Getting Really Cold Feet

I certainly understand feeling nervous and confused, especially when you're looking at a big step like changing jobs, especially to an entirely different field!

So you've graduated and have your RN license then? You say you "really like nursing,at least from afar"... how did you feel during your nursing school rotations? Are they any particular hospitals or specialties that interest you? Were there certain units or facilities that "felt" better or worse than others? Maybe you'd feel more comfortable applying for a position on a ward where you did a clinical rotation?

You can see that while many have negative experiences in nursing there are also many who love what they do. Think of how many people want to be programmers and dream about having the job you hate! Some things are very subjective and no one else can tell you whether you'll like it or not.

It is okay if you decide that you actually do like programming and want to keep your job. Some people would give you a hard time but it's your life, not theirs. And it's okay if you take a nursing job and after a few months, decide you can't stand it. Lots of new nurses take awhile to find an area that suits them.

If you truly want out of programming, though, you might as well take that leap to nursing since you've trained for it! If you don't have a preferred area you want to work in, it'll be that much easier to find a position. Just pick one a give it a try. You may find that initially you don't get much choice in the hours you work (eg often new grads start on the night shift).

Thanks, jjjoy...you've helped me clarify my feelings. No, I do not like programming, get very little fulfillment from it. You are right, I need to take the plunge. I enjoyed all my clinical rotations (except the ones where the nurses were b****s). I guess that's what scares me the most! Where I work now, everyone is polite; to be fair,we don't have the pressure that nurses in the hospital do! So maybe that's why everyone is so nice!!

Anyway, will go on a few more interviews; jobs for new grads are not that hard to come by around here, even day positions (I'm in NJ).

I have already been accepted into an RN to BSN program for the fall, so in the worst case, I'll finish that before I get a nursing job.

Thanks again, jjjoy!!!