Am I Fit for Nursing?! HELP

[reignbass]

Hi!

So I am a 20 year old mommy to a baby girl and I’m considering nursing. I’ve never had an interest in nursing, whenever someone would ask me I’d always say I’d never be a nurse. However, I’m at a place in my life where I’m stagnant. I don’t come from a family with money and I don’t have the strongest support system. I want nothing more than to give my baby the best life possible. I’ve been watching nursing videos, researching, and learning about what it takes to be a nurse. I’m not sure I have the personality of a nurse (sweet, selfless, people person, caring). I consider myself a leader, hardworking, aggressive. I’m interested in Dermatology Nursing/Aesthetic Nursing. But I’ve heard it’s competitive & not “real nursing.” I’m confused and not sure whether nursing is for me. I love the job security and growth. But is it something I should really consider? I’m sorry if I’m all over the place (life of a stressed mom LOL). Thanks in advance for advice/tips.

[andrea3434]

You don’t have to be sweet and selfless to be a nurse.

What you do need is a strong support system in order to get through nursing school with a baby. This doesn’t have to come from family.

Also, it doesn’t matter what other people consider “real nursing” whatever that means.

How are you making a living right now?

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

Only my 2 cents. Nursing is a tough career, even when you really want it sometimes. In some areas of the country, the job security and opportunities aren't as plentiful as the media would have you believe.

Dermatology nursing jobs may also be rare. Most MD offices hire MAs.

[jobellestarr]

There are other areas of healthcare that might not be so stressful and with such difficult schooling. I say this as I also had a brand new baby, full time school and worked 3 days a week when I was in nursing school. Personally, I would not do it again. I’m now at the end of my career and although I’ve had a good career (interesting specialty of organ transplant), i feel like I would have had a healthier life in a related field. Some things that come to mind are: ultrasound tech, med tech, medical records, occupational therapy assistant. You might try going to a career counselor at a community college for guidance. Many blessings to you and your baby ❤️

[RNperdiem, RN]

To get where you want to go: Dermatology/Aesthetics, would you be willing to go through the entry-level and skill building jobs to get there?

Most new nurses start out in hospitals or nursing homes. They work a lot of nights, weekends, holidays and rotating shifts. Of course, not all new nurses start out there, but that is where most of the hiring for new nurses start. Doctors' offices have replaced most nursing staff with MAs. Jobs with "regular" hours in a non-inpatient setting are competitive, and usually require experience to land.

Don't believe that a nurse has to be sweet or selfless. An adult level of maturity is required, and in modern employment a positive sense of self-interest is needed to survive.

[jobellestarr]

Also wanted to add that maybe the MA is a good route too if you want to do plastics.

[SaltineQueen]

I would suggest calling your local hospital's volunteer department and asking if they allow shadows.

[reignbass]

9 hours ago, andrea3434 said:

You don’t have to be sweet and selfless to be a nurse.

What you do need is a strong support system in order to get through nursing school with a baby. This doesn’t have to come from family.

Also, it doesn’t matter what other people consider “real nursing” whatever that means.

How are you making a living right now?

My boyfriend is a HVAC Technician and he supports the family right now. He is my biggest support system. My family isn’t educated and supportive enough to care about bettering themselves let alone me. Thank you for your advice!

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

You will need to research to see what actual needs for nursing there are in your the-most areas dont have a shortage, new grads have trouble finding jobs, etc, so know your market. Also, find out education requirements for your area. Some areas are ADN friendly, others, a BSN still won't get you in the door (large metro areas usually). Realize that weekends, holidays and evenings/nights are usually the starting point for new nurses, as prime hours/jobs go to those who are experienced. If you really want to do dermatology/aesthetics, find out your states requirements, as that varies as well, and as someone else mentioned, that's a very limited market. Good luck, but research! Also, look at your state forum on here to gauge how the market really is in your area. There is so much hype of in demand that really isn't true in a lot of areas anymore

[callinshotz, LVN, RN]

There’s no way of know if you are really fit. But if you think you’ve got what it takes then I say go for it. As a mother myself, I always encourage other moms to start at the community college level and work your way up.