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The road to becoming a registered nurse is long. Whether you pursue an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), the training alone takes anywhere from two to four years. During that time, you learn all about the various aspects of being a registered nurse. Still, training can only prepare you for so much. Most nurses can attest to being surprised by a few things after working the job for a while.
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- You will rely on technology a lot.
- You will have to advocate for patients often.
- You will learn to indiscriminately provide care to all.
- You will work with more men than you expected.
- You will encounter more diversity than you anticipated.
- You will be frightened more often than expected.
- You will learn to set emotional boundaries.
- You will learn that we all have our limits.
Do you think you know what to expect as an RN? Chances are that at least a few of the following eight points will catch you by surprise:
1. You will rely on technology a lot.
You don't need to be an IT professional to be an effective RN, but you at least need to be comfortable with using technology. More than ever, today's nurses rely on advanced technologies to streamline their jobs and to provide more effective care. From electronic health records to point-of-care bar code systems that precisely track assorted data, today's nurses are more technologically equipped and savvy than ever.
2. You will have to advocate for patients often.
It stands to reason that everyone on a health care team has patients' best interests at heart. However, since RNs tend to work directly with patients, they often bring a unique perspective to the table. A rather surprising part of the job for many is acting as an advocate for patients who can't speak up for themselves. While many patients have relatives to help, plenty of others don't. Sometimes, it will feel like you are taking sides against members of your own team, but you will learn to do what it takes to protect your patients.
3. You will learn to indiscriminately provide care to all.
When envisioning your career as a nurse, you probably imagined yourself tending to frail elderly people and other mild-mannered folks. However, the truth is that while many of your patients will be easy to manage, plenty of others will be difficult or even downright frightening. RNs routinely provide care to people from all walks of life, including homeless people and even convicted criminals. It is not your place to judge, and you will learn that you can look past such things to provide effective care.
4. You will work with more men than you expected.
The nursing field continues to be predominately female, with women accounting for around 90 percent of all registered nurses. Although only 10 percent of nurses are currently men, this figure has more than tripled since 1970. Men are increasingly entering the field as they recognize the great opportunities that it holds. After all, many who start out as nurses later move into more advanced roles by obtaining higher levels of training and education. If you didn't go to nursing school with many men, you're sure to be surprised after entering the workforce.
5. You will encounter more diversity than you anticipated.
Just as the majority of nurses are women, RNs have also traditionally been white. Indeed, there wasn't a lot of diversity in the field for many years, but that is swiftly changing. Chances are that in nursing school, you studied alongside plenty of people from different backgrounds and walks of life. The same thing will hold true as you move into the workforce. Diversity in nursing is a good thing because RNs encounter and work with people of all different backgrounds, and it is nice for patients to see diversity among those who care for them.
6. You will be frightened more often than expected.
Chances are that you expected to be freaked out by things here and there as a nurse. For example, you probably dreaded encountering your first bleeding and injured patient. What may surprise you is that the job can be downright hazardous at times. In particular, nurses often come into contact with people who are intoxicated on drugs or alcohol, who are mentally ill or who otherwise aren't in their right state of mind. Nurses are certainly not expected to put up with violence, but they often come closer to it than they'd like.
7. You will learn to set emotional boundaries.
Have you ever seen nurses who don't seem to be rattled by anything? It's easy to assume that they have no emotions at all. In reality, however, nurses simply learn to establish strong emotional boundaries. Since they encounter so much during the course of a day, they must learn not to allow things to affect their performance on the job. Early on, you may think that you will never get to that point. Before you know it, however, you will also be able to witness uncomfortable things without batting an eyelash.
8. You will learn that we all have our limits.
It sometimes seems like some nurses are as tough as nails and that nothing could possibly ever get under their skin. The truth is, however, that all nurses have their limits. No matter how tough you are or how much you've seen, there will be certain things that you will try to avoid at all costs. For some nurses, it's changing diapers if they are the only one at the place. For others, it's administering certain tests or performing other routine tasks. Whatever the case may be, don't be discouraged if you simply can't handle certain things. It happens to all nurses, and your coworkers should understand.
In nursing school, you probably had a certain image of how working as a nurse would be. Even if you studied hard and took all of your lessons to heart, however, nothing can take the place of actual experience. After working as an RN for a while, you're sure to identify with some or all of the points that are highlighted above.