How Can I Better Prepare Myself To Become A Registered Nurse?
Preparing oneself to become a Registered Nurse takes leadership, responsibility, and true dedication. I researched many hours. I did multiple interviews of different nurses. I have looked up many websites that have helped me pin down some answers. However, two nurses answers have stuck with me more than anything.
When I stopped Ms. Casey York (LPN in RN school) and asked he my essential question, this was her answer. " Be confident. Know what you stand for. Know that people will do things in different ways. People will do so much work to not have to do hard work. Take a look at yourself, it will tie over into nursing. Many nurses have "Crossed over to the Dark side. This means they have lost sight of patient care and the fact that a person in not just a paycheck." This struck me. It's true. After listening to Casey and thinking about everything she said, I asked her if she ever had an AH HA moment, she then told me this.. " It was a day that I had clinicals. After taking care of patients all day, I was sitting at home decompressing. During clinicals, we have check lists that we have to complete while at our jobsite. It was probably my best clinical day ever and I realized I had no check offs. That is when I realized that it's not abut check offs, its about being there for your patients not matter what the circumstances are."
Another great interview was with Mrs. Marti Kelley ( Director of Nursing, RN). When I asked Mrs. Marti about my essential question, she filled my paper with so much useful information. She told me, "It's about experience. As an RN, LPN, or CNA, the key ingredient to nursing s experience. You can do all the labs, clinicals, etc. however hands on is what keeps the information in the brain. For instance, you have been told nursing was a lot of paperwork. Without sitting in and helping both Beth and Casey with admission packets, you would have never known it was really that much. It is experience! To help get in nursing school you can volunteer in the summer and at night. This not only will help on your nursing school resume, but also it gives great experience. ATTITUDE is the next important aspect to becoming a Nurse. You have to want to learn, help and be involved. You have to want to learn daily. You have to have a loving and caring heart. And finally, KNOW that you DO NOT know everything!"
Eureka!
The answer to my essential question has been completed through the process of online and book research, also through surveys and interviews of LPN's, RN's, DON's, PCT's that are in school for Nursing, and NP's.
How can I better prepare myself to become a Registered Nurse?
I can better prepare myself to become a better registered nurse by the following:
This is just some of the answers to my EQ for my HMP project. The answers go on and on! These are tips on how to better prepare oneself to becoming a registered Nurse! However, my favorite answers to my essential question were given to me by my mentors.
When I stopped Ms. Casey York (LPN in RN school) and asked he my essential question, this was her answer. " Be confident. Know what you stand for. Know that people will do things in different ways. People will do so much work to not have to do hard work. Take a look at yourself, it will tie over into nursing. Many nurses have "Crossed over to the Dark side. This means they have lost sight of patient care and the fact that a person in not just a paycheck." This struck me. It's true. After listening to Casey and thinking about everything she said, I asked her if she ever had an AH HA moment, she then told me this.. " It was a day that I had clinicals. After taking care of patients all day, I was sitting at home decompressing. During clinicals, we have check lists that we have to complete while at our jobsite. It was probably my best clinical day ever and I realized I had no check offs. That is when I realized that it's not abut check offs, its about being there for your patients not matter what the circumstances are."
Another great interview was with Mrs. Marti Kelley ( Director of Nursing, RN). When I asked Mrs. Marti about my essential question, she filled my paper with so much useful information. She told me, "It's about experience. As an RN, LPN, or CNA, the key ingredient to nursing s experience. You can do all the labs, clinicals, etc. however hands on is what keeps the information in the brain. For instance, you have been told nursing was a lot of paperwork. Without sitting in and helping both Beth and Casey with admission packets, you would have never known it was really that much. It is experience! To help get in nursing school you can volunteer in the summer and at night. This not only will help on your nursing school resume, but also it gives great experience. ATTITUDE is the next important aspect to becoming a Nurse. You have to want to learn, help and be involved. You have to want to learn daily. You have to have a loving and caring heart. And finally, KNOW that you DO NOT know everything!"
Eureka!
The answer to my essential question has been completed through the process of online and book research, also through surveys and interviews of LPN's, RN's, DON's, PCT's that are in school for Nursing, and NP's.
How can I better prepare myself to become a Registered Nurse?
I can better prepare myself to become a better registered nurse by the following:
- Networking with nurses- everyone knows a nurse. Tell them you are a prospective nursing student and that you would love to interview them and take many notes. Afterwards thank them in person and write them a thank you letter to mail the very next day.
- Volunteer in the healthcare field- This could be at Northeast Georgia Medical Field or at The Oaks at Limestone, or anywhere that would love a volunteer. Volunteering looks great for nursing school resumes!
- Think like a nurse- Listen to the news, read papers, search for medical related forums on the internet subscribe to nursing news feeds on social media sites and read them. Lots of information is passed down here.
- Put finances in order- Prepare financially before starting nursing school. Don't take loans out unless you absolutely have to. Don't get a credit card unless you need it and avoid big spending items like a trip around the world.
- HAVE SUPPORT- Whether it is family, friends, church groups, or even other fellow nursing students, you need AS MUCH SUPPORT AS YOU CAN GET. Nursing school is not easy, however, with a large support group, you will not ever feel as stressed and you will gain more confidence in the next four hard years! Also finding a study buddy is a great resource!! (www.jacksonvilleu.com/blog/nursing-school/how-to-prepare-for-nursing-school/#.vnf_voy8lcr)
This is just some of the answers to my EQ for my HMP project. The answers go on and on! These are tips on how to better prepare oneself to becoming a registered Nurse! However, my favorite answers to my essential question were given to me by my mentors.