By Richard Freedberg, RN, MSN, MPA
I’m not sure I still want to be a nurse. Has this thought ever crossed your mind? Whether you have heard fellow students or new graduates openly disclose it, it’s fairly safe to assume many share the same doubts and apprehensions. Here’s what we all need to agree on: It is never wrong to have doubts since they are an important part of the human experience. They sometimes prevent us from blindly racing down the wrong path. We should also recognize qualms can arise from insecurity about unfamiliar situations, in which case, we ought to have a reasoned and reflective conversation. So, let’s talk …
There are a couple of important questions to ask. The first: What does not wanting to be a nurse mean? Are you questioning your knowledge base and cognitive or thinking capability? Or are you perhaps concerned about your clinical ability? Perhaps you fear making the wrong decision and inadvertently causing harm to a patient. Maybe it is a more elemental concern; you are really uncomfortable being around sick people who need you and feel some conflict about that. Or might it be that your studies and recent experiences have made you aware of new potential opportunities more congruent with your interests and life goals?
Let’s take a look at some of these questions.
We need to take a moment and remember we don’t necessarily feel confident with newly acquired knowledge and skills. Remember the first week after learning how to ride a bike or how to drive a car or how to give a subcutaneous injection, insert a NG, or start an IV or … (insert any one of a billion potential items here!). We just barely knew how. We could do it, but there was a lot of uncertainty and fear of failure. The analogy to initial nursing practice is appropriate. Some pretty seasoned nurse theorists and educators uniformly agree students and new graduates experience an unsettling transition period during which fledgling nurses find their nursing voice, mindset, and rhythm prior to feeling ANY (sorry for shouting) level of comfort in their nursing practice. The take home message is this: Time truly does make a wonderful difference. We feel comfort, purpose, and professional gratification in the clinical environment through practice and experience.
We also need to consider the motivations and expectations that led to our decisions to become nurses …
Visit Stressed Out Nurses.com for the rest of the article and visit our marketplace to take a glimpse at Freedberg’s book.
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:52 am
After study a few of the posts on your web site today, and I really like your style of blogging. I added it to my bookmark web site list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know your opinion.
December 23rd, 2010 at 11:38 am
An astonishing share, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thank you for the treat! But yeah Thnx for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more info? It is extremely helpful for me. Two thumb up for this blogpost!
December 24th, 2010 at 12:13 am
After study a few of the posts on your site these few days, and I really like your style of blogging. I tag it to my bookmark blog list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my website as well and let me know your thought.
December 25th, 2010 at 1:26 am
It’s unusual for me to find something on the cyberspace that is as entertaining and fascinating as what you’ve got here. Your page is lovely, your graphics are great, and what’s more, you use reference that are relevant to what you’re saying. You’re certainly one in a million, great job!
January 4th, 2011 at 2:04 pm
I have built a blog and I am trying to find a new template.Yours looks pretty decent! Feel free to visit my blog and suggest things!
January 5th, 2011 at 4:26 am
Excellent blogger, Thanks for delivering the important article. I found it informative. Kind regards !!
January 5th, 2011 at 11:13 am
I’m impressed, I have to say. Very seldom do I come across a blog thats both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is important; the issue is something that not enough people are talking intelligently about. I’m really happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something relating to this. 2011 Happy New Year!
January 5th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
I’m impressed, I have to say. Really seldom do I discovered a blog that is both educational and entertaining, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. Your article is outstanding; the issue is something that not a lot of people are talking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something relating to this. Happy New Year 2011!
January 6th, 2011 at 1:10 am
Certainly, I do suppose My spouse and i could not work with for you to keep going longer in comparison with anticipated.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:37 am
hey i simply just want to say that this stuff never gets old, love it, carry on the great info, its better reading this than working for a living, cheers
January 6th, 2011 at 8:06 am
Cheers and Please continue to keep updating your Weblog. I will be stopping by each time you do.
January 7th, 2011 at 4:21 am
P90x equipment are the best and the most useful ones as well. The people across the world have been trying to find the various ways to understand the P90x equipment.
January 7th, 2011 at 5:21 am
acai berry is really helpful and weight loss with it become easy..
January 8th, 2011 at 4:39 am
I absolutely love Electronic Cigarettes (Personal Vaporizers) and have not had the desire to smoke a regular tobacco cigarette or utilize any tobacco product for exactly 7 months. I am thrilled and have attempted to quit smoking for over the past 10 years and have been unsuccessful. By utilizing the electronic cigarette, I have reduced the amount of daily nicotine intake and feel fantastic. This is truly the best invention of the century! Thanks all and I pray that the FDA in the United States will not ban the importation of these producst while testing the validity of results of a smoking cessation device.
January 10th, 2011 at 8:47 am
Reverse Phone Lookup is one of the best technology to Find the owner of any cell phone and landline phone, using this powerful cross-database search engine.
January 10th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
The internet site is extremely challenging,I’d really like to plug with u,may my spouse and i routed email to your account?