Nursing questions ? (1 Viewer)

[kaytee91]

Hey guys.

Im thinking of doing nursing next year, and ive just got a couple of questions.
Firstly, i have a sort of aversion to the idea of surgery. Just something about the cutting freaks me out. Will this affect my ability to be a nurse? Im fine with blood and vom and everything else, i dont know, the ctting just freaks me out.

Secondly, whats the best uni to do this course at out of UTS and UOW. I live in the shire and factoring in travel and such, UOW is closer, but ive heard that UTS is better? Any opinions on each side is appreciated haha.

Lastly, are there any subjects that i should be taking? I do eng ext, ancient, modern, bio and society.

Sorry about the length ! Any answers would help me heaps

 

[David Spade]

Chem and maths may have helped. Not much cutting involved as a nurse.

 

[purplemonkey]

Hey there Kaytee! I'm studying nursing at UTS, and I think its the bomb. UOW was my 2nd choice but I'm glad I came here because the course is fantastic, very in-depth. We don't do surgery, thats for the doctors! The only cutting I've done is trimming excess skin off a wound. Bio is probably helpful, although I did General Maths and no sciences and I'm having no trouble keeping up with everything. Hope this helps a bit. If you have any more questions just ask

 

[kaytee91]

Thanks heaps for your answers, especially purple monkey
I cant think of anymore questions atm, but if i do ill be sure to ask. Thanks again!

 

[alongcamedonna]

Hey I've put B Science/M Nursing at USYD as my 1st preference. I was just wondering, what kind of nurse do u want to be?

UTS is pretty good in my opinion, but why not USYD?

 

[purplemonkey]

UTS has the best stand-alone BN in the southern hemisphere. Yeah USYD is good but for undergrad you have to combine it with something else or you can do it post-grad.

I want to be an emergency nurse

 

[lil_georgie_gal]

I agree with purplemonkey, in terms of doing just a bachelor of nursing, UTS is a great uni for it, and i should know seeing as i have just finished and become an RN

With USyd you don't get to start the nursing part until second year and it is only in the last yr of the degree that you get to do a full year of nursing. If you want to just get straight into nursing and see if you enjoy it i would recommend just doing a BN, preferably at UTS

Also coming out with a masters from USyd doesnt give you any advantages in your first few years as everyone is hired in a new grad program through the same interview process, and anyways many senior nurses work and study hard for many more years after graduating so coming straight out of uni with a masters in nursing isn't something you would want to parade around, as it usually takes lots of research to get that.

 

[alongcamedonna]

Lil georgie gal, I understand the fact that you're biased when it comes to which uni to go to since you go to UTS. However, I love science, so this combined degree is just right for me, as the science part of it will just keep me motivated and even more interested with my course. Also, I'll have more knowledge as as an RN, as I can link my tasks with my knowledge in science, in which I'm going to major in anatomy.

Anyway, what do you mean with this whole MASTERS THING? You said that, 'many senior nurses work and study hard for many more years after graduating so coming straight out of uni with a masters in nursing isn't something you would want to parade around, as it usually takes lots of research to get that.' It's a great advantage that I'll have a Masters degree instead of a NORMAL Bachelor's degree.

 

[lil_georgie_gal]

A masters is a degree many nurses i.e. CNC's, CNE's, NUMs etc study many years for. I had a tutor who was doing her masters part time whilst teaching and nursing, and a NUM whom i met on clinical who completed his masters in a research area of the risk of patient falls in hospitals. Consequently my point is that it is a degree achieved after many years of experience and dedicated research in a specialist area, hence it is seen as slightly unfair to come out with a masters after only three years of basic training.

Also the Masters degree will give you no "extras" in terms of salary or stature when coming straight out of university. In the first year everyone who wants to work in NSW Health applies through a new graduate program, and every year after that you are graded as RN1, RN2, RN3 etc. Until you have some real experience the masters isn't worth very much. You won't get paid more than someone else because you have a masters.

I know im bias, but ive worked with alot of nursing students through external work as an AIN and i know that compared to many university's UTS's course is excellent. I'm not saying the USyd course is bad as i know a few people studying there, and i guess its upto everyones individual choice. The double degree is probably the best part about it, and if you think it will keep you motivated then that is a good thing.

Goodluck in your studies

 

[alongcamedonna]

Thanks. What branch of nursing are you considering, lil georgie gal?

 

[lil_georgie_gal]

Not sure yet, you get what you are given in your new grad year unless you choose a speciality like paeds or mental health. Im just doing a general rotation, maybe soemthing in cardiology or crit care based. Too many choices, ill hopefully be prepared to choose after this year.

 

[alongcamedonna]

oww ok. good luck to u too.