Advice Needed

Nurses Career Support

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I am struggling, because I want to make some type of career change, but I don't know exactly what to do.

I am a high school math teacher, who does not enjoy high schoolers. I have thought about getting certified for elementary, but the job possibilities and pay is not so great.

The only other thing that I have ever wanted to be was a nurse, however, I am afraid to make a big switch because the only thing that I have ever done is teach.

Could anyone give me any advice? I went and talked to a college today about getting certified for nursing it would take 17,000 in student loans that is if I don't get any scholarships. Also about 3 years of schooling.

If it were you which would you do? I also have two kids, if that factors in!!

Thanks in advance.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

If I was in your shoes, I'd go get a masters degree in math and teach at a local community college.

There's no guarantee you'd like nursing, either.

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assuming you must have at least a bachelor's degree since you're teaching high school math, i recommend looking into a bachelor's-in-anything-to-mn program. most are 18-24 months, not 3 years, and you come out with a master's in nursing. you can then take a few years to work bedside if you want, and that will put you in a terrific position to do a lot of neat things. go for it!

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

Well if you are that dissatisfied with your job then maybe it is time for a change. Whether a total change in career is the right path, only you can answer. You will have to factor everything that comes into play when going back to school. How much will it cost? Not only tuition, but living expense, books, supplies, etc. Can you afford it? Do you have the time and commitment?

Having kids definitely factors into it. Nursing school is demanding and requires much time to be invested into it. That is time away from family. Three years may not seem long on paper, but it is quite different in real time.

If I were you I would really sit down and think about this decision and the impact it will have on you and your family. Also look into of branches of teaching that you may like better. Possibly administration or private schools. Are there any jobs you may enjoy that are not teaching related, but require the math skills you have.

In all honesty only you can make the decision. I would also recommend talking with other nurses and get in contact with the local hospital about shadowing. Also talk with students that are currently in the program to find out what their days are like. You don't want to do all of the hard work and find out in the end you are unsatisfied with nursing too.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Adult/Pediatric Acute Care.

I think if you've wanted to be a nurse in the past, then you should do it! I went through my entire ADN schooling as a single mom (toddler at the time). It was tough, but I survived. If I can do it...anyone can do it! Promise. I've instructed a few courses and I absolutely love teaching. However, you are correct, theh pay is not so great. BUT...have you thought about at least getting your Associate's Degree in Nursing and maybe becoming an adjunt nursing instructor? There is such a need for nursing instructors...and that might kind of give you the best of both worlds...nursing and teaching. I'm an advocate for education...being a teacher, I'm sure you can relate. I would go for it. No better time than the present. The faster you start, the faster you will be done!! Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in ICU.

I know a few teachers who went into nursing, either as a career change, or as another job after they retired from their teaching job. All of them hate it. It is very different from teaching. I personally would teach in a college environment. But then, we don't have any unions where I live, and nurses are not protected whatsoever, but teachers are. Teacher pay is comparable to nurse's pay here, but teachers get a ton of benefits that nurses do not get. I realize that is not necessarily true in other areas.

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Specializes in ICU.

All of the nursing schools I am associated with require a minimum of a master's degree to teach, and you have to be actively working on your doctorate. I did not realize there are nursing schools where an ADN educated nurse could teach. But she was talking about changing careers from teaching to nursing.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

You can listen to any advice you like, but you will not know what a job is like until you are actually doing it. And I DON'T mean doing volunteer nursing - that is not the same as being a nurse.

Your teaching experience would help you later on with perhaps teaching nursing. Nursing is both physically and emotionally demanding, to say the least. and you have to develp good time management, and management skills, very quickly. It also gets harder to bounce back inbetween shifts as you get older.

I say go for it, get your bachelor (or your 2 years over wherever it is), and actually do the job to see what it is like. If you don't, you will always be wondering what you missed out on.

You could have a worse career than nursing, believe me, I've done some VERY c****y jobs when I was studying, and they were way worse than nursing.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, PACU,SICU.

Become certified as a nurses' aide and get a hospital job, since I think you probably have time off in the suimmer, you could see if nursing is something you would like. If you can work as a CNA, you get experience, the hospital will help pay for an ADN degree and you can keep teaching as a sub (maybe) and still have an income. Be aware that nurses do not have unions, or lots of time off and generally speaking less pay and benefits compared to teachers. I know several tachers that have retired at 59, and not a single nurse who has.

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