I have no idea what I should do

Awww I'm so sorry for how you're feeling! If nursing isn't want you want don't do it. I have always wanted to be a nurse even though my family didn't want me too and I am still having a hard time keeping from getting discouraged sometimes in my BSN program. My advice would be to make sure you really don't want to do it before quitting and that you are not just convincing yourself thats how you feel because your realistic fears (which believe me we all have).

Also my husband is a paramedic and he absolutely loves it and there is no shame whatsoever in that profession, in fact my husband just got an award through the county for saving someone that wasn't their patient. The training is very intense and it is definately not easy just because it's not a college degree although where I live you can get your BS in it if you wanted, my Uncle did and has worked in EMS for 30+ years. Another negative might be the difference in pay and even though a medic makes less then an RN it is enough to live on and if your happy thats worth it to me. You are so young that you should go after your dreams and if its not what you expected then you're young enough to go back and start something new :)

I know you are young, but please don't worry about what your family wants you to do and focus on YOU! You are the one that has to work the job when you are done and if you are already having doubts you should think long and hard about what it is you are really interested in. In reality many people change careers a few times in their lives so it's not like you couldn't do nursing later if you still wanted to.

Why don't you do the paramedic program and then work that and continue school and see where it leads you. Whatever you decide, good luck.

If you don't want to be a nurse, don't do it. If you're interested in doing paramedic work have you ever thought about going to nursing school and then becoming a flight nurse or critical care transport nurse on an ambulance? That combines paramedic work and nursing together, and you would probably like it. However, don't go into nursing unless you are absolutely sure that it's what you want to do. If you get your nursing degree and decide to go into critical care transport nursing, you are going to have to have around three to five years of in hospital experience as an ICU or ER nurse before you can apply for that type of job. It doesn't matter what your family wants, you have to do what's best for your life. You can find schools that offer degrees for paramedics, as other posters have mentioned. As one poster said, you will make substantially less as a paramedic, and your patient exposure will be much shorter than it would if you were a nurse. You really need to take some time and decide which option is best for you, and then do that. Nursing is much more about being a patient advocate, caring for a patient and their family, and healing someone whereas being a paramedic is about providing quick, life-saving treatment, with the main goal of getting the patient to the emergency department alive, and leaving them there so that the nurses and doctors can take over. Often as a paramedic you don't see the family, you rarely get to know the patient at all, and you are only with them for a short period of time. If you are looking for something like that, then being a paramedic is probably for you. Either way, I wish you good luck, and I encourage you to make the decision that is best for you.

I agree with the other posters…you have to do what is in your best interest. Of course our parents want us to go to college and get a degree. They want us to be able to support ourselves and live comfortable lives. I think that is every parent’s wish. However, whatever you decide will directly affect you. In other words, if you choose to go into nursing and hate it, but continue working in the field to make your parents happy, you will be miserable. That just isn’t life to live (speaking from experience here). I went to school the first time and earned my Bachelor’s in Business. Then I went on to earn an MBA. When I first went to school, my parents told me I should major in business as it would open more doors for me than nursing. Well, when I turned 35, I decided that I wasn’t going to be miserable any longer. I enrolled in an accelerated program. I graduate in two weeks and can’t be happier.

Another thing to consider is that there are so many different avenues that can be taken with a nursing degree. If bedside nursing is what you want to do, that’s great. If you want to move up in the chain of command, that is an option. You can teach nursing students or nurses within the facility. There are tons of options. It’s up to you!

Good luck.

You should do what will make you happy! But here's a thought, maybe you should just go for your BS in nursing and become a flight nurse......that's just like a flying ambulance :0)

On a different note, you should ALWAYS keep this in mind: whatever degree you get or profession you chose, there will always be competition for that position (including paramedics) you are going for and that there is always a risk you may not get a job right away. There are thousands of students who graduate every spring and don't get a job straight out of school (I've read it and heard it on the news) AND if that were the case for you if you chose to be an RN you can always become a travel nurse :0)

Or why not try BOTH: You are super young! Go for RN and then go for paramedic! Anyways, whatever you choose I'm sure will be the right one for you! Good luck!!!!

Look into ambulatory nursing. It seems like it would be a good alternative. Not only to please yourself, but your parents too. I know how hard it is find some happy medium between your wants and your parents, but having a bachelors degree in today's world is simply a must. I'm sure there are plenty of people that would disagree otherwise, but it's a key milestone in your life. All the otherstuff-loans, job demand, debt...-worry about your studies first (it's so much more important)

First off, follow your heart. In the end, think to yourself, if you were all alone and had to depend only on yourself, what would YOU want to do? Then make your choice. You can get your EMT certificate and the go on to become a nurse. You don't have to have just one job your whole life. Just pick what your gut tells you. If you change your mind, who cares, you are only 18 and have your life to figure it out. You learn from experience. Also, don't worry about the cost of schools. Yes, do try to go to a low cost state school to avoid higher tuition costs. But, there are always student loan repayment programs you can go to, places where you can work for 2 years and they will provide tuition reimbursement. Also, the military will provide loan repayment after the fact, or if you go to them now, they will pay your way thru school and you do your service when you are done. Lots of options. And you can't do something based on what if... there are too many variables in life. If its what you want to do, then go for it and forget the rest. Everything's gonna be alright.

Thanks so much for all of the advice! I guess I've just been feeling pressured to plan out my whole entire life by both family and friends. I'm going to look into all of the suggestions that were mentioned, I'd never even heard of ambulatory nursing. Again, thanks for all of the much needed advice :)