If not Nursing, then what????

Im a prenursing student also, if nursing was to fall through for me (not getting accepted due to competition after 2-3 tries) being a paramedic definitely interests me.

I probably would have majored in English and became a high school English teacher, eventually becoming a college professor.

I asked a similar question a few months ago, although I did not ask about alternative careers. Here is the link to that thread, in case it's of help:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/would-you-become-nurse-today-if-you-could-do-over-again-262446.html

Hmmm, difficult question. After I got over the 1 year hump I feel better about my career choice. I like my job for the most part. There are days that I want to pull my hair out and never come back but every job is like that.

If I had to make the decision again I would seriously consider financial planning. During college I thought about many careers in health care but if I did it all over again I would probably avoid the health care system entirely.

Hmm, after almost 29 years, maybe a stripper. At least that would of forced me to keep the weight off! lol

I went to school to become a music teacher before I switched to nursing halfway through.

Even though I hate my job somedays, I wouldn't do anything else. People seem to think I'd be happier with weekends, summers, and holidays off. But when it isn't a weekend, holiday, or summer, teachers have to be in the classroom Monday-Friday. Not much flexibility there.

I like that I can take a "vacation" without using any vacation time. I like that I can alter my schedule to match those of my family members. That 3 or 4 day "weekends" are common for me. That if I hate my job, there are MANY others that I can apply for.

The options available to me in nursing definitely outweigh the summers, weekends, and holidays off. And it is nice putting a smile on a patients face :)

Hi- thats a good question. Before I decided on nursing school I wanted to be an acupuncurist but was worried I wouldn't make enough money. Well- it turns out my loans from nursing school are so high that I am worse off than if I had followed my heart to acupuncture shcool. Just do what your heart wants you to do but remember that the job market for nursing is great. Even though the job is tough- you will always have a job. Al I have to say is if you don't want stress do not become an ICU nurse-- too stressful!

Hi- thats a good question. Before I decided on nursing school I wanted to be an acupuncurist but was worried I wouldn't make enough money. Well- it turns out my loans from nursing school are so high that I am worse off than if I had followed my heart to acupuncture shcool. Just do what your heart wants you to do but remember that the job market for nursing is great. Even though the job is tough- you will always have a job. Al I have to say is if you don't want stress do not become an ICU nurse-- too stressful!

Pink Lotus that is exactly why i became a nurse! your post took the words right out of my head onto the page. i thought oh i wont make enough and 'maybe i can get a solid foundation in 'western health-care' first. anyhow--i had reservations about becoming a nurse. worked in an er to get a real feel for chaos and insanity. took three years off from pursuing nursing. but for some unknown reason i took the plunge. do i regret it? yes and no. if i don't start seeing improvement in my overall mental health and performance i will leave the bedside.

i do not want to be discouraging but i have to warn you--in the hospital setting esp. there are many dysfunctional work relationships. i see docs scream--not just yell--scream at nurses/nurses to pts/pts to nurses. one thing i have yet to see though---patients screaming at docs. interesting. above all else i have to say this: i do not think one can honestly 'get used to or love' hands on nursing. you will know by your interactions with patients why you went into nursing. for me i can honestly say when the stuff is hitting the fan, my patients keep me grounded. they literally are the only reason i can get through some nights. funny...

I am glad that I am a nurse. I don't like the politics or the stupid policies that keep changing, but I have had wonderful opportunities being one. At best, I would like to go to other places within nursing that are not so stressful or political, but I am glad that I am where I am in my life.

I'm an "older" student working on my prereq's before actually taking the plunge into nursing school... I've read through so many of these posts and the overall theme here is that a lot of new nurses seem to be unhappy in their chosen profession and generally disillusioned with the nursing field - which, in all honesty, is making me very nervous about proceeding with the career that I've had my heart set on for so many years. My question is this....if you were to go back in time, would you choose nursing again? If not, what career would you choose? I'm very curious to hear everyone's what-if's.....:redpinkhe

I am a prenursing student also, and i have wondered the same thing. It also scares me because I have a very strong desire to do nursing, but how do i REALLY know if its for me? I mean, i assume that its something i would like to do, from what I know. But how do I really know if i will enjoy it as much as i am thinking/hoping? But reading peoples rants on their job hasnt made me less passionate about nursing... because there are also many people who seems to genuinely love their job, the same way that i hope to love it someday.:redbeathe

Pink Lotus that is exactly why i became a nurse! your post took the words right out of my head onto the page. i thought oh i wont make enough and 'maybe i can get a solid foundation in 'western health-care' first. anyhow--i had reservations about becoming a nurse. worked in an er to get a real feel for chaos and insanity. took three years off from pursuing nursing. but for some unknown reason i took the plunge. do i regret it? yes and no. if i don't start seeing improvement in my overall mental health and performance i will leave the bedside.

i do not want to be discouraging but i have to warn you--in the hospital setting esp. there are many dysfunctional work relationships. i see docs scream--not just yell--scream at nurses/nurses to pts/pts to nurses. one thing i have yet to see though---patients screaming at docs. interesting. above all else i have to say this: i do not think one can honestly 'get used to or love' hands on nursing. you will know by your interactions with patients why you went into nursing. for me i can honestly say when the stuff is hitting the fan, my patients keep me grounded. they literally are the only reason i can get through some nights. funny...

It is nice to hear someone else who understands what I am talking about! Yes- the patients and often their families can show me the most beautiful things in life. Like you mentioned, sometimes a sweet little old lady or even a nervous crazy heroine addict in withdrawal can pull me through the night. You see so many sides of humanity at the bedside and I would miss that if I quit. Like you mentioned, I would not miss the emotional rollercoaster and lack of balance in my life that nursing seems to bestow on me-- I do a lot of yoga and also try to meditate and that does help. Regarding dysfunctional work relationships- what really concerns me lately is how many nurses are just so grumpy and caddy and I feel they have so much negative energy and I hate being around it. I am one of those people that enjoys being nice and that seems to annoy the grumpy nurses even more! I always felt like I might fit in better in a more "Zen" environment-- if that even really exists. I am hoping that there is a unit that I find someday where I have fun with my co-workers just a little more than I do now but I have fear that there is not such a unit. We'll see- this website is great- my fiancee is psyched cuz now I don't have to make him listen to all my babbling about the proffession so much so much! Peace:rolleyes: