Career help?? (Nursing vs Education)

cb_rn · Jun 28, 2010

This economy is not being very kind to new nurses. Something to think about. Will it recover? I hope so but there is no telling when.

Flo., BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2010

Don't go into nursing for the money because it is not there. As far as nursing vs education you have to look deep into yourself and see which one rings true. spend some time on this site, in the new nursing grad section and read what it is like. If you have time get a job as a CNA, if you don't like that work chances are you won't like nursing.

mochamocha · Jun 28, 2010

Everyone I talk to except my fiance says nursing is a far better career choice for me and esp. with this economy.

This is the total opposite right now. The economy is pretty bad for nurses especially for new grads. Please be informed that the so-called "nursing shortage" are really for experienced nurses, and in most states where they are being laid off, even they are having a tough time finding a job.

HiHoCherry-O · Jun 28, 2010

Nursing is not for everyone. In my experience, 12 hour shifts are long. Your days on are not always grouped together (meaning increased exhaustion). There is no such thing as "holidays". Health care is 24/7; unless you are able to work in a doctor's office or some type of clinic setting. Even then, there are some physicians that expect you to take vacation when they do. You are not always appreciated by co-workers, physicians, ancillary staff, families, patients etc. Be prepared to grow a few more layers of skin.

Some pros: 12 hour shifts (pro and con), get it done and over with. There is rarely a dull moment during your shift. There is a lot of mobility; if you don't like your current specialty, go somewhere else. Those who do appreciate you and all that you do make you feel warm and fuzzy inside and I find that feeling lasts with me longer than those who don't appreciate what I do for them.

Either choice will result in you impacting someones life, and someone impacting your life. Good luck!

Meraki · Jun 28, 2010

I did both and I find they compliment each other really well. There is a great deal of education that happens in nursing, so education classes you take won't be wasted. You could later work as a nurse educator. There is a lot of overlap - teachers do a lot of nurturing and providing support and nurses do lots of teaching, but career wise they are very different. Nursing is focused on health prevention, promotion and treatment and education is focused on academic achievement. You need to think what you are drawn towards.

I have no idea how you were bored on your field placement!! Between planning and executing meaningful, engaging, stimulating lessons, differentiating instruction for all the unique learning needs in the class, making the learning contextually relevant, finding supplies and preparing work, classroom management for 30 kids, gym, lunch duty, music, building rapport with your students, deescalating school yard disagreements, talking with parents, having fun with the kids, marking...I'd call it a lot of things but not boring! Your first year of 2 of teaching you will work way more than 12 hours a day 5 or 6 days a week....then it gets better.

Both have times of shortage and time of surplus, both make you work hard for the money you earn, both have challenges and rewards...both are great careers.

Momfirstalways · Jun 28, 2010

As a nurse who left to go into teaching I would say go with nursing. I am going back to nursing because of the poor economy. There are no jobs for teachers at all where I live. There are quite a few nursing jobs. Teachers make far less then nurses. Pros of teaching breaks in the year. Cons you will work 12 hour days 5 days a week in the beginning. Best of luck with your choice.:)

Mama2grlz · Jun 28, 2010

I would suggest you shadow a nurse, and a teacher. As for job shortages, both are experiencing them. There are many new grad teachers who can't find jobs, and teachers who have been teaching 1-3 years or more, being let go... So don't base your decision on that..

I'm going on my 4th year of teaching, and waiting to get into an RN program... I TOTALLY get the "bored" comment, I can relate to it, even though I have plenty of work to keep me busy, I just don't feel like I get to use the "intellectual" part... Both are very demanding careers that take a LOT out of you... So really consider shadowing someone... Or like pp said, a cna position, or even volunteer position.. Get your feet wet.. Whatever you choose, you can always go back to school, if it doesn't work for you! If you have questions on teaching I'd be happy to answer your questions.

PetiteOpRN · Jun 28, 2010

Shadow a pediatric nurse, before making the leap into nursing. A pediatric or family practice office might be one thing, but a pediatric floor or ED might give you a little more insight. At least talk to a nurse in hospital or acute peds.

No matter where you work, as a pediatric nurse, you will be exposed to acute pediatric patients, and (as someone who loves kids), it is very difficult to deal with, to say the least.

I had a taste of pediatric nursing, and that was more than enough for me. It broke my heart to be the person taking the scared preschooler from his mother while he cried and screamed for her (she's typically crying too), and taking him into the procedure room to do something very painful. I just couldn't be that person.

You might be much better equipped to deal with those situations than I am, and pediatric nursing might be exactly the challenge you need to keep you on your toes and inspired throughout your 12-hour shift. It is a calling, and I suggest you thoroughly investigate to see if it is your calling.

tencat · Jun 28, 2010

I, too, love kiddos. But it causes me horrible stress to the point of being physically ill to actually have to treat them as a nurse. I can deal with little babies, for some reason, and with much older kiddos like older than 10, but I cannot deal with causing little ones pain, even though I know it's to keep or make them healthy. Just something to think about.

Teaching has its good and bad points. You can't beat the teacher schedule with so much time off. I have been a nurse for 4 years, and I still really miss the time off. 2 weeks a year doesn't cut it. But I wouldn't go back to education.

Neveranurseagain, RN · Jun 28, 2010

One good thing about education is the time off. With education, you will be off work every day that your child is off, and not have to juggle nights/weekends/12hr shifts and will be there Christmas morning for them. Or you could become a school nurse, and have all of the above!

LisaMay127 · Jun 28, 2010

Thank you guys for giving me your actual input coming from actual nurses. When I first thought of nursing I wanted to do pediatric oncology because I seen the St. Judes commercial and I felt like it called out to me.. ever since that I cannot get it out of my head to be a nurse for kids just seeing them smile while something is going on in their lives would make my world.

With my 30 hour teaching thing here in Oklahoma I just pretty much shadowed her. I did nothing for 30 hours but walk around the class to see if any of the kids needed help and she sat me down A LOT to just grade papers for her... really I was bored out of my mind...

I'm the type of person who needs to constantly be busy all the time doing something. I can't do a desk job at all it would drive me nuts!