Help me decide please!!!!

Nurses Career Support

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I am in my early 30s with a family. Graduated with a BA and have been doing office work ever since. Nursing was my original major and I dropped it because I didn't like my first science course (biggest mistake ever). I am revisiting nursing now and looking to apply to a 12 month accel BSN program soon. I spent all of 2010 balancing work, family, and school in order to fufill the prereq courses that I didn't take as an undergrad. There are many reasons why I think nursing is a good field and fit for me BUT I am starting to wonder if now is the right time. Am I doing the right thing? Hearing lots and lots of layoffs and RNs having a tough time finding a job. There will be many sacrifices if I get into the BSN program and of course there is the whole tuition factor. What to do....each day I go back and forth and I am so confused!

Any and all feedback is appreciated.

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I too need help!!! I am so glad to know that I am not the only one that regrets changing majors the first go around. I had gone between nursing and education. I went to Early Childhood Education :( I have spent three years hating every single minute of it and now I can't find a job! So I went back to my CC to get my pre recs and only have 1 more left. I am getting scared that I will still end up without a job when it is all done with. I thought I would like education and didn't so now I am worried that nursing might not be any better. I think it's better suited for my night owl life style but I was wrong once. I keep going back and forth I don't want to screw up again. I would like any advice there is about what I am getting myself into!!!:uhoh21:

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

If it is something that you really want to do I would do it with the understanding that it might not be as easy as in previous times to get hired right out of school. If there is any way to continue working while in school, even part-time that has always been my advice because it just doesn't make sense to me to rack up debt and not bring in income as an adult. Depending on your area there are still new grad jobs although not as plentiful as in years before. I imo the nursing field is huge and will always be needed especially as our society ages so I would consider it a decent career option especially if this is what your heart is telling you to do.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I feel bad that you haven't gotten more responses yet so here's my $.02.

It all depends upon your own priorities & 'risk budget'. Just how much time and money are you willing to invest if (like many other new grads) you are unable to get a job for 6+ months after graduation? Unless you are in one of the very economically depressed parts the country, you will get a job eventually but it may take a while. Are you ready to seriously disrupt your family routines? How is everyone going to cope with you working 12 hour night shifts? Working holidays and weekends?

There is also another consideration -The difference between perception & reality are vast and you may not actually like working as a nurse; this is more common than you think. What if this happens to you? What would be your 'Plan B'?

Keep that Return on Investment in mind when you are considering the cost of the program. For heaven's sake, don't jeopardize your/family future with a huge student loan -- it just isn't worth it.

I'm sure that you already know if you are a regular visitor to AN but Nursing is not a magic solution to career boredom or a route to riches. That being said - if you really feel that this is the right move for you, go at it like you're killing snakes (very fast)!!!

Best of Luck to you, no matter what you decide.

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Specializes in ICU/Burn ICU/MSICU/NeuroICU.

Nursing, like most everything else we do is about people. So sometimes you'll find it flowing and friendly and sometimes not so much.

Personally I have chosen to become one of the Many of the Volunteer nursing shortage. In other words, I quit. I became a Nurse to settle a desire left over from High-school. I enjoyed it and worked a little over a year in D.C. and then went traveling. When I stopped traveling I chose poorly and found the most insecure folks in the world to work with. Sadly, I quit. I loved being a nurse, and still have loving memories of it (quit less than six months ago).

Also part the issues I began to see are with the corporate world and how they value or devalue nurses. I see a true devaluing and want no part of it. So, I moved on. My Girlfriend is still traveling and we enjoy a good life with just her doing the nursing. She see's things the same as me, but she is able to overlook it at least for now. She has completed Massage Therapy School and is licensed in 2 states in Massage and four in nursing. So we have options.

I still participate here in the forums, because I enjoy it.

So really, it is about people. Ask your self those hard put questions about what you really want for you.

Best,

tw

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No time is going to be the right time... so if its something you really want to do, you just have to go for it. The nursing shortage is still there... GO FOR IT!

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