Need Help!!

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Jan 13, 2015

what is it about nursing, that makes you want to consider as your career?

Undecided013 · Jan 13, 2015

I always wanted a career where I felt I had a real purpose. Where I was helping people and proud of my profession. I want to be a nurse, but I feel like if I just work in a doctors office or something less demanding at first it would help to give me a better idea of what Im getting myself into.. I just don't know if its a waste of time.

A&Ox6, MSN, RN · Jan 13, 2015

There are many, many, many health/allied health/human services professions. It may be worth your while to take an aptitude test or see a vocational counselor before licking yourself into a program.

At the very least, try to shadow a few nurses who work in different settings before you go further. Unfortunately, there is limited information available about the differences between different fields, and much of the available information is biased in some way.

Undecided013 · Jan 13, 2015

Thank you for your response. I have decided to speak with a counselor and look into possibly volunteering at a hospital. It may help to get to see hands on what I would be dealing with. I am still considering LPN but as you said a lot of the opinions on here are biased and most actually say it's a waste and go for RN.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Jan 13, 2015

To clarify, she never said many of the opinions HERE are biased. I think here you will hear how it is firsthand, from actual LPN's and RN's, that doesn't mean at all that those opinions are biased.

Thank you for your response. I have decided to speak with a counselor and look into possibly volunteering at a hospital. It may help to get to see hands on what I would be dealing with. I am still considering LPN but as you said a lot of the opinions on here are biased and most actually say it's a waste and go for RN.

Undecided013 · Jan 13, 2015

Thanks. Besides the correction, did you have a suggestion or helpful hint to my post or just wanted to point out my mistake?

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Jan 14, 2015

clinicals with give you an eye opener

LPN first, then upward mobility RN MIGHT BE THE

MOST COST EFFECTIVE....and give you the expisure that may help you decide......

A&Ox6, MSN, RN · Jan 14, 2015

Thanks. Besides the correction, did you have a suggestion or helpful hint to my post or just wanted to point out my mistake?

Undecided, the correction was in fact a helpful hint. I was trying to point out that most of the available information for students and prospective students is biased, not that allnurses.com is.

While this site does contained biased information, both ways, I was trying to explain why you should but take what a college tells you for granted. A school that makes money off of a nursing program has a vested interest in ensuring that their program is full. In fact, even the application fee can be helpful to a school. Similarly, a school that teaches sonography may lead you to believe that their program is perfect for you.

Hence, it is important for you to get advice from uninvolved parties.

Undecided013 · Jan 14, 2015

Thank you again for your response. I understand what your saying. As an RN yourself, do you, looking back on your career in the field, still suggest that route?

A&Ox6, MSN, RN · Jan 14, 2015

Looking back on my career path, there are some things that I may have done differently. For example, I would have gone pct instead of CNA because they are utilized in hospitals in my area. I may have also done some other things differently as well.

I am very happy being a nurse, but as I've said before, that doesn't mean it's for everyone.

luluRN14 · Jan 14, 2015

Hi, first of all congrats on deciding to go into nursing, whichever route you take! It's an amazing profession that can be incredibly rewarding and at times incredibly tough. It sounds like you might be in the stage of nursing school (pre-nursing school in your case) I like to call the 'Holy S**t! What Was I Thinking' stage. Looking back on my nursing education, I feel like I remember myself and many of my fellow nursing students going through a similar freak out period, and it often happened to coincide with first clinical. For you, it seems to have happened a bit earlier. Here are my suggestions: First of all, believe in yourself. We have all felt at some point like we are incapable/terrified/incompetent/combination of all. Second, I think what is really important here is what is important to you, what are your lifestyle and achievement goals (do you want to direct care, flexible hours, upward career movement, etc.?), and what are your barriers to achieving those goals (how's your support network, financial concerns, family obligations, etc.?)? With either option, you put yourself in a position to achieve your broad goal of working in a profession that allows you to help people.

I am biased because I did a 2 year BSN program without having any prior nursing experience. It was probably one of the most difficult things I've ever done, and more often than not I was terrified I couldn't do it and worried I didn't have what it takes to 'cut it' as an RN in a hospital. Despite this, it was the best decision I have ever made. Personally, I feel like I have a lot more options open to me as a BSN than many people I've spoken with at job fairs who have their LPN. However, this is because I want to work in a hospital with a 5 year career goal of going into nursing education.

And just remember, part of the nursing school experience is having dozens of other students at your side who are going through the exact same thing. Knowing that you are not the only one with these fears and concerns makes a world of difference. I wish you the best of luck in your career, whichever path you choose.