Today was the first day of class and I feel A LOT better about it. The fear of the unknown had me completely freaked out this summer! I will write more later.....I'm a talker and will tell you anything but I will stick to the questions we were asked for now.
What made you want to be a nurse? I started TCC Nursing back in 1993 or 1994 but due to my other interests and lack of focus my grades didn't enable me to keep my student loans and I wasn't focused/dedicated enough to go to school full-time and try to work....so I got married and postponed my dreams. Life happened, 2 divorces and a daughter later.....finances are worked out, grades are stellar now that I have a goal and I'm here. I have always loved the medical field. When Nursing didn't work out the first time I decided to do Medical Transcription training so I could be a Stay-At-Home mom....it was the best decision ever. I have stayed in the medical field in one form or another since and I'm tired of being on the back end. I want to be front line, hands on, in the room as it's happening....NOT typing what the doctor said happened. I want to help people. I want to be able to volunteer with the Red Cross and go to places that need nursing help like Katrina and Haiti. I want to have a career that I'm proud up and that my child will be proud of. I have wanted this for a long time but it just took a while for the pieces to fall into place and for me to get the courage, at 36, to go back to school and pursue my dream.
What type of nursing do you think you want to pursue? I would LOVE to be in the ER but it scares me. I think I'm pretty good under pressure and can think on my feet. I like the idea that it would be something different every day. I do NOT want to work 8-5 in a doctor's office (for now) because that just seems boring. I would prefer three 12-hour shifts at the hospital and have 4 days to spend with my daughter and going on field trips and participating with her. She is going to miss out a lot with me over the next few years and I want to be there for her as much as possible. Ultimately, when things slow down and she gets older I would like to work for the VA.
What is your definition of a nurse? A nurse is there to not only administer meds and take vitals but also to listen. It is the nurse's job to get to the root of the patient's problem. The nurse is going to be the one who "picks up the pieces" when the doctor gives them the "death sentence" as well as share in the joy of the births and good news. A nurse may be the one to laugh with you as well as hold your hand as you cry. I don't want to feel like my patient's are "just a number". I'm not saying I'm going to get personally involved with them but I don't want to just rush in, take vitals, dispense drugs and then tell them I'm sorry on my way out the door to the next patient. I'm sure I'm probably delusional when thinking this way due to the time demands on the floor and the patient load but that's what I would like to do "in a perfect world".
