Strongly considering a career in nursing, can you give me advice?

[aek1]

I just completed my general education requirements and in the fall I will need to declare a major and start that degree program. My husband is in the military so I need a job that will travel with me and one that will stay in demand while also paying well. I considered a career in Human Resource Mgmt but I just don't know if the topics would interest me long enough to stay with it. I am 28 years old and plan on getting pregnant next year. Is this not a good choice? I usually have a weak stomach but as I get older it has gotten better. My concerns are that nursing would limit me whereas a Business degree would not. But everyone has a Business degree and I know some who cannot find work. Can anyone give me some tips or thoughts? I do not know anything bout nursing or where to even begin if this is what​I want

[OldDude]

If you're wanting to start a family I'd suggest you go with the business degree.

[loriangel14, RN]

Finding a nursing job can be very difficult in many areas. Plus moving around will mean starting over again in a new setting plus having to deal with licensing if you move states.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

If you want to go with nursing, you will have to get a job in a desirable specialty and stay put for two years so you can qualify for an agency job that can move with you. If you are considering starting a family, I would either do that now and not wait a year or wait til I get a job.

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

You need to do a lot of introspection and maybe follow a nurse see if it's something you really want. Nursing school is hard with a child, not impossible, just hard.

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

For nursing school you will have to be in the same spot for 2-4 years depending on the program.

Have you considered an LPN program? They are typically shorter with fewer pre reqs.

Do some research. Follow some nurses. Look at programs in your area and what the requirements to get into the program are. Even if you declare nursing as your major you will still have to apply to the clinical portion of the program. It's not as simple as checking the "nursing" box under major.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

Definitely spend some time shadowing a nurse - not just talking to one, but shadowing. Many hospitals have information about shadowing on their websites in the career section, if they offer such an option. Make sure you don't mind being on your feet all day. See if you can handle even the observation of "gross" things like incontinence care, suctioning, wound care. Take a look at a few specialties and how different units work. No conversation can prepare you for these things, but shadowing can help illuminate at least some of it.

It sounds like you feel that nursing will be flexible and fit your life circumstances. While that's not necessarily wrong, nursing is HARD, physically, mentally, and emotionally. You can't get into it solely looking forward to having a career you can conceivably do anywhere, work full time or part time, and be well compensated. Trust me, it will not be worth it if you don't have some internal motivation, whether it's enjoying the science and technology of it, the warm fuzzies of caring for a patient, or something else.

[Bruce_Wayne, ASN, RN]

Nursing is a hard stressful job. The pay can be good but for what you have to put up with sometimes it doesn't seem worth it. If I had to do it all over again I'd choose physical therapist because they get paid slightly more and they're focused on a more narrowly defined task.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Many military wives that I know have had difficulty completing a program before they move, and once they do become nurses, they are starting over at the bottom seniority-wise every few years as they PCS. If you think you would be in one place long enough for school, it's worth considering. Good luck!