Do I want to be a nurse????

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I'm so confused. I went to school to become a Health Information Technician which manages the medical records, does coding, etc. But now that I'm doing my intern I don't like it at all and I think I would like nursing instead. My mom is a nurse and she tells me I'd be good at it because I like to take care of people and I am a very sympathetic person but she also told me about the shifts, weekends, and holidays. I don't like the sound of that because I have a 2 year old daughter and I like to see her ya know. So is this going to be something I should stay away from or should I go for it. I want to be a labor and delivery nurse really bad but I need some advice from you nurses out there, is it really as bad as people say (overworked and underpaid) or is it so rewarding that the good outweighs the bad?

Help me!!!!! I'm signed up to start in January.:uhoh21:

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

It isn't easy to get hired as an L&D nurse, and there is shift work involved. You have to know that going in. Only you can decide if it is worth the sacrifices. You could always look for a hospital that works 3 12 hour shifts per week, which would allow you more time with your daughter; or, work graveyard, sleep while she's in daycare (which I assume she is now, since you are currently working) and spend the late afternoon/evenings with her.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

If you do not like the prospects of evening/night and weekend shiftwork, do NOT go for L and D. That is my best advice.

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Nursing school requires a lot of hard work and sacrifice. School can be difficult and you need a lot of time for classroom, clinicals, studying and assignments.

So does a career in nursing. As a new nurse you will be at the bottom of the totem pole. You will work every other weekend(at the very least) and holidays. Yes, that means you have to leave your little one on Christmas and go to work. Thanksgiving too. Easter. Mother's Day. You will perform backbreaking soul wrenching tasks. You will see people at their absolute worst and best. At the end of the shift you will feel like you want to sleep for 2 days. Then you have the little one to take care of.

Benefits are working three shifts a week. A good education that can take you places, tuition reimbursement. Vacation and benefits are good.

You have to decide if the benefits outweigh the sacrifices. Yes, it can be rewarding, but it is not easy and not romantic.

Cherry

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