[Soonstudent]

I work in a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility and I’ve been there for about five years. Well about a year ago I was temporarily promoted to a team leader position in manufacturing. I was working so hard at the promotion I think I kind of lost sight of where I would go beyond that. Well about a month into the position I’d had a little time to think about my situation, and I realized there is no way I could continue this job. It isn’t bad, and I make great money, over $50,000 last year, but I think I just want more out of life. I’m 23 and I just can’t accept the fact that this is it. This is what I’ll be doing for the next 25 years. I don’t have a family to support, so I figured if I was going to make a change, now was the time. I started thinking of careers, and one of the first fields that came to mind was healthcare. At first it was radiology, but the more I learned about nursing the more I liked it. I have never been to college so I really want to get a degree. I want a marketable skill that I can carry with me wherever I go, I would love to be able to travel, I get bored kind of easy so there needs to be different areas I can work in and room for advancement, and what better job than nursing to be able to make a contribution to this world. I’ve already been accepted to a school and I’ve all but give notice at my job, so my minds made up. It’s just sometimes I feel selfish. Sometimes I feel like I’m going into nursing just for the flexibility of the career. I’m confident I’ll be a good nurse, and if not, I’m smart enough to know it’s not for me and I’ll do something else. Well what do you guys think? Think I’m making a good decision?

I read how some people just know they were "called" to nursing, that's not me. Anyone else out there that was in a simular situation, moved to nursing and really liked it?

[sierranic]

It sounds like you have yourself in the perfect position to make a move! My recommendation would be to see if it would be possible to shadow a nurse and see how you would like it. Over 50K a year is a big some of money to be giving up if you aren't 100% sure your ready to go into another field <--- but that's just my opinion. If I were in your situation, I would definatly look for a school in my area that offered classes opposite to my work schedule, if after the first semester I felt confident that it was "my future career" then I'd put 100% of my attention toward my education and not my current job. You already know where you don't want to be in 10 years, and the dream of seeing the world is a great dream, so I'd have to say go for it!!

[orrnlori]

I never felt "the calling". I think I'm a good nurse anyway.

I left behind 56,000 per year, a nice desk and chair, perfurme, classy clothes, pretty shoes and a 8-5 M-F work week, no nights, no holidays, no call. There are days when I think, what the heck was I thinking? There are days when I'm very very happy with my job. It's like anything else, good and bad. At the age of 23 I was still out ripping and racing and having fun so I'm no one to judge another 23 year old's aspirations. Nusing has a lot of flexibility. That's one of the reasons I chose it. Good luck with school.

[suzanne4]

The nice thing about nursing is that the sky is the limit. You can be what ever you want to be and do what ever you want to do. You can chose the state where you would like to work and not have to worry about getting licensed again, other than by endorsement, etc. You can always take off from nursing and go back to it later. The choice is definitely yours.............

Good luck...............

[llg]

Your reasons for choosing sound a lot like mine. I entered nursing school about 30 years ago and am still a nurse. There may be parts of nursing ... or types of nursing ... or things about nursing ... that disappoint you or that you find are just not your cup of tea. However, nursing offers such a wide variety of roles that you will probably find something within nursing that feels right for you. Just be prepared to "tough it out" when you have to endure the things you don't like ... and don't limit your view of your career to only those conventional roles that most people take right our of school.

Me? ... Well ... I worked as a neonatal staff nurse for 2 years after graduation, then got my Master's Degree and have spent most of my career in staff development and clinical specialist roles. Eventually, I got my PhD and now work for a children's hospital on programs for nursing students and other special projects in staff development and management. I make decent (but not spectacular) money -- but have terrific hours, lots of flexibility and autonomy, and a great work environment.

Good luck. Welcome to nursing.
llg

[SmilingBluEyes]

nothing wrong from what I see. You have the right to do this as anyone "called" to it.......not everyone feels "called" to nursing. Some do it for economics, others for advancement......and yes some cause they feel "called". There is room for all of us, so jump in and go for it. I see NO problem in what you are doing here. If you want to work hard, have integrity and a measure of intelligence, you will make out fine.

[Soonstudent]

Wow, I'm glad I took the time to read through some of my old posts. It's like reading through a journal. Well, 3 years later and I couldn’t be happier! Just found out I passed the NCLEX and I start work Monday in a STICU that I have been working in for two and a half years while in school. It wasn't always easy working and going to school full time, but it's doable. I had a lot of people criticizing me for leaving such a "good" job to go back to school for nursing. Now everyone has expressed how proud they are. My mom and sister were behind me from the beginning, and I thank them for that. This isn't just about nursing, anyone who isn't happy with their career; YOU CAN do something about it. Just make a plan and stick with it, you will never regret it. Brandon

[I_am_Julia]

Upon reading the first post, I didn't realize it was first posted in 2004. This is such an uplifting update.

Congratulations to you.

Originally Posted by Soonstudent

Wow, I'm glad I took the time to read through some of my old posts. It's like reading through a journal. Well, 3 years later and I couldn’t be happier! Just found out I passed the NCLEX and I start work Monday in a STICU that I have been working in for two and a half years while in school. It wasn't always easy working and going to school full time, but it's doable. I had a lot of people criticizing me for leaving such a "good" job to go back to school for nursing. Now everyone has expressed how proud they are. My mom and sister were behind me from the beginning, and I thank them for that. This isn't just about nursing, anyone who isn't happy with their career; YOU CAN do something about it. Just make a plan and stick with it, you will never regret it. Brandon

[Tweety]

Good luck to you. I wasn't "called" either. From a practical standpoint nursing is a good choice. But you also have to that compassionate edge and like people. I think most of us are both. We want a stable career that pays a middle income, and we like helping folks.

[Soonstudent]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Good luck to you. I wasn't "called" either. From a practical standpoint nursing is a good choice. But you also have to that compassionate edge and like people. I think most of us are both. We want a stable career that pays a middle income, and we like helping folks.

I think you summed it up pretty well Tweety. After being a nurse for 6 months now and a couple years after the start of this thread, I can say I absolutely love my job. It's been great, I had 16 weeks orientation and have been on my own for about two months now. The more I learn the more I enjoy my job. I have been over my head once or twice but there is always someone close by to ask questions. Nursing has definetly changed my life for the better, and hopefully this time next year I can update you guys snowboarding from CO or living on my sailboat in St. Thomas. Brandon