Ok quick background I have a B.A in Psychology. Currently working with an awesome Tech company have been with them for 3years. My employment history has been tech support for the last 12 years + ( I am 33). the current company i work for has great benefits and allows me to work from home 100% of the time. However the pay and the career path to management or upper level tech is difficult to reach. I have been in my current role this whole time.

When I was 21 was in an accelerated RN program but didn't finish due to financial reasons. i loved it and learned a lot. I am thinking of pursing an RN degree due to better pay and flexibility. For those of you seasoned nurses do you love it? Do you feel there is good opportunity for growth for nursing?

I love it, but I never really wanted to climb the ladder. My idea of growth in nursing is to learn more & do more to make me a better nurse.

I make enough. I also don't need a lot.

I'll probably stay at bedside until I retire. :)

thanks I just don't wanna regret not going back for nursing and not being where I want to be financially.

If you are just doing it for the money, don't. It's not the gold mine people think it is. It's not always flexible and the nursing shortage is a myth. Many seem to believe that plum nursing jobs just fall into your lap after you graduate. Be prepared to work weekends, nights and holidays. Don't get me wrong , I love being a nurse but be sure you know what you are committing to.

I love nursing, for the work itself and also the flexibility. I work half time and have worked less so I can be home with my kids more -- many other professions require full time work plus, or nothing. I like working some weekends since it gives me those days during the week off. The pay is decent. Most patients and families are appreciative of our efforts to help them. The profession has a wide variety of opportunities -- long term care to critical care, antenatal to geriatric, life flight to hospice....hospitals, homes, nursing facilities, public health, prisons, teaching, case management, clinics.......... I mean, just look at the "specialties" tab here on AN.

The downsides are people can be difficult-- some because they are ALWAYS difficult, and some just because they come to us sick or hurt, and scared. Sometimes it's backbreaking. Sometimes it's heartbreaking. Most of us don't enjoy working holidays. Some managers have no business in leadership. No work is perfect.

Overall though, I really love nursing.

the nursing shortage is a myth. Many seem to believe that plum nursing jobs just fall into your lap after you graduate.

Very important downside I missed. Job markets can be tough, contrary to popular belief.

Before you make any decisions, you need to know more about actual nursing. Can you shadow a few nurses? Observe what they actually do? On a day-to-day basis, what do you picture yourself doing?

Many people have an idea of what nursing is about that does not match reality.

The kind of jobs new nursing grads are doing usually involve, nights, holidays, weekends. People will tell you that there are lots of other roles for nurses out there for nurses, which is sort of true, but not available without specialized experience, connections or further educations.

If you can't shadow (which may not be possible) ... at least volunteer in a hospital or long term care facility. Find out if you like working in that environment before you make any committments.

Honestly, there isn't a lot of career growth in nursing. We have severe salary compression, with staff nurse salaries tending to plateau around 5 years. Average annual "raises" are ~ 3%. The only way to climb the career ladder is by acquiring additional formal credentials. Most management jobs and specialty roles are tied to MSNs these days. It's not at all unusual for Chief Nursing Officers to have doctorates.

Work schedules are very rigid. There's no way to skip out to attend your kid's open house or other event in the middle of the day.... has to be arranged in advance by taking the entire day off. Why in the world do we do it???? There are just a lot of us who really love what we're doing.