Is nursing for me?

[:)CoreyB]

I will try to make this as short as possible, but I want to give you some background. In 2007, I started college at a university. I was studying physics and hoping to become a doctor. I was doing well into my second year, but my mother died and put me in this state of depression, which resulted in me dropping out and creating a financial aid nightmare for myself (deficit in academic progress, high loan balance, etc.) I have recovered well enough from the loss of my mother to go back to school, but I don't want to go down the pre-med road again. So, I figured that being a nurse would be a great alternative. I still get to care for people, and be involved in the medical process, but I read some of the posts on here and feel discouraged. I don't want to deal with a cna's that think they run the hospital, I don't want to answer a call light to pour a patient water, and I don't want to work for a smart a$$ doctor who thinks he is better than everybody else. I think the good outweighs the bad in nursing, but I have a friend who gave up a job making 30.00 per hour her first year in nursing to go back to being a bartender. I just don't know if it is for me. I love the study of disease and the idea of helping a sick person become better, but I'm just not sure. I qualified for an accounting scholarship for 4 years. I'm seriously considering going with the accounting degree. Please offer your opinion. Again, I do not mean to belittle the work nurses do. My ultimate goal is just to be happy that is all.

[Flo., BSN, RN]

This is something that only you can decide. I encourage you to look at the job market in your area and see in there is a demand for nurses. I had to move across country to get a job!

[grownuprosie]

Nurses are responsible for the total care of a patient and if you dont want to answer a call light then maybe nursing is not for you. That does not mean you cannot work with pts in the disease process as a member of the medical team. Have you looked into Respiratory therapy? They work with Cardio Pulminary disease and do breathing treatments and all kinds of other things in hospital and out patient settings. I am doing pre-nursing classes right now and had to pick between the two. it is worth looking into:)

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

I will tell you what I advise anyone who is unsure about becoming a nurse: try being an nurse's aide. You will see what nurses do all day, as well as other medical fields and you can make a more educated decision.

[BrookeeLou_RN]

I think shadowing a few nurses might give you a better idea if nursing could be for you.. Becoming a CNA and working would also give you lots of exposure but may take longer than you want. How did you get accounting scholarship? Do you want to be an accountant? It seems to me they are almost on opposite ends of the career world. You could start with general ed classes and then decide also.

You are the only one that can choice. Sorry about your loss of your Mother. I just lost mine and quit school also but am not ready to go back now .. maybe never. Best of luck with your decision.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Stick with accounting.