Hospital Nurse Schools and Career Info

Things you need to know, but nobody tells you

It surprised me that nursing was a extremely demanding job. It is very stressful and patients can be very rude. I was also surprised that on the job...[full comment]

I was surprised at the amount of patience I would need to deal with patients. I was also surprised at how I would feel when a patient was very sick...[full comment]

I was absolutely amazed at how much information registered nurses actually have to have to do their jobs effectively. The things that they know are so vast and complex....[full comment]

You will not be good at this profession if you don't have patients or you cant deal with combative people or seeing death. They don't really teach you about how...[full comment]

Every nurse I talk to has different likes and dislikes. I like doing wound care. It's interesting and I love seeing the wounds healing and the patient looking better and...[full comment]

1. Pay attention in science and math. Nurses do a lot of that. 2. Go to community college or university because you can be an RN with either. 3. Part-time...[full comment]

The worst part of the job is to encounter people who are suffering and you can only try to ease their pain. Sometimes it feels like you have done so...[full comment]

Please make sure you are willing to work hard and have the ability to be compassionate. Sometime people's troubles can wear at you and there is not always a thank...[full comment]

I finally have time to spend with my patients, and I realize that they appreciate what I do for them. Whether it be advocating for a patient's needs or helping...[full comment]

I would go ahead and complete a BSN immediately, rather than complete an associate's degree. Many hospitals currently won't hire anyone without a B.S.! I would work in a large...[full comment]

The best part about my job is working with a great group of supportive people. The worst part about my job is that I have to do a rotating shift...[full comment]

If you're thinking about going into nursing, pursue it because you want to for yourself and not for anyone else. It will be thankless, grueling work unless you're into it....[full comment]

 
 

School and Career Surprises: Tips From People on the Job

Each comment from a hospital nurse includes their career and school satisfaction ratings.

Career: "It surprised me that nursing was a extremely demanding job. It is very stressful and patients can be very rude. I was also surprised that on the job training isn't adequate and that you must learn through experience to the detriment of your patients."

School: Studied Nursing at Mennonite College Of Nursing At Illinois State University in Illinois; completed Master degree in 2010.
Career: Nurse, male, 1 years of experience, currently based in Illinois.

Career: "I was surprised at the amount of patience I would need to deal with patients. I was also surprised at how I would feel when a patient was very sick and I was afraid they would die."

School: Studied Nursing at Dalton State College in Georgia; completed Associate degree in 2010.
Career: Registered Nurse, female, 1 years of experience, currently based in Georgia.

Career: "I was absolutely amazed at how much information registered nurses actually have to have to do their jobs effectively. The things that they know are so vast and complex. People look at nurses as those who change beds, supply bed pans and give an injection or two. Once I began studying nursing and then once I began to practice I was blown away at the knowledge and responsibility that nurses hold."

School: Studied Nursing at Arizona State University in Arizona; completed Bachelor degree in 1996.
Career: Registered Nurse, female, 15 years of experience, currently based in Michigan.

Career: "You will not be good at this profession if you don't have patients or you cant deal with combative people or seeing death. They don't really teach you about how to handle a person who is mentally ill and refuses help. it involves more than passing pills, sometimes you may have to change a grown persons diaper or help in there washing up. There is a lot of things that you will experience and different situations you will see that no school will teach you."

School: Studied Nursing at Ohio State University in Ohio; completed Bachelor degree in 2004.
Career: Registered Nurse, female, 8 years of experience, currently based in Ohio.

Best & Worst Things About This Career

As reported by people currently doing the job

"Every nurse I talk to has different likes and dislikes. I like doing wound care. It's interesting and I love seeing the wounds healing and the patient looking better and better each day. Also I get to talk to my patients while doing that, so I can be caring and comforting. Other nurses hate it because it deals with pus, blood, staples and seeing open skin, sometimes to the bone. Also, I work only three days a week (12 hour shifts). I get 4 day weekends. Yay! The worst part of my job is having to write everything down. I think it takes too much time and I ramble."

School : BS, Nursing
Career: Registered Nurse At A Hospital, currently based in North Carolina.;

Tips for Succeeding in This Career

Helpful Info From Insiders

"1. Pay attention in science and math. Nurses do a lot of that. 2. Go to community college or university because you can be an RN with either. 3. Part-time or summer jobs as nursing assistants or transporters, taking patients around the hospital in wheel chairs or stretchers, will give you a really close look at how all the team members work with each other. You may decide you don't want to be a nurse. You might want to be a case manager or radiologist. We all work together."

School : BS, Nursing
Career: Registered Nurse At A Hospital, currently based in North Carolina.;