Good Future? Nursing? Your thoughts?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2007

Hi! Glad to hear from you.

The nursing school should be able to help you. There is money available, so don't let that hold you back. Here's a link here that's interesting: https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/how-pay-nursing-school-student-nursing-scholarship-financial-aid-links-114842.html

It does sound like it's a good job for you. It has a nice middle income and good job opportunities.

Most nurses have kids, a family and a life outside of work and it seems to balance very well. Working nights, weekends and holidays is a drag sometimes, but a loving family works it out in their own unique ways.

Good luck to you. I hope you stick around the forums and post often.

leslie :-D · Sep 22, 2007

hi joe,

(why do i want to give you a motherly hug???)

you sound like a wonderful, young man.

tweety provided you with a great link.

it will give you all the information you need re: financial aid, scholarships, grants.

despite all the craziness in nursing, i wouldn't have any other job.

most of all, it is very personally fulfilling, and as tweety stated, it's a decent income.

yep, i would say you will probably be working nights, weekends, holidays.

but you adjust.

it's all doable and your (future) family will go with the flow.

many nurses are married w/kids.

there is no difference in family values from one profession to another.

we all want to be w/our loved ones.

i also hope you post often.

there is an INCREDIBLE nursing student forum, here on this board.

look around.

you will surely discover the wealth of information that students and nurses share amongst ea other.

best of everything to you.

leslie

Jo Dirt · Sep 22, 2007

Name's Joe.
I've chosen a college, UAFS, which I've heard has one of the top Nursing Program in the state. So that's cool, I'm glad I've made a choice already.

It's great you've chosen a college, but don't let yourself be fooled about that school being "the best." That is what was always said about UCA in my hometown of Conway.

They have the best nursing program in the state.

I would bet that UCA and UAFS have nursing programs that are as good as any other, but this stuff about being "the best" is just fluff.

- Money for college? Anyone have any ideas about any low income family scholarships or grants that are available for students interested in going into nursing? I'm currently overloaded with studying for the ACT & other fun college stuff, if anyone has any hints or knows of any scholarships, I'd be so thankful, you'd help me bunches.

If your family is low income definitely go for a pell grant in addition to any scholarships you may qualify for. You can find out more about pell grants (which you don't have to pay back) at FAFSA.gov

- Is it a good job? What do you think? is it a good job for me to go into? Should I consider another thing based on your thoughts. I'm a good kid, I'm great with people, not squirmish to blood, and a pretty much a well rounded kid. I just want to know how your workday feels? Is it stressful, do you work crazy hours? Crappy Pay?

Nursing can be very stressful. But I can tell you, a male nurse is worth his weight in gold. If you want a career with a predictable schedule and set hours nursing will not be for you. For a young unencumbered person I think nursing would be a great choice.

If you think you will make more money than a paramedic you will probably be disappointed, though.

Jules Anne · Sep 22, 2007

I used www.fastweb.com to find scholarship info. Also, if you're from a low income family, you may qualify for the Pell Grant which is awesome. Make sure to fill out our FAFSA and talk to your University's Financial Aid office for scholarships specific to your school/program.

MB37 · Sep 22, 2007

Joe - wow, I wish I had some idea of what I wanted to do with my life at 16 - I'm 28, and working on my BSN. One thing you need to do is to start meeting with an academic advisor as early as possible in school. There are a lot of prerequisites for nursing programs - you'll need to be admitted to the college of nursing within the UAFS system. Here's the link to the traditional BSN curriculum:

http://www.uafortsmith.edu/Degrees/BSN-Nursing

To graduate in 4 years, you'll need to start taking pre-nursing courses immediately. Also, you'll need to buckle down and study early. According to their web site, UAFS places more weight on the TEAS test than on grades, but you still want to do as well as possible in your classes. While most college freshmen are drinking a lot of beer at frat parties, you're going to need to be hitting the books. Trust me - I already have a bachelor's in something else, and I was able to make mostly As while going out every night and working 30 hours a week. Now I make all As in nursing school, but I quit my job and I try to designate one night each week for fun. It's not all bad though, don't let people on this site scare you off.

I think you're off to a great start! Just register for the classes your advisor recommends and try to do as well as you can. As far as paying for school, you and your parents will have to fill out a FAFSA - they consider you dependent until you turn 25, get married, join the military, or have a kid. You'll then be awarded a mixture of grants (you don't have to pay back), loans (you do), and maybe a work-study job on campus. If you're what THEY consider low-income, it'll be mostly grants. If your family just doesn't want to make sever sacrifices, it'll be more loans. Either way, you should be able to afford to go, and they figure living expenses in when they make your award. You should talk to your counselor at high school too, they should be able to point you towards other scholarship opportunities in your state. Good luck!

bassandtea · Sep 22, 2007

- I want to be an ER Nurse, because I want to be where the action is, I originally wanted to be a Paramedic, but thats horrible pay. I want to be a dad with kids, a nice house, and a normal person, would going into this job overload me and not me spend time with my family? I was wondering if anyone has any tips on something I should take in college, or anything of that sort. Please people. Overload me with Info., I definitely need it.
Joe

Hi Joe,

I won't say anything about the nursing part of your post, since there are people here much more qualified to speak about it than me, since I've only just applied to university to study nursing.

However what I will say is a little bit about growing up with a Dad who was an Ambulance Officer (this was before we had Paramedics here in Australia) and just generally about having a parent who worked shift work. It can be done and doesn't have to be a bad thing. Holidays and special events can be difficult, but you tend to come to an arrangement that works for you family. Christmas has always been a big celebration in my family so if Dad was working nights on Christmas eve we would wait until he got home to open any presents, if he was working days and had a late start they would be opened before he left for work - or on the few occasions that he had a really early start we'd have a special dinner the night before and get to open on of our presents.

There were some good things about it too - early finishes during some day shifts he did... Since both my parents worked we normally had a babysitter after school, but when Dad had an early finish he would pick us (my brother and I) up from school and we'd often spend the afternoon swimming or go to the park when we were younger or play cricket, before doing any homework we might have had.

As I got older the one thing that helped a lot was knowing of any events with as much notice as possible so that if it was something important days off could be organised or shifts swapped with somebody else.

And as much as there were times when I would have liked to have my Dad around more when I was younger, I wouldn't change it for the world if his being around more meant that he had a job that he enjoyed less.

Pachinko · Sep 23, 2007

Well, I don't think nursing's for you--very few normal people become nurses (heh).

For pay, check out salary.com . It will give you an idea of what nurses are making in your region of the country. But keep in mind that 1) the average salary reflects the average nurse, who has more experience (and thus higher pay) than a new grad, and 2) that it doesn't reflect overtime, per diem work, etc., which is where you can make more money (if you're interested in doing those things).

The nursing shortage seems to impact different parts of the country in different ways--some regions are nurse-starved and others seem to have too many nurses. Check out websites of hospitals you'd be interested in and see if they're hiring. Also, check out the regional boards of this website, which'll give you good perspective on your area.

JoeJH07 · Sep 23, 2007

Wow. Thanks! Makes me feel good how this is my first post and already so many comments. Thanks tons for the great answers. I'll definitely be checking out that website, one more resource to add to my list! I hope you guys have an awesome week! Hear anything new, you can direct me in the right direction even more. lol. Thanks though!

JoeJH07 · Sep 23, 2007

Wow! Thanks for the great feedback! You guys awesome! I will definitely be posting more. Believe me, I'll need the help. Actually, right now, I'm working on getting my first car paid off completely, have a 30-hour a week job, studying vigorously for my ACTs, applying for colleges, doing homework, and also trying to have some kind of a social life.

Sometimes exhausting. But I figure that someday, It'll all be worth it. I don't understand how some kids don't realize that everything they do now will impact them in their future. I'm killing myself now, but in a few years, I'll be a lot better off. I just don't understand how some kids don't get that, and straighten themselves up.

And yes, I know, it's weird how I know what I want to be. But I've given it a lot of thought, I think this is my thing. I want to help someone, and I know its a job that can be rewarding both financially(maybe not so great, but oh well) and also in having a job that I love to do. My mom always tells me I act like an old guy. But I don't think being 16, and knowing what you want, is that bad of a think? :0)

Well, hear anything else, hit me up. Thanks for the comments, all of you guys really made me feel welcome, and while I might not know everything about nursing, you guys will definitely help me. This site is actually a great resource! Thanks tons!

debbieanne · Sep 27, 2007

i work at the financial aid office (work study), while i am finishing up my prerequisites for the nursing program. the website is www.fafsa.ed.gov . if your family is low income, you will qualify for a pell grant. plus most colleges have institutional money, but that money is more of a first come, first serve. good luck.

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Sep 27, 2007

Well, I don't think nursing's for you--very few normal people become nurses (heh).

:nono: :uhoh3: Come on now.