Am I right for nursing

[DEH]

I've read the threads about others wanting to change careers to nursing, and so am I. Maybe some one can give me nuts and bolts answers, specifics.

Before making the big decision to enter nursing school, what can one do to help make that decision. Things like talk to other nurses, shadow a nurse (do hospitals really allow that), volunteer at a hospital (how much and what kind of volunteering can one do that is specifically related to field of choice), visit a nursing school.

By the way, I am a married male, 46, always interested in biology. Junior year high school award winning science project was "The Extraction of And Genetic Transformation of DNA In E Coli".

I know an OR Cardio nurse, two OB nurses and one paramed.

Thanks

[Katnip, RN]

Yes, lots of hospitals offer shadowing. It's usually for a few hours.

If possible, try to become a tech for a few hours a week. That will give you some valuable insight on what healthcare is all about, and you can usually work in the specialty area that interests you most.

Added: While hanging out here, take things with a grain of salt. A lot of venting goes on because it's best to talk to other nurses about your problems than it is to someone who hasn't been there. There are negatives, but I think the majority of nurses still love their jobs and strive to do the best they can even under less than optimal conditions.

[DEH]

So what specifically is a tech and what do they do? The one OB nurse I know I have talked to and she was more excited than me about the possible choice.

Thanks

Yes, lots of hospitals offer shadowing. It's usually for a few hours.

If possible, try to become a tech for a few hours a week. That will give you some valuable insight on what healthcare is all about, and you can usually work in the specialty area that interests you most.

Added: While hanging out here, take things with a grain of salt. A lot of venting goes on because it's best to talk to other nurses about your problems than it is to someone who hasn't been there. There are negatives, but I think the majority of nurses still love their jobs and strive to do the best they can even under less than optimal conditions.