Becoming a nurse & conflict of views

[lauriem33]

I am strongly considering going back to school to become an RN with the intent of also becoming a lactation consultant. I'm just anticipating the conflicts with my own belief in natural healthcare, no vax, etc.... Is there anyone else who has dealt with this and how do you reconcile what you have to learn to graduate with what you actually believe/practice?

[ani'smama]

I'm in the same boat you are - getting ready to start taking pre-reqs for nursing school. I know there is a tribe of nurses/students/pre-req takers in the Finding your Tribe forum. You might check that out.

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by lauriem33

I am strongly considering going back to school to become an RN with the intent of also becoming a lactation consultant. I'm just anticipating the conflicts with my own belief in natural healthcare, no vax, etc.... Is there anyone else who has dealt with this and how do you reconcile what you have to learn to graduate with what you actually believe/practice?

The same way you would separate any other behavior-that-is-appropriate in one place from behavior-that-is-appropriate in a different place. I don't think there is any great "reconciliation" that is necessary -- you give the answers that the exam requires and go on with your own beliefs and practices.

Nursing school really, really isn't going to suck out your soul. When I graduated from nursing school in 1998, I had been practicing as a homebirth midwife for 15 years. You take what is useful and leave the rest behind. If you already have pretty set beliefs about the normalcy of birth, becoming a nurse is not going to turn you into a ranting, uber-technological robot.

Valerie
Illinois

[lauriem33]

Valerie, that's reassuring to know that it won't suck out my soul . That's been really a concern of mine when I watch things like the Baby Story on TLC and find myself making faces at the things the doctors say/do. Like you say, I'll just give the "correct" answer and know that it's getting me where I want to go.

Angie, I didn't know that about a Tribe, I'll check it out. Thanks!

[Breastfeeding Insomniac]

Originally Posted by Valerie

The same way you would separate any other behavior-that-is-appropriate in one place from behavior-that-is-appropriate in a different place. I don't think there is any great "reconciliation" that is necessary -- you give the answers that the exam requires and go on with your own beliefs and practices.

Nursing school really, really isn't going to suck out your soul. When I graduated from nursing school in 1998, I had been practicing as a homebirth midwife for 15 years. You take what is useful and leave the rest behind. If you already have pretty set beliefs about the normalcy of birth, becoming a nurse is not going to turn you into a ranting, uber-technological robot.

Valerie
Illinois

I agree w/ everything said here. You may have to speak up sometimes and bite your tongue other times, but nursing school won't change your beliefs.

[zoebird]

you give the answers that the exam requires and go on with your own beliefs and practices.

this is the truth. i'll be honest, i've done it in my career. i know something to be "incorrect" but i also know that i won't be teaching that anway. i'll answer it the way the teacher wants it, and then when i've got my stamp, i'll teach it the way i feel is right.

[ErinsJuneBug]

I'm in my rehab clinical right now - and honestly its hard. I have taken so many test that have questions like "What is the number 1 practice that reduces the spread of deadly diseases"...answer "vaccinations." Its hard for me to give immunizations to kids all the time, to see antibiotic prescriptions handed out like free candy and to see poor little newly circumcized boys with mothers who just dont know why they are suddenly having a hard time nursing when they were doing great in the hospital on days 1 and 2.

Eventually i think i will either have to go into emergancy medicine or the ICU where i feel like i am actually HELPING patients...not hurting them.

[lauriem33]

Yeah, the vax thing really kills me. I can't imagine how I would go about vaxing other people's kids and feeling that they are at the very least under-informed by the usual staff when I am absolutely against it for myself and my own kids. Same with all the prescription meds. I just keep thinking to myself how I would love to see a doc/nurse with my views so maybe there will be other patients who need a nurse like me (not that we ever go to the dr. but if we did... )

[Malga]

I wondered all of these same questions when I started nursing school. I was working with a homebirth midwife when I decided to start. I loved school-- including the nursing classes. I feel that someone can never have too much knowledge-- I don't think you need to be afraid of being brainwashed, sometimes its good to have beliefs challenged! In fact, it something that I believe everyone needs on a regular basis! I didn't feel like I had to do a lot of lying on exams or anything. A midwife taught my maternal-child health class and I didn't disagree with anything she said (at least that I can remember right now). Go in with an open mind. You will learn way more than just OB and you will find much of the info. useful for life in general.