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What a Registered Nurse at Providence Saint Joseph wishes they had known before entering Nursing
Cassandra, a registered nurse, wishes someone had prepared her for the unexpectedly intimate and physically demanding aspects of the job, revealing that "there's a lot more nakedness" and involvement with "bodily functions" than anticipated from previous retail experience. This intimate exposure to patients' physical needs and bodily fluids was a significant adjustment, although ultimately, Cassandra adapted well.
Industry Realities, Workplace Challenges, Hard Truths, Unfiltered, Candid Advice
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Cassandra Ritter
Registered Nurse
Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center
Glendale Community College, California State University, San Marcos , 2010
N/A
Biology & Related Sciences
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Medical
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. The reality of dealing with patients' bodily functions is far more extensive than initially expected. This includes intimate care, cleaning, and invasive procedures.
2. Prior healthcare experience is valuable but not essential. The interviewee successfully transitioned from retail/customer service and adapted to the demands of nursing.
3. Nursing involves a high degree of personal interaction and physical closeness with patients, demanding adaptability and comfort levels with intimate care.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
This might sound a little crass, but there's a lot more nakedness than I would like to be involved in. You're getting up close and personal with strangers and touching things you never thought you would touch. You're doing things you never thought you would do.
People go to the bathroom on themselves. They require cleaning, bathing, and invasive procedures. So there's a lot more bodily functions than I knew I would be participating in or cleaning up after prior to starting this role.
Honestly, I didn't have a lot of healthcare exposure prior to this. I was working mostly in retail and customer service. So in my first semester of nursing school, it was kind of a big wake-up call.
Fortunately, I adjusted very easily, and I think a lot of my classmates did too. But it was a lot more personal than I thought it was going to be. I didn't realize how up close and personal I'd be with people's bodily functions and their body parts, if that makes sense. It's a little messier than I thought it was going to be.
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