Go Into Nursing Or No?

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Run From Nursing! Is All I Get When Asking About Nursing

I have previously worked as an administrative assistant at a small business then due to lack of pay, I started a coding bootcamp because I thought maybe I should become a software engineer. I absolutely hated it.

I needed money and so I saw a PCT on the job training, I decided why not try it- paid more than the admin assistant job. I honestly walked in blindly and now it has been 6 months since I have been working as a PCT in PEDS.

I personally like being a PCT- don't get me wrong, it is not easy one bit. There are times when I come home exhausted and drained but yet something in me still brings me back to work.

Now, I am considering nursing but all I see online is... 

Don't become a nurse! 

Run from nursing! 

I posted on Reddit and literally all I got was run from the field. On Reddit, all I see is RUN don't WALK. 

I like the staff that I work with and I talk to the nurses at work- but what they say is very mixed. Others say go for it, others say do something else.

I have looked into the other health professions and I am most drawn to nursing. Yet I am so torn. I don't want to come across as naive because I see the problems people face at work.  All I see is don't bother with nursing yet I feel so drawn to this field.

Also I am located in New Jersey.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

"I feel so drawn to this field" resonates in my mind.

I am a deep believer in being guided by intuition and the Fates. What others say needs to be taken at face value, for they cannot live your life, they can only give you a nickle's worth of free advice.

A PCT does grunt work and has a take on what others with more education and experience do. I wouldn't call you naive because you have worked the front lines.

As the character Jake says, "Do what you love. Love what you do".

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

You’re already a step ahead of others in that you’re already working in healthcare, so you’re seeing some of the realities already. Is the perfect job out there? No, because quite simply the perfect job doesn’t exist in any field- every jobs will have the parts that are unlikeable or painful. But is that little part something that is a deal breaker or not? 

Does nursing in general at the moment have issues? Absolutely! There is a major staffing shortage as many have chosen to leave the field, left their steady employer to travel, and new grads who didn’t get “real” clinical exposure during school due to COVID who weren’t ready for the reality, among many other reasons. 

Does that mean nursing should be avoided? No, it can still be a rewarding career, both financially and personally. One of the great things about nursing is the variety of specialties- if one doesn’t work out for you, you can always try another. 

Only you can decide whether you want to proceed- but my advice is don’t go in blind. You're already partway there, but also make sure to do your research about potential schools and potential employers before you make a commitment. 

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

^^^ 100% this.

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Rose_Queen said:

Only you can decide whether you want to proceed- but my advice is don’t go in blind. You're already partway there, but also make sure to do your research about potential schools and potential employers before you make a commitment. 

Yup. I feel like I am learning a lot but one of my major concerns is the ratios. The nurses are so overwhelmed. I honestly do not know how long I could be a nurse in a hospital in the future. Another one of my colleagues left and went to outpatient. She said she really enjoys it. I like how nursing offers so many options but these ratios I find very dangerous and compromises patient care.

Right now I am deciding whether or not I should do ADN or ABSN.

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haha would love to leave a comment to sign up for updates on this channel. I am also facing a decision as whether to pursue nursing or not but as an undergrad

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Specializes in BSN, RN, CVRN-BC.

Nursing might be the hardest job that you ever love.  If you are enjoying working peds as a PCT then I say go for it!  

 

I wouldn't say "don't go into nursing."  I'd tell people to do their homework before starting on the path.  Some people get shocked at how hard nurses work because they had no comparable experience before applying to nursing school.  That shock can lead failure in school or leaving nurseing within the first few year.  Go in with realistic expectation.  Since you've been in the trenchs you are going in with realistic expectation.  

 

We get paid farily well, but we work for every penny.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
maybefuturenurse said:

 

Now, I am considering nursing but all I see online is... 

Don't become a nurse! 

Run from nursing! 

That's all I got from relatives and friends and acquaintances, too. I found this site and lurked around on it and was awed by the intelligence and strength and compassion that I saw here. 

Graduated from nursing school nearly 12 years ago at age 48 and so glad I did. Has it been easy? No. Makes me think of those ads the Army had that said "the toughest job you'll ever love". And if you don't love your first job, there are so many places and situations that need nurses that surely you can find one that fits.

 

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I’ve been retired since 2015 after 19 years of nursing, due to illness. 10 of those years were in acute care in Med/Surg, Oncology, and Geriatric care. I then went in into Home Health and Hospice. I also heard those same sentiments when I was a student nurse, and I felt the same pull as you towards the field of nursing. I’m so glad I continued with my career in Nursing! It was the most amazingly hard and rewarding choices I’ve ever made. You will have days that you will curse the career and days that you fill your soul like no “job” could. Plus you can branch out in some very interesting ways in the nursing field.

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Specializes in Surgical Specialty Clinic - Ambulatory Care.

If you enjoy being a PCT then you may like nursing….but I am not sure 6 months in is long enough for you to see all the pitfalls. Can you sign up for classes that would go toward nursing AND something else if you change your mind, but still stay a PCT while taking those?

 

My experience after 15 years is, unfortunately, mostly regret. I enjoy the insight on life that I have, but the system is WAY effed up….I’m not sure salvageable. I am now afraid to go seek care at a hospital and am more cynical that I have ever been in my life. Changes I don’t enjoy for myself. I, at 41, also have a back injury from lifting patients, have spinal stenosis, and can barely walk for the for 2-3 minutes after I stand up. Have you ever looked into speech therapy? It looks just as rewarding, is in high demand, and less rough on the body maybe. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

Nursing is a GREAT Career!  The rewards you get from your patients are truly mind boggling.  The skills and ability to help someone at one of the "worst times" of their life will stay with you always.  There is a but....hospital nursing is usually a pretty crappy job, not always, but unfortunately most of the time.  Do you want to do what you love, great.  Are you in it for the money, not so great.  The rewards can make it all worthwhile.  Looking back over around 40 years in ICU/ER tells me that given the chance, I'd do it all over again.

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I am not going to tell you to run. I am going to tell you to continue to explore. In my personal experience, I am sorry I did it. Seems like you are attracted to pediatric nursing. A whole different ball game than adult.

Getting accepted to nursing school is NOT easy. Talk to a school counselor regarding your chances .

Best wishes

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