I had no idea where to place this, but here it goes

Published

I'm not a nursing student. I already applied to three schools and I haven't been accepted or rejected yet. I recently came to the realization that nursing could be a good option for me. If not nursing, then definitely another career in healthcare. I know the demand is greater and I have friends and family who have easily entered into the nursing field. I want a stable job especially after I have been unemployed for the past two years after I graduated. I have a Bachelor's in Public Relations and unfortunately it has been difficult to start in my field. Internships tend to be the requirement to enter into PR/Communications and the internships I did have, have not helped me in the job front. While I really want to work in PR and marketing, I would like to have a backup plan. I've been accepted into LIU's Master of Media Arts program, but i'm not sure if i should go. i don't know if it's worth it or i should just get into nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't want anyone to be discouraged or upset by anything I say...that being said...I have a per peeve about people who enters nursing who doesn't have a deep desire or passion for the field...if you do not really want it u feel it would be difficult for you to be an effective health care provider .., I think that you should really think on if nursing is the right road for you...there are other fields that have just as much stability that may be right for you

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU.

I feel like if you are only entering the healthcare field for the stability, you will get burned out very, very quickly. I am not saying you should feel it is your "calling" in life, or that you should have wanted to do it since you were a child. But, if your heart doesn't sink at the thought of doing all you can for a patient but still losing her, or if your heart doesn't flutter at the thought of seeing a mother hug her daughter after an intensive surgery for example, then your heart probably isn't in it, and it won't provide much satisfaction for you.

Read around this board and see all the complaints current nurses have about working conditions in hospitals around the country. If you can read around here and maintain a positive attitude about nursing, then I say go for it. I know working conditions might not be the best, but if I can go home every night knowing that I touched a patient's life for the better, then this is the field I want to be in. Everyone has their own journey to nursing, and you have to decide for yourself if it is what you want to do. Hopefully my point of view has helped you in your decision.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the comments. My friend tells me I should go to LIU and major in media arts. It's still an option. I guess my fear is not having a job after I graduate plus sitting on loans. I know a lot of the glamor careers can be a bit tough to break into. I dream of working in film production, public relations, and casting.And you're right. I don't want to go in to nursing because of just the stability, but it is a highlight as to why I want to get into nursing. I do want to help others and I consider myself a compassionate person. I do see the comfort and joy in making someone's day better. I like to listen to people's stories and gain an understanding. Nutrition, surgical technology, and respiratory therapy, and health information are other fields I am interested in. It is not my ultimate dream career, but I would be fine with being in healthcare or nursing. I don't see nursing as being awful at all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I completely agree with both @williams3929 and @elektrisk564. To be successful as a nurse and to be the best nurse possible for your patients you have to have a passion for nursing. It's a tough job and you work hard for the money you make. You will never become rich being a nurse and you can make much more doing a lot less. The hours are long, you are on your feet the whole time, getting called in 10 different directions at once and being unappreciated a lot of the time.

My best advice for you would be to become a CNA first. The course is quick and fairly inexpensive. It will give you good insight on what it is like being a nurse. If you love being a CNA, you will love nursing.

Best of luck in whatever you choose!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day:

I do agree you need a passion and love for a lot of vocations especially health care.

What I will add is that you can develop passions and love if you press into them.

Thank you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nursing school is not fun, easy, or something to try "just because". You may want to look at the attrition rates of the schools you're applying to. The chances of being successful without a passion for nursing are low. Nursing school challenges you to change the way you think, as well as the way you live. It's extremely expensive and time consuming. I'm not telling you not to try. I'm just advising that you really put thought into it before you dump thousands into tuition, vaccinations, drug tests, background checks, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

OP has received some very good advice from PPs.

Just wanted to add - many 'civilians' do not have a clear understanding of the logistics of a nursing career. Healthcare is primarily a 24X7 business. The reality of working nights, weekends and holidays can make it very difficult to maintain normal social activities as well as personal relationships. Schedules are rigidly enforced - flexibility is non-existent. Any nightshifter who has ever tried to obtain child care can attest to this. The amount of physical labor involved in bedside nursing is never brought up in those "angel of mercy" advertisements - right?

Health care is no longer "stable". Healthcare continues to be a big, juicy target for congressional budget cuts. Hospitals are closing. Nursing jobs are being cut & the workload is increasing as hospitals try to compensate for decreasing revenue. The future is not rainbows and unicorns.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You have to REALLY want it, and it can't just be a career for you. Nurses do a lot of nasty things, and even in my clinicals I have said to myself as I am cleaning up something nasty..."If I didn't want to do this with every fiber of my being then it would NOT be worth it"

It has been said MANY time on this site, but I will say it again...there is no nursing shortage, jobs are hard to find, you have to really want to do this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Primary Care, OR.

I'm making the assumption based off you school, LIU, that your in NY. There is no nursing shortage here. Over the past few years and still continuing on many NYC hospitals have closed leaving their staff helpless. LICH is gone now too or almost gone. The other hospitals and facilities left to pick up the pieces are now requiring "x" amount of experience to land a job. There is no more promise of stability in nursing than there is in your current degree. My suggestion is to do what you enjoy and if it PR/Communications then that's great. You have some experience from your internships already.... And that market goes further than just NYC, there's plenty of other cities to relocate to, Miami, Boston, LA etc.

If its nursing you want then that's great too and LIU has a great program, but job stability isn't a reliable reason to do it anymore. i hope the market gets better. Good luck with whatever you choose! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If nursing isn't your passion do you should not attempt it. First, just getting through all the pre-reqs and application requirements (entrance exams, vaccinations, etc.) is incredibly tough. Think really hard about whether multiple A&P, microbiology, and chemistry classes are something you are interested in and willing to put a lot of hours into studying. I haven't actually started nursing school yet (my program starts in Sept.), but I already have about 16 chapters worth of reading (out of 5 of my 9 textbooks) and several assignments that will be due the first day of class. It is incredibly hard, and it gets even harder. You will not be able to only study the areas of nursing you are sort of interested in, and you will have to ask yourself how you are going feel handling all different types of patients in all sorts of situations. If you don't really want it you will probably not make it. I really don't say that to be mean, you just have to be willing to put everything you have into becoming a nurse.

On another note, if I were sick I would not want a nurse who is only there because her dream career didn't work out helping me. I want a nurse who is truly dedicated to the field and who is passionate about helping people, because that nurse will really put the extra effort into taking care of me. Nursing really shouldn't be a fall back career.

Also, like some others have said, while there is an overall nursing shortage in country (so they say) that really only applies to certain areas of the country. It can be very tough for a new grad to find a job if you live in an area that does not have a shortage.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you are looking for job security, I guess nursing would be better. If it's mostly about job security, you may want to search for other options though. Like a lot of people have said, having a passion for the job (in nursing) is definitely going to make what you go through worth it.

It's not bad to have a back up plan. Good luck in whatever you do! I hope you get to do what you WANT and not just what you think is best for the future.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion