Is nursing a good field to go into? Is it very hard, the work and being on your feet all day?

It depends on what you want out of a career. If you want money, then yes it's great field to go in to because nurses start out with high salaries ($50,000 entry level, and espescially considering that you can get in to the field with an associate's degree) and advancement is generally good if you've been in the field for a long time and you continue your education (not to mention that you'll also get salary bumps as you get more experience). Further, after you gain experience and continue your education (at least a bachelor's degree), you can move up into management and even teach if you want. So yes, the money and career advancement is good.

As for the work, nursing is a difficult field, especially in the beginning. You're on your feet all day, you have to put into practice everything you've been taught, and you'll likely have to work at least some odd hours. Also, you will have to clean feces and keep patients clean (depending on if you work in a hospital and what unit you're in), and quite probably some other unpleasant things that you wouldn't do unless you were being paid to do them. The good news is that you can work as little as 24 a week and still make good money (I mention this here because there's huge difference between working on your feet for 40 hours a week and 24), so although the work isn't easy, you can have enough time off to not get overwhelmed. Still, my mom's a nurse, and she said that it's a difficult job (even at 24 hours a week) because you have to stay on your feet and stay moving.

Lastly, if you're looking for a career that rewarding, nursing might be a good career for you. My mother has said multiple times that she finds her job very rewarding and loves what she does, so perhaps if you're looking for something along those lines nursing may be a good idea. At any rate, even if you get into nursing and don't like it, you can always change careers.

Nurses who did not get an 'A' in high school Algebra I and II, can put people's life into danger.

That is the only thing that scares me from long experience observing nurses.

They should take at least one more math course in college or nursing school.

Other than that, there are several categories of nurses. RN or registered nurses are the MAIN category.

Even these vary greatly for personal skills and abillities, interests and type of work. Some schools are much better than others. Some nurses are much better than others.

Some nurses are extremely sharp. These are the ones who should be Nurse Practicioners, Anesthetists, Surgical Nurses and work in similarly demanding posts.

Personally, I do not think it is very hard but anything can be hard for those with IQs under 110.

I am just guessing, but estimate the average nurse has a 120 IQ, meaning there are a few 100s in there who worked hard and made it through.

I believe most all states have licensing exams you must still take, even if you complete a nursing school. In fact, that is how you actually get your RN, i.e. Registered Nurse title, by taking the qualifying exam from the state where the school is located.

AS TO THE WORK, I did see one survey many years ago that said nurses were near the top insofar as occupations involving a lot of walking about. In general probably still true.

Being on your feet is NOT so bad if you can walk around too. I think jobs where you must stand all day in one spot are worse.

I do not recall seeing any nurses who had to stand in one spot all through a shift.

But many nurse posts can be mentally and physically exhausting -- Emergency Room, Pediatrics, I.C.U., Surgical Nurse, Psychiatric Nurse. You really need your time off and there can be 'burn out' in some cases after a number of years.

If that happens, one can always switch to a different post or a less stressful post for a while. There are many different types of work a nurse could do, all within the nursing field.

Now, if you become a Nurse, you will have a Head Nurse or Chief Nurse (etc) in charge of you, in some cases with lots of instructions and assignments for you.

You must also follow Doctor's Orders scrupulously.

If you work in the Operating Room, some doctors may not like you, others may. Some doctors can be tyrannical or very impolite. Maybe even throw things on the floor. Other doctors are very nice, some always -- even under pressure.

So you need to be emotionally stable and have a thick skin occasionally. You need to be attentive to details and what your bosses want as well as what is proper or ethical. When conflicts arise you must have good judgment in doing what you construe as proper.

Who should not get in? If you have EVER abused drugs, I think you should stay out, but I am stricter than most.

Certainly, everyone will agree those with drug problems or severe temptations should stay out.

I would also like to see those barred who do not really care about others, but how would you detect that. There have been some nurse murderers, there are a few who make mistakes in sterile technique that show uncaring attitude if not actual ignorance or stupidity.

It is such a BIG occupational category you will see a wide range of skills and intelligence, nearly as great as for people in general.

If you are honest and intelligent, if you are attentive to detail, like helping others, and IF you carefully monitor the QUALITY of your own work, it is a GOOD FIELD for you, and one that can further your career, even for other types of work, or other more advanced work.

When you are TOO intelligent, you may miss some 'simple' questions going through school. Hint: School nursing instructors sometimes prefer to go 'by the book' and want you to do the same.

The book says, the FIRST thing to do is take VITAL SIGNS. That is how you get an 'A'

If you do not at all agree with that, they will mark that question wrong, no matter the details.

On the other hand, it IS a good idea in general.

I would recommend you really concentrate on physiology and pharmacology in school. A nurse should REALLY understand how heart, lungs, kidneys work, types of medicines and the like.

You can never learn too much about that. Not enough will make you much less skilled.

If you are less skilled, some slots are out for you. Worse yet, you may scare some doctors OR some patients....

Having said all that, I am not a nurse although I have done MUCH nursing work and many years of medical work.

I am a former Navy Corpsman and Medical Laboratory Technician.

Yes, I have worked with and observed many nurses in many different medical situations.

We all need and love good nurses, especially when we are in the hospital ourselves, sometimes in grave need of help.

I've been an specialized RN for quite a few years, and I must say that its not to busy during the day (my specialty at least). It seems that during the day, its just basic patient care.

However, during the night shift I must admit I am on my feet 95% of the time! I'm sure a lot of the nurses here could agree with me (Code Nurses) that there are a lot more code blue's are night during the night then the day - which requires a lot of walking, running and constant desicion making.

If your concerned about the amount of walking, quite honestly I'm not sure if you're fit out to be a nurse or not. Overall, I enjoy it. I like being busy and moving around (which is why I like the night-shift). As a Code Nurse, saving someones like is so rewarding.

Anyways... basically it is hard work sometimes and then sometimes its not. Okay; there is my short answer :-).

It's a very good field, and you can get LOTS of money. It isn't always hard and you won't always be on your feet and plus I heard that it's fun! It really depends on the type of nursing though. There are many kinds.

Iam just starting my pre reqs for nursing and I have 18-22 classes to take before I can even get into a nursing school but will only take about 2 years. It is hard going to school but it is so much rewarding helping people.

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You start on your feet

My OH has 29 years in the profession

She sits on her butt almost 8 hours a day

you get the sh*t end of the deal...

if you like looking at gross things like blood, feces, and other bodily fluids, by all means go for it.

does that help?