Confused Please Help!!

[Kamilah1993]

Hello everyone I'm new to this forum and I need some real answers from people who don't mind giving me the hardcore, upright truth.

I hraudated from college in May 3915 with a BA in Psychology, I haven't done anything with the degree so I enrolled back in school and I'm currently majoring in Elementary Education. The program is ok I just feel that the classes are extremely boring and I honestly don't feel prepared to be a teacher. I know everyone says that teachers have summer off which technically isn't true, so I would have to find another source of income which could be hard, also teachers are blamed if the students don't pass or are failing, and in NC which I live the teachers pay is fairly low. As a single mom, I don't want to struggle to make ends meet and I just feel like getting paid once a month will be somewhat of a struggle. So I've really been thinking about nursing because it offers flexibility in hours, better pay and the nursing courses are far more interesting than education courses. There are so many specialties to choose from and there are plenty of jobs in nursing. From the hospitals, outpatient clinics, prisons, schools you name it, I could choose from so many. My only concern is that I would have to work nights, holidays and the weekends as a nurse but at least I would have a job over the summer. A lot of debate has been going on over the teacher pay in NC and it's really so draining because I feel like each era nor education is respected in NC. I just feel as a nurse I wouldn't have to worry about money as much as I would a teacher especially as a single mom. So please help, I know it's long but I'm really at odds with myself because I want to be able to financially take care of my son without struggling every month. He doesn't deserve that.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

It is not necessarily true that there are "plenty of jobs in nursing" at this point in time. Or at least not plenty of jobs for new grads. Investigate the actual job market where you live.

Are you willing to work those nights and/or weekends and/or holidays? All 3?

Congrats on your 3915 graduation:cheeky:

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

What do you find boring about the classes you're in now?

How competitive would you be as a candidate for nursing school? Have you looked into the prerequisites and other requirements?

How much debt have you already taken on between the last degree and starting this one? Is the debt manageable and would it continue to be manageable if you changed direction again?

Those are a few things to think about if you're contemplating a change.

And as another poster said, jobs are not as plentiful as they may seem in many markets. As a new graduate nurse, you're not as desirable and are pretty much stuck with what you can get. This usually means weekends and holidays (at least some). Some new graduates also have trouble finding day positions and end up working overnight until they have enough seniority to switch. Many nursing jobs consist of 12 hour shifts which could be a positive or negative for you.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

You seem to be all over the place academically. How much loan debt are you facing if you pursue nursing? Have you looked into the nursing job market in your area? I would suggest sitting down with a school career counselor to discuss careers — you might just discover your passion. Good luck!