Am I cut out to be a nurse?

Hi, oh you poor thing, what a dilemma for you. I'm wondering how old you are, the reason for this is as to whether it would be worth your time to go and do the 3yr course.(maybe less if RPL is applied). I take my hat off to you working in Aged Care, it is undoubtedly one of the most challenging areas. You're right when you say that things do change as you get older, however something to consider is that the people you take care of have limited control over their surroundings and yes it is easy for them to lose perspective. That is not to say they are not allowed to complain every now and again. I reagrd to your question there are a coule of things to consider, firstly financial; you will need to continue working while you study, this can be quite challenging in itself and you need to be very disciplined and secondly; you need to have a really good think about whether you think you're tired and cross BECAUSE of the area you work (aged care) or is it that you're NOT REALLY a people person. Its a confronting question and can be a difficult one to address, however you need to think about it and be honest with yourself. There's no shame in admitting the truth. In the world of nursing there will ALWAYS be people complaining (and not just the patients!!), telling you how to do your job, getting cross because you were late with pills and patient nurse personality differences. Are you able to overcome these?
Perhaps your concern just needs a different perspective. The people who require our services are vunerable, scared, often in unfamiliar surroundings with abnormal routines, away from their families/pets etc. They have been stripped of their privacy both physically and emotionally, they have very little control over there environment and then there is the actual reason as to why they are in hospital.
I am a Registered Nurse and love my job. I have been working as a nurse for nearly 20yrs (I am still realatively young however:-)), I have 2 specialist certificates and I have worked in many different areas and locations, doing all sorts of interesting things. You may think me "abnormal" however I believe it is a privilage to be able to care for people and think and hope everyday that if I am ever in a similar situation that there will be someone to take care of me in my time of need, reassure and protect me.
I think if you are serioulsy considering it (becoming a RN), then give it a go! There is plenty of scope once you're registered. Hospital (wards, specialist areas), schools, military, holiday places (ie ski resorts), health Ins agencies and other large employers such as tyre making factories, goal, cruise ships (ie P&O). Then on top of that you are able to travel, intrastate, interstate and internationally. There are Uni Open Days, it would be worthwhile going along and talking to the lectures. As well as doing some research online of the Uni's, the programs offered and various differences. Good Luck, I hope I haven't scared you off!!!

hi JP,

i have worked in aged care as a PCA/AIN and im now about to start studying to be a Div 2 (EN). my personal opinion is that just the very fact that you can acknowledge that you find it draining and tough at times just means you are human!

i worked in aged care for 2 yrs as a PCA, and sometimes i enjoyed it, but sometimes i hated it too. its not easy work, the pay is bad and often you arent treated well by co-workers, management and also the residents themselves. sometimes though, it all is made worthiwhile when you realise that youre helping someone do what they cant do for themselves. or when some helpless elderly person apologises for you having to 'clean up an accident' they may have had- and you KNOW they feel awful, you know that their pride and self dignity is at stake- and that your ability to be kind and caring and make them feel less embarressed is so important. it may not be 'PC" to say it, but my experience has been that as people age, often they do bcome more demanding, more stubborn, even our own grandparents as much as we love them can bcome difficult and stubborn and set in their ways the older they get. and understandably so....its frustrating not to be able to do things for yourself, and living in even the most beautiful aged care facility is NOT the same as living independantly in your own home. we'll probably be exactly the same when we get to that age! : )

my mum is a nurse, and she has worked in all kinds of areas of nursing, such as theatre, paeds, surgical wards, medical wards and over the past 15 odd years aged care. she loves her job- but there are lots of things about working in aged care that frustrate her, and get her down. but thankfully there are also many times when she realises why shes doing what shes doing... when someone tells her how she is their favourite nurse, that she is a wonderful person and how thankful they are that she is there to care for them. when she realises that she can STILL make a difference in someones life just by doing her job well and w ith respect and compassion. there are highs, and there are lows just like in most things i guess.

so you are not alone. i say dont let your negative experiences in aged care turn you off a whole career. the scope of practice for a nurse is so much more that that of a PCA/AIN. its a completely different realm. yes aged care is still aged care and somethings may always frustrate you. but just think...if you were the RN in charge in a facility then you could be the person who makes a difference OR alternately once qualified you may never step foot in another aged care facility?

i think in nursing there is always going to be times when you feel undervalued, or frustrated, or overworked and tired. but for me personally, the positives really do outweigh the negatives- having worked in other industries and areas im well aware that there is good and bad in everything. you just need to decide whats important to you? for me, it really is the ability to do something that matters, something worthwhile. something where i can 'try' to make a difference. you may find once you are an RN that you find another little 'niche' area that fits you better and that you love. but certainly your experience in aged care should not be the deciding factor in whether you pursue a nursing career. if you have the desire, if you have the ambition and if you know that its something you want to do- then do it.