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Any RNs out there?! Can you give me any tips?

732 views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  smguidotti 
#1 ·
Hey all, I was wondering if there are any registered nurses on this forum and if they have any advice for someone just getting into it. I have not started the program yet, just getting the prerequisites out of the way.

The two fields I am mostly interested in are forensic nursing and psychiatric nursing.
 
#2 ·
im not an RN, but i am almost done with school to be an MA.

the biggest thing all my teacher tell my classes is that you have to like working with people and like talking to people. you also have to be caring. if you arent, i would not enter the program.
 
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#3 ·
Well, my wife is an RN and got back from a mandatory meeting today about cuts in benefits. She LOVES caring for patients. She HATES the paperwork and CYA documentation. Patient load is up 25% and is likely to rise. The folks she works for tells the nurses that if they don't like it, they can quit. If there is a nursing shortage, it sure isn't evident in southern Arizona.
 
#4 ·
Well, I KNOW I can handle talking and working with patients.

I am just worried about progressing in the sciences. I have not had very good science teachers in school -- my high school anatomy teacher spent much of class talking about her kids -- but I am hopefull!
 
#5 ·
psychiatric nursing,,,,, huge turnover. Be prepared to be assaulted and be threatened with your job if you resist or fight back. The "patients" are frequently fakers riding the system and have all the rights. Once the state says they are crazy they can and do get away with anything. The places generally cut staff to the bone and hang their nurses out to dry. SO called child ones arnt any better in fact they are worse. On the outside they boo hoo about children, but forget the fact that some of them are the size and strength of full grown men.
 
#6 ·
Pysch nursing is pretty specialized, it was my first choice but honestly there just aren't that many positions out there (compared to other areas of healthcare) and it really limits you as to the places you can work. A good way to know what is in demand in your area is to simply surf careerbuilderdot com or another local site to see just where the jobs are and how much the wages will be-and what the work requirements are in terms of experience. You should consider working Med-Surg or some other area before you specialize just so you have that experience to fall back on.

As far as advice about school here's some random thoughts. Learn the basics of anatomy/phys and pharmacology backwards and forwards! You need it all the way through school (obviously) and the more comfortable you are with how the body works the easier time you will have. Oh, and acquire mad mathematical skills if you don't have them already, you'll need them to calculate and administer medications-and all programs have regular math tests that you msut pass to continue.

Learn how to study-that sounds basic but it really is something that will help you all the way through. Learn how to research and write college level papers as you will have to do this all through our program. Most colleges have labs where you can go and get tips on how to be efficient when you study so use them- this is a field where knowledge retention is key!

Even now, think about where you are going to get your BSN after you do the Associates. It used to be that all a nurse needed was the ADN, but now due to various regulations hospitals prefer to hire those with the BSN and having it will expand your job opportunities.

Lastly, be prepared to loose several years of your life to school. It's all-consuming, and you have to make excellent grades just to get into a program. Once you are in the program, you MUST maintain great grades as there are minimum standards and trust me, you do not want to be marginal and on the edge of passing any of your classes.

Hope that helps, and good luck :)
 
#8 ·
Well, I lose focus very easily, I admit :oops:

But I have a great memory! So for me, I just need to be able to stay put and not side tracked!

Thankfully, I can write college level papers - English was my strong point my whole life - math not so much - but I am willing to give it a go.

Thanks for your advice!
 
#7 ·
if you arent a good note taker, look into the cornell note taking system. it is so so good and helps you study if thats not something you are good at !
 
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