales, Inspirational Poems, Touching Stories

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Inspirational Quotes Every Nurse Should Read, NursingLink:"A good quote can lift you up when you're feeling blue. It can inspire you to reach your goals. It can even make you laugh out loud. NursingLink members shared some of their favorites and we'd like to share some of ours. As a nurse (or aspiring nurse!), you probably face obstacles every day – whether it's helping a patient overcome pain, studying for your boards, or facing off against a doctor."
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http://nursinglink.monster.com/benefits/articles/8713-inspirational-quotes-every-nurse-should-read

Category: Inspirational Poems, Touching Stories, http://www.inspirationalnursing.com

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20 Things I've Learned From Nursing by by Sally P. Karioth, RN, Ph.D:"1. When you're 92, you shouldn't have to beg for the salt shaker, even if you do have congestive heart failure. 2. Our profession has no room for bullies or whiners."
http://www.inspirationalnursing.com/20

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

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Sarah's Tears by Tony Collins, LVN, Inspirational Nursing Stories

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Late one December night on the cancer ward the halls were quiet and solemn, the patients were asleep and most of the visitors were gone. The nurses were gathered about the nurse's station preparing for shift change. Sarah, one of the nurses, was especially tired, having worked seven straight 12 hour days. The kids had needs, her husband had been laid off, and the house payment was due. What kept her going was that in January she was going to find a new job. After ten years of answering call lights, working short staffed, putting up with constant administrative changes, she had decided that it was not worth the effort anymore.

PING. PING. PING. Sara angrily looked at the call light box, "Good grief!" The patient was a seventy-year-old woman. Sarah had been to her room at the end of the hall at least fifteen times. Angrily she started down the hall.

On her way, she suddenly stopped. She stood motionless as a soft voice wafted out of room 235.

"And then one day I'll cross the river; I'll fight life's final war with pain; And then as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she listened and thought about the young woman in that room -- a thirty-five year old mother of two with cancer, with only a week to live, perhaps days. Sarah stood there, with tears in her eyes, remembering how this young terminal woman had such peace. The patient would speak to everyone who came into her room and she would smile even in her pain and took the time to share her faith and let people know the reason for her peace was a faith in God. All the nurses who had been around her commented on her strength and how they had felt peace and calm after talking with this exceptional young woman..

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow; Because He lives, all fear is gone Because I know who holds the future, Life is worth all the living, just because He lives."

Unstoppable tears flowed as Sarah stood a few moments more, but the tears had taken on a newness. No longer were they tears of sadness for this young woman but tears of renewal that washed away the disappointment and disillusionment of her job, and the fear about the future.

Sarah started down the hall to answer the call light, but she was no longer going to check on some pestering old woman. She was going to the room of a patient, a person, a fellow human in need. Sarah no longer looked to January so she could quit -- she looked to her next shift when she would again have the opportunity to serve her fellow man. Sarah left work with a new outlook on life. She had a rekindling of the spirit of service that had motivated her to become a nurse. Those fires had almost died, but for a young terminal woman who had the desire to be of service to her fellow man even unto death.

This is a reminder to me that the reason that we are on this earth at all is to be of service to each other. Christ said it best when He said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his brother."

-- by Tony Collins

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Battle Hymn of the California Nurse, by Marilou Morgan RN

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You can find them at the bedside
With shot to kill the pain
You can find them passing bedpans
They do this without disdain
As they share with you compassion
Always hoping for your gain
There're dwindling away.
 

California Needs more nurses
HMO's have filled their Purses
Now were really in the Lurches..
We're dwindling away
 

She is working extra hours
He is working extra days
Tryin' to keep a nurse beside you
As you struggle thru this maze
If they had an extra minute
They would take a coffee break
Like other people do.
 

New York City Needs more nurses
HMO's have filled their Purses
Now were really in the Lurches..
Where has the money gone?

We are told were are an item
Like the linen or the lights
We must work under conditions
Never mentioning our rights
If we try to buck the system
A New Grad will be your plight
so we keep hanging on.

Carolina Needs more nurses
HMO's have filled their Purses
Now were really in the Lurches
How long will this go on!

When you think about your nurses
Let your voices ring out clear
they are trying to protect you
From the system, and they fear
You will be in worse condition
from the shorgages we face
and it sould not be so...

Arizona Needs more nurses,
HMO's have filled their purses
Puts us really in the Lurches
and it should not be so!

Copywrite 1999
Marilou Morgan RN

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

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Friday, April 1, 2011

Nursing: Pros and Cons by Christy Picton, RN, BSN, Illinois Nurses' Views of The Nursing Profession

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I struggle when asked whether I would recommend the nursing profession as a career. In the end it comes to down to a weighing of the pros and cons. Let me begin by introducing you to some of my patients, my "pros" so to speak.

“Evie” was a 15-year old who was diagnosed with chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes. Because of her history, she was scheduled for an HIV test. This was the mid-80’s, when just the word “AIDS” conjured up visions of an instant death sentence with no reprieve. Evie always came to her appointments alone, so I held her hand while the blood was drawn, and I hugged her in relief when the test was negative.

“Harry*” had been with us for some surgery one December, and was now recovering. He required a follow-up procedure in January, after some healing had taken place, but his insurance program was changing and the second surgery would take place in another hospital. He had not been his usual jovial self the past few days, and he had told us not being able to return to our unit for the surgery had him down, among other things.

When I was instructing Harry on ways to rest and reduce stress while waiting for the second procedure, I asked him what he did to relax. He answered that he enjoyed movies and listening to music. That hit a nerve with me. Music is an important part of my life. I asked what type of music he liked, and he answered, “Are you down with the Temptations?” Dutifully, I began to sing, “I know you’re gonna leave me, but I refuse to let you go”. He joined me for the rest of the song, singing and laughing.

I went back to the nurse’s station to prepare my evening medications and the other girls were just looking at me, shaking their heads. “What were you doing in there?” they asked.

“Patient teaching”, came my reply, “and this guy hasn’t smiled in 3 days, so leave me alone and don’t mess with what works, OK?”

“Abby” was a 15-year old combative autistic patient who had been a long-term resident of a psychiatric hospital. She had a psych aid at her bedside 24 hours a day, but her combative, abusive behavior toward the staff persisted. After a few days of determined conversation in a quiet tone, she let me comb her hair and she talked to me about music and boys. I got to share one of her rare moments of just being 15.

I was assigned to stay with a patient for hours until she miscarried, both of us in tears as she held her little one and said good-bye. I stood at the bedside of a patient in kidney failure, supporting her significant other as he stroked the coppery skin of her hand. A friend and I had the hideous experience of “coding” a fellow nurse who was a patient on our floor, but we also had the joyous experience of watching her recover and return to work. All of these experiences and many others like them are the things that keep a nurse coming to work.

Unfortunately the list of "cons" is long, as well. For instance:

I was charge nurse on second shift one evening when our census was down. One RN and two aids had been pulled to work on other units. As the shift progressed, we received four admissions and the condition of two of our existing patients deteriorated. There was a hospital policy against refusing admissions, but on the fifth phone call to admit a new patient to our unit, I refused. The nurse in charge of the hospital soon appeared and asked if I had refused an admission. When I said yes, we talked about it. I got my RN and one aid back, and we accepted the admission. However, I had to break hospital policy to make it happen.

I told the head of my unit that the conditions we were working under were unsafe for the patients, and she said, “You’re not supposed to say that out loud.”

On a shift with a “code,” two fresh open heart patients, four other patients with various IV drips, and everyone on telemetry, I was expected to give adequate nursing care to all patients including dressing changes, deal with the code, complete all doctor’s phone calls and charting, and clock out after precisely 8 hours, not one moment more. The only exception was if I was asked to stay over to cover an absence.

These experiences and many others are what makes some nurses leave the profession. So recommending nursing as a career is a complicated proposition. I usually decide how to answer by who is asking. If the person talks about money or nursing as a “job,” I discourage them. But if the person has a gleam in their eye, a wish to serve, lots of energy, a good sense of humor, and a feeling that nursing is their “calling,” I am happy to welcome them to our profession.

The Shortcut URL To This Section Is: http://www.nursefriendly.com/views/

In this section, you can hear from Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, etc, new and old on why they would or would not recommend going into Nursing as a career. Our articles are frank, uncensored and brutally honest. We hope they'll help you make your decision if you're unsure about nursing being for you.

It is not our intent to "scare you off" from Nursing, some of our reviews are quite positive. It is our intention to help you go into Nursing with "open eyes" and aware of what you can reasonably expect as students and entry-level nurses.

Do you have questions or comments about our articles? Like to express an opinion? Visit our forums and make it known!

See also:
Licensed Practical Nurses, http://www.nursefriendly.com/lpn
Registered Nurses, http://www.nursefriendly.com/rn/
To Stay In Nursing or Not: http://www.nursingdiscussions.com/stay

Nursing, Not For Everyone, Not For Most People by Andrew Lopez, RN
Nurses are Licensed Professionals who's practice is regulated by Nurse Practice Acts, and the State Board of Nursing of each State. Nursing is a ...

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The Beauty of Nursing by Rebekah Hinton, BSN, RN, Virginia Nurses Views of The Nursing Profession:"I have been a caretaker for as long as I can remember. I am the oldest of four daughters and have always been a second Mother to my siblings. Going into nursing seemed to be a logical choice for me. As a student I was eager to learn and worked very hard to get the best education possible. I entered into a Bachelor of Science in nursing program without knowing the difference between a RN program and a BSN program."

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Nursing: How Do I Find Out If It's For Me? by Angela Eichenlaub, RN, BSN:"The face of nursing has changed" or "Nursing is not what it used to be" are phrases I often hear from seasoned staff. I wish I knew what nursing "used to be" so I could compare! My own personal advice to anyone considering a career in nursing is to take your reason for entering the profession into account. Some go into nursing for money, some because they have always wanted to and some people go into nursing because they don't know what else to do."

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To Be Or Not To Be, by Sharon Jones, RN, Ohio Nurses Views of The Nursing Profession:"To Be…Or Not To Be… was never the question for me. I had always been a caretaker of sorts even at a very young age. The decision to return to work was based more on a career that I could relate to and be employed at. To be it was… and I started school at a local college for a Registered Nurse program. Almost two years into school, all my pre- req. courses completed and a waiting list to get into the nursing classes (a very unbelievable thing looking back- too many students- many had to wait) forced me to change course of action that lead to LPN school."

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Twenty Years of Nursing by James E. Meekins, North Carolina Nursing Views:"Thirty years ago I walked into the Navy recruiters office; laid off, without a real skill and signed up to be a Navy Hospital Corpsman (medic). I learned basic patient care---and basic first aid; and learned to work under the direction of a physician or nurse. I enjoyed what I did, the pride of being part of a team; accomplishment of a common goal, first aid in the field with Marines, or care of a patient in the hospital. . . ."

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Nursing: Pros and Cons by Christy Picton, RN, BSN, Illinois Nurses' Views of The Nursing Profession:"I struggle when asked whether I would recommend the nursing profession as a career. In the end it comes to down to a weighing of the pros and cons. Let me begin by introducing you to some of my patients, my "pros" so to speak. . . . "

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"One of The Lucky Ones" by Christine Cruz, Minnesota Nurses Views of The Nursing Profession:"My name is Chris. I have been an RN for ten-years. I have worked in a wide variety of nursing settings, from home care, long-term care to telephone triage, clinics and nursing management. Upon graduation from nursing school in, May, 1993, I had eagerly anticipated a new RN position at a local hospital, in one of its med-surgical units. . . ."

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You Want to Be a Nurse? -- Better Leave Your Heart Behind by Pennye Diane Morgan Shaw R.N., Texas Nurses Views of the Nursing Profession:"So you're thinking about being a nurse? You probably are a person who wants to make a difference, to help others, to be a compassionate healer. Are these are the same reasons I entered the nursing profession about 9 years ago. I had been through the emotional experience of watching my father being diagnosed with colon cancer. I had been by his side though radiation therapy, and though surgery and recovery. I watched as he struggled to cope with the drastic changes to his body as he tried to return to a normal life. . . . "

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My Advice for New and Potential Nurses, by Pam Lowry, Illinois Nurses Views of the Nursing Profession:"According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), "The United States is in the midst of a nursing shortage that is projected to intensify as baby boomers age and the need for health care grows." They also state enrollments in nursing colleges are at a six-year decline. According to JAMA there will be a shortage of 400,000 nurses in the U.S. by the year 2020. AACN goes on to state there are declines in nursing faculty leading to limitations on enrollment, the population of R.N.'s is the lowest it has been in 20 years, and vacancy rates at hospitals are high. . . "

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An Insight Into Nursing by Leah Stockdale, R.N., B.S.N. Maryland Nurses Views of the Nursing Profession:"Although I am extremely proud of being a nurse, I will have to say that I am not sure if I would choose the profession if I could go back. At the same time, I probably would not choose any career in the health care industry. In my opinion, as far as hospital nursing is concerned, the negatives outweigh the positives. That is why I am currently in the process of applying my nursing skills and education to another field. . . "

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A Letter To A Future Nurse by Kristina Rzanca, LPN, Michigan Nurses Views:"Being a Nurse is a career you can be spiritually, emotionally and financially satisfied with. In this day and age this is a unique opportunity, but it is not for everyone. A special person with qualities such as empathy, compassion, intelligence and above all patience should only apply. . . . "

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To Be A Nurse Takes A Special Kind Of Person By Vicky Oliver, LPN:"As an LPN for the last ten years I believe I could give some insight on my experience as a nurse. I am the type of person who is always doing something for others instead of me. My experiences in nursing consist of Medical Surgical, Doctors' Office, Emergency Room, Surgery, GI Lab, Urology, Utilization Review, Recovery Room, and the Nursing Home. Anyone that goes into the nursing profession needs to be a very caring person, someone who wants to give to others and someone that is very dedicated. . . "

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After Fourteen Years As An RN, I Am Not Sorry For My Choice By Lynn Kash, RN:"Would I recommend the nursing profession? That is a good question that requires a lot of thought. Nursing was not my first choice of careers. I studied accounting in college, and after working in the business world, decided it was not for me. I fell into a job as a nursing assistant and found patient care to my liking. I then started nursing school and the rest is history. . . .

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A New York BSN's Point of View, By Melina Begun, BSN, RN, Clinical Administrative Liaison Nurse:"Nursing is suffering. Thousands of caring people enter into this profession every year only to become disillusioned by its reality. When I first started to study nursing, I immediately felt a connection with its history and our potential to be leaders in the medical community. Excited by all of the knowledge and skills I acquired in my Ivy league nursing program, I was astonished by the harsh reality of nursing in today's hospitals when I started working as a staff nurse. . .

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Tips To A Good Start In The Nursing Profession by Diane Hartley:"My name is Diane and I have been in the nursing profession for 12 years. In those years I have seen very many changes with this profession. One of the first changes was in DRG's. This for those of you who do not know what they are is diagnosis related groups. . . "

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See Also: Certified Nursing Assistants, CNAs, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Disabled Nurses, Male Nurses, Men In Nursing, Legal Nurse Consultants, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs/LVNs), Registered Nurses

Please choose from the following (Links will open up a new window):
Nurses Views Recommending The Profession,
Nurses views Not Recommending The Profession.

Choose Nurses Views by State: Alabama, California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York State, North Carolina, Pennsylvania Tennessee, Texas, Virginia Male Gender Bias - Entrance to No Mans Land by Nurseman
Are you a male and thinking about entering the world of nursing? Have you ever wondered why they're so few men in nursing? If you are young, single ...

Gender Bias Against Male Nurses:
http://www.nursingdiscussions.com/gender

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    Do I want My Daughter to be a Nurse by Raye
    I am not sure why I became a nurse. I enjoy the smile on the face of someone I have helped. I worked Emergency and got quick fixes and instant ...

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    Is your life worth the BIG BUCKS? by SurgRN911
    Why are patients and families feeling they are getting less attention, and sometimes less than adequate care in a hospital setting? I wrote an ...

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    It's not all bad! by LauraRN
    Wow.. a chance to give my opinion on nursing.. here goes.. :) When I was in college, I thought I wanted to be a math teacher. As I got higher in ...

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    Requirement: Have an off-beat sense of humor by clooneyfan A review by of my favorite writers (SurgRN911) about the nursing profession prompted me to write my own review. You can read her original review at ...

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    Nursing Is In My Blood! by Dunkjam
    When I was a little girl I always thought that I would be a singer and marry Paul Anka! I thought I would live a glamorous life and travel around the ...

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    Where Are Our Leaders? by Moonflowerck
    I have been an R.N. for 28 years. My range of experience encompasses nearly all aspects of critical care and pediatrics. I am a bedside nurse; that is my forte. I give quality nursing care; I am a good teacher; I am empathetic and intuitive. However, I am not a leader. My experiences in various leadership roles during my career were neither fulfilling nor very productive.

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    Nursing: Is It A Career For You? by Bobstein
    When I was faced with choosing a career I wasn't clear exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I enjoyed the sciences and helping people, and with high unemployment rates in the mid-1970's I chose to enter the nursing profession.

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    10 CONCEPTS TO CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING IF THE NURSING PROFESSION IS FOR YOU
    by melissasrn
    Pros: The opportunity to make a difference in someone's life; decent pay; flexible schedules. Cons: Short staffing; floating requirements; little respect; dealing with bodily functions.

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    An LPN's Story of Progress by: NJNurse
    The Decision to Become A Nurse. When I was starting to decide on a career after high school I wanted to cry.

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    The Nursing Shortage: Reasons Nurses Are Leaving The Profession by Rebel5877
    All across America, There are shortages of Registered Nurses (RN's) and Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPN's/LVN's), and Nurse's Aides entering ...

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    Response to NJ's work in progress by jt1013
    There is a shortage of nurses. That is a given. I have a large amount of respect for LPN's. My sister is one in Kentucky. She has been one for 32 ...

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    My Opinion of The Nursing Profession, by emsopinion
    I have been a nurse for over twenty two years. In that time I have worked in many different fields of medicine.

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    Feast or Famine by lovepepsi
    Pros: the feeling you get when you helps someone
    Cons: short staffing, not being able to save everyone

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    See also:

    "Burnout in my 5th year...another nursing statistic", Aboutmyjob.com:"I always knew I would end up in a helping profession. Nursing seemed like the perfect choice. It combined my natural curiosity about health and science with the giving, hands on, human interactions of bedside care. I also knew that nursing offers a great deal of flexability within the profession. You can change specialties, change shifts, and work in a variety of settings. Before I decided to study nursing, I considered teaching,conservation and journalism. Prior to becoming an RN, I worked in recreation/parks, the foodservice industry, and held a factory/production type job. I graduated a few years ago with my BS in Nursing. I certainly don't regret having gone that route, but to be honest I feel disenchanted with the health care environment and nursing in general.It certainly is nothing like what I thought it would be.The hospital setting is like a pressure cooker type of environment."
    http://www.aboutmyjob.com/main.php3?action=displayarticle&artid=575

    "I am getting out of nursing to become a teacher", Aboutmyjob.com:"Hi. I made the decision to get out of the nursing profession about two years ago. I have been an RN for three years. I have floated in ER, ICU, Med/Surg and Labor and Delivery. In the back of my mind I always thought, "working conditions will get better with the more experience I have". I finally have come to the conclusion that my working conditions are not changing, in fact, are getting worse. I come home every night with knots in my shoulders from the stress that I go through. I too get physically and mentally strained from being a nurse. Families are so insultive and expect things to happen ASAP. Do they not realize that I am running around with my head cut off trying to keep up with all the requests, duties, and paper work?"
    http://www.aboutmyjob.com/main.php3?action=displayarticle&artid=601

    "Unhappy in nursing profession too....10 year RN", Aboutmyjob.com:"I have been an RN for nearly 10 years now and I must agree with many of the others who wrote their stories. I always wanted to be a nurse, because I like people and thought I would really want to work helping them. But, the reality of the job is utterly overwhelming. I've tried long-term care,home health, dialysis nursing, physician office and now in-hospital on a Rehab unit. I have yet to really find anything I loved. We are almost always short-staffed both nurses and aides. We are being pulled to other floors now due to the shortage of nurses. I was pulled to a MICU and I've never done that type of nursing ever!! I was a nervous wreck, these patients were very high aquity, on tele, multiple lines etc. I received no orientation, just here are your 8 patients...go to it. It was nerve-wracking."
    http://www.aboutmyjob.com/main.php3?action=displayarticle&artid=554

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