Nursing

fifomania

Sorry if this is in the wrong place, couldn't see anywhere else to put it!
How do people know if they would like Nursing as a job and if they would be good at it?
I'm returning to ed. and have Nursing on my list of courses. I have a very caring nature, am really friendly and a good listener and have been told what a good nurse I would make.
But is there anyway of knowing you would be good at it?
I don't want to mess up applying this year! :rolleyes:
Thanks!

kelle

You should contact your local hospital and ask if you can spend a week observing nurses working on different wards and departments.
You will be able to decide if it is what you would like to do for the next 40 years.

I did, and decided it wasn't for me!

Wishbone Ash

It may be more appropriate to narrow it down a bit - there are five categories of nursing - general, psychiatric, intellectual disability, sick children and midwifery. Which one are you referring to?

Aliodon

I wanted to return to nursing last year, but like yourself I wasn't sure if I was cut out for it. I had been let go from my job doing accounts in the construction industry, so it was a far jump from where I was at. I would recommend anyone thinking of getting into any strain of nursing as a mature student to do a Fetac level 5 in Nursing or Care Assistant first. You will be grant aided and then you can apply both as a Mature Student and a Fetac Student, meaning you have a double bite at the cherry. Especially if you don't have a Leaving Cert. You need to get all your distinctions in each module,which are achievable, provided you put in the work. That works out the equivalent of 400 points on the Leaving Cert. Mature students are not in direct comp. with Leaving Cert students, but places are usually limited to approx 5 per strain of nursing. You are more likely to be considered for third level with a Fetac grounding and you also have the added benefit of 6wks work placement. You will know after that whether or not it is for you. I have gone through the aptitude test, gotten my interview and scoring points, so fingers crossed, hopefully a place at the end of it all. If you think it's for you, give yourself every opportunity by doing the course first. It passes very quickly.........:D:D

pdempz

Hi there! Im a male nurse working in the private sector!

There are, many core traits you need to be a nurse, some are in our genetics and some you will develop through training and experiences.

Saying that, a nurse needs to have a caring persona, must be able to work well in sterssfull environments, have good communication skills, and above all is an interest in medicine(or else training and uni will be very difficult, as in you can study things you hold interest in easier then things you bear no interest in).!!

Nursing tends to place you in difficult circumstances, eg, talking with family members whose loved one is mins from deaths door..... or dealing with angry patients upset re their care, these circumstances do necessitate that you can deal with hostile/grief ridden situations!


If you want to do it go for it, a lot is learnt in UNI but you will have to be prepared to constantly update your knowledege base, as medical treatments are changing on a daily basis, also finicially the more course' you attain the better off you bank a/c will be~!!

Hope this helps!

Laura25

Why don't you try to get some Nursing home experience, you'll soon know if you're cut out for it or not then.
Also, just my opinion but general nursing is probably best if you're not sure too as you can decide later on where you would like to specialise.

pippa87

does anyone know what the differnce in a bsc (bachelor of science) and a bnsc (bachelor of science in nursing) when studying nursing? is one better or a higher degree?