nursing or teaching??

Genista, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2006

A few years ago I was burnt to a crisp from working as an RN in medical telemetry and went back to school for an elemetary ed. credential. I loved my volunteer work in schools, and loved my classes and being in the classroom. That being said, once I got into my final semester of student teaching, I began to have serious reservations about teaching...based on the ridiculous expectations and little recognition and pay.

While I loved teaching and the kids, I didn't like being expected to volunteer for committees as a student teacher to "stand out" on top of working 10-12 hours/day and also prepping on weekends.I did some subbing, in which you are paid $90/day. Who can live on that? They told me to sub to get noticed until I could find a teaching job (with no guarantee of permanent employment when hired). I saw teachers who had 10+ years experience working late on the school site until 6-7 pm routinely. What is the point of summers off when you are working 60+ hours a week for $35,000 a year salaried (in California where median home prices are in the mid $600,000)? There are hardly any teaching jobs here, and you get no classroom aid to help you due to budget cuts. You get to do yard duty often on your "breaks" as well. It wasn't as fast paced as nursing, but I felt like I would have no life of my own as a teacher. Going in I was under the assumption that a new teacher would put in long hours, but that seasoned teachers would be more organized and put in 40 hours a week most weeks. Wrong! Nursing started looking better & better to me.

It took a lot of nerve just to finish the credential program.I had several teachers tell me to run for the hills and NOT be a teacher.My cooperating teacher told me to "think long and hard" about being a teacher. I did. And I'm not going to do it! I feel sort of angry about it, too, to tell the truth. I admire teachers, but the politics of being expected to create individual curriculum for special needs kids on top of the regular classroom, constant social work for the complex family issues after school, and all the committee work, etc. is just too much for the little pay and little spare time you get.As a nurse, we deal with much of the same stuff, but when my shift ends, it ends. I get paid for the extra hours. As a teacher, you don't. You can work yourself to the bone and barely scrape by financially. I had over two years of post baccalaureate education to be a teacher, and would have made less money as a new FT teacher in 2005 than I did as a Part Time new grad RN 8 years ago!

I was doing unpaid FT student teaching in a two grade combo class (working per diem as an RN still), with pull out students (special needs), English Language learners, and no aid at all. It was a real eye opener. After school, there were often staff meetings, and student/parent conferences. No overtime pay, as you are salaried. And they expect you to jump up and eagerly volunteer to work at school events, etc. on evenings & weekends...which in my opinion, is time you need to rest & be with your family. It just seemed really unhealthy and unbalanced. I could not see myself doing that. I have a husband, and friends, and want to have time for my own children...

I went back to nursing with a new appreciation for my job. I work 2-3 days a week and love it, even though I still often don't get breaks and sometimes am overtime 30 min. or so. At least I am paid for missed breaks and overtime! It is still stressful working in the hospital, but I changed units and now work on a floor that is not as hectic (most times anyway). I do not have to prep for work, and when I'm off, I'm OFF. If I have to go to a meeting on my day off, I am PAID for it, unlike teachers. I am paid VERY well for part time work, with benefits and job security.I make MUCH more money as a nurse working part time than I would as a full time teacher. I also work with another nurse who became a teacher, and went back to nursing. Teaching is a noble profession, but paid very poorly here in my state. The jobs are hard to come by, and you have to jump through hoops just to get hired. I love kids, but I also love my family and my own hobbies. I have time for both as a nurse. I also feel I am still a teacher of sorts to my patients.

The grass always looks greener on the other side. Teaching looked realy great because I was tired of missed breaks, working holidays, etc. But I discovered that nursing has much more positives for me than I ever knew.Every job has its good and bad.You may have to follow your heart and see where it leads you. I truly felt in my heart I would be a great teacher, but it was not what I thought it would be. I am better suited to being a nurse. Besides, as a nurse I feel you have more options to change your career without having to really go back to school. I considered mvoing into public helath or a clinic as a change, but opted to stay in acute care. It's nice to know I can change my career as a nurse...and that my job is in demand.

Good luck whatever you decide. Some people just love being teachers. Others love being a nurse. You just have to go with your heart and gut, and see what happens! Best wishes.

Kmd317 · Mar 16, 2006

Kona2,

Thank you for your insight. I too have been jumping back and forth for quite sometime whether I should go into teaching or nursing. Your in depth description of what is expected of teachers is very eye opening. I was under the impression that teachers had good hours except the first couple of years. My interests actually are more geared toward healthcare. One reason is the fact that I get bored so easily. I like the interesting things you learn with the body and the flexibility. My big fear with nursing is I am afraid I will not be able to handle the smells. I have a high sense of smell. Also, I was afraid I would not have time for my family with working long hours at such a grueling job. Your post other than the smell part has made me see that even if I were to become a nurse, I would still have time for my family.

Thanks,

Kristen

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2006

So have either of you made the swtich from teaching to nursing? if so what caused you to change
Yeah I was just trying to compare the pros and cons...I think at times Im leaning more towards nursing...
I didnt know teachers get their contracts renewed each year...so I guess if they didnt they dont have a job

Maybe you should look into Nursing Informatics. There is section here devoted to it. You have the IT experience. Now just add the nursing component.

Just my thoughts.

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2006

Is nursing that bad? I was looking at teaching salaries and they dont make what they deserve. WHere I live that avg starting pay for a teacher with a bachelors is about 30-31K...
So teaching salary is based on years of service?
Well what about nursing is bad? I hear people saying that mandatory OT is a reason people have negative feelings as a nurse

Nursing is like anything else. Some love it, warts and all, and others don't. Please don't let either one of us sway your decision.

There are many areas of nursing to work in. Not all of them leave you unfulfilled ( how my L's are there in that word lol).

Will you be frustrated with health care and those who manage it. Probably once or twice in your carrer.

Will you come home bone tired and wonder if you did "it all". Yep. More than once.

Will you encounter a patient who thinks you are his personal waiter. Sure will.

Will you be overwhelmed with all your duties and fear you can't complete them. Certainly.

But when you wake up in the morning and roll over to get up and you remember that you have all the knowledge, wisdom, and ambition to face another day and do a darn good job you'll know you've made the right choice.

When you give a scared kid a shot and they ask you will you be here next week when I need my second one, you'll get the warm fuzzy's.

When some old lady tells you she wants a PTA bath you'll laugh and thank her for brightening YOUR day.

When you get that IV in that no one else could. You'll strut around like a peacock..( Hey man don't abuse the situation lol)

When you know you've saved someone's life today and might get the chance to do it tomorrow you'll know you made the right choice.

Luckily, the later situations out number the former.. Two to one.

It's not about how you feel about nursing it's about how nursing makes you feel about yourself.

Good luck. Give it the old college try; you might be surprised . You might actually fall in love with nursing.