If you had your time over again >>>

sunnymilo · Apr 2, 2007

I am an LPN and I have about 110 credits toward a Bachelor's degree. I can transfer to an LPN to RN program but I am thinking about going into psychology with my BA instead and then hitting grad school. The wait is too long to get into an RN (I've tried a few times and the wait each time has set me a back another year in college), not necessarily my grades (I have about a 3.2 and had a 3.8 in LPN school). There are just so many people applying and limited space. My favorite part of school was the psyche rotation and so I think I may pursue psyche as my next degree. I am tired of waiting to get into RN school and tired of paying on student loans for a BS I haven't finished because there has not been space for me in an RN program each time I apply. I am giving it another shot for summer of 2008 for the next LPN to RN to go through and while I wait for that yet another year, I will continue to work on my online BS in Psyche just in case. I am tired of waiting for the space for RN. I chose nursing as a major in college my second year. I was really an undeclared possibly art or science major but not sure. I chose nursing because I wanted to help people. I find I really enjoy psychiatric studies though and I am glad I have the choice to change majors now, even though I have not gotten into an RN in a timely fashion. I will give RN another go and then if I don't get it the goal is Clinical Psychology.

sunnymilo · Apr 2, 2007

Hearing people's replies that say they realize there are other careers that would suit them better, well I appreciate that! I feel the same way. I think it is okay to be able to realize that and it took me a while to not feel bad for it (family and friends asking why you don't want to be a nurse or why you are being so wishy washy). There are people that try alot of different things in life and that is their way of finding their niche. I think it is okay to try different things and it is even better when you find your true self by tring these different things, no matter how crazy the traditionalists think people like us are!:balloons:

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Apr 2, 2007

I wouldn't have wasted 4 years after high school being a hairdresser (although I did sow my wild oats before settling down;)) I would have skipped LVN and gone directly for my ADN and eventually my BSN.

My dream job would be a marine biologist on a boat somewhere studying ocean life. Not sure I could have handled all the science courses required.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Apr 2, 2007

I would definitely do it all over again. I went to college for pre physical therapy with the goal of being a PT. Two days into classes I changed my major to nursing and haven't looked back. There are other careers I could see myself in, always wanted to be a 3rd grade teacher or study British Literature. But while those professions would be fun, none would bring me the same degree of life fulfillment, passion and joy that being a neonatal intensive care nurse brings. While there are days I rail against the system that constantly shortchanges their nursing staff, rail against the parents of my babies that have hurt their innocent babies with drug use, promiscuity and poor lifestyles. I rail against the society we're in that says it's ok for babies to have babies, and "we'll pay for it" (medicaid, wic, SSI) regardless of the fact that you have the latest cellphone, and fancy clothes. I rail against the failed state child protection agency who allows helpless babies to go home to horrible environments, and ignores the law that says that if mom is caught doing drugs while pregnant, she can't keep her baby, just goes to jail. I rail against the poor working conditions nurses must sometimes endure, low pay, disloyal managers, backstabbing coworkers, and rude doctors.

But in all of this I still find joy in what I do. I am fortunate to work in a supportive environment with a good manager, excellent physicians and wonderful coworkers. Sometimes I take all the bad of nursing and weight it against the good, questioning whether I'd do it again. Yes, I would. WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We are the number one trusted profession. I am respected at work, at home, and with my peers. People I know are always commenting on how they wish they could do what I do. These are people doing the jobs so many of you said you'd like to do...accountants, teachers, environmentalists. While they have found a certain level of satisfaction in their work, they are always comparing it to what I do.... I know that all work environments aren't the same, and that each of us needs to find our niche in nursing. Mine is in the NICU, and always will be. There isn't a day I don't wake up knowing that today I will make a real difference in a baby's or parent's life. My goal is to achieve my neonatal NP degree in the next few years, while continuing to work as a bedside nurse. So my answer again is YES!!!