Is nursing right for me or accounting?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 8, 2017

No one but you is going to know what is right for you. I've been a nurse for four decades, and it was right for me. But at one point, I was so burned out I wanted to be an accountant, and perhaps that would have been right for different reasons. The accounting classes I took were fascinating. YOU are the one who is going to have to live with your choice, so don't get too hung up on other people's expectations. (If you are struggling with sciences, you absolutely do not want to go to medical school, even if your grades were high enough to be accepted into medical school.)

Hate sciences and love math -- accounting might just be for you. As a CNA, you should have at least some exposure to what nursing is all about. Introversion makes it more difficult, but is definitely not a deal breaker. I'm an introvert and I know many capable nurses who are also introverts.

"Helping people' is something that you can do in many careers, not just nursing. I'll go so far as to say that people who go into nursing as a "calling" (people who go into the profession without a clear idea what it's all about because they're just so darned compassionate and altruistic) have a harder time than those of us who went into it because it's an interesting and challenging profession with flexible hours, a middle class salary and decent working conditions (as opposed to construction work, the oil fields or any job that has you outdoors in wind, hail, sleet and hot weather). I can make a case that a person who loves math and understands accounting can help people to deal with things like taxes and other financial issues that most of us neither like dealing with nor understand.

Since accounting interests you and you have no guarantee of being able to continue your nursing education at this point (conditional acceptance), why not go ahead and look into accounting. Talk to someone at the school of business and get a good idea of what is required to get an accounting degree, what the job would look like and what the job PROSPECTS look like. Then you'll be more informed and can hopefully make a better decision.

FutureNurseInfo · Mar 10, 2017

Firs of all, you are not a nursing major yet. As you stated you have not been fully accepted into the program since it looks like you still have to take and successfully finish a few course, and most important, pre-reqs. Also, you keep going back and forth between nursing and accounting which is why I sensed a trail of indecisiveness. Truly, you cannot choose a career just because you like helping people, therefore, becoming a nurse. Many professions out there deal with people-helping aspect. Teachers, for example, help "little" people. My point is, right now is the time for YOU to figure out what is best: nursing, accounting or, maybe, even a third career option. Not to be discouraging, anatomy is very important in nursing and, most likely than not, how well you do in your pre-reqs is a good predictor how well you will do in the nursing school. So, think twice: weigh in all pros and cons.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 11, 2017

If you're self-described as a "lazy student", I would not go to a nursing program. It can be very intense with having to study for lecture exams, plus skills exams, physical assessment exams, medication math tests, skills lab homework and written assignments. On top of it all, you still have to go to clinicals and get your clinical assignments done (assessments, labs, procedures, nursing diagnoses, etc.)

You can "help" people in just about any profession, so don't limit yourself to just one choice (nursing), if that's not what you are really enthused about studying. You could be a mathematics teacher. Or perhaps you enjoy Calculus and want to study advanced Physics? Finance, accounting, actuarial science (which involves complex math), statistics, etc., may all be fields you want to look in to. Actuaries make pretty decent money, often times starting at a better salary than new grad accountants.

Bottom line: you need to decide what is the right fit for *you* and not worry about what everyone else thinks.

nightskies · Mar 13, 2017

Thanks for responding! I have actually started looking into another major (computer science to be exact) I just hope that I can make good enough grades in my science classes so my GPA won't go down. Also, it may take a little longer for me to graduate since I'm changing majors so late.