Are there other options besides nursing?

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I've just recently started to consider nursing school but I'm a little apprehensive. (Going back to school scares me ********) I have spent my fare share of time as a patient and have many nursing friends and family members so I'm aware of how hard nursing school and the actual job is. (They remind me all the time) but they haven't been able to talk me out of it yet. My main interest well to be honest my only interest is Labor and Delivery or PP. I know both areas can be hard to land a job in, but I'm more than willing to work in other departments until I can get in. So I guess my question is are there any other positions with similar pay in those department besides nursing that anyone would recommend?

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Other positions with similar pay? No. Clerks and aides make closer to minimum wage than nurse's wage.

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Specializes in MSICU.

Do you mean like a different area of medicine? I'd say that radiological technicians and respiratory therapists would be similar. But a more narrow scope. There is a a lot of upward and lateral mobility in nursing which is what makes it appealing to me.

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I mean different positions in L&D besides a nurse.

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

This is kind of a sideways answer, but consider this: when I was in nursing school some people who thought they were only interested in such-and-such type of nursing changed their mind during clinicals and actually went to work doing something completely different. I had few specific ideas in mind, ended up in an area I hadn't considered at all, and eh, it's been ok.

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In L&D scrub techs are sometimes utilized in the OR, and in Postpartum there are lactation counselors. These are the only non-RN roles that come to mind. Most lactation counselors that I have met have worked as RNs first, however. You'll need to go back to school for these roles, in any case.

If nursing is your passion, don't let fear stop you. Perhaps try taking one prerequisite at a time, and see how it goes. You may be pleasantly surprised at how well you do!

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That's what I keep hearing. I would definitely go in with an open mind.

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Sonogram technicians make a great salary in Maryland. However, the courses are not a walk in the park...physics, AP1, AP2.

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