Should I become a nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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Dear all,

First of all, I have to say how much appreciation I have for nurses all over the world!

I know this question may not be relevant to a lot of articles on this site but I think this is where I will get the best answer to my question.

I would like to ask any nurses out there a few questions about nursing and to see if anyone has been in my situation and changed their career into nursing with a positive outcome.

I have been going through a stage in my life where I feel completely unsatisfied with the way my life/career is and now I feel like I really want a change and to do something vocational where I can make a difference to peoples lives and live a fulfilling life knowing what I'm doing is making a positive impact on people and an actual career that gives life a sense of purpose.

I know a few nurses and they all seem to love their jobs, I know they work very hard and work long shifts, but they seem to get a lot of time off work and are able to "leave their work, at work" and as a consequence get to live a richer fulfilling life outside of their clinical duties.

I've recently been to Vancouver Canada, where I fell In love with the country, its people and the city, I decided I would do anything to live there! After some research I found one of the ways to get there with a permanent visa is through nursing. I wonder if this is true?

My situation currently is, that I work for the NHS in a project management role in the UK. I started a degree in film and Tv years ago and dropped out after my 2nd year as I felt it wasn't for me and for the money I defiantly wasn't learning anything! My A-levels aren't great to go to a top university (although I do have the option to attend a small university with the points I have). But I worry a degree from any less then a good to great university would render you unemployable?

So here's the dilemmas;

1) UNIVERSITY FEES IN THE UK! I'm by far frightened of having a negative outcome of studying a nursing degree for the ridicules tuition fees you have to pay now. For instance I have searched over a million forums and everyone has a different answer for if nurses are in demand or not? I know the government use to pay for nurse tuition fees, is this still true? If there was a way I could get my fees paid for I don't think I would be as nearly hesitant to maker the leap!

2) After going through more forums I discovered nurses seem to get a really tough deal in the UK and England compared to nurses in the more western parts of the world were average starting salaries seem to start at $72k Canadian (or £42k if your English). As well as having all sorts of perks in other country's. Is it true that English nurses get a really bad deal?

I Hope no one minds me seeking advice on this forum, I know some may see this as a place for nurses only, but I came to the conclusion that that the best way to get answers is to ask the people who work in the profession.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

That's a great question, should you become a nurse? I cannot, nor can anyone else, answer that question for you. It's a question that only you can answer for yourself. I am both a Paramedic and an RN. I made both decisions based on what drives me. In my case, both are a means to an end, an expression of who I am and my own personal goals in life.

It's like many serious things in life. Some decisions are truly an intensely personal question that only you can answer. There are nurses here that are nurses because it's a job that pays well. That's fine. I have no qualm or quarrel with their decision because becoming a nurse is still very much a personal decision for them too. They had to decide whether or not it was worth it to go through all the requisite education to become a nurse.

Put another way, it's like deciding to own a gun or to buy a house. Both require some contemplation and introspection before deciding if it is right for you. Sure, you might like to go shooting or you might like being out on your own, but you can rent these things. You don't have to buy. (Being a little simplistic but it's for a point.) Nobody can make you decide that you absolutely have to go out and do something or get something and make it YOURS. Only you can decide this.

Look at all the reasons why you should become a nurse and all the reasons why you shouldn't become a nurse. Then weigh all that against who you are and what your goals are. Then make your decision. If you do decide to be a nurse, know that you'll be embarking on a multi-year process to reach your goal and often that path won't be easy. Just don't do it because of a dare or a challenge. Once it's done or the challenge is met, what then?

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That is a truly great and very refreshing response, thank you very much for your excellent feedback!

I would know, but being a paramedic and a RN must be an incredibly active lifestyle!?

Its great to hear a response from someone who also works in the paramedic field, as this is also something I have been considering (and awaiting a student Paramedic opportunity to arise). I have been weighing up both career choices, but I felt like becoming a paramedic in the Uk might limit my progression into a secondary care hospital setting.

I have been considering it for so long my family and friends have been trying to talk me out off making this decision, but deep down I feel it is something I really have to do in life to feel completely fulfilled, I think its just the tuition fees that put me off, but I suppose I just have to bite that bullet!

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Move to USA only need two year community college degree to become RN

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Canadians do not start at $72000 annually. Here in Nova Scotia you are looking at approx $65000. Each province is different and this comparison is for 2014 but should give you an idea https://nursesunions.ca/sites/default/files/cfnu_contract_comparison_nov.2014_en_0.pdf

whether the bursary is still paid I would suggest checking out the university school of nursing websites as it will be indicated there current situation plus contact info

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Plus I don't see any perks here in Canada or get any perks apart from occasional discount which isn't much and had similar offers in the UK. Also because UK nurse training is so specialized it is harder to work overseas and some elements are missing

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
That is a truly great and very refreshing response, thank you very much for your excellent feedback!

I would know, but being a paramedic and a RN must be an incredibly active lifestyle!?

Its great to hear a response from someone who also works in the paramedic field, as this is also something I have been considering (and awaiting a student Paramedic opportunity to arise). I have been weighing up both career choices, but I felt like becoming a paramedic in the Uk might limit my progression into a secondary care hospital setting.

I have been considering it for so long my family and friends have been trying to talk me out off making this decision, but deep down I feel it is something I really have to do in life to feel completely fulfilled, I think its just the tuition fees that put me off, but I suppose I just have to bite that bullet!

Please do note that I'm in the US, so the training for both will be different from what's done in the UK. If you're looking to work in another country, foreign to the UK, take a very hard look at their educational requirements to work in a given field there. Each country/state sets their own requirements for nursing and for Paramedic. Here in the US, most Registered Nurses are required to earn an Associates Degree (2 years). Some choose to earn a Bachelors Degree (4 years). Paramedic training can be completed in 6 months to a year, sometimes 2, and most programs do not result in a degree. Other countries may have higher educational requirements for a Paramedic than for a nurse. In those places, a Paramedic has a very high degree of autonomy and often a very wide scope of practice because the local conditions demand it.

So, choose where you want to live ultimately, choose your desired field, and choose carefully to allow you the flexibility to do what you want to do, meaning being sufficiently well educated to be licensed in the UK should you choose to stay there. You do have options, look at all of them and choose well, giving the subject of your choice the gravity it deserves.

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Dear all,

Some fantastic feed back, thank you all very much!

However, I need to call upon all your expert advice again!

I have decided to sit some A-levels next year and to start studying this year. However I may be doing a distance learning course as it is a tad late to be starting a access to nursing course!

There's lots of choice out there when it comes to distance learning. I would be taking biology and psychology to help me gain access to University (School) next year. On some of these distance learning course, some specify that you do not have to sit any practical exams (for biology) there for receiving an a-level but not a statement of "practical competence", for example this course A Level Biology Course | Distance Learning Centre (about half way done the page written in orange "please note") I was wondering if this would hinder my chances of getting into university or a better university, or if anyone has had a similar experience?

I was also wondering if anyone (probably from the Uk) knows if it is better to sit exams with the Edexcel board or AQA as both have different syllabuses', is either identified as more useful to nursing?

Kr

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

You may consider emigrating to Canada. Economy always plays a part in nursing shortages; poor economy, more nurses in the mix, good economy, less nurses filling jobs. You have found that Canada, unlike the US, has very tight borders, even non citizen spouses are not welcome, and legally entering may afford you free education. Just a thought.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
You may consider emigrating to Canada. Economy always plays a part in nursing shortages; poor economy, more nurses in the mix, good economy, less nurses filling jobs. You have found that Canada, unlike the US, has very tight borders, even non citizen spouses are not welcome, and legally entering may afford you free education. Just a thought.

Canada doesn't have free education. On average Canadian nursing degree costs C$45,000 as a rough guide, often costs more.

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Just because we're bordered by two countries doesn't mean we're an open door. I'm the wife of a legal immigrant to the US from the UK. It is not easy to get someone into the US by legal means (and we'd been married for nine years before he applied for a green card....) - and I know this because I've done it.

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You may consider emigrating to Canada. Economy always plays a part in nursing shortages; poor economy, more nurses in the mix, good economy, less nurses filling jobs. You have found that Canada, unlike the US, has very tight borders, even non citizen spouses are not welcome, and legally entering may afford you free education. Just a thought.

Where did you get that info!

There red is no free education here,

having undergone sponsoring a spouse, I can tell you, it costs money, time and tears. They just don't show up at the border and get admitted to the country.

Iin my province, the economy sucks. Oil and gas revenues are in the toilet. Healthcare is funded by the government and taxes.

The OP wants to migrate to Vancouver. Most expensive region for housing and cost of living. No shortage of nurses there, no jobs for locals.

Noe if he wants to go remote or northern (there is a difference) there are jobs. But as an immigrant he would be amongst the least suitable candidates around. No awareness of the issues up there, no support network in the south, and cost of living up there eats up your living allowance. And face it six months of winter blows

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