Gaduated with bachelor's-Continue teaching or pursue nursing? Very lost

[song122341]

Hello,

Long post*

Age:24

I am in a position where I need to choose between two career options.

I recently graduated from a university with a bachelor's degree in elementary education.

I started this program because I enjoyed being with children, but throughout my field experience and volunteer experiences in the classroom, I felt that teaching wasn't what I really wanted to do (However, it was too late to change my major at the time).

I entered college having no idea what I wanted to do. I considered nursing at first because I've always been drawn towards the medical field. However, after reading how difficult it was to get into nursing programs and how difficult the nursing profession was, I backed out and pursued teaching(not implying that teaching isn't- it has it's own set of difficulties and demands).

Right now I have the choice of continuing my licensure in education and start student teaching or pursuing nursing. I have applied to volunteer at a hospital in a setting that will hopefully allow me to help nurses.

The many reasons why I'm afraid to begin a new career nursing:

1. I feel that I would have wasted my 4 years earning my degree in education.

2. The programs near me (Northern Va) are all extremely competitive and I am worried about the years I may have to spend applying to schools if I don't get in the first few times. It is also going to be costly.

3. I have no real experience with nursing. I've called many hospitals and clinics but all of them do not allow people to shadow unless they are nursing students. I don't want to go into nursing having idealized it and want to see what nurses really do.

4. I am quite introverted. One of the reasons I decided teaching was not for me was because of how extroverted teachers have to be. I found myself not excited or passionate about teaching. Being in the classroom and interacting with 20-30 children at once for a just few hours drains me out so much. However, a part of me thinks that I could get used to this once I start teaching and have experience. I know nursing is going to require me to be extroverted as well, but I thought that I could deal with one-on-one patient care, multitasking, and the physical demands better.

If I do pursue nursing, I will be taking prerequisites for one year and looking into either getting my associates in nursing and bsn later on, accelerated programs, or MSN CNL programs.

I feel extremely lost right now. I entered college a year later than my highschool graduating class. All the people around me who have graduated having landed secure positions with their jobs. I feel like I'm letting my parents down if I don't have a secure job soon. However, I feel extremely grateful to be in a position to make a career choice and further my education.

I really appreciate you taking the time to read this long rant/post. I truly welcome and thank you for any feedback you could provide me.

[Sour Lemon]

There are a few people around here who've gone from teaching to nursing, so I'll leave most of your questions to them ...but reading your fourth point makes me wonder if you understand what introverted/extroverted actually mean. You can be introverted and do any job well. Being introverted simply means that you don't rely on other peoples thoughts and opinions much and that you need time alone to recharge. You can be introverted, but also assertive, talkative, etc.

Anyway ...in nursing you may not have thirty people in the room at one time, but it often feels that way. As "coordinator of care", you're not just taking care of your assigned patients (who might all be calling for you at the same time), but you're also a go-between for those patients and everyone else they interact with in the healthcare setting. That can be family, friends, radiology, doctors, nursing assistants, pharmacy, OR, transferring or accepting facilities, lab, etc. It's not as 1:1 as you might be imagining. You've really got to be "on".

[Cactus Nurse]

Why do you want to be a Nurse?

Ask yourself that and then if you really really honestly 100000% want to be a Nurse do it.

It may take time but if that's what you want then do it. You sound very discouraged and confused, if you can gather your thoughts into another stressful few years of school, then go for nursing.

Look up YouTube videos of Day in the life of a Nurse.

In general:

Nurses work 12-14 hour shifts. Some places do 8, but facilities and hospitals like 12.

Nurses sit down a total of about 30-60 minutes in that entire shift. You sit to chart and that's all.

You can have a patient load from 10-30 or even 40 patients. Every facility is different.

You don't need to be a bubble fake person what you need is empathy. Understand that your patients are relying on you to take care of them. Some may not even be able to speak or even make eye contact with. You treat everyone the same and show nothing but love for them. Love and care. Their life is in your hands. It's a huge responsibility. You need to be able to react quickly to life threatening situations.

Home health isn't a easy way out either, yes one pt, but if something happens there's no one to turn to. It's only you to take care of them.

A lot of memorizing meds, diagnosis and treatment procedures.

The nursing community is very helpful to one another when you graduate and begin your first job there are always nurses around you for help and to ask for questions.

You just need to figure out if this is why you want to do

Don't worry Bout the money and time just do it.

I always wanted to. RN, I Finally became a LPN, 10 years after graduating high school. I did food service for 6 years, than retail management for 5. I got fed up and went for my dream job- nursing. It's been my dream but I was discouraged like you, making good money kept me in retail.

I became a LPN because it was a one year program, I don't make that much less than a new grad RN. I DO almost the same work as a RN. FEw things a RN can do that I cannot. It's the best decision I ever made.

I didn't care about debt or time, I made it work. I worked graveyard the entire year of nursing school an average of 24-32 hours a week. Got my first job a month after getting licensed. It's not hard- just takes time and determination. If you love it, school will be amazing, stressful but you will love it.

Good luck

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I am one of those that went from teaching to nursing. I changed jobs because I was a non-tenured teacher with a Masters. The school district was running out of money so those of use that were more expensive did not get contracts renewed. 5 of us at one school lost jobs.

I have a BS in Biology, so to do Nursing, I really just needed 2 or 3 classes plus the nursing core classes.

I enjoy nursing much more that I did teaching. There is a lot of teaching in nursing. You can go into an ABSN program

I was pre-vet for my undergrad so Nursing school was easier and I like that part, I am not sure what your background is. I am not squeamish about medical stuff.

As PP said, not sure you "get" introversion. I am extremely introverted, that does not mean that I don't like people. I like to be around my patients and I engage them. I have a great time and I love nursing. However, when I am not at work, I am by myself. I go to concerts by myself, the gym, etc. I am married with 2 kids, but I still find "me" time. It helps that one son and hubby are introverts too. :)

If you can get your CNA license and work in home health or some capacity and see if you like it.

[purplegal]

I was one of those that went back and forth between nursing and teaching. I finally went with nursing, because like you, I was drawn to the medical field, and also for caring for the ill. I also realized that there is a lot of education and teaching that go with being a nurse itself, even just teaching a patient about a procedure or side effects of medication. Plus, there is always the chance to become a nurse educator. So, I figured nursing was a win-win situation. Plus, it appears to be much easier to get a nursing job than a teaching job.

Nursing school admission IS competitive. I did not get in until my third try, so it really depends on how much you want it. If you are not willing to try multiple times for admissions, it may be that you don't desire it enough. At the same time, it should not take years to get in if you really want it. Nursing is difficult, and it is good that you recognize that and all of the responsibility that goes along with it. It is not a career for someone who wants an easy job.

Also, if you're worried about wasting time continuing a degree in education, consider the fact that if you do get a degree in education and end up working as a teacher, you may have wasted your entire career not doing what you truly wanted to do. It is easier to pursue nursing now while you are not currently a teacher than to try and pursue it after years of teaching.

Additionally, you can always try nursing for a semester or two to see what it's like, and then if you don't like it, you can always change. Honestly, the best way to decide if you want to pursue nursing is to actually do some of the work, not just to shadow.

Also, I am quite introverted and reserved, and it has not held me back. I work successfully in a rehab/long-term care facility with residents who do not mind my quiet nature, since I still communicate with them and still meet their needs. I am not sure what you mean by handling physical demands better, but I would say nursing is WAY more physically demanding than teaching. Also, jobs where you only get one patient are quite rare.

[Nature_walker, ASN, BSN, RN]

I went from teaching to nursing. I honestly couldn't be happier that I left the education world behind. I do find that a lot of my skills from teaching I am still using as a nurse. Good luck with your choice!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

OP: I think you need to at least give teaching a chance. Much like nursing SCHOOL and nursing PRACTICE are very,very different- I imagine teaching is the same. You can also be working on prerequisite courses - but seriously, find out first. Don't just throw away that degree before really trying it.

I wish you well.

[anitalaff, BSN, RN]

I get the impression from your post that you are really wondering if nursing can be a good fit with your personality and abilities. I would like to say that yes, it can. You will discover that most nursing students are pushed towards hospital work, but there is a wide variety of nursing roles out there for you to explore.

As a suggestion, community nursing is almost always 1:1 nurse to client, sometimes for very complex situations it's 2:1! I am referring to nurses who either do short visits, or stay for a shift with one client.

Public health might be a good match because there is a strong research and teaching aspect to those jobs (but also presentations!).

I'm sure other nurses have expressed the same idea: If you are drawn to helping others in this way (I didn't really read what you're truly passionate about in life), then you can find a career path that fits you.

In nursing school, you will be challenged because you're expected to try a variety of roles and give presentations, but that doesn't have to be a big part of the job you ultimately have.

BTW I agree with your definition of an introverted personality.

Do some soul searching that goes beyond what looks good and what others expect of you. This is your life. Think about what gets you up in the morning to go and do.

I hope this helps in some way. Good luck!

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

I'm another former teacher, now nurse.

... and I'm far, far from an extrovert, so an introvert can be successful in both fields. Like other pp's have stated, I would re-look at your definition there.

I enjoyed teaching. What I didn't enjoy was taking the lesson planning/grading papers home with me just about daily.

So far, I enjoy being a nurse. It's exhausting, I've had my good days and bad days ... but I punch out and leave at the end of my shift.

TBH, I agree with MeanMaryJean -- give that degree a chance first. This introvert wouldn't change what she did with that first degree, truly. I had my own reasons for changing; do that soul searching ... but BOTH careers can leave you tired and drained (and driving home without the radio on).