Shadow RN?!?!

[75969]

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So, I have been 'pre-med' for a while now...

I have started to consider the possibility of a career in nursing (instead of MD). The more time I spend in the hospital, the more I realize that the RN's have the greatest impact on the patients psychological health while they are in the hospital.

So, from what I gather:

Pros: Previously mentioned patient contact. (this is like 10 pros🙂)
HUGE shortage- able to find a job pretty much anywhere
Decent pay, still have time for family, etc...

Cons: They also seem to have to put up with a lot of crap.
They dont seem to be well respected by staff.
2 year waitlist to start school????

So, in order to see the pros and cons in a more accurate light... I am wondering if it is possible to 'shadow' a nurse? Would I be looked at strangely if I were to ask a nurse if I could do so? Who would I have to clear such a situation with?

Thanks in advance!

 

[lizzied2003]

I think that I would start at either the Nursing Education Department (only from the standpoint of fellow academics may be more helpful) and then also the Nursing Administration (either a VP or a Nurse Manager of a General Unit). I have had NP students shadow me and the University was responsible. Given that you are a layperson technically I am not sure where legality and HIPPA boundries lie. You may actually end up at some point dealing with risk management department.

Good luck.

 

[momof3boys]

Okay daisy958,

Here's what a Registered Nurse will tell you. I've been an RN since 1998. I have in that time had all three of my children, and am still happily--mosst days anyway--to the same man. I wanted to be a doctor since before I can really remember, but the thought of the long hours and commitment to school made me change that. I went into nursing and after the first year of school, I knew that nursing is not where I would stay. It has taken me awhile (see above), but I finished my BSN, with the idea that maybe being an NP would fulfill that desire I still had deep inside to help heal people. My sister-in-law gave me the best advice. She said don't waste your time on the nursing route if you have it in your heart to be a doctor, you'll never be satisfied. She had gone the NP route after nursing school, and she finally at 40 went to med school and graduated in 2004.

Sorry I am long winded, but this is something I actually know about. I have a great family, and they are what keep my going. So, unless you really want to spend the rest of your life doing what the doctor says, even if you know it might not be correct, and cleaning up bed pans, go to med school.

To answer your other questions, often if you want to shadow a nurse, you would either go through administration, or if you have a student counselor at your college, they may be able to give you recommendations. It would not be strange for you to do this. You wouldn't even have to tell the nurse you followed why you were doing it. Remember a couple of things: nurses can either gloss things over for the time you are with them or give the glass is practically empty side of it. If you know any nurses, maybe they would be the best source.

As far as hands on, in this day and age, if you really want to get deep into the psychological rapport, be a nurses aide. Nurses are almost as busy with documentation, phone calls, lab/rad reports and procedures as they are with being with the patients unfortunately. Conversely, we do definately make time, those of us who care. Also, doctors can be there fo patients. They are busy, but the good ones are able to make the patient feel like they are the only one in the world, even if it's for 10 minutes.

 

[albaniandoc]

Great post momof3boys.
I wanted to go to med school for a long time, but as a foreign resident I could not. My attorney advised me to go to nursing school instead in order to get a green card. i have been a nurse for a few years now and I enjoy the profession but I am now back in school doing a post-bach and applying to med school this year. Before I start complaining I want to tell you that nursing has been very kind to me. I have a comfortable lifestyle and a citizenship.
AS a nurse I worked in a surgical step down unit, I did a little critical care (CVICU) and now work in open heart surgery. The reason I chose open heart is that I don't have to deal with patients. When you are on the floor or unit for that matter, the altruism only lasts for so long. You are overworked and stressed. The patients eventually become a pain in the ass. The doctors do not respect you and the managment is always trying to bend you over and hump you. If it's not the patient load, they will cut your PTO or you make your shifts longer. You are floated (sent to work in departments you have never seen) constantly and if they don't need you they simply tell you to go home for the day without pay.
The nursing profession is going to hell in a hand basket. The nursing shortage continues to increase and it is almost scary to be a patient now. Where I worked at night we had a max of 5-6 patients. Within a year we were up to 7. Yet, a year later the nurses now are up to 8 patients. These are patients that are not intubated but maybe 2-3 days post heart surgery. In CVICU now they can take up to 3-4 patients depending on the severity. You will find out anywhere you go you will find some bitchy nurses, most of them fat and out of shape, frustrated with life. The nurses can be cruel to each other and "eat their young". I don't understand where the hostility comes from.
If you dream is really to become a doctor do not stray from it.
You will think twice once you get to clean bed pans and insert foley catheters in 400lbs females.
Good luck to you

 

[75969]

Thanks everyone! (especially mom3boys)

I actually had the concern that I may go into nursing and regret not having gone to medical school. See, I like to be the one making decisions, and am not sure how I would be able to handle 'following orders' regardless of how I feel about them (you really dont have any say?). But with medical school, residency, practice comes long hours, which I wouldnt have a problem with, but I also want to have a family (and actually be able to be there for my kids without missing out on their lives), so that is another consideration.

I have seen sooooo many physicians who look DRAINED....walking around like they are zombies---and that is definately NOT where I want to end up! On the other side though, I have met a few (MD's) who are able to connect with patients, and a few nurses whom I wouldnt want to be in the room with for more than an hour!

So, from what I gather, it is up to you which type of professional you will be (and that is not based upon the particular career path). Doctor = diagnose, major procedures, cure.......Nurse = follow-up, basic (routine) procedures, follow through Dr.'s orders....???

I will still look into nursing (cant hurt to shadow), but am not in any way dismissing physician 🙂 Im so confused?!?! Been thinking of where to apply (medical school, nursing, grad school) for over a year now and am running out of time! The more experience I can get in the mean time, the better....

Thank you all again!

 

[tara14]

Hi Daisy958 - I am going through the exact same situation as you are except I've already been accepted to med school (a DO school), and am still debating whether to become a physician or a NP. What discourages me from being a doctor is a) the amount of student debt I'm going to be in when I'm done (I've calculated it to be ~$250K) B) my desire to have a family, spend time with them and have a good quality of life and c) my age: although I am not "old" for entering med school (I'll be 27), I will be 34/35 when I'm done with residency and being 34/35 with $250K in debt and trying to start a family and a life seems like it will be hard to do (worried about the fertility aspect especially - I wouldn't really like to have a baby during school or residency). It's a really big sacrifice to become a doctor and I personally don't know if I can make those kind of sacrifices. But like you, it's always been my dream and it's a hard one to give up or reroute. I've volunteered and have shadowed both NP's and doctors and I haven't really seen that much of a difference between the two. My cousin just got her NP degree and she is absolutely loving it. What is also discouraging is that every single doctor I talk to about going to med school tells me to "Run away fast" and that medicine isn't what it used to be. So it's a hard decision to make. But whichever way you go - make sure that you are absolutely comfortable with your decision. That's what I'm trying to do .... Good luck!

Thanks everyone! (especially mom3boys)

I actually had the concern that I may go into nursing and regret not having gone to medical school. See, I like to be the one making decisions, and am not sure how I would be able to handle 'following orders' regardless of how I feel about them (you really dont have any say?). But with medical school, residency, practice comes long hours, which I wouldnt have a problem with, but I also want to have a family (and actually be able to be there for my kids without missing out on their lives), so that is another consideration.

I have seen sooooo many physicians who look DRAINED....walking around like they are zombies---and that is definately NOT where I want to end up! On the other side though, I have met a few (MD's) who are able to connect with patients, and a few nurses whom I wouldnt want to be in the room with for more than an hour!

So, from what I gather, it is up to you which type of professional you will be (and that is not based upon the particular career path). Doctor = diagnose, major procedures, cure.......Nurse = follow-up, basic (routine) procedures, follow through Dr.'s orders....???

I will still look into nursing (cant hurt to shadow), but am not in any way dismissing physician 🙂 Im so confused?!?! Been thinking of where to apply (medical school, nursing, grad school) for over a year now and am running out of time! The more experience I can get in the mean time, the better....

Thank you all again!

 

[JourneyRn-MD]

Hey Daisy958- I had to jump in here because I was in a similar situation and chose the nursing route initially. I had a hard time deciding, so while I chose nursing I also continued on with my 'pre-med' coursework and plans on the side. I work in a hospital on a busy cardiac step-down unit, and I do love the interaction I have with my patients as a nurse- but I also find myself wanting more. I feel I could better care for my patients if I knew them on doctor-patient level as a primary care provider, as opposed to caring for them for only a shift or two based on the information I learned in a half-hour nursing report. So I am back in school finishing up my pre-med classes, working as a nurse to pay the bills, and planning to apply for next year to a nearby med school through their early decision program. And this time, I know I am making the right choice : ) Good luck to you in whatever you decide.

 

[chopstick1]

Journey RN-Md, good luck!! I hope you make it. I am also an RN and I love my job but it's very limited. I have a lot of latitude in treating patients in the ER/ICU but the actual scope of practice of nursing is limited. I want to understand why this med does this and patients patho of being sick and how to treat it. you can't get that in nursing so medical school is the right route for me. but I still desire some of the "holistic" aspect so I chose DO. both jobs, MD-DO/RN are very rewarding, caring, compassionate roles. it's all about how you fit into it. good luck in your journey