High school student here... considering nursing as a possible career

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Hi everyone, I'm a high school senior and have recently been considering possible career options for me. I've done A LOT of browsing on this site and others to try to answer my questions, but I'm seeming to get a lot of contradictions about nursing.

I'm interested in medicine/health care, and have considered different disciplines within the field (pharmacy, medicine, nursing). I know these are all VERY different careers. I've concluded that right now I'm not willing to go down the medicine route because of all of the training. I'm also not so interested in pharmacy because I'm not extremely interested in the hard sciences that go with it. I really like that nursing offers direct patient care, and that's really what I imagine myself doing if anything.

I know that nursing/nursing school is no walk in the park, but I'm kind of confused as to what it's REALLY like. I've read posts on here from a full range of opinions, all from how nursing offers the freedom he/she wants to how nursing has taken over his/her life.

I'd really like a job that would give me freedom to pursue my hobbies (music especially) and that would give me freedom to do so both financially and time-wise. I'm also kind of confused about the pay. I read on here some hospitals only pay like $20 per hour. What can I expect in an urban hospital? Both in terms of salary and time working?

I hope I don't sound like I'm interested in nursing because of what it would allow me to do when I'm not working.... I'm actually very interested in helping people and the opportunities that it offers.

Thanks for any info/advice!

John

Reno1978, BSN, RN

1,133 Posts

Specializes in SRNA.

It really depends on the area of the country. You can probably visit the regional forums here for your state and get an idea of pay in your area.

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

Hey John, if you want to find out what nursing is "really like" why don't you see about shadowing a nurse at your local hospital for a day?

I chose nursing for many of the reasons you listed. I like direct pt care, I don't want to be the doctor that only sees the pt for 5 min a day, I want to be the nurse that knows everything that's going on with the pt. I also enjoy the variety of career options my RN will give me, from the ICU to peds to med-surg. Plus, the 4 days off a week is an added bonus. I work in a large metropolitan area here in the states, and I'd say that mid to low $20's/hr is average for a new nurse, but I'm sure you are aware of options available as far as career advancement (Master degree in areas such as NP, CRNA, etc) where you could make alot more than that.

Good luck on your decision, John. You came to the right place for information. :)

Reno1978, BSN, RN

1,133 Posts

Specializes in SRNA.
I work in a large metropolitan area here in the states, and I'd say that mid to low $20's/hr is average for a new nurse

I work in a city that isn't that large, and new graduates make between $26-30/hr.

Reno1978, BSN, RN

1,133 Posts

Specializes in SRNA.

I have to reiterate that the 4 days off a week is nice. Especially where I work, since we do self-scheduling with pretty basic rules (we need to work three of the eight weekend days in our four week schedule). I can work Mon-Tue-Wed one week, then Fri-Sat-Sun the next week and have Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu off in between. That sort of flexibility is great when you want to get out of town or just get away for a while without using actual vacation time.

Price 2002

103 Posts

Specializes in LTC & Correctional Nursing.
i have to reiterate that the 4 days off a week is nice. especially where i work, since we do self-scheduling with pretty basic rules (we need to work three of the eight weekend days in our four week schedule). i can work mon-tue-wed one week, then fri-sat-sun the next week and have thu-fri-sat-sun-mon-tue-wed-thu off in between. that sort of flexibility is great when you want to get out of town or just get away for a while without using actual vacation time.

i love your schedule! i really hope that i can eventually work my way into a job that gives me that kind of freedom! :D

Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

yep...if your place is flexible with scheduling, you can find yourself with a LARGE chunk of time that isn't technically "vacation"! I second the job shadowing statement...many hospitals have these programs in place to show interested students what nursing is really like. also, have you considered getting your CNA and working in a hospital? It may allow you to see what the medical field is really like, and pay a little bit as well.

I envy you being so young and interested....knowing that I could have been out of school at 22 instead of 27 makes a world of difference....5 years at 23 bucks an hour....dang. also, pay is dependent on region. I live in a not that big urban area...but we get 23/hour for new grads, and 5/hr extra for working the night shift...which at 12 hr shift means 60 extra bucks a night.

Nothing in this world is as meaningful...or challenging...as nursing. GL to you!

mpccrn, BSN, RN

527 Posts

Specializes in ICU.

not to rain on your parade but let's be real folks. yes, there are great things about being a nurse, we all have our own reasons which can change daily. yes it is a satisfying career and i couldn't see myself doing anything else but let's give the kid honesty. you work hard for the time you're on the job. new grads can expect night shifts (we all were low man on the totum pole once). while self scheduling is great, you still have to work weekend, holidays and you miss out on allot of family functions. now, as you marry and have kids, no, you can't call in sick cuz the kids are sick. you can't leave work if they get sick in school, you don't always get to see their games or take them to practice. there are times you'd like to leave after your shift but the hospital has decided you can't and you are mandated for more. many places require you put in for vacation in january for the entire year....hope you know what you're doing 8 months from now! now labor laws tell you, you get 2-15 min breaks and 30 min lunches.....haven't had that in the 30 years i'm in this buisness, and no, they won't be paying you for them. sick time doesn't exisit in reality. oh it's on the books, but you don't have access to it if you get the flu, you get to use your vacation time. your day will consist of playing in poop, pee, spit, vomit......ahh the joys of bedside nursing! still want this job??? then yes, we are looking for you! nursing is not just a job, it's a career. you impact peoples lives and their deaths everyday. and the marines think their job is tough! it takes a special kind to join the ranks. look deep in your heart. we can use a good people. hope to see you on the floor!

JohnMN

2 Posts

Thanks for your replies everyone! :)

I've been trying to get a volunteer spot in a hospital, and have contacted 2 so far -- I haven't heard back from one and the other said the earliest they can take me is in September.

MPC, I appreicate your honesty there! I know that nursing includes a lot of "dirty work", and I wouldn't expect anything less.

I do have a few questions though: Do nurses get sick a lot? I'd think that working in a hospital and caring for sick patients all the time nurses would get a lot colds (or worse?). If your patient has pneumonia or something, how "safe" is the nurse? Does dealing with human waste all the time take its toll?

And is it hard to maintain a good social life while being a nurse during the first few years?

Christy, for me 4 days off a week with 12 hours shifts would be wonderful, even if they aren't the best hours.

And also, about how long would you have to work at a hospital before you can "set your own" schedule?

Thank you all :cool:

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
Thanks for your replies everyone! :)

I've been trying to get a volunteer spot in a hospital, and have contacted 2 so far -- I haven't heard back from one and the other said the earliest they can take me is in September.

MPC, I appreicate your honesty there! I know that nursing includes a lot of "dirty work", and I wouldn't expect anything less.

I do have a few questions though: Do nurses get sick a lot? I'd think that working in a hospital and caring for sick patients all the time nurses would get a lot colds (or worse?). If your patient has pneumonia or something, how "safe" is the nurse? Does dealing with human waste all the time take its toll?

And is it hard to maintain a good social life while being a nurse during the first few years?

Christy, for me 4 days off a week with 12 hours shifts would be wonderful, even if they aren't the best hours.

And also, about how long would you have to work at a hospital before you can "set your own" schedule?

Thank you all :cool:

John, for communicable diseases such as pneumonia, influensa, Hep B, MMR, and chicken pox you can get vaccinated, if you aren't all ready. In many cases your employer will pay for you to be vaccinated (that's how I got my chicken pox and Hep B series). Do we get sick alot? Not really, if you practice good hand hygiene and follow universal precautions (ie wear gloves when you are around bodily fluids), then you'll significantly reduce your risk of getting sick. I've personally gotten sick more from stuff co-workers bring in than from the pts themselves.

Hard to mantain a social life? Well, I'm not the best one to answer this question since I'll be starting as a nurse next month, but IMO, it'll be alot easier to have a social life once a nurse than it was when you were still in school. I'll work 3 12's a week, including 4 weekend shifts a month. That still gives me 2 weekends and 4 days during the week I have to kill. I don't know what I'll do with all that spare time!

Every floor/hospital is different as far as scheduling guidelines. On my floor everyone is allowed to self schedule, from newbies to the senior staff. You just have to take into account when self schedulng the need of the floor for what days and, if possible, try not to work days when they might all ready be overstaffed.

Reno1978, BSN, RN

1,133 Posts

Specializes in SRNA.

Social life - during nursing school, forget about it. Once you land a job, absolutely. I just took the last 6 days off and went to Boston for the holiday to visit friends and have some fun. With 4 days off per week (usually in a row), I make the time to visit friends and family, get out of town, or just relax.

Sick - I haven't gotten sick since I've started working. Use standard precautions and good hand hygiene.

Where I work, we all self-schedule regardless of seniority and it works out for the most part. Sometimes things get shifted around for coverage purposes, but I've been pleased with my scheduling so far.

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