I really dont know what to do

travel50 · Feb 13, 2009

So why did you choose nursing in the first place? Is that reason still there? If you only want to do it for the money, I would suggest you went into something different b/c patients really need people caring for them who really want to do it. Nursing is stressful. Some days the money may not be worth it. If you still want to do nursing, is there a 2 yr ADN program near you? There are also physical and occupational assistant programs that you might enjoy. They pay fairly well and may be less stressful.

Matt 2be RN · Feb 13, 2009

I do not understand why people get so mad when someone mentions MONEY on this site. If you do not care about the salary for a job then why work at all? Working is about making MONEY and yes that is what I intend to do. But my original reason for going into nursing was because I want to work in pediatrics I love working with kids. So no its not all about money.

Quark09 · Feb 13, 2009

You know what, though, LIFE is a major stress ride; there's no way to get around that! As the poster above mentioned, there are 2 year ADN programs; I'm enrolled in one now -- and yes, while it is stressful, it's completely worth it. I love what I'm learning and am planning to continue through grad school to be a Family Nurse Practitioner. It takes skillful time management and careful financial planning (I have a two year old and work nights to support the two of us) but in just one more year, I'll be an RN...the initial time commitment may seem daunting when you first start out, but you'll be surprised at how quickly that first year flies by. You need to commit to studying hard and making a few social sacrifices while you're in school, but it'll be worth it. Lots of luck in what you decide!

chicookie, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2009

I do not understand why people get so mad when someone mentions MONEY on this site. If you do not care about the salary for a job then why work at all? Working is about making MONEY and yes that is what I intend to do. But my original reason for going into nursing was because I want to work in pediatrics I love working with kids. So no its not all about money.

because nursing is a "caring" position. we are supposed to do because we WANT to help people not for the money. Does that make wanting the money wrong? No. I wouldn't do it if it wasn't for the money. I love caring for people but sometimes with the abuse that comes with the position I know I wouldn't do it for free.

Now in regards to your other question, in pediatrics you can have so many options resp therapist (which make good money), lab, social worker. Any position that would be in a regular hospital can be applied to peds. I think.

travel50 · Feb 13, 2009

I do not understand why people get so mad when someone mentions MONEY on this site. If you do not care about the salary for a job then why work at all? Working is about making MONEY and yes that is what I intend to do. But my original reason for going into nursing was because I want to work in pediatrics I love working with kids. So no its not all about money.

Oh, dear!!!! Please forgive me if I came across wrong on that. I certaiinly was not angry...(tired, maybe...dealing with my schizophrenia pt all day, God love him), but most definitely not in any way angry. Nor did I mean to be accusing you of going into nsg for the wrong reason. Let me start over. Of course we all want to get paid for what we do (today, I could sure use a raise). One reason I keep doing the job I do (DON at nsg home) is b/c of the pay. It supports my habit, which is travel. But my job is unbelievably stressful, and some days I do wonder if it is worth it. Guess on those days, I fall back on the fact that I love my residents. Then there was my son (21 yrs) who wanted to go into nsg. All he could talk about was money. He is wonderful, caring, gentle, etc., would make a great nurse. And he also wanted to do peds. So I took him to work to meet our child resident. (MVA, brain injury). He was in near tears, swore he couldn't do what I do, and he changed majors. He decided no amount of money was worth seeing the suffering and being unable to fix it. Anyway, I started out with an ADN. It served me well for many yrs. I did peds in the hosp and loved it. So good luck, and again, please accept my apology if I started off wrong.

Matt 2be RN · Feb 13, 2009

travel50 now its my turn to apologize. I didnt mean to come across rude its just that I am constantly browsing this site and some people get so offended when someone mentions money. So i accept your apology and hope you accept mine:p I (like your son) initially became interested in nursing because of the money but I am also someone with a HUGE heart and i just love kids so I thought everything would fit together. I am going to look into respiratory therapist. as well. I did get into a BSN program so i guess that is half the battle right? I am going to give this more thought but I appreciate all your responses.

dionnedillon · Feb 13, 2009

if i were u i would definitely do radiology over nursing, u know yourself and if u are having second thoughts, listen to them, i have been in nursing for 12 years and it is no joy ride. If i had to do it all again i would have chosen another profession, nursing really is not for everyone. Though the money is good it is not enough for all the things we have to deal with not to mention the liability involved in such a fast paced job which often is not adequately staffed adding to the pressure. I would also look at physical therapy they also make good money and no where near the patient load and stress

RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2009

Well I can speak to social workers--as my ex-partner is one and only has her BSW and most places want a MSW so she is really limited to begin with and even with the masters social workers make horrible money........now THAT is a profession you have to do for the love of the work...pays not even in the ball park as an RN.......Not that it would be any easier but you might want to check into if there are any programs near you in respiratory therapy. They do a lot of different things at a large hospital--more then just administer respiratory meds, they manage all the vent patients and are at all codes to intubate patients and manage their airway and put on a vent if needed, they do ABGs, they manage C-PAP and BiPAP.... and they have, like the RN, 2 and 4 year programs....

check out this link http://www.aarc.org/patient_education/whatarcp.asp

They get paid very well........I might have done that if there was a program near me.........

What I would actually suggest though, seriously, is to call the largest hospital near you and tell then you are interested in shadowing with a number of different people in different departments to help with your decision ---like you told us here......and they will let you spend as menay days as you like to shadow--- I would pick 3 or 4 different areas of nursing to shadow as some are very different--ie, medical,surgical,ICU,ED,psych,peds,dialysis,OR, GI, whatever sounds interesting to you.......and then Physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, radiology--both as a rad. tech and/or rad RN, then of course--though MUCH harder then an RN program--there is the option of a Physician Assistant program--usually a 5 year Bachelors degree.

I have had seniors in high school and other various people who are in exactly your position come through when I was on an inpatient psych floor --they hung out and just saw what it was really like to work as a nurse on a psych floor--the good, the bad, the ugly--lol, but the real world and not what you see on TV. I think it is important to see what a job is really like before you go and spend so much time and effort to get the credentials to do it......That is my best suggestion.......that way if you end a day seeing a job you think you might really like you can talk to the person you shadow about the schooling needed.... etc.

Well good luck to you.........and all I can say is if you decide to become a nurse you do have A LOT of options from the bedside to behind a desk and everything in between. So it does give you a lot of freedom to do a lot of different things.

GeneralJinjur · Feb 13, 2009

I agree that shadowing some nurses would be really helpful. I'm just finishing up week 4 of my first semester in nursing school. Everyone focuses on the stressful aspect and while there's a lot of studying, it's all so darn fascinating that the time is flying by. So I wouldn't change plans just because of the potential stress. I hope you find a decision that feels right.

Cranmans · Feb 13, 2009

I'm with you bro. I am so burned out. I am 21 years old, went to college right after high school and changed my major so many times. From biology, nursing, psychology. I just need to take a break...and do something else....but I don't even know what that is. I am at 90 hours right now with my prereqs done for nursing, on bio track and even psychology. But, i don't know where to go... I NEED A BREAK!

Sorry, I had to get that out. Have you thought respiratory therapist (assoc or bachelors, ems---some larger districts make well money, and you can move up/advance with exp etc, radiology like you said). The health field has soooooo many options. Pick something and go for it, do what you want to do...(i know that is easier said then done. You are young you can go back and do something else later.

Good Luck.

RN2be_07 · Feb 13, 2009

Nursing school is tough and if you just want to work with kids it may be a great place to be if you also are interested in medicine. Otherwise there are a lot of other kid-centered jobs out there like teaching (another greatly needed position), nutrition (i.e. helping with childhood obesity which is a BIG problem now), counseling, etc. In radiology you dont have a lot of contact with patients (at least in my experience) so you would be lacking there. You can also get a 2 year RN with nursing and go into a position and eventually go for your BSN and your Masters if you would like. I dont see the point in getting your BSN if you dont plan to go above to get your Masters in some area. I have my BSN only because I do want to get my masters someday. Also if you get your 2 yr degree you could also change your mind afterward and go into something like being a physician's assistant for a pediatrician or something so it gives you options.

Good luck!