Discouraged and needing encouragement

[tartay021]

I have heard mostly discouragement from going into the field of nursing. I am entering school as a freshman in 2 weeks. I plan on getting a BSN from a University after i gain my AA and get the prerequisites from the community college i am in now. My problem is I was really looking forward to being a nurse but there has been so many people telling me to choose another career that i am becoming dismayed at my decision and wondering why i am getting myself into this career. If any of you could give me some encouragement and some uplifting stories and why you like or Love nursing I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

[dhenceroth]

I echo the above sentiments. It bothers me when nurses in our own profession put it down. There are so many opportunities in nursing. I have been in a hospital for 27 years, however I have worked in ICU (10 years), evening/night supervisor, IV Home Care, Oncology and then went on to Performance Improvement and now Risk Management. There are not many other professions where there are so many different fields that you can explore. Hang in there....we need good nurses. Anyway, there are no perfect jobs out there in any profession!

[globalRN]

If you want many career options available to you once you gain that important clinical experience, getting a BSN should figure in your plans. Ideally, right from the start would be great.

I went back for my MS as a family nurse practitioner after I had been a BSN/RN for 17 years. It is always a lot harder to juggle work, family and school but it is achievable.

Now that I have graduated, my past clinical experiences AND my MS are equally important in getting that first job as a nurse practitioner. In the US, you cannot be certified as a NP now without a masters degree and finishing a masters or post-masters NP educational program.

I would encourage those considering a nursing career to go for the BSN.