Handling the Bad with the Good - prospective student

[Weird_Grammar, CNA]

Hello!

Apologies in advance for possible ramblings but I am looking for advice with nursing as a career choice related to stress and trauma.

I have a child and need to make a decent amount of money but still care about what I do every day. I work in customer service now but have been teaching myself web development and created a site. I have applied to dozens of jobs but I am afraid the market is over-saturated and I am not qualified. Here's where nursing comes in. It has been my "plan B" for far too long and I have started applications to it in the past multiple times. The thought of going to school full time again though has been daunting (it's too much to ask my partner to handle my bills solo).

Whenever I have thought of a new career choice it has always involved helping someone (cliche), staying busy, feeling productive (vet tech, vet, farmer, nurse, etc). Coding would allow me to make more money and use a skill I have learned but I don't know if it would fulfill these other requirements for me (if I can even land a job). With nursing, I feel like it would but my partner is worried about a few things:

Schedule (never seeing each other during school and work)

Stress - this is the big one. I have some anxiety, am highly sensitive and INFJ. I had nightmares after seeing a motorcycle accident where the motorist was thrown off an overpass. I worry about hurting people (their feelings or physically in the case of nursing). He's afraid this job could be too much for me - that I would burnout after spending the time and money and that I would hate it. That I couldn't unsee something traumatic.

Do any of you have input on this or advice on how you handle days where you lose patients or work in stressful areas (specialties involving children, burn victims, etc)?

Thank you

[BirdieBird, BSN]

Hey Weird_Grammar,

If given a chance to become a nurse, you must. I am affected by anxiety as well, but I've found that as I become a more seasoned nurse, the pressure is not as intense-therefore my anxiety does not often present. I think one becomes so focused on the care we provide that anxiety has no place in your mind.

As you mentioned, there will definitely be stress in completing your education, but that simply shows you care very much about what you are doing. And yes, you will have to spend a pretty penny for that degree, you make that money back in a relatively short time (a few years worth of time). Your partner sounds as though he or she is the supportive type as long as you are happy and healthy. If you ask me, you should go for it. And start out bedside nursing- there's nothing like it! Best wishes to you in your future endeavors.

[CrunchyEvenInMilk, BSN, RN]

Hey there!

I'm still a nursing student, but I do go to school, work as a PCT at a Children's hospital, and have a husband and 3 kids. In terms of the schedule, my family and I just have to keep in mind hat this is only temporary, and the end will justify the means. I don't always get to spend as much time as I would like with my family, but they understand that mommy is working hard to become a nurse, and when she's done, we'll have a lot more time together. My husband gets it too and is supportive. So maybe keep that in mind if you decide to go forward? I work night shifts at a PCT full time, so I do 3 12s, sleep when my kids are at school, and on my days off, I go to class/study as much as I can during the day so I can help with homework at night. The schedule part is doable. You both just have to be willing to manage the time to work it out.

In regards to dealing with the stress, I'm not gonna lie, it's hard. Especially in Peds. I work on a pulmonary unit, so our kiddos are on vents, and when one codes, it can be emotionally draining-especially if we aren't able to get them back. The very first time it happened on my shift, I was devastated. But the fact is that people die. Of all ages. And you have to keep it together in order to be there to support the family because they're the ones who've lost. And once my charge nurse explained it to me in that way, it was a little easier to deal with the second time around.

Best of luck in whatever you decide!