Help! Nursing Career and Degrees questions

[Midnightmist 01]

So I want to become a nurse, though I don't know what area I want to specialize in. So I guess these are just general questions. So if I wanted to plan my college education (I'm a high school senior) around getting a BSN, what would be the best way? I've read a lot about getting a CNA, then ADN, then RN, and from there try to earn my BSN. Is that the best way? Do you even have to get your ADN to get your BSN? And is getting a CNA really necessary and benefical, or should I work towards becoming an RN? I'm really confused as there's a lot of information floating around and telling me different things.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

This isn't a "job", this is a calling.

There are many, many, many people who disagree with this description of nursing.

Nursing is a science-based profession. Some may feel "called". Many, perhaps most, find Nursing a very satisfying occupation that meets their needs for financial remuneration and a rewarding career.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

This isn't a "job", this is a calling. There is no amount of money in the world that is worth the kind of reward you get at the end of the day from taking care of a patient, walking into a shift and seeing faces light up because you are there and you know you can make their day a little better.

This is a very idealized image of nursing. For many nurses (possibly even the majority), nursing is not a calling. It's a job that pays the bills, offers flexibility, and perhaps holds an interest of theirs. As for seeing faces light up because you are there and you know you can make their day a little better, well, that's not going to happen every day. You can't always make a patient's day better. I'm going to assume that since you are Nurse_Wanna_Be that you aren't yet a nurse. I think there will be some eye opening experiences in your future both as a nursing student and as a licensed nurse.