On the fence about nursing...

[Cowlover111]

I'm finishing up the last of my prereqs, and I'm admitted to a nursing program that begins this fall. I want to be a nurse so that I can eventually become a Certified Nurse Midwife. I want to be a CNM because I want to help women have a good, empowering birth experience. I'm also passionate about shifting the way the maternity care system views pregnancy and birth, and providing women a more natural approach if they seek it.

But I'm starting to question if I still want this. I still care about all of these things, but I think I could better serve women as a doula, something I could take up a little later in life part time. I don't really like high-stress, people intense environments. I care about helping people, but I feel like I would get burned out quickly interacting with people nonstop for 12 hours straight, three days a week. I think maybe I would be happier in a job where I work more independently and in a way that isn't so people focused.

I'm really stressed because I have to decide very soon if I want to change my major and not continue in the nursing program, and I'm worried about how my parents and friends will react if I change. Does anyone have advice on what I should do? What do you like and not like about your job? Describing a day in your life as a nurse could be helpful.

[AZBlueBell]

I'm not a nurse yet so I can't answer most of your questions, however I would urge you to try and remember that this is YOUR life. what your parents and friends think if you were to change majors is pretty irrelevant in the big scheme of things. Follow your heart, do what feels right, don't worry about what others may think about what you choose to do with your career. Good luck!

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

I don't really like high-stress, people intense environments. I care about helping people, but I feel like I would get burned out quickly interacting with people nonstop for 12 hours straight, three days a week. I think maybe I would be happier in a job where I work more independently and in a way that isn't so people focused.

Well, it's good to know yourself well before you invest too much more time in nursing. It is people intense. It's about caring for people. People mostly need care when things are not ideal, which generally entails stress.

I know I am probably too locked into the nursing framework but I can't off-hand thing of a job that helps people that isn't "people-intense". It's the price one pays.

Not trying to be rude, just trying to help you think things out. Maybe you need to have a low-intensity job and volunteer at something to help satiate your need to help people. Then if things get too intense, your livelihood doesn't depend on it.

But anything birthing related has the potential to get really bad, really quick, and with no warning. (Says the NICU nurse who often sees the aftermath).