How to know if nursing is the career for me?

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Do you guys have any advice on how to decide if nursing is for me? I tend to be a very indecisive person, so when it comes to college and picking a major, it has been a tough decision for me. I have done a lot of research into the field and I believe I would be happy being a nurse. But, again, I always second guess myself. So, how do I know if nursing is for me?

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

Have you consulted with a vocational counselor? Contact with someone in the real world might serve you better than essentially cyber strangers. Have you shadowed a nurse? Volunteered in a hospital?

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
Do you guys have any advice on how to decide if nursing is for me?

I'm not sure, Lindsey. Maybe.

I tend to be a very indecisive person, so when it comes to college and picking a major, it has been a tough decision for me.

Me too. I started at Larry & Curly Community College in 1977 and finally graduated with my ASN in 1990, taking me 14 years to get a two year degree.

I have done a lot of research into the field and I believe I would be happy being a nurse.

Okay...

But, again, I always second guess myself.

Me too. I'm always critiquing my critiques, but I'm okay with that. It's just how our brains work, looking for the best answer. I think it's part of what makes me a decent nurse and also gives me fresh perspective that I can use in my art.

So, how do I know if nursing is for me?

Well, you've taken a good step in becoming a member of a great nursing website where you can virtually explore the field, ask questions, learn about what others have experienced, and get a feel for things- sort of try things on for size, ya know?

Good luck to you, LindsyPar, and welcome to AN.com!

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Do you guys have any advice on how to decide if nursing is for me? I tend to be a very indecisive person, so when it comes to college and picking a major, it has been a tough decision for me. I have done a lot of research into the field and I believe I would be happy being a nurse. But, again, I always second guess myself. So, how do I know if nursing is for me?

Are you still in high school? IF so, find a teacher or guidance counselor who can set you up with some observation time in a hospital. I have done this with several of my wife's students.

If that is not an option, call around to HR departments and express your interest in doing observation time, and you will probably find something.

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Nursing has a lot of different fields in it and they are all very different. For example I used to work for an auditing agency straight out of nursing school. And my sole purpose was to go around and audit different facilities. Sort of a boring job but it was 9-5 and I got to travel a lot through the state and eat at a lot of different awesome places. Then I tried school nursing which was not a perfect fit because all day you have kids that are either trying to get out of class so they make symptoms up or you get someone serious whose having an asthma flare up. Also worked in a step down ICU, in the ER, on medsurg floors. Basically hospital nursing really varies. Because In some hospitals the doctors are amazing and the CNA's actually do their job and coming to work is great! But then there are other facilities where the CNA's just hide and the doctors are scared to write out prescriptions, or their is no doctors on night shift and only a PA that's worried about their license.

But there's nurses that do home nursing and they love it!! There's others that work for big pharm companies, for insurance companies. It can all really vary because as a nurse you can go practically anywhere and have any type of shift and work in many different settings.

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I just graduated from nursing school and most of what I thought about nursing was true but some wasn't. I knew it took a lot of hard work, and that it could take an emotional toll on you but I didn't think it was so interdisciplinary as I believed it it be. What really sold me on nursing was an internship in the hospital. I would recommend you to do an internship or even just volunteer.

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Do you have another major you are considering besides nursing? If you do, you can write a list of pros and cons for each. I had a hard time deciding between chemistry and nursing (seriously!) and I did the list, which helped me. I was also into my first year of college at that time and started taking general eds and pre-reqs which were luckily applicable to both majors. So if that is a situation like yours, you can start your classes since you don't go straight into nursing core classes anyway.

In the meantime also, you can take a career aptitude test, there are several online for free and you can inquire about shadowing a nurse or even volunteering in a hospital if you have the time.

What research have you done that made you conclude you will be happy being a nurse?

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I would volunteer at a local hospital or job shadow a nurse so you can see what they do on the job. Also, I recommend watching youtube videos of nursing students like the "day in my life" videos. Sometimes its helpful to see what nursing students go through and their experiences.

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