Am I crazy???

FlyingScot, RN · Jun 26, 2008

If I thought I could, I would be a surgeon. I just don't know how dedicated I am to school at the moment.

If you think going into nursing school is the easy way to get a health care career then I'm afraid you are sadly mistaken. Sorry if this sounds testy but your statement is a tad offensive to those of us who have actually done the work required to graduate.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jun 26, 2008

on the other hand, if you are just groping, let me assure you it is do-able. Not easy but if that is what you want, I say go for it.

leslie :-D · Jun 26, 2008

it takes a heck of a lot of dedication and commitment.

if you can give it your all for the next few yrs, go for it.

leslie

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2008

I didnt begin nursing school till I was 31. I had 4 kids and never attended college,truth be told I barely made it out of high school--true child of the 80s and would rather party than study!!!

I had a friend who was in nursing school and saw 1st hand it could be done. I had always had an interest in the medical field but never thought I could 1) afford it and 2) accomplish it. Well she showed me I was wrong.

My reasons for wanting to become a nurse were purly selfish. I wanted a part time job where I could work nights and weekends and still make a good hourly wage. I wanted to maintain my stay at home mom status, and only work 20 hours a week.

Let me tell you...I LOVE BEING A NURSE....even though my initial reasons may have been selfish, I am getting so much more out of nursing than a decent hourly wage with part time hours.

So I guess what I am saying, is it doesnt matter how you get there, just get there if it is something you really want to do.

Trust me, school is not easy, clinicals are a pain. Nursing school will consume you. Nursing will consume you. If it is not for you, you will find out during school. Look at the drop rate in pre-nursing programs, not many can hack it. But if you can get through, you will find such personal satisfaction.

My only regret in becoming a nurse at 35 was I didnt become one at 25.

If this is something you want to take on, welcome, it will change who you are.

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Jun 26, 2008

with a lot of hard work and dedication, you can do it. it is a rough road, but keep your focus. nursing will be the hardest job you will ever love !

:icon_hug:

MNmom3boys · Jun 26, 2008

My only regret in becoming a nurse at 35 was I didnt become one at 25.
Me too. (Although a couple years older...) I have said for years, if I hadn't been in a late teenage rebellion I would have done this the first time I went to college!
To the OP - if you are serious about wanting this huge lifestyle change then go for it. I am proud to be a nurse, and proud of the energy, time and effort that I commited to getting through school at 35+ years old with a marriage and three kids intact. It was a lot of work, but worth it! But, if you sure if you are serious, be warned that it takes a lot of work and commitment to get through school, and on the job we need nurses that are commited to showing up and working hard when they are scheduled to do so. Although owning your own business is a lot of work, it does allow some flexibilty that hopsital nursing, at least, does not!
Good-luck w/ your decision!

MNmom3boys · Jun 26, 2008

argh - double post, trying to fix quote in first post...

Portigee · Jun 27, 2008

I didn't mean to be offensive with the surgeon comment. What I meant was, I don't think I could make it through 200 years of school. I know what nursing school is like. I watched my friend kill herself for 3 straight years in a fast track program through Sutter and it was way hard. My parents (mainly Dad) always treated me like I could never be a surgeon or anything like that for that matter. So I have always doubted my abilities to even attempt to take on nursing. Did any of you doubt yourself in the beginning? I just keep thinking that I really want to try this but what if I get through school and feel totally lost like I don't know what I'm doing. There is a life on the line unlike my current profession. If I screw something up now, I hit the undo button!

Anyhow, wasn't meaning to be offensive, just saying that I don't think I could make it to "surgeon" status.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jun 27, 2008

Well it sounds like you really want to be a Dr??? not a nurse. Big difference if you ask me.

If I were you, I would just start school. Start with your A&Ps and English/Maths etc etc etc and see how you do.

I had doubt when I started school, I didnt think I could do it. Just take it one semester at a time. I started going part time and after a few years moved on to full time. School is a challenge that is for sure. Not everyone can do it. If you keep your eye on the prize and take it one class at a time, sometimes just one day at a time you will find your way to the end.

Best of luck....like I stated earlier, my only regret was starting so late in life (so late..lol 31!!)

Good luck

whodatnurse · Jun 27, 2008

I think it was more the part that came after the "I want to be a surgeon" that rubbed the wrong way - the "I just don't know how dedicated I am to studying"...implying that nursing wouldn't require all that much serious study.

If you're burned out or just know that you're done with the field, then it probably is time to leave it. But you should carefully consider your temperament and interests when selecting your next career. You said you think being a surgeon would interest you. Are you more heavily drawn to the science aspects than the interpersonal aspects of medicine? (I'm sure there are plenty of people on this site that would go into cardiac arrest if they woke up in a hospital room to discover that some of the surgeons they worked with were their nurse!) Compassion and concern for people and their suffering are practically a job requirement for nursing. If those aren't words that would immediately come to mind when describing yourself, then you should probably look into other areas of medicine that would be a better fit for you.

NoWhereNear · Jun 27, 2008

You might want to consider Physician Assistant. It's more school than an RN, but it's still far less than for PreMed + Medical School. It's a nice compromise.

"Are you more heavily drawn to the science aspects than the interpersonal aspects of medicine? (I'm sure there are plenty of people on this site that would go into cardiac arrest if they woke up in a hospital room to discover that some of the surgeons they worked with were their nurse!) Compassion and concern for people and their suffering are practically a job requirement for nursing. If those aren't words that would immediately come to mind when describing yourself, then you should probably look into other areas of medicine that would be a better fit for you."

Also, can someone explain to me why there's a difference here? I'm not the most cuddly, warm-and-fuzzy person and I like the science aspects of medicine but I can still care if someone is suffering and want to help them. Why are these things treated as mutually exclusive?

What areas of medicine DON'T require the compassion and concern? :confused: