As title says, should I just give up on Nursing? I have explained my situation in my previous thread but long story short, I was in the BsCN program(2013-2014)till end of first semester and by that time, I was pretty much burnt out because I was also working (only weekends) and my bad habits got to me (which I obviously need to change). I re-applied again, the same year I withdrew from the program and was rejected even though I believe my GPA was high as well as my high school mark with good academic standing.
July 4th is the last day to deposit tuition fee for Food and Nutrition program that I have been accepted to. However, I don't feel comfortable going to that program... I have researched the career and it feels like the job opportunities are not good and to get into the internship for dietician is incredibly tough! I feel like I am running out of time because I am 21 years old, I should be graduating next year had I not been in this kind of situation. My gut feeling always telling me to go back to nursing and give myself last chance, whether it's RN or registered practical nursing.
Honestly, I have no idea what to do at this point.
Sorry if this post isn't necessary but I have nowhere else to share it. I don't talk to my parents about it because they are angry with the decisions I have made in the past 3 years.
It is nice to see people pursuing their dream regardless of their age. Reading your posts made me feel better and I am highly motivated to go back to nursing(Hopefully I can go back...it's all competition again )
Carpediem1012, I really like what I did in Nursing school (i.e, take blood pressure etc..) Since I have decided to wait for next year, I am planning to volunteer at a hospital and find a job in hospital as a dietary aide. Honestly, after withdrawing from the program, I regret it. I wish I stayed a bit longer in that program but at that moment i was weak.
crackling, what degree did you get? Also, are you going into nursing also this fall?
Don't freak out about being 21 and feeling like you're "running out of time" because you 'should be graduating already'.
I'm just starting my nursing degree now - at 28. I've had that "running out of time" feeling for the last decade, and I feel really old doing this at 28...but I'm doing it now and that's the point. 21, 28 - it doesn't matter. Just be doing what feels right for right then/now. Don't look at that invisible You in the other queue/checkout line that seems to be ahead of real you, s/he doesn't exist! They never made it. You, on the other hand, are real and doing the real thing of being right where you are.
My first semester at a Uni they put me in a nutrition program in Phoenix, AZ. You receive all prerequisites that nurses would need, they said if we didn't get in junior year to just get our "Healthy Life Style Coach" degree. It's apparently preventative healthcare they said. Not something I'm interested in.
Give yourself a break if you are burnt out. Its the best thing you could do. One of my psychology professors told the class one time she was burntout but she kept going.. years later she said she wishes she took the break. So from what she said take a break... but dont back out!! :-) read study before classes and get to know this before hand while on a good break.. it will also give you room during the program to breath.
It is nice to see people pursuing their dream regardless of their age. Reading your posts made me feel better and I am highly motivated to go back to nursing(Hopefully I can go back...it's all competition again )
Carpediem1012, I really like what I did in Nursing school (i.e, take blood pressure etc..) Since I have decided to wait for next year, I am planning to volunteer at a hospital and find a job in hospital as a dietary aide. Honestly, after withdrawing from the program, I regret it. I wish I stayed a bit longer in that program but at that moment i was weak.
crackling, what degree did you get? Also, are you going into nursing also this fall?
I obtained a degree in Movement and Sport Sciences. And yes, I will be starting my nursing program this fall!
OK, I see this has finally been moved to the Canadian forum where the OP can get some realistic advise rather than the "GO girl" stuff the board can be famous for.
As others have said you are still so young, you don't know what you don't know.
Having said that employment and education is very different here in Canada.
You live in Ontario by what you posted. You need to do a lot of research on both jobs and their opportunities in your region. My health authority has basically ground to a halt for hiring. For every vacancy there are 60+ applicants.
Practical Nurses have it no better than RNs. Dieticians have better hours (only on call on the weekends) but fewer around the building in general.
It sounds as if you have been pushed into nursing by the thought that there is always jobs for nurses.
Use the year you are working to really look at what nurses of both designations do. Look at how many dieticians are working in the hospital you work at.
Look at jobs like health records administration, any of the technician jobs be it Sterile Processing to XRay. These jobs all pay decently, often require less investment in education, and have way more spots available for pretty specialized workers.
And here's the kicker, the all may over $22/hour to start (at least in my province) and that's a lot more than what many of the Americans posting above make as new grad RNs.
They all play a role in the health and well being of the patient. Often without the politics of patients, family, doctors and the unit.
Satsmau, thank you. Will you be working while studying?
Fiona59, thank you! I was looking through hospitals and it seemed like RN's are more demanding than Practical Nurses. Do you think in the future, there won't be a lot of PN's working? I am planning to go into PN program f I do not get into BScN program. Although job opportunities was a factor to why I decided to go into nursing but I also wanted to do it since grade 10 (Believe it or not lol) but I was so scared so I took some years off after graduating high school and here I am .
I think I will take Anatomy and Physiology in September as the admission officer advised me to do if I decide to re-apply. Hopefully I'll be able to get a B+ to remain competitive in the admission process.
If anything there will be more PNs working. More cost effective per hour. We see it in my health authority.
When I started work as a PN it was usually a 50/50 split of RN/LPN on an acute care floor. With the increased skill set of the PNs I'm seeing shifts where there are only two RNs and 6LPNs on a floor. Not every patient needs an RN for competent care. How often is blood hung or travisol on a unit. You need the RNs for Charge and Charge coverage.
More and more RNs are going into education or homecare not the hospital floor. ICU and NICU are hiring PNs.
I know every area is different but you need to evaluate the demands in your area.
21 is so young. You have many years to change career fields if you decide to do so. If nursing seems like a better fit then pursue that. However, know that every field is extremely competitive.
I became an RN at 36. I am still considering going back for another degree. Don't allow your age to be a factor.
Fiona59, I really hope number of PN's don't change in the future :) . Just curious, what is health authority? What do you do in that profession?
Joanna23, thanks! Although 21 is young age, it's so embarrassing to be asked by my relatives what I am studying, am I almost done my studies etc.. totally sucks to be honest but I am getting over it.
InnovativeNurse, thank you. I was just wondering where did you finish your studies in Toronto?
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It is nice to see people pursuing their dream regardless of their age. Reading your posts made me feel better and I am highly motivated to go back to nursing(Hopefully I can go back...it's all competition again
)
Carpediem1012, I really like what I did in Nursing school (i.e, take blood pressure etc..) Since I have decided to wait for next year, I am planning to volunteer at a hospital and find a job in hospital as a dietary aide. Honestly, after withdrawing from the program, I regret it. I wish I stayed a bit longer in that program but at that moment i was weak.
crackling, what degree did you get? Also, are you going into nursing also this fall?