NursingLink

1) Bedside nursing does carry an increased risk of injury due to the physical demands. Some areas have lower risk than others. Remaining healthy, asking for help and using lifting devices can help decrease your risk. 2) Nursing is absolutely one of the most flexible professions. Over the course of my career I have worked full time, part time, PRN (as needed), days, evenings, nights, 8 hr and 12 hr shifts. As a bedside nurse you would spend your share of weekends and holidays away from your family 3) Nursing school is tough but then so is anything worthwhile. The best survival tools are determination to see it through no matter what and having support. You will form bonds with your classmates, some that will last a lifetime. Support from your family is optimal. 4) The questions that I recommend you ask yourself are: Do I want to be a nurse? (and) Am I willing to do whatever it takes to become one?  Nursing is a profession like no other with many demands but with litmitless rewards.  Sincere best wishes as you move forward with your decisions.

 With all of the different positions you must get into to provide home care it is impossible to remain pain free.  I have done IV therapy and placing PICC lines in patients at home.  I had a premie I had to place a Picc line into, this child had NO veins. I was bent over the kitchen table almost an hour from start to finish. I could barely move for days.  Most of your activities caring for people in their homes means bending, kneeling and basically caring for the patient wherever he is at in his home.  I get 2 massages a week, accupressure to be exact.  This allows me to continue to do what I love.  Walking helps also.  Driving long distances in your car is also demanding on your back and neck.  Sitting in traffic is stressful.  Their are a lot more aggressive drivers than used to be on the road.  People are just not nice when they are in a car.  Also a hazard to nurses is the areas you must go into now adays. I have several bangers that are patients mostly quads from gunshot wounds.  I remember one night I was heading into a bad area it was about 8 pm. I found the apartment building and pulled up to the curb I noticed a man with a long trench coat walking very quickly towards my car, as it became evident he was heading towards me I was looking straight at him as I was grabbing for my phone, I noticed under his left arm the barrel of a shot gun, at this point I was in a panic trying to dial 911 and put my keys back into the ignition, he was about 30 feet away when my patients daughter came running out of the front of the building yelling "shes okay shes okay" the man stopped and looked at her and looked back at me, turned around and walked away.  After I re-started my heart, I went into the patients apartment.  Apparently that guy was the local dealer and thought I was a cop.  The next day I called the doc and got orders that we were not to go into that area after 5 pm.  The things we put ourselves through for patient care!

I am not a lvn or nurse yet, but hope to be.  My understanding is that there are so many types of nursing such as, surgery centers or school nursing.   Good luck...