BECOMING A NURSE???

[ztack90]

OK so here's the deal. I'm 23 and I'm about to graduate with a bachelors degree in psychology. I have always been interested in psychology and I told myself that I was going to try to get a Ph.D and become a clinical psychologist. I knew that the job offerings in psych for a bachelors level position was little in the actual field, but my school counselors told me that a degree in psych could help me pursue alot of other areas. Now that I am 23 and not 18 I am becoming more skeptic that my bachelors in psych wont offer anything and I sometimes feel that I have been lied to constantly.

Anyway I have worked really hard in college and have a 3.6 GPA and I am working to get a 3.7 GPA. I have recently become interested in nursing because the job seems to pay off much faster and the job opportunities seem tremendous. I am also interested in health science and caring for people.

Recently I have found that our school offers an accelerated B.S.N program for people with non- nursing degrees. The catch though is only a few people get accepted. And I'm really worried I wont get accepted because I dont have any hands on nursing experience( I do have a lot of hands on experience in the psych field though). I have looked up my school requirements and If I did get accepted I would start next year and I would have to take a few pre req classes.

I am so worried because I have worked so hard in college and I feel that If I did this nursing thing all along I would be allready getting paid. I have always been considering grad school so I have also been interested in become an advance nurse practitioner.

My main questions are

1. should I even try to pursue this nursing thing...and what should I do if I don't get accepted into the program??

2.Is the starting pay for an RN good...pay isn't my main concern because I would enjoy the field of nursing...but if I am going to go through all this school I want to make pretty good pay?

3. If I did become an RN...which would mean I would be roughly at the age of 25...would this be to late to become a nurse...would this make me old compared to everyone else?

4. My main goal is to become an advanced nurse prac.(if I even get accepted into the program) . I was thinking about becoming a CRNA or a clinical nurse specialist. I know this requires a lot of schooling..but I was already prepared to going to grad school with the psych degree anyway. If I did become a CRNA how long would this take...i figured if I started the accelerated nursing program at the age of 24 and went to grad school for 3 years with another 1 to 2 years of supervised internship I would become an APN by the time I'm 30ish...does this make me to old?? (Also If I did become a clinical psychologist I would be roughly around the age of 30 as well )

Please help!!!...I am so determined and I have read all the requirements my school needs. I have been kicking myself lately because I feel that nursing is so much better than psych because you can get paid quicker while doing a nursing grad program if need be.

[RNBearColumbus, BSN]

1: Find another program. There are a ton of advanced standing programs out there. Some are even done online, with in person clinical.

2: Depends on the area, but usually in the mid to upper 20/hour range

3: LOL.... no. New RNs are all ages. Lots of people have entered the profession as second careers. (I was 38 when I started as an LPN, and will be 49 once I get my RN finished.)

4: Those are good goals, and there is no reason to think that your age will be a factor in getting it done. But, since you have an interest, (And a degree) in psych, have you thought about becoming a psych nurse? You could combine both interests. Psych nurses work in a lot of different settings, like inpatient psych, outpatient clinics and substance abuse programs. Think about it.

Good luck to you!

[BunnyBunny]

My background: Liberal studies major...had no luck with jobs, so I did the entry level master program in nursing and got my RN in two years. I was 28. Sadly, it took me 5 months to get a job...by connections. Sadly some of my classmates are hitting their one year mark without any work or an interview. I'm in CA and its tough here.

1. You never know if you try. Research to see if there are nursing jobs out there who will take new grad with no exp.

2.it depends, In southern Cali, I was started at 30

3. 25 is a great age for anything!

4. It's great that you have goals, but wait until you start nursing school. You will get exposure to many things and see what you really love. For me when I started I thought being a FNP was my path, but I really love nurse education

Good luck, follow your heart. I did and have not regret it!

[plinytheRN]

1. I highly recommend you volunteer at a hospital or work as a CNA just to gain the exposure to enable you to make the best decision for you, make sure you know what you are getting into before you decide. It is hard work, and in some places even harder to find a job- I am in CA and it's close to impossible as new grad finding a job.

2. generally; depends on the part of the country and years of experience. In Louisiana starting pay for a new grad is $20, in CA up to $35

3. I just graduated and I am 25, many people in my class were 40 and up.

4. 30 y.o. is not old at all! Many people achieve higher education much later in life than 30.

Sounds like you are on the right path, just research as much as you can or try to shadow in the positions you are interested in- that is the best way to get a good feel for the career.

Good Luck!

[rumwynnieRN]

It took me a while to get into nursing school, and my grand total in college was 7 years, all to get my BSN. It was a blessing in disguise -- I should've graduated in 2009, but that was in the middle of the recession.

1) I volunteered at a children's hospital on the outpatient dialysis unit, and I got my CNA. I didn't use the CNA (long story), but it gets your feet a little wet so you're not scared of doing bed baths or changing beds.

2) Eh, it depends. Some places don't pay as much as others, but at the same time, a job is a job. I won't be making nearly as much as my classmates where I'm from (I moved to another state right after nursing school and still in the process of finding a job), but it's about right for where I am now.

3) I knew people who were my parents' age when they graduated nursing school. I was 25, a month shy of my 26th birthday when I graduated.

4) If the other posts or my third point didn't drive it home -- no, 30 is not too old to be an APRN/CRNA, etc. It's probably better if you get more experience bedside and all that under your belt, but if you're one of those people who has their stuff down early, go for it.

[ztack90]

thanks everyone!