Is Nursing right for me?

Nurses Professionalism

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I was originally planning on going to school to become a journalist because I'm an excellent writer and terrible at math, but that changed to psychology, which has recently changed to nursing. I'm very intrigued with how the human mind works and would like to help people overcome mental illness, so now I am thinking about going to school to become a psychiatric nurse. I'm choosing nursing over psychology now because first off, there are way more opportunities in nursing especially with our economy the way that it is & I need a stable career as I have two children. Also, I've already taken a CNA course but have not applied for licensure yet because I have a juvenile record. However, I am in the process of getting charges expunged and will most likely apply to the board when that finishes (although I am aware that I will still have to inform them). But, because of all of that and the fact that I have two children and am not good at math, I'm not 100% positive this is the way to go, but like I said I'm very interested in Psychiatric Nursing. I'm very determined though and anything I choose to do I will work extremely hard in order to achieve it.

U can do it, any problems? Let me know

As soon as your record is expunged, apply to your state board. It is NOT a standard background check and it's possible you'll have to explain anyway. It's just something to address before getting too far into pre-reqs. Some schools will not admit you into nursing with any kind of background unless you've already been cleared by the board.

Good luck!

I won't be starting school again until January; until then, if I get this pharm. tech. job & pass the background check, I'll be training with them so I can become registered by the board of pharmacy. I have 6 months to register with the BOP upon getting hired, which would be before I applied to the BON. So I would think that if the BON approved me, that the BON would also. I didn't think that one could apply to the BON until completion of nursing school though. How would that work?

U can do it any problems? Let me know[/quote']

Thank you! It always helps to have support.

You are already mentioning all the things that will make your choice of going nursing potentially too hard to make happen. What you need to contemplate is as a student, you can potentially get sent out of town (certainly where we are) to get clinical placements so you need to be able to walk away from your children and know they are safe and cared for. I may need to move to an area I really wouldnt have ever thought of moving to in order to make my nursing goals come to realisation. Its the way it is in today's uncertain economic times. Make your decision then head down, bum up and dont get distracted.

The maths and chemistry are not hard. Its not rocketscience and you may even discover its something you are good at. If not then your educational facility will have learning advisors who can help you or tell you how to get help. If you really really want this you will make it happen. Good luck in making your decision. From experience its something you just know is right for you, but everyone has their own path to making career decisions.

I am 62 years old and I am glad you have the courage to tell perspective nursing students this isn't a cake walk and nursing jobs are not overflowing. I've been a nurse for over ten years. Have worked full-time jobs and travel assignments. Many experienced nurses are having a hard time finding nursing jobs in other parts of the country if they want to move. It is a tough market out there with this economy and yes, many new grads are not finding work or giving up because they don't have the skills to compete in the market. I advise anyone to think long and hard about seeking a career in nursing these days. Most young people do not have the work ethics of the older generation and are not willing to put in the hours, sacrifice, and face the liabilities in nursing these days.

Again, thanks for being honest about the economy and jobs for nurses right now. So many people think nursing jobs are a dime a dozen. It just isn't like that anymore. Special fields like experienced OB, Hospice, Home Health, ICU, ER, oncology, teli etc. are hiring, but many places are only hiring part-time meaning no insurance and no full-time hours. If you have a job, it is best to hang on to it. And with the new Obama health care insurance plans coming soon in October, people should be prepared for some drastic changes not to our advantage. Experienced nurses are worked overtime and usually with staff shortages. They neither have the time or patience to be training new grads. It is a dog eat dog world out there in nursing right now. I'm not saying it is that way every where, but I would say it is not the picnic many potential nursing students think it is. And wages are not good. Where I live in Iowa, they are paying the same wages now I made over ten years ago. I'd like to travel again, but am afraid to risk leaving the job I have.

I think one of the things you neglect to realize is many places are advertising, but they are not actually hiring. Many of my co-workers and I have discussed how we've seen the same nursing jobs posted by the same companies for well over two years now. Just because you see an ad no longer means they are actually hiring. And many are using temp or pool nurses because they are a financial write off in the long run. New grads need experience and therefore can't get registry work. Getting through nursing school is also getting harder, because they are throwing more and more material at you in a shorter time span and expecting you to retain it. Clinicals barely teach you the bare basics of nursing so it takes a few months to a good year before a nurse has built up her skills and has genuine experience making her/him able to hit the floor running. And remember you've got those student loans to pay and they don't go away and can't be written off if you go bankrupt. They actually can garnish one's social security in old age to pay for them if necessary.

I agree if you are determined you can most likely pass nursing school math or no math. I'd be a lot more worried about the economy and lack of jobs for new grads if I were looking at going into the field today. I'd encourage anyone going to college to go for the RN, LPN's just aren't in a great demand anymore.

Specializes in Critical Care.
The charges that I have are actually grand theft motor vehicle and possession of controlled substance. (I snuck out one night with my mother's car and her prescription medication, she had me arrested). I've consulted with an attorney and have actually called the BON which they said that even if the charges are expunged I would have to list them, and possibly have to write a letter explaining the charges, obtain letters of recommendation, ect. So again not impossible, just more work for me. I would definitely need a tutor, I have that established.. I'm at elementary algebra level right now.

It is unfortunate that your mother had you charged during your rebellious act in the tough love response. Her tough love response to your teen rebellion is putting your future career at risk, hopefully other family members who read this will not make the same mistake that could endanger their child's future and find another way to handle problem children. Luckily most grow out of it and become good children and productive members of society!

I agree if you are determined you can most likely pass nursing school math or no math. I'd be a lot more worried about the economy and lack of jobs for new grads if I were looking at going into the field today. I'd encourage anyone going to college to go for the RN LPN's just aren't in a great demand anymore.[/quote']

I have a friend who just graduated with her AS degree in nursing who advises the same thing: go RN, no LPN. She's working at the same center who originally employed her for analytical work, which is how I'm guessing she got that job so quickly. Thank you for the info. it definitely helps to know the disadvantages as well as the advantages of going into this field. Maybe after working for Publix pharmacy for a few years I could transfer to an actual hospital or mental health pharmacy,& then when I recieve my masters and complete graduate school, try to do the same thing my friend did and have the facility I'd already be working for just hire me as a PMHNP, if Lord willing.

It is unfortunate that your mother had you charged during your rebellious act in the tough love response. Her tough love response to your teen rebellion is putting your future career at risk, hopefully other family members who read this will not make the same mistake that could endanger their child's future and find another way to handle problem children. Luckily most grow out of it and become good children and productive members of society!

I definitely deserved harsh consequences but I could not say that I would do the same thing to my daughter (have her arrested) especially because of what an impact it made on my future, although one of the biggest reasons my mother had me arrested was because I did damage to her vehicle that night by crashing it into a fence. So me getting arrested was the only way the damage wouldn't have to come out of her pocket... along with the medicine I took. To this day, my mother doesn't even truly understand how all of those charges have and are impacting my life... she seems to think that just because it was juvenile it shouldn't matter but it does, even when expunged I'm hearing and espeically to specific agency's and the boards.

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