Is nursing for me?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in PCA.

I just was looking for some feedback on a career in nursing. I am a 35 year old mother of four and am looking at going back to school in the fall. Originally I went to school to become a teacher, but took time off to raise my kids. It would take me about 2 years to get a teaching certificate, but teachers in my area start out making about $26,000/year. This and the fact the fact that on a salary like that I may never pay back my student loans has made me rethink my career choice.

My mom owns an assisted living facility that I have worked at off and on as a PCA. When I was working there, I had thought that if I was going to deal with poop and catheters and people yanking out my hair, I would rather make a nurses salary doing that. I guess I am mostly getting a little worried that I won't be able to deal with messing around with cadavers for school. I really wasn't excited about poop, but got used to it. Will I get over seeing people's insides on the outside or am I looking into the wrong field? The part I loved about working at the assisted living facility was the people I cared for. I knew they felt comfortable with me and there was a lot of reward in that. I just want to make sure that I'm not wasting my money or precious time as I am getting older.

Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
I just was looking for some feedback on a career in nursing. I am a 35 year old mother of four and am looking at going back to school in the fall. Originally I went to school to become a teacher, but took time off to raise my kids. It would take me about 2 years to get a teaching certificate, but teachers in my area start out making about $26,000/year. This and the fact the fact that on a salary like that I may never pay back my student loans has made me rethink my career choice.

My mom owns an assisted living facility that I have worked at off and on as a PCA. When I was working there, I had thought that if I was going to deal with poop and catheters and people yanking out my hair, I would rather make a nurses salary doing that. I guess I am mostly getting a little worried that I won't be able to deal with messing around with cadavers for school. I really wasn't excited about poop, but got used to it. Will I get over seeing people's insides on the outside or am I looking into the wrong field? The part I loved about working at the assisted living facility was the people I cared for. I knew they felt comfortable with me and there was a lot of reward in that. I just want to make sure that I'm not wasting my money or precious time as I am getting older.

Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

You probably won't see a cadaver in nsg school. Most schools use cats and frogs for A&P.

Make sure this is what you really want (regardless of pay) because nsg school is long and difficult.

Maybe speak with some advisors at local programs?

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Hi,

I am also wondering if nursing is for me. I am a 33 year old single monther of a five year old son. His father passed away so things have been very tough. I went to dental assisting school and wanted to go to dental hygiene school but those schools are few and far between. They also are very expensive and do not offer flexible class schedules. So, I'm considering nursing because that's the next closest thing-I think! I just completed my Associate's in Science and I'm lookin at Bachelor programs for RN. But I to wonder if I can handle the blood and insides of patients. I can handle it in the mouth but not sure about the other. I also don't know if I can handle poop and vomit. I love working in the health field but I need to support my son and can't do that on a Dental Assisting salary. Any suggestions?:confused: Thanks, VERY CONFUSED!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I will say, I did not have to work on cadavers in A & P, we worked on cats. Don't worry you'll get throught it!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Med Surg, Specialty.

To the previous posters -

I did have cadavers in A&P, and it was a great experience, IMO. While its a bit of a reality check at first, its a privilege to be handling the body of a former person with respect, and hold actual organs in your hands. Its pretty amazing, actually.

As to the poop, vomit, etc, its nothing different than dealing with it from your child(ren). While the smell isn't pleasant, concern for the person overrides all else, and you go on instinct.

It depends on which specialty area you fall into, too.

I think you do get more used to it over time, and again, concern for the patient will override your unease and you'll keep on going. If nursing is something you are excited about doing, don't let a little poop or guts stop you!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

dentalassistant-

Go for it. Start looking at programs in the area. Vomit doesn't rock my world either, but there is more to nursing than that....:barf02:

If nursing is what you really want, then why wait longer? If you're not sure you want to take the plunge for RN, whatabout LPN??

If you have any specific questions I'll try to help you the best I can.

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We didn't have cadavers. We didn't have cats or frogs or chickens for that matter. lol Our A&P lab was actually done on a cd on the computer that used a frog.

I wasn't sure if I could handle the body fluids either, but so far I've been fine. It's funny.. when I'm in the clinical environment, my brain kind of switches into "work mode" and I think of it as my job to help/clean up patients and it doesn't get to me as bad. That being said, I haven't seen someone vomit. I think that's my weak spot. Ya just take the bad with the good I guess.

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