What am I thinking?

[Swiftee]

I'm starting school next month. Me and DH were just talking about it and he mentioned being concerned about me becoming a nurse and having to work odd-ball hours and not having the time to spend with him and the kids. I told him that I didn't think it would be that bad, but we had just had this big "what do you want out of life" discussion and it really got me worried. I want to be a nurse, and I don't mind a little sacrifice, but am I really going to be that abused if I go into the field?

Then, of course, I started really worrying. I have 3 people in my family who have been nurses. 2 cousins and my BIL. NONE of them are still nursing. It makes me wonder why they left. I went to the website of the hospital where I delivered my son, and looked at the job openings for RN's. It was depressing. Lot's of strange hours, and post after post of things that read "must have 2-3 years experience". It seems like as soon as I'm a nurse, I'll have to pick a specialty, take grunt wages, and gain the experience. Then, if I can't find an opening in my specialty, I'll be screwed.

Here is what I want out of my career: I want a job where I'm in charge, and in a position of trust because I thrive on responsibility. I want to work with people, and be able to use my head on a regular basis. I want regular hours-they don't have to be from 9-5, but I want to be able to have my family be my priority. I don't want to work radically different hours on different days, KWIM? I have to make enough money to compensate for what I'm investing in my education, and to take care of my family. I'd like to be respected.

Am I being stupid? And most of all, are these realistic hopes/expectations? Pleeeze someone give some insight.

:stone -Swiftee

[hcnursesoon]

Peeps, you're hilarious... but so honest! :)

[KarenAR]

Oh, I am groaning with sympathy...

About a month or two before school started, my hubby and I had a big discussion about money and whether I could even go back to school at all - mind you, I had already given notice at work and spent a year doing prerequisites. But basically we had a "money panic," and I wonder if your DH wasn't experiencing something similar. Going back to school while you're married w/kids can be both a great support and also a big stressor.

And then there's the car thing...but maybe this will make you feel a little better: my microwave is broken, my air conditioner in my house is broken (and mind you, I am in North Carolina, where it is hot!), my husband's car recently broke down, my car is a lease and is due back to the dealership in two months but it has a broken windshield and needs new tires and a new air filter and a serious cleaning up of all the kids' crumbs and dog's hairs first, etc., etc. And oh yeah, my CD player (in my house) is broken, too - not a necessity, really, but one of my favorite providers of stress relief... And I don't have the money or time to deal with any of those things. But I just figure that the school budget is temporary. Eventually I will be able to pay for at least ONE of those repairs - ha!

As for money when I get out of school, RN starting salaries in my area are the same as what I was making in my magazine editing job before starting school. So I know that at least I'll be at the same level, and can go up from there. Even if I did stay at the same level, I know that I'll come home from a day of nursing feeling much more fulfilled than I did coming home from a day of correcting grammar and making sure advertisers were happy with their quotes in the magazine. Like LVNurse said, nursing will give more rewards than just "what's in the envelope," so I'm looking forward to that.

And maybe I'm naive, but one of the "practical" reasons I am going into nursing is that it WILL let me see my family more. I like the fact that there are various schedules like doing three 12-hour days, which leaves me four days with the family; or Baylor plans where I can work two 12-hr weekend shifts and get paid for full-time, leaving the whole week free for kids' field trips, etc.; or early a.m. shifts so I'm out in time to pick the kids up from school and have time in the afternoons and evenings. Even if I have to work a less-than-desirable shift for my first job, that's OK. I won't be a newbie forever, so eventually I'll have a better choice of schedule.

By the way, the bus ain't bad! My commute to school is 40 minutes by car but 1.5 hours by bus. Still, I take the bus whenever I can because (1) it saves on gas and mileage on my car, (2) it lets me sleep and/or study while I travel, (3) I don't arrive at school or back home with white knuckles and clenched teeth, and (4) I think I stand a better chance against a Yukon or Suburban if I'm in the big ol' bus than if I'm in my little Saturn wagon. Add to that the benefits of community (chatting with fellow bus riders) and doing less damage to the environment. So if you have to resort to the bus, just give yourself extra time to learn the schedules and routes, and then sit back and enjoy the ride!

[studentOH]

My best friend works agency..mostly indiana and ohio. $38/hour...has an ADN and about 3 years experience. Just crappy benefits.

Bri