Changing Careers

[faith08]

Hello all,

I just joined this forum and I have been reading for the past 2 hours. I am 30 single with no kids and I want to change careers. I am in the business field now and want to go into nursing. I have been discouraged by so many people but I still want to do it. I am currenly volunteering in a hospital and I get trained by a CNA so I have not yet had the chance to speak to a nurse. I know there are a lot of nurses on this forum with a lot of experience. I recently took some science course bio, chem, A&P and I loved them so I know science is not a problem. I will have to quit my job and go back to school full time so I am scared out of my mind. :uhoh3:Does anyone have any advise as to what I can do to prepare myself for what lays ahead? When you became a nurse where you satisfied? Did you feel like you made the right decision? Any answers will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

When you became a nurse where you satisfied? Did you feel like you made the right decision? Any answers will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading

When I became a nurse, I was quite satisfied with the pay and flexible scheduling. However, I was utterly dissatisfied with the terrible attitudes and behaviors that were being displayed by doctors, family members, and patients.

Doctors tend to be rude and snappish toward nurses because they have more education than us. In their minds, the nurse is stupid and inferior.

Family members tend to be abusive toward nurses because they have an overwhelming sense of entitlement, with no regard for the other patients on the unit. In other words, when vulgar family members want something, you better conjure it up within the next 15 seconds or risk being threatened.

Patients tend to be demanding toward nurses because illness brings out the worst in people. They will bother you with housekeeper requests, such as asking you to fluff their pillow, dust the blinds, fold their sheets, and so forth.

[Wren]

Faith08,

My experience couldn't be more different than that described by the commuter. I am an RN and have been for many years and can't think of a career that I'd rather have. I came to nursing with another degree and a whole different career path and I have never regretted changing to nursing for a moment.

Can doctors, families or co-workers be jerks? Of course, but you can run into jerks in any work environment... business, in law, in retail....where ever you go. Fortunately, they are in the minority and I certainly wouldn't let that discourage me. Overwhelmingly I have found my colleagues (doctors, nurses, CNAs, etc) to be good people to work with and we are united in the goal of taking care of the patients.

Nursing gives you the opportunity to work in many, many different types of settings so if you find one that doesn't suit you then there is sure to be another that will. It is natural to be scared but you have the science background and you will feel better once you get started. You can certainly do this if you want!

Good luck!