Do you have a back up to Nursing?

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I am starting in less than a week my prerequisites to enter into an associate's of nursing degree program, and I am just wondering, do any of you have a plan if Nursing doesn't work out? Of course I really want to be a nurse, and I think I can do it. But I keep reading stories on here of people who've spent years in school, tons of money, only to find that when they get to clinicals they aren't necessarily suited to Nursing or just don't have the knack for it. So if something like that happens, do you have a fall back plan? Will the courses we take be accepted for something like physical therapy, radiology, or maybe respiratory therapist? Something else in the medical field? I am hoping and praying that I do as well as I want to, but I'm also aware that sometimes wanting isn't enough. What are your thoughts or plans?

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

I already have a law degree, so you could say that's pretty much my permanent back-up plan especially since I intend on keeping my license active. Ironic however since that's the exact field I wish to leave for nursing. In my opinion, the biggest hurdle I will encounter would be getting INTO a program as I have heard stories of so many people applying and not getting in even with excellent GPAs ... the more time I spend in the hospital setting as a volunteer, the more I am convinced that nursing is where I am meant to be and will pursue it fervently. I have not really thought of a back up plan in another medical area, but what I might do if I find nursing is not for me is to combine my experiences sooner towards forensic nursing or legal nurse consulting or risk management (which I was considering doing later anyway, along with teaching).

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Well I'll be getting my AA in 2 more semesters (before I even start nursing school), so all these science classes are just like electives from the AA perspective. I think my second choice would be teaching, but I haven't really researched it much.

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I honestly haven't even thought of a backup plan. I currently work full time but plan to quit when I get into the program. If I find that nursing isn't for me, I guess I will be a SAHM until I figure something else out. I have thought about sonography and might take a few of those pre-reqs during the semester I will be hanging around just waiting to get into the nursing program.

We'll see though. I really hope that nursing works out for me. :D

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My backup plan is radiology tech or physical therapy which I have to do more research on. I have my mind set on becoming a nurse and I'm hoping once my pre-reqs are done, I will be accepted into the Nursing program at my local college but like everything in life, things dont usually turn out how we mapped it to be...

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Kind of. I haven't yet decided on Nursing, so I am taking pre-reqs now, knowing that this (health sciences) is a general area of interest for me so they are relevant.

Clinical Lab Sciences or Respiratory Therapy, or possibly the accredited MA program at the community college are my alternate plans right now. I think the best fit for my work-style would actually be the lab, but I owe it to myself to keep thinking about it while I take the science classes I need.

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Occupational Therapy has the same pre-reqs.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

I'm considering a Radiology Tech. program as well. I like working as a nursing assistant but I dont know if I'm 100% committed to becoming a nurse..still though, I go back & forth. We'll see what happens..

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My #1 backup is definitely the paramedic field. Being a paramedic is like being a doctor, an RN, a CNA and an environmental services tech all in one. #2 would be physical therapy. I LOVE the energy and atmosphere in physical therapy gyms and occupational therapy rooms. All the physical therapists I know have SO much enthusiasm, drive and love for their patients.

But what I absolutely love about nursing is how wide your field of opportunities are...the variations are endless. It sometimes seems like there are more nursing occupations than there are rooms in a hospital.

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But what I absolutely love about nursing is how wide your field of opportunities are...the variations are endless. It sometimes seems like there are more nursing occupations than there are rooms in a hospital.

That is a huge draw for me to nursing as well. I have a general interest in the medical field, I'd like to think of myself as a compassionate person and I feel good about the prospect of helping people. I really like the versatility a nursing career offers, and something my Husband loved about being an aid at the hospital was the fast paced constant changing environment - an aspect I find very appealing. I like MANY things but often find myself bored quickly...my hopes are that nursing will not allow me any boredom and keep my mind working.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I have an AA in Criminal Justice so my back-up is working for the state in some capacity, like as a caseworker for foodstamps & medicaid, a corrections officer, highway patrol, etc.

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Commanderzoom, do you know the type of degree required for working in social services like foodstamps, medicaid, etc?

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