Nursing Part time

[LaLaEm4]

Hello! I'm new here, and I'm a pre-nursing student in the northeast.

I have two loves. Health, and Performing. I started school as an acting major and switched to general studies nursing. I know, crazy, right? Very, very different.

Anyway, my concerns are this: I want be a nurse because I really believe I will enjoy it and will get a lot of it...I love people, all those things. The courses interest me, etc. However, when I tell people about nursing, the first thing they say is, Oh, good money!! And of course, it will be nice to make money. (Whereas in acting, money is a little more...unstable) But I don't need to be rolling in it.

My ideal situation would be to work part time as a nurse and have time for acting on the side. I'm sure not many people here have the same situation as it is very, very, strange, I'm sure- but could anyone tell me about working part time and what it's like, pros and cons...if you think I'll even be able to do both, etc. ((I understand that out of school I'll be working full time for a little while just to really learn the profession, etc)) But other than that, any advice, opinions, anything is greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!

--Emma

Oh and-if it matters, I'm taking the ADN route at a local CC.

[Cfitz]

I don't think it's "very, very strange" at all. This life is all we have on the earth, so pursue your interests and give of your time and talents when and where you can!

I, too, am going the ADN route. I had been a SAHM for 17 yrs when I started nursing school (only 11.5 wks to go!!). I plan on working registry at the hospital - only when I want to work. My husband's benefits are sufficiently good for our family, and you get paid more per hour working registry, and I don't have the need or desire to work full-time when I'm finished - not even to "really learn the profession". I will have a preceptor like anyone else, and I will have orientation time. I'm not that worried about not learning what I need to know - I think I will learn fine. I may work a little more in the beginning, but I definitely plan to work part-time.

I understand your passion for the performing arts - I've done some of that myself. Let me tell you - if you were to go to my nursing school, you'd be using the CRAP out of your thespian training! It seems like we're doing sims and role-playing and skits and stuff like that ALL the time. Just yesterday my clinical group put on a skit about VATS (video assisted thoroscopic lobectomy) and it was FUNNY! Doesn't sound like the lightest subject, but we found a way. I'm very glad I was a thespian in high school - I know how to write a script and do blocking, etc - and who knew it would come in handy for NURSING SCHOOL!?!?!