Have doubts about nursing - need input

[scarlett87]

Hey all.

So I'm weighing all the factors of going into nursing. I can think of many reasons why it's a good idea - I love helping people, science, health, busyness/chaos, the many specialties/work environments, opportunity to travel, the pay, etc.

But there are some major doubts lurking in my mind...

1.) Difficulty of getting hired as a new nurse. I will have a lot of school debt when I graduate, and I need to be able to work. I'm reading that 30%+ of new grads can't get work. This is insane! How do you balance this risk with your desire to be a nurse? How do you deal with it? I don't know how comfortable I am going into a field that I don't have a good chance at all of getting hired in.

2.) Expense. Ideally I would go to a community college... but I'd prefer an accelerated program. I've done a lot of research so far and the cheapest programs are like 40k. I already have 40k from my first degree. This is a LOT of debt.

3.) I am an introvert. I can power through it and my people skills are fine, but being that I'm an introvert, people exhaust me. I also am very hands off with people - so careful about boundaries, respecting people's space mentally and physically, and leaving people alone, and obviously I can't be this distant and hands off as a nurse. I'm also private and a bit solitary. It seems that these inherent personality traits are in direct opposition of nursing - is this a bad sign? Would I be chronically trying to force myself to act in a way that isn't in my nature, and would this be good or bad?

4.) I have a problem with blood, needles, and injections. They make me queasy and faint. There have been a ton of threads on this, but it's yet another thing that's making me doubtful. I'm also small and not very strong, and do worry about getting injured on the job (such as when lifting patients.)

Sorry, I hate to be a Negative Nancy, but all this stuff is worrying me quite a bit. Any advice, input, shared stories, etc. anything at all would be SO greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[mazy]

I can't speak to the whole of your post because points #1 and #2 are definitely significant risk factors, although is it possible to spread out your education so you can maybe work at the same time, incur less debt, and graduate in a hopefully better economy?

As for #3. I am also an introvert, private and solitary, and very cautious with people and careful about boundaries. I think that would actually work in your favor.

If you are going to be spending your time up close and personal in other peoples' intimate business, being someone who is careful about boundaries is a HUGE plus.

Also, your job responsibilities, while heavy on the interacting with people, are not social in nature. If you are someone who doesn't socialize easily then this might be helpful for you in terms of reinforcing that your relationship is professional with your patients. And your co-workers.

And you may find that as you become more comfortable and confident in your professional role, you will also become more comfortable with less formal, more relaxed interactions -- even with your patients -- within certain boundaries, which you already admit to being aware of.

Everyone needs a smile and a break from the misery every now and then. And you might find yourself pleasantly surprised at your ability to do that.

As for #4. Needles make me feel so squicky that my brain itches. Yet every year I work flu clinics, wellness clinics, and also do pre-deployment immunizations for the military. I give thousands and thousands of injections and I never think about what I'm doing when I'm doing it...except when I get home and go ack!

You get used to this stuff.

[Nursing2102]

Perseverance is what I have taught myself... You only live once! Nursing doesn't seem like something that you will enjoy doing, but you'll never know unless you try.

Good luck with whatever you do.

[scarlett87]

thank you both SO much for your input! you've given me a lot to think about.