accepted but unsure

[jdchisolm68]

I was accepted into the program I applied for but am unsure for several reasons. I was a CNA at a local nursing home and was disturbed by the lack of quality of care and the quality of employees...my goal was to be a CNA while attending the RN program but after experiencing how the focus is on profits and not patients I am very discouraged and not sure if I want to be an RN in that environment. Everyone says there is lots of different things I can do but with the flood of schools and new grads I'm reconsidering . They say there are lots of nursing jobs (the colleges of course) but I'm thinking the flooded market is a real issue I have to think about..any new grads or current students finding this to be an issue..i'm 44 and at the edge of a new career and want to make the right choice..all pre-req's are done and can go into any field...radiology...med technologist..nursing...science teacher....I don't want to change careers at 50...any advice would be greatly appreciated...thanks

[queserasera, RN]

I only have this to say. I have also experienced the lack of quality care, especially in long term care facilities, my grandfather passed away because his nurse forgot to check on him when she was supposed to. For me, this just adds to my desire to be a nurse. Patients are someones family, someones father or mother, and I feel the push to be the person that people look forward to seeing. I am in this to deliver the best care to my patients, to share in their triumphs and their struggles. I want to be the inspiration for someone else to give a little extra in their patient care. I think that nursing is one of those professions that the greatest nurses are the ones that do it to see change in health care delivery, I think that you've seen the dark side of it you'd be a great candidate to bring a little light to those areas.

I'm in a major east coast city and nursing jobs are plentiful, but as I've heard are not that way across the country, but if you're in a good program with a strong clinical site- school partnership, finding a job shouldn't be too big of a pain. Good luck and I hope you find what is right for you!