Help! Desperately seeking advice before I turn my life upside down!

[Tempest626]

I can't stop thinking about becoming a nurse, but this is insane for a few reasons and I can't talk to any of my friends or family about this, so here I am, begging for advice from those who might understand.

First, the reasons that this impulse to be a nurse is totally insane: I am 30 years old, I already have three degrees (a bachelors and two masters), I just spent two years going through a difficult and demanding program to become an English teacher, I am in debt and the whole reason I went into the teaching program was so I could get a job right away and start earning some real money, my family already thinks I'm a direction-less child that can't seem to get out of school and do anything productive, I can no longer get any kind of fin aid, I am supposed to be looking for a teaching job, I feel like I am way to OLD to be doing this!

The reasons I want to be a nurse: I love taking care of people; for as long as I can remember I have had this impulse to take care of everyone (sometimes to the point of ignoring myself); While doing my student teaching one of the students hurt her knee and came into the classroom in a wheelchair, the few minutes I spent helping her in and out of the chair, and getting her foot propped up was more fulfilling (on a deep soul-searching level) than any time I spent at the front of the room teaching, I HATE teaching kids who would rather be on snapchat and who are 10000% clueless about the world around them; I feel like this world needs a lot of help and healing, I want to be part of that; I could travel and help people all over the world, The idea of going into the classroom everyday makes me want to jump off of something very tall, the idea of going to a hospital everyday sparks something deep inside of me that wants to learn everything and help everyone, The idea of going to a conference to learn about how to be a better teacher sounds deeply boring while going to a medical conference sounds like Disney World, I think I want to be a teacher for the wrong reasons, I think I want to be a nurse for the right reasons

Sorry for the long post and I hope this shows a bit of my dilemma and please, any current nurses or nursing students, HELP! Am I crazy? Should I pursue this or should I just go be a teacher and stop thinking of all of the ways my life could have gone? Or am I finally figuring out what I really want?

[misspy]

What an interesting story. There are many other options to think of. I understand completely when you say you feel like there's no one to talk to, and your excuses to not go are probable. However being a patient care tech doesn't take long and it doesn't require as much investing borrowed money as a nursing program.

Healthcare facilities usually reimbursed employees for going to college if they work for them.

I found this link that talks about volunteering/being a CNA before making the decision

Nursing as a Second Career | Kaplan Test Prep

[crossfitandnursing]

I know it's already been said, been I wholeheartedly agree with shadowing a nurse! My initial degree is in Musical Theatre which I'm well aware is the complete opposite of the medical field. haha But while I was saving up to move to LA and pursue acting full-time, I ended up landing a job working as a service coordinator on the Neuro-Trauma PCU floor of a big hospital. And it was during that time when I began realizing that I actually wanted to be a nurse and maybe even an NP. Well long story short, I moved to LA, lived there for 5 months and hated every second, realized that becoming an NP was truly what I wanted to do, moved back home, was blessed enough to return to my old job (just this time on the Oncology floor) and began my pre-reqs for nursing school.

The reason I say this is because I think spending time around nurses and actually getting to see what the job entails is SO important and will show you if this is truly what you want to do. I think a lot of people (not saying this includes you) enter nursing school with stars in their eyes, having no idea of what this job is actually like. Working alongside nurses will allow you to see both sides to this profession, the "getting to help people everyday and save lives" but also the not so good aspects... like how nurses often taken the blow for a patient's entire team when the patient is frustrated with something just because the nurse is the one that's right there and always around. Or how nurse's will get blamed for food trays coming up late when it all has to do with the dietary/culinary team. Or the far too often short-staffing, 12 hour shifts that usually turn into 13 or 14 hours, the days when you don't even find time to take a 30 minute lunch break and resort to snacking on saltless saltines and graham crackers at the nurse's station, having to deal with the frustrations of patient's family members when a procedure gets delayed even though it has NOTHING to do with you, etc.

If you can see all of this firsthand and still believe that nursing is your calling and the good outweighs the bad, then I say go for it. I am and could not be more at peace with my decision. :) I think something I've learned through the observation of the nurses at my job as well is that you have to do this for YOU. You can't go into this field seeking external validation because it can often be a very thankless, exhausting job. But if your heart is in it for the right reasons and your validation comes from within, then I truly believe that even on the hardest of days you'll still go home at night thankful for and at peace with being a nurse.

[TessLJ]

I agree with everything that has been said so far. One question I think I have is what was it that made you want to get a Master's in education in the first place. What was it about teaching at the time that made you believe that was the direction you needed to take in your career?

It sounds like you need to find a job in your current field, because no matter what, you need a paycheck right now. There are other ways to get fulfillment by helping people. You could become a volunteer at a hospital, and that way get to know nurses and other medical professionals and learn what the job is really like.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I can somewhat relate to what you're dealing with. I initially resisted becoming a nurse because I didn't think I had what it takes. But I came to the realization that I was never going to be happy with myself unless I did it. That was nearly forty years ago and I haven't looked back. But I didn't have debt at the time and my education was not that expensive.

If you hate teaching and feel drawn to be a nurse, you might as well start moving in that direction. Others have given you good advice. You can keep teaching while you take prereqs, or become a CNA and earn your living that way for awhile. Thirty is by no means old to change direction. If you do end up pursuing nursing, I would recommend a community college program vs a degree to start. Quicker, cheaper and you can worry about the degree later; possible pay as you go.

Yes, nursing has a lot of the same crap you don't like about teaching. But when you're in an occupation you feel suited for, it's much easier to tolerate. If this is really what you want to do, don't give up.

[shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP]

I strongly urge you to get "tech" or CNA training first before making a decision. You can do this through the Red Cross for a few hundred dollars, or through a community college. Before becoming a nurse, I did this to make sure I could do the job. I took a Red Cross CNA class that met every weekend for 8 weeks and after that, I knew I wanted to be a nurse. The class was mostly clinical time in a nursing home, so it was a great way to get first hand experience.

Nursing is an extremely difficult job mentally, emotionally, and physically. Patients are not always nice and appreciative, doctors can get mad at you, the patients' family can get mad at you, and you will have to deal with the politics of the nursing team. And if you make a mistake, someone could literally die. And nursing school is brutal.

You also need to be realistic about finances. You are not going to get rich being a nurse. And you will have to pay off a lot of debt on a not-so-big paycheck, which will be extremely stressful. That said, if you are really determined to become an RN, there are some special programs like HRSA scholarships and various loan repayment programs. You could also join the military. In fact, if you don't know what to do, maybe you should join the military - you could go in as an officer, make good $, travel, and if you still want to be an RN, they will pay for your school. My sense is you do need to focus and start earning a living and become a self-sufficient adult.

[scobyroo, ASN, RN]

To the OP,

I think it's worth considering that the more unattractive option may be the more prudent one here. In this case, that may be getting a teaching job and earning some money before you make a 180. Like many have suggested, you can begin pursuing nursing after you've started working and bringing in an income. My perspective is from someone just beginning the schooling/career change to nursing, so take whatever I say with a grain of salt. I can't give the perspective of a current nurse, but I am extremely familiar with the agonizing decision of making a career change. Honestly, just admitting to yourself that you want to walk away from your current career is a long and difficult struggle in itself; never mind deciding where to go next. So in that sense, I understand your dilemma.

The thing is though, you haven't really begun the career you trained for. I understand you've been immersed in it enough to perhaps fully understand it is not what you thought it was, but I think you owe yourself a chance to try. Like others have suggested, work in the teaching field while you investigate nursing more and begin taking prerequisites. It may not seem possible now, but nursing may turn out to feel as lackluster as teaching.. then you'll be back where you are now, but in more debt.

Like another poster earlier, I majored in Musical Theatre. I've worked in the field now for about 8 years and had some great gigs and a lot of fun. That was a field I genuinely had a passion and love for. I still do. I'm leaving it though because I'm 31 now and the fun and excitement of world travel and ever-changing jobs and people has evolved into me at 31 not having a place to put my clothes or the ability to put roots down and get married or build a real life for myself.

My point is, I don't have a romanticized view of nursing.. I've spent a long time thinking about my personality traits and what I would be well-suited for. Yes I want to help people, and I certainly have a desire to do something that makes me feel I'm adding something to my community. Nursing is that for me. Is nursing that for you? It's clear you're really struggling, so you are right that you need to find what it is that will make you feel more fulfilled. But do yourself a favor and give teaching a chance first.. even for a year. You spent so long working towards it; there had to be a reason. If you had spent the past 8 years working as a teacher and were still feeling this way, I guarantee no one would say anything but 'go get that nursing degree girl!'

But.. academia and the workforce are very different places.. and one gives you money while they other sucks it out of your bank account like a vacuum.. keep that part in mind, as unattractive as it may be.

[scobyroo, ASN, RN]

My initial degree is in Musical Theatre which I'm well aware is the complete opposite of the medical field.

I, of course, realize there is statistically going to be at least a few other people coming to nursing from any number of other degrees, but I'm still pleasantly surprised to see someone else with an MT degree going through the same change as me!

[Applejack]

Maybe you just like being a student

Well, you have few degrees already, so to me it shows you can start something and finish it. A lot of people change their majors while in college, you just want to change your path after. Nothing wrong with it. One of my fears is getting through NS and start working as a nurse and hating it. It happens. If you're having that nagging feeling and a strong desire to go for it, then do it. You can't ever get too much education, and perhaps this is something you will LOVE. It will cost a bit of $, so hopefully it will be something that really sticks with you . The good thing is that there are many, many areas of nursing, so if you don't like one area of nursing, you can try others.

And you are far from too old. I will be 40 when I finish :)