Is being a Registered nurse hard?

I am a nurse in a hospital. Things that I would want you to know about nursing include:

Many hospitals are now requiring new nurses to have a BSN-bachelor of science in nursing degree
Nurses in hospitals work shift work so you could be expected to work during the evening and night
Nurses in hospitals work weekends- weekend time varies by hospital and the unit you work on
Nurses in hospitals work holidays- holiday coverage also varies by hospital and unit
Many hospital nurses now do 12 hour shifts-for some this can be tiring

I have been a nurse for a long time. I have worked weekends, holidays and shift work and still do. I love what I do so what seems to be an inconvenience to others is just part of the reality of being a nurse. Good luck in your future plans.

Hi Julieta!

Nursing school is very rigorous. It will seem like all you do is study and with good reason. Nursing exams can be very difficult. We are responsible for a lot so we have to know a lot. You will encounter many people who say "I dropped out of nursing school because it was too hard." Those who stay around long enough to complete the coursework are the ones who will be the best prepared for the nursing world.

If you successfully complete nursing school know that it is preparation for what you will see once you start working. Nursing is challenging due to the multitasking, prioritizing, and re-prioritizing we must do every single day. Like any other job the longer you work at it the less difficult it will seem. Pay attention in school because you will need to apply some if not all of that knowledge to real-life situations. I love what I do and hope you will too. Nurses are amazing! Best of luck to you.

Patty

I worked in the health care field for 30 years. Worked with many nurses. Takes a lot of compassion, patience, understanding and of course, knowledge. I suggest you talk to a few RNs - go visit a hospital or nursing home and ask the director or someone in management if you can talk with a few staff when they have a break after explaining why you are there - 5 minutes with a few of them should give you a good idea. Talk to more than one though in case you catch someone on a bad day. Have some questions prepared so you don't waste their time. Some sample questions might be: 1) Why did you become a nurse? 2) What is your most rewarding moment or what do you like about the job most? 3) What is most challenging for you as a nurse? 4) What surprised you about the job that you didn't expect? 5) What was the schooling like? After you hear their answers, ask yourself how you would feel or think you would do regarding what their answers brought to light. Good luck!

Becoming a RN takes time and dedication. It includes a lot of studying time. There are many different specialties within this profession. It may be hard at times. We not only deal with our patients but their families as well. The hours are long and you will be on your feet constantly. However, it is rewarding in helping people in their time of need when they are sick. It is a passion one has to become a Nurse. Every profession has a learning curve.

Simple answer is YES. Like Patty said, nursing school is rigorous but it's not only to prepare you for your board exam in order to get your nursing license, once you start working as an RN, people's lives are in your hands & it's a great responsibility. It's not the most glamorous job but it is very rewarding.

The great thing about being an RN though is that there are so many different places & departments you can work on.

Good luck!