HARD career decision

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

Hi all! I have a possible quandary making my mind turn to scrambled eggs... I have always wanted to be a nurse (LPN or RN), but an impatient decision over 30 yrs ago landed me in an Information Technology route that I inadvertently stayed in for 27+ yrs. Upon getting laid off I went to CNA training and got my first job last month working subacute. I LOVE it, absolutely find it soooooooooooooooo rewarding to help others, and I love the fact of being on my feet and moving around -- I don't love the turning & lifting so much, but that's just b/c I am not that strong. The only downside is the pay - it is close to impossible to survive on the wages.

On a whim last week I saw a Tech Support job with a HUGE medical software company, so I applied. They sent me a written interview of sorts to fill out and return. In it I requested the salary I had made before I got laid off from my last Tech Support job, which is nearly THREE times the amount I make as a CNA!!! I now have a phone interview set up for Tues. morning w/them. I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo confused as what to do.

If I take the job I would be learning the ins & outs of the software that many hospital staff folks use, which could be a plus if I eventually become an LPN or RN. BUT I would lose the chance of the highly valuable experience working subacute right now. PLUS like I said, I love the CNA job. I am going to a comm college on Mon. to inquire about their LPN program. It would be real hard to go to school while learning the software for the Tech Support job, and I would be on pager duty rotation with that job, which would make it hard to commit to classes.

AAAAAAAAAAARGH!! I know this all sounds jumbled -- I don't know that there is any one "good" decision to be made. :confused: :confused: :confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I guess you just have to weigh all your different options and decide which ones are a priority... money, time, doing what you love, experience, etc. Do you consider going into IT 30 years ago a mistake? If so, taking this job may be repeating that same mistake- are you going to be happy with that?

Working as a CNA before nursing school is definitely a plus, but it's not absolutely essential. I always tell people not to give up high-paying jobs to do this kind of work because it isn't practical to do so. Some nursing programs will require you to become certified before admission but you've already got that under your belt. People are always talking about "experience" like it's mandatory. It can help, but plenty of people still go on to get jobs and become good nurses without being a CNA first. And besides, you already DO have some of that experience so far.

Exactly how hard would it be to go to school and take this IT job? The good thing about being a CNA is how flexible the hours are.

I know none of that answered your question directly, but they are things to think about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

if the tech support job pays well enough take it, and save your money for nursing school (I doubt you will be able to work full time through nursing school; you will need some extra cash to live on) The sad truth is that you wont make much money as a CNA, but once you become a LPN or an RN you will make a decent living. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the replies. No, I cannot say I see my going into IT all those years ago as a mistake, per se. I am grateful for the two jobs I had. But in another way, if I could do it all over again I definitely would have gotten myself on the waiting list for the nursing route.

I seriously have changed my mind 15 times in the past 2 days about what I will do if offered the job w/McKesson. I still am not sure. They use Unix environments, which really jazzes me and always has, if it's actually possible for me to get jazzed about operating systems, etc. I could put a good deal of $$ away to save up for LPN training, but then again if I make the $52K I will never get any scholarship $$............ oh there I go typing away all the pros & cons, I cannot seem to stop my head.

Whatever, I just need to make a decision if I get a firm offer and whichever way it goes I need to be okay with it.

Thanks again!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

It sounds like neither decision is "right" or "wrong;" just different. I often have to remind myself of that when I have to make decisions because I get stuck in this mentality where I feel like each of my choices will have monumental results - one that's perfect and one that will ruin my life forever. lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is off topic sorry if I'm interfering. What exactly is subacute mean?? I'm curious bc I'm thinking about becoming a cna, to make my nursing app better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Subacute care is care given to people right after they are released from an acute care facility (hospital.) For example, patient A has a stroke and loses the ability to walk properly; the patient may be discharged from the hospital, but reffered to a subacute care facility that offers physical therapy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

fuzzywuzzy, that is me EXACTLY!!! Everything gets out of proportion in my head when it comes to decisions of this magnitude. I feel like the situation is going to be one I am locked into for years on end, and the regrets will badger my conscience. If I take the IT job I am going to soooooooooooo green with envy every time I work on an issue because it will involve hospitals, nurses, etc. PLUS I'll be confined to sitting at a desk vs. getting to run around answering call lights. If I keep the CNA job and in two months my 11 yr old car with 184K miles on it goes to the car graveyard, I'll be kicking myself to no end that I could have afforded a new car IF it took the IT/Tech Support job. UGH!!!!

But neither decision is morally right or morally wrong, they both could have potential consequences that will haunt BECAUSE I LET them haunt me. "Regrets yet, doubts no".

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Follow your passion. I too fell into what I thought was a career..now I am 37, have 2 kids, and am on a mission to make it (my dream of being a RN) happen! If you take that other job it will be so hard to get back into school. Live with no regrets........

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well technically there will be other opportunities out there in the IT world, so if things go horribly wrong while working as a CNA, you can always use IT as a back up. I say go involve your self with the nursing field, and see if you truly do like it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

But it's already been 20 months since I've been in IT, so I feel the skills I had are already being lost - "if you don't use it, you lose it" sort of thing. I really have little desire to go back to IT; the money situation would be the only impetus. I would think if I stay on the CNA route, then say in 4 months I hurt my back badly and so attempt to go back to IT, the IT people would surmise I have been out of the market for so long I'd have to be re-trained to be of any value.... this could all be easily remedied if as CNAs we weren't paid so crummily (crummily? :confused:).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

if you keep making what if scenarios then you won't become an LPN or an RN, nothing will happen, and you will stay where you are at, wondering what could have happened. You could also take a CNA job, get acquainted with the staff, obtain your LPN/RN license and apply at the same facility with a much higher chance of being hired just because they know you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment