Before you decide to pursue a career in nursing, it’s important to learn as much as you can about what it’s like to be a nurse. Nursing is a rewarding profession, but it can be physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. Nurses must be compassionate, responsible, and adaptable. They need to be good communicators and critical thinkers. They often work long hours and have to solve problems and make important decisions in stressful situations.
Shadow a nurse
If you’re interested in becoming a nurse, a great way to find out what it’s really like is to shadow a nurse on the job.
If you live in the Bloomington area, you can take advantage of IU Health Bloomington Hospital’s job shadowing program, which provides opportunities for high school students to shadow health care professionals, including nurses. Many other hospitals and health care facilities offer job shadowing programs for high schoolers, so check with health care providers in your area to find out about opportunities near you.