Hi, I am a 30 years old trying to get into nursing school. I am currently taking prereqs at local community college.
The more and more I research about nursing there is so much negativity forums and articles about nursing.
- patients treat you crap
- management is terrible
- undervalued, underpaid, etc..
I am currently in a totally different field, but I hate my job..and I don't see any future career in this field..
I was always interested in medical field and specifically primary care or anesthesiology and at 30 years old decided to change my field to nursing. my goal was to work as a nurse and purse my career further as NP, PA or CRNA.
I've done some research and found out that NP, PA or CRNA will not be in demand in around 10 years and that is taking away my hope as well...
I feel so devastated whenever I read about these negativity side of nursing.
I have so much fear of maybe not getting accepted to nursing school, failing my NCLEX-RN, not being able to get a job as a nurse.
am I overthinking myself? Do you think it is a mistake for me to purse a nursing career? ?please share your thoughts
Before you decide to move forward past this semester ask yourself:
1) Why am I REALLY doing this?
Just like how amoLucia said, you really can over research something. It's true there are a handful of nurses that will talk about the underpayment, management, patient's etc. It's true, nursing is a STRESSFUL job, you'll have days when you cry, days when you don't get to pee, won't get to eat, or stay extra late to finish up charts. But that's what makes this career a calling for people and only the strong ones make it through working in these conditions.
BUT....
There are days and facilities that will treat you amazing, patients that will make you so happy that you went forward with this career change, managers that care, and some will pay AMAZING.
As you take prerequisites I HIGHLY encourage you to take a CNA class and work as one at a facility/unit you take interest in, some hospitals call them NCTs,PCTs, Unit Techs, Unit Aides.
Its not a must to be a CNA before nursing school (even though I know some programs require it), but I always recommend it to anyone thinking about going to nursing school. It will teach you a lot of the basics in healthcare and you can always see and ask how the nurses within the facility work and like their area of work too. You'll see PAs and NPs as well! I know my unit has PAs and NPs covering the weekends and nights.
Before you make the step to go into nursing school and spend tens of thousands of dollars, take a CNA class that usually is between $900-$2000 (sometimes cheaper!) for a couple weeks/months and see if the healthcare field is even within your interests!
Take one step at a time! Worry about getting into nursing school when it's time to apply, worry about the NCLEX when the time comes, worry about getting a job AFTER you pass your NCLEX. You'll get there!
Soooo I will tell you this: I graduated 3 years ago and there have been times I've thought to myself "what did I get myself into?" "If I could do it all over again I would do ____ instead." From age 16 on, all I wanted in my life was to be a nurse, to get into nursing school, go through the program, get my license, and be at the bedside "fulfilling my calling," as you'll hear a lot of aspiring nurses-to-be say. I started out my career as a fresh RN on a very busy cardiovascular floor at a big, university hospital. We had a residency to ease us into the career, a lengthy orientation for on the job training, and I felt as confident as I could have as a new grad RN taking my first patients solo. As you have mentioned in your original post, patients treated me poorly (not all, but most), I was over-stretched in my patient assignments for my skill level (and management told me to deal with it), and night shift work took a very big toll on my mental and physical health.
The great thing about nursing is that there isn't just one place for you to practice. Having your BSN, RN doesn't mean you'll be at the bedside forever (unless that's your thing!), but there are soooo many opportunities that this line of work affords you. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it's that nursing will forever be in demand in one way or another. I don't know what you're reading that's saying APP roles won't be utilized in 10 years; I actually have seen that NPs and CRNA's are sought after because they actually save hospitals and organizations money by not opting for as many physician providers, so that would still be an option for you.
There are pros and cons to any job field. I think you read so much negativity on these boards because this is where people come to vent their negativity. Nursing isn't always rainbows and sunshine, but there are patients and situations that touch your heart in a way that no other job field could.
...... Nursing, as cliche as it sounds...it's a calling.
This surprised me, big time! I'm starting to think that the pendulum has begun to swing back the other way - back to 'a calling'.
How else could one defend the abominably crazy circumstances under which nurses travail?!?!?!? Do professors NOT get a BR break? Do accountants or attorneys permits clients to mouthy spout off obscenities and still be expected to 'serve' the client with a smile ?!?!?!? Do civil service office staff NOT take lunch or feel guilty to take a 'sick day'?!?!?!?
Sounding more like Saint Mother Theresa. And I could go on & on further.
There has got to be some kind of dedication above & beyond normal career expectations. The 'passion' and the 'dream' and the 'desire to help' continue to pop up regularly. Although NOT by experienced nurses.
Today's public expectations for a nurse are NOT as they were. So unless a newbie is entering the field with a good understanding of what the health care field, and particularly nursing, is all about, there will be a major disconnect with terrible angst. And big-time regret.
I love being a nurse. The negatives that you've mention are just perspectives. Grumpy patients are my favorite. Of course they're going to be the worst of the worst...they're sick or ill. There's not a person out there that can tell me they're an angel during sick days. Some of these patients have chronic illnesses...something to really think about. Can you be understanding?
If you hate your job and enter a new profession due to financial reasons, you will hate being a nurse. It's the most difficult job I've ever had, I agree we should get paid more, but the patients and family really make me happy. It's worth the trouble.
I've worked with nurses that get eaten up by the negative aspects of nursing. It's not for everyone and I can't tell you if this career is for you. You have to want to care for people and have never ending compassion. If you have this then school, NCLEX, a job should be no problem. Your passion will go a long way.
One more thing. Goals of your desired position is great to have! That will all come with time. I had to start from the bottom to gain experience. After a year, I'm still offered the jobs I don't want LOL!
I'm in the same boat as you also in my 30's and I absolutely hate my current job and there is no room for growth.
Just to get into the nursing field soon I signed up for a CNA course.
No job is perfect and you will have bad days just like you will have great days. Please don't let fear and over-thinking stop you from achieving your dreams
How else could one defend the abominably crazy circumstances under which nurses travail?!?!?!? Do professors NOT get a BR break? Do accountants or attorneys permits clients to mouthy spout off obscenities and still be expected to 'serve' the client with a smile ?!?!
I was a professor of nursing and did get a bathroom break. If I dared go into the BR upon exiting I was met with a student asking me about something ----It comes with the job, they have expectations of what they need to complete. BTW my husband is an accountant and he has had his fair share of rude clients...but he never 'fired' them unless there was cheating the IRS going on. I married later in life and when asked what my profession was, I always said RN. My husband asked me why I said that as I was a professor. I said plainly because I was most proud of achieving my RN. This still stands today.
I will recommend that you research the job market in the location that you wish to practice. There are small pockets of shortage, but realistically, many areas are saturated with new nurses and NPs. You may need to move to get that first job and experience. Are you willing to do so? Look at first year of nursing and first job hunt to get an idea of what's been going on
Hi, I am a 30 years old trying to get into nursing school. I am currently taking prereqs at local community college.
The more and more I research about nursing there is so much negativity forums and articles about nursing.
- patients treat you crap
- management is terrible
- undervalued, underpaid, etc..
I am currently in a totally different field, but I hate my job..and I don't see any future career in this field..
I was always interested in medical field and specifically primary care or anesthesiology and at 30 years old decided to change my field to nursing. my goal was to work as a nurse and purse my career further as NP, PA or CRNA.
I've done some research and found out that NP, PA or CRNA will not be in demand in around 10 years and that is taking away my hope as well...
I feel so devastated whenever I read about these negativity side of nursing.
I have so much fear of maybe not getting accepted to nursing school, failing my NCLEX-RN, not being able to get a job as a nurse.
am I overthinking myself? Do you think it is a mistake for me to purse a nursing career? ?please share your thoughts
hey there! I'm sorta in the same boat here: I'm a couple months out from 34 with 2 kids and I'm taking my prereqs now. If everything goes to plan, I should be applying to nursing school in just over a year (I'm only taking part-time class loads b/c I need to work full-time).
While doing my research, I also came across negativity and IMO you'd be crazy if those things didn't scare you some. But what has kept me going is the feeling I get when I think about getting into nsg school, that anxious trepidation of the workload school will thrust upon us, the relief of graduating and the elation of passing the NCLEX-RN. But most importantly, the feeling I get when I think about actually being able to help someone, hands-on, entrusted to be apart of a team that DIRECTLY heals a person. Man, that feeling there is what gets me through my bad days. THAT feeling is my drive.
Find your drive and you'll never doubt your decision again. Sure, you may question things but you won't have doubt.
Or maybe I'm just a newbie idealist like the others say...
jakrob123
42 Posts
Nursing, as cliche as it sounds...it's a calling.
Before you decide to move forward past this semester ask yourself:
1) Why am I REALLY doing this?
Just like how amoLucia said, you really can over research something. It's true there are a handful of nurses that will talk about the underpayment, management, patient's etc. It's true, nursing is a STRESSFUL job, you'll have days when you cry, days when you don't get to pee, won't get to eat, or stay extra late to finish up charts. But that's what makes this career a calling for people and only the strong ones make it through working in these conditions.
BUT....
There are days and facilities that will treat you amazing, patients that will make you so happy that you went forward with this career change, managers that care, and some will pay AMAZING.
As you take prerequisites I HIGHLY encourage you to take a CNA class and work as one at a facility/unit you take interest in, some hospitals call them NCTs,PCTs, Unit Techs, Unit Aides.
Its not a must to be a CNA before nursing school (even though I know some programs require it), but I always recommend it to anyone thinking about going to nursing school. It will teach you a lot of the basics in healthcare and you can always see and ask how the nurses within the facility work and like their area of work too. You'll see PAs and NPs as well! I know my unit has PAs and NPs covering the weekends and nights.
Before you make the step to go into nursing school and spend tens of thousands of dollars, take a CNA class that usually is between $900-$2000 (sometimes cheaper!) for a couple weeks/months and see if the healthcare field is even within your interests!
Take one step at a time! Worry about getting into nursing school when it's time to apply, worry about the NCLEX when the time comes, worry about getting a job AFTER you pass your NCLEX. You'll get there!
First find out if the medical field is for you!
Good luck!