<p>hi. I'm interested in majoring in nursing in college.. but I'm not 100% sure. what do nurses usually do on a day to day basis. please share some of your experiences and knowledge. thanks :)</p>
<p>It can vary a lot depending on the setting you work in. For example, if you work as a school nurse, you’ll day will be utterly different to that of an UCI nurse. Most places allow students to shadow. You should look into shadowing some nurses, or volunteering in a hospital ( an ER is a good department to do this in). There’s a lot of hard work, some of it physically difficult, such as moving patients. You will be around a lot of disgusting sites, and smells, fecal matter, vomit, people who have huge sores, etc etc…You have to deal with a lot of annoying patients, In some departments, like an emergency room, being assaulted is quite common. Nurses do a lot of procedures, caths, IVs, give meds, restrain people etc.</p>
<p>Nursing is a wide open field – bedside nursing in acute care, hospice, rehab. Community nursing in places such as schools, industry, churches, working with homeless or disabled etc. Can work with all ages. With experience can work in a managerial role, in industry or pharmaceuticals as a consultant, faculty at a college. Degrees range from AS to phd.</p>
<p>Personally, I am a masters prepared RN who works in critical care. I enjoy the fast pace, critical thinking, technology, teaching patients and families, training newer nurse. I care for 1 or 2 patients. I’ve worked in this field for 20 years, so no longer need to rotate but work weekends and holidays (I’m used to and it works for my family). It is very physical work and takes a toll on your body and some days on your mental health. It’s a very flexible career choice that really can be anything you want to make of it.</p>
<p>Try to find someone you know personally who’s brain you can pick a bit. Or as suggested above, see if you can shadow someone before you commit to nursing as a major.
Good Luck</p>
<p>I’ve been an RN (BSN) for 20 years-10 years Peds ICU and now 10 years in the Operating Room. I make pretty good money and have good benefits. I have worked rotating shifts and many holidays plus taken call for the OR. Now I am M-F with no holidays. I think with a degree in nursing you will have no problems finding a job although you have to be flexible with your schedule. I would recommend at least your Bachelor’s. Some hospitals are putting more pressure on RNs by replacing them with NAs which is unfortunate for everyone involved. It is a hard job mentally and physically no matter where you work-hospital, clinic, school or even teaching. Personally I want to be a nurse in Disney World! PM me if you want some info on being an OR nurse!</p>
<p>I work in the other end of Nursing, I work in Administration. I love it. Monday through Friday, no holidays, no weekends. Nursing has a 30% job growth rate for 2012. I agree with Hawkrn, you need at least your Bachelors now. Nursing Schools are becoming harder and harder to get into these days. But there are a lot of job opportunities in Nursing. Good Luck</p>
<p>I am also a pedi ICU nurse. It is a hard job, but where I work we have so much autonomy, and are constantly learning. I love working with patients and families. right now I have taken a break and am doing research oriented things per health reasons. there is so much you can do with it, but remember you need to have empathy and compassion.</p>
<p>I’ve worked in numerous roles during my 30+ year career from floor nursing to PACU to outpatient to visiting nurse to community health nursing to school nursing to university instructor. I have an MSN in a clinical field.
I absolutely love my work - very satisfying professionally, intellectually as well as addressing some compassionate blood that runs through me. I have always wanted more money - but who hasn’t?
I’ve read that in 10 years over 60% of primary care will be delivered by advanced practice nurses. However, a doctorate in nursing will be required by most states to practice at an advanced level. Ever since I was in nursing school, I have been concerned about the various ways nurses can enter practice. I felt the minimum educational requirement for entry into practice should be a BSN.
(Hi dte!)</p>
<p>25 years for me-I’m in cardiology. Very demanding, but flexible. Not just tasks but critical thinking is key</p>