I just graduated high school with honors and I'm thinking about becoming an ER nurse (I work better under pressure). I've done my research but I have some questions:
1. I know doctors need one year of internship before becoming a resident, but does the same apply for nurses(minus the resident part)? Does require internship?
2. What other kinds of nursing is there? Like, can nurses practice different fields of medicine to assist certain doctors?
3. How many years of education does nursing require?
4. Dumb, childish question time: how much math does nursing require? Math is my worst subject and the only thing holding me back from becoming a nurse.
5. How many hours does nursing eat up? A lot, I assume, but can I get a direct answer?
Anywhoo thank you (yay a rhyme!). Most ERs won't hire new grad RNs without previous experience. Sometimes they will hire a new grad if that new grad had an internship in the ER.
There are lots of different disciplines of nursing- Med/surgical, Telemetry, ICU, OR, Oncology, Pediatrics, Labor/Delivery, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Home Care, Hospice, and on and on.
Usually RN is an associates degree (2yrs) after 2 yrs of prerequisites, so basically like 4 yrs of college.
Nursing requires alot of math!!! Math is extremely important in calculating medication dosages and IV titrations. YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO DO MATH!!! with 100%accuracy. There is no way getting around this, sorry, you could kill someone giving them the wrong dose of a medication.
Nursing school is extremely hard, demanding, and time-consuming, but possible. Kiss your friends, family, job, and social activities goodbye during school. Your priority and responsibility is school, but know that you are working towards something. Keep your eye on the prize and before you know it, you're done and looking for your dream nursing job. Good luck!! Nursing is a great profession! Im not sure what state your in, but in California it's highly competative, but nurses are in high demand so there are no job shortages.
to answer your questions:
1. You'll have to check with the college that has the nursing program you interested in. However, in California there is no "internship." Only a program offered by various community, state, and private colleges. Before being accepted into the program there are specific pre-requisites (courses that you are required to take before you can apply.) Most times these include, basic math, reading, biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology. But again, check with the program at the college your most insterested in, because sometimes they can highly vary from college to college. Once in the program, in California it lasts 2 years at which time, upon completing the colleges other major requirements you are awarded an ADN degree. (a 2 year Associates degree in nursing) And with the ADN degree you are able to sit and take the N-CLEX exam to become a licensed reg. nurse with the state of California and then you can work in a hospital. But some states, hospitals, require a four year BSN degree (bachelor's of science in nursing) at which point it will be another 2 years to finish.
2. There are MANY different types of nursing, and often that is what draws many to the field. You can work in an E.R., assist doctors in surgery, work in labor and delivery, work in neonatal units, work in hospice settings, home care, etc. There are a lot of possibilites. During the 2 year nursing program, most of the time you rotate and get to work in a variety of settings, at which time, you'll find which area you're most interested in.
3. Depends again on the state, and hospital.
4. Again, depends on the program and college that you are applying to. It definately won't hold you back. Just know that it is your "weak" area, know when to ask for help, and study, if it's what you want, you'll get it.
5. Im not sure what you mean by this, however, in terms of studying, again it's a lot. Most programs are HIGHLY competative here in California, with waiting lists at some community colleges of 2-3 years. However, if you are refering to the amount of hours you will work, that again depends on the type of setting you plan on going into. For example, if you plan on working in a hospital, versus PT at an assisted living facility. Or, if you plan on being a traveling nurse where you contract with the hopsital and work somewhere for four months then travel somewhere else after. It all depends.
Best advice, start early, stick with it, and just go for it! Best of Luck! in my nursing school there are 2 semesters of pre-req, (we only neede as high as intermediate algebra) then 2 years of nursing. most places dont like to hire new nurses for ER or ICU but there shortage is bad enough they will put you anywhere you want. I know lots of people who went to those departments straight out of school and made it fine. I work with an ear, nose , and throat DR for 4 years and loved it..you just have to find your nitch. where I'm from some doctors have a "right hand "person who basically assists them in everything, truth be told most doctors would be lost without their nurse or PA ok it requires math but you dont have to be a mathmatician im in college for nursing and i only have to take 1 math class....basic algebra. Im bad at math too lol.
I read someones before me who made it seem like you have to be a genious at math and it just pissed me off so i had to answer. |
