To Nurse or Not to Nurse

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I have been accepted to nursing school and start in this fall. I am a 30-something (closing in on 40) mother of two young children with a M.Ed. in Teacher Education (Language Arts).

I have taken the last few years off to raise my children and have now decided to go for nursing for a number of reasons. It is a helping profession, I was in the healthcare field long before I went into education, the career opportunities, the salary, the stability . . . not all that different than many of the posters here.

I am at a true crossroads. While I thought I had made my decision and stuck firmly to it, I have recently started to waiver. I am not doubting my reasons for becoming a nurse. It is a profession I do feel passionate about. And while starting all over, again, is not exactly ideal (being in classes with some of the students I had as an English teacher is a possibility), I am fine with it. However, I am wondering if it will all be worth it.

I know it is different for every person. Every nurse, region, specialty, position. But, I really need some honest feedback. I've scoured the forums and found some great posts, but the field of nursing has changed so much, especially with today's economy. It seems as if everyone and their great uncle are going into nursing. A few of my students who barely graduated high school are now nurses (they could one day be my boss). What does that mean for the profession? For new graduates?

I had thought about going all the way, FNP. But it seems there are a lot of people taking that route as well. What will THAT mean in terms of job prospects when I am finally done (five or so years from now)? I know no one has a crystal ball, but honest feedback is really going to help me put this all in perspective.

And finally, especially for those of you who have taken on nursing as a second career, how do you feel about your decision now? And for all nurses, tell me how you feel, what you think of your profession.

I am asking a lot, so I thank all those who reply in advance. I really need some guidance . . .

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I know you say you are truly passionate about it so I think you are wise to go for it. As far as the job prospects as a FNP I think they look good for the future, and yes I don't have a crystal ball. What I do know is that there may/may not be a nursing shortage in the next 10 years or now (depending on region) but there is a doctor shortage currently which is only expected to grow even more. FNPs in many states can have their own practice. Hospitals and especially ERs are already utilizing FNPs heavily.

The best way I could suggest to you in getting your RN license is to go to ADN school at a community college and then get out in the workforce and get some experience as an RN since many FNP schools require a year of experience as a licensed RN. Some do not require any experience but the majority do. Many FNP programs can be done on a part time basis as well, and some are even completely online. My school doesn't require any experience as a nurse to get into their NP program but it is not entirely online, they have clinicals as well. HTH!

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Specializes in CNA/LPN.

If this is where you feel your passion now, go for it! :) There's no sense in fighting interest in something that could be your calling later in life. Life's too short and if I were in your shoes and decided not to go for it, I'd always wonder what if.

I'm still an undergrad, but I went for quite a few semesters for Early Childhood Education just knowing that was all I could ever see myself doing my entire career. Well, the excitement faded and I seen that I just needed something more to do with myself, something that involved helping a variety of age groups, rather than Kindergarten, like I wanted to do for years, and something that required health-related care. So in a way, Nursing is my second career choice although I never worked in the childcare-field and so far, I feel like I've finally found the spot I've belonged in the entire time.

Go for it and see what happens! Good luck!

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When I started the BSN program last year I was into it. Now that I'm starting the last year I'm not into it. You never know how life will change. If I elect to stay with it after graduation it'll be a career change for me as well. Last year I more or less wanted out of my current career. Now I don't. I'm liking it again. However, who can say what I'll want in May? I've stopped trying to make vocational and life plans like that and rather live for the moment. I've never done that before, and I'm liking right now more than I've ever liked the past. I can say that right now I'm happy, and that's not something I've known for the last couple of years at least.

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Thank you! You have all been great in responding. I can't believe I was so set on nursing and am now in this position.

A friend of mine is going for her PhD in education. Hearing her actually use her MEd and previous experience really got me to thinking that maybe I should as well. So much so I ended up on this forum desperate for advice. I know I have to make my own decision, but without knowing what the future holds, it is a tough one to make.

Passionate or not, starting over is a hard decision to make, even though I am a schooling junkie.

I absolutely love education. I have thought that after nursing school and working for awhile, perhaps after the FNP, I would reenter the classroom. But, that is a good six years away. A PhD is only about 3.

I know, sounds so flaky, but when you have two children, a mortgage, an advanced degree and are closing in fast on 40, you can't help but be overly conscientious about every life decision.

It really stinks (in a good way, I suppose) to be passionate about two things. If I had all the time and $$ in the world, I'd probably do it all.

And going2BaNurse2014, I am scheduled to start the ADN program at my local community college. I will be primarily taking nursing classes since I have all the pre-reqs, general ed and most of the science classes already.

What is the first year of nursing school like? I am in a Intro to Nursing and Nursing Procedures w/ lab starting in September. Since I can't start a PhD program until winter (or spring) and have to take the GRE, I was considering just going for it. These classes seem to be the kind that will tell me for certain if nursing is for me.

Thanks so much for the patience and the advice ;)

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Honestly, a Ph.D., especially in education, seems like it would be even more troubling of a decision than nursing. With a mortgage, two kids, and closing in on 40 are you going to relocate to work? How easily could you market a doctorate in education in your area? I'd wager that it'd be a more expensive education since it's at the graduate level so you'd have to find a job more readily and at a high salary. That's what immediately comes to mind whenever I hear someone scream "I want a doctorate!"

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You are right, ImThatGuy. No doubt. I am in a more rural area where people with even an associate degree are rare. So, who knows really if finding a job will be easy or not. Probably NOT easy. I mean, it isn't easy anywhere you go nowadays.

What is your current career? Why have you changed your mind on nursing? As for just living in the moment, I get it. My only problem is I want to live in this moment, that moment, and the moment after that moment. :) Thanks for replying, you are seriously helping me in more ways that you know.

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You are right, ImThatGuy. No doubt. I am in a more rural area where people with even an associate degree are rare. So, who knows really if finding a job will be easy or not. Probably NOT easy. I mean, it isn't easy anywhere you go nowadays.

What is your current career? Why have you changed your mind on nursing? As for just living in the moment, I get it. My only problem is I want to live in this moment, that moment, and the moment after that moment. :) Thanks for replying, you are seriously helping me in more ways that you know.

I'm a police officer. I was a go getter in the workforce, learned my job did it well, and instead of savoring it I jumped out of the frying pan looking for promotions (management!), responsibility (administration!), what I thought were better hours (weekends off!), and more pay (like $3-4/hour more!). I got all of the above...in theory, lol.

I ended up with daily tension headaches, found myself wearing less and less equipment to work, took far less calls when I was out and about, and finally had no regard for the field anymore. I decided I'd change and go back to school. I did. I'd previously worked part-time as a paramedic early on when I felt like I had to always be doing something. With that in mind, nursing school didn't seem like a much of a stretch, plus I already had a B.S. degree with every prereq sans nutrition which I'll take along the way (this fall probably online at a comm. coll.) I quit my job and actually was in the position to help hire my replacement which was somewhat awkward especially upon reflection since my replacement ended up hooking up with my ex after I left. :rolleyes:

I moved on, took a bottom of the rung job law enforcement job, and lived a relatively thoughtless life. Even juggling work and school I found that my stress load abated, and I even had time to start running again which is something I once did a lot of. Not long ago I picked up a second job as a part-time patrolman in a small town and am loving it. At this point I have no clue how I'm going to juggle all three, along with a new, wonderful lady in my life, but I'm high as a kite right now and wouldn't change anything. I've learned that I can endure quite a bit so bring on the load. I can tote it until May, but right now I'm living day to day and enjoying the heck out of it. I recently found an apartment exactly four minutes from school and from my first job here, and it's only seven miles from my second job, and 0.9 miles from her house. I'm not academically stupid and nothing about school has ever been too challenging for me, which I say with hindsight (and not to be taken for arrogance), so I'm hoping, and actually counting on, things going that way this upcoming school year.

I don't know so much if I've changed my mind on nursing. I was into it and open to it when I started. I went through quite a big "this is a joke" phase and started losing interest probably due to that which is a separate thread of itself. I went into nursing school knowing I was unwilling to work in certain nursing environments due in part on what I knew about them from personal experience and observation and also due to hearsay. Having worked in such environments, med-surg, long-term care, etc. I know wholeheartedly that I'd never ever be happy going to work there. I "assume" that I'd like the ER because I did in paramedic school, I have in nursing school the few times I've rotated through, and I've always enjoyed milling about in there on many, many sundry visits as an officer. The fact that it turns over quickly, patients go through there relatively quickly, and that it's more dynamic appeals to me, plus some of the things I've done make me feel more connected to that. Going off to work in other settings would be entirely too new at this stage of my life.

The summary here is that although I went back to school I've since gone back to my roots. I'll definitely finish school again, and I'll probably look for some kind of ER work, but other than that I have no actual plans right now aside from doing the best at what I do everyday and enjoying as much of it as I can.

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"What is the first year of nursing school like? I am in a Intro to Nursing and Nursing Procedures w/ lab starting in September. Since I can't start a PhD program until winter (or spring) and have to take the GRE, I was considering just going for it. These classes seem to be the kind that will tell me for certain if nursing is for me.

Thanks so much for the patience and the advice ;)"

I start my program in about 18 days, but from the looks of it, its pretty intense. Only 6 semesters but it seems like such a long 3 years. I will get it done though. I think I'll have somewhere around 200 college credits when I get my bsn, yes I'm considered a senior and just starting my program :cool: I think I have switched majors about 4 times and been to 5 different schools. I'm not stopping at my bsn, I want to do grad school, however after NS my mind may change LOL ;)

Hope your first semester goes really well and that you will totally love what you do!! :redbeathe

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Specializes in Cardiac, Rehab.

Everybodies story is different. Your motivations are similar to but not the same as mine. But what I think is fairly common is having some fear and trepidation when you are starting out on a new path. You are moving away from a lifestyle that you are used to and heading out into deep waters. Not something any of us should do without some forethought. Even when you make your decision, its never 100%, at least it isnt for me. But you go with you gut and hope for the best.

I can tell you for sure, that having a really good salary but hating your job is not a good long term combination. Hopefully a lesser salary but lots of job satisfaction will make me content for my last 10-15 years of work (I'm a bit older than you). I don't know yet where I will end up working, I'd like to think it may be the ER, but who knows. Give yourself some time, get into the program and then after a year, see where you stand. Just don't sell yourself short before you even start.

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