If you are looking for a profession in nursing, the only solution is to go to school and learn everything possible about this line of work. Yet, with all of the hours committed to studying and late hours of clinical work, there are still some nuggets of wisdom that isn’t always taught or found in your textbooks.
Here are a few nursing secrets that you just won’t learn in school:
Secret #1: Failing Can Often Be the Key to Success
Even with the hands-on experience that school offers, there is yet another crucial learning tool that is just as effective as the others. It’s something no one really wants to do, but when it comes to learning, it’s inevitable…making mistakes!
More often than not, the best lessons learned are the ones where the biggest mistakes are made. The nursing profession requires zero tolerance for errors because it is actually a matter of life and death. That is why nursing school was created. When learning the nursing profession, expect to make mistakes. The only way a nurse can become an exceptional nurse is if he or she is able to recognize that mistake and learn from it.
This doesn’t mean that one ought not apply him or herself. This is simply a matter of trial and error. Yet, because this is regarding the medical profession, there must be an additional amount of studying and clinical hours that a student must put in before he or she is trusted to care for another human being on behalf of any medical facility. The whole idea behind this secret is that one can learn from their mistakes. A person is less likely to err if they’ve done it before. It is the concept of touching a hot stove. It really only takes one time to remember not to do it again!
Secret #2: Stop to Assess the Situation Before Making a Decision
When it comes to healthcare, it is often necessary to think and act quickly, especially if the field of work is urgent care. As important as this task is, it is also equally important to take a brief moment to assess the situation. Nursing students will be taught protocol procedures on how to handle certain situations based on a conglomerate of past cases and years of research.
However, it is important to realize that the medical profession changes almost as rapidly as the field of communications. It’s just not as recognizable. That is why there is always continuing education for medical professionals.
Each patient is different and needs to be addressed as such based on one’s own medical knowledge, experience, and of course medical regulations. It would be unwise and elementary to attack a case with just a textbook solution. Nursing students need to not only learn what is in their curriculum, but also immerse themselves in what kind of medical research is going on in addition to harvesting as much hands-on experience as possible from their school internships and clinical work. This will prepare students to have a few back-up plans ready to execute when treating their patients.
Secret #3: Nursing Can Be a Stressful Profession
This is probably not regarded as a nursing secret as it is assumed to be common knowledge for those who aren’t even interested in pursuing this line of work. However, it is worth mentioning because it can be said that nursing students often take this particular ‘secret’ lightly.
Nursing is all about assisting to a person’s well being. As a result, situations can become critically serious in a split second. As a newly graduated nurse, it is easy to become emotionally attached to patients. For it can also be said that the reason why one considers the nursing profession is because they care. As a professional, no matter how difficult it is, it is important to keep emotions separate from the task at hand in order to work efficiently. After all, it is for the good of the patient’s well being.
Work Hours
Another thing to consider is the amount of hours that are expected of a nurse. Health care is a 24-hour profession. Contrary to some medical facilities, health care doesn’t close. Even though a nursing job will have a minimal 40 full-time hours to work, the chances are highly likely that he or she will work more than that. There are several variables that can result in working over the 40-hour requirement. Also, it is not uncommon for a nurse to work another 8-hour shift after he or she has completed one.
Here are a few reasons why a nurse might have to work overtime:
- Someone calls in – In the medical profession, when someone calls in, it is crucial for that person’s shift to be filled. Doctors and patients are counting on nurses to care for their well being. Someone’s life depends on it.
- Emergencies – This is quite broad, but an emergency is an emergency! Instances like 9/11, mass shootings, and natural disasters that bring in a high amount of patients at one time require all hands on deck. This is the commitment that is expected of a nurse. If a nurse has only an hour left of his or her shift and an emergency arises, that person is expected to fulfill his or her duty, even if it means working overtime.
FNU: Teaching You Everything You Need to Know about Nursing
Florida National University (FNU) is dedicated to equipping our students with everything they need to know about the nursing profession. We are a regionally accredited institution with a faculty of leading professionals in their respective fields. Located in Miami, Florida, we have an appealing destination to applicants from around the globe. Students have the opportunity to attain a quality education while enjoying all of the dynamic activities available in South Florida.
When pursuing an FNU nursing degree, prospective students also have the option to earn some of their credits online. So no matter where you are, you can still get the stellar education offered by our university.
As an aspiring nursing student, you want to learn as much as you can about the medical profession. Taking a leap into making that dream of becoming a nurse a reality. Apply to FNU’s nursing program today by starting the enrollment process now.
