Need opinion on transferring career

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER and ICU!!!.

Hi all,

I have been a "LVN" since May in LTC (right out of school). I am going to start back to school in late Aug. (already have schedule). I have been seriously thinking if nursing is for me. I would rather be in ED, but where I am, you have to have RN. I am staying in LTC b/c the hours can easily fit around my schedule. I MISS MY KIDS (8 and 4), and am finding it hard to believe I want to be a nurse for the rest of my life. I see my RN's and they have NO patient contact except maybe 5 minutes a week! I do not want that, but I can not live off LVN pay (13/hour). I have thought about pharmicist. What do ya'll think? In my area, they make +100,000, more than double an RN here.

Thanks. :uhoh21:

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Specializes in Oncology, Hospice, Research.

TexasLVN,

You can make good money as a pharmacist but I doubt that you'll have a lot of patient contact with that job either. I've briefly considered it but then I looked at the chemistry courses they have to have and realized that I was pushing my luck to get through the 2 semesters that I needed for my BSN!! :rotfl:

I am not sure what RNs you are looking at but I assure you that the RNs who want to have a lot of patient care, can do so. Sure, there are a lot who work in management, supervisory or other administrative roles that limit their patient care but that's the beauty of nursing...there is a place for everyone to find their niche. :) :nurse:

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you said you miss your kids....did you mean while you are at work or what?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER and ICU!!!.
you said you miss your kids....did you mean while you are at work or what?

I am currently working 156 hours q 2 weeks, and when school does start, I will be going to school from 7 AM until 1pm and will be working from 2 pm until 10 pm. I know that this is a necessary evil to better my education, but I do miss my kids, now and when I start school.

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Hi all,

I have been a "LVN" since May in LTC (right out of school). I am going to start back to school in late Aug. (already have schedule). I have been seriously thinking if nursing is for me. I would rather be in ED, but where I am, you have to have RN. I am staying in LTC b/c the hours can easily fit around my schedule. I MISS MY KIDS (8 and 4), and am finding it hard to believe I want to be a nurse for the rest of my life. I see my RN's and they have NO patient contact except maybe 5 minutes a week! I do not want that, but I can not live off LVN pay (13/hour). I have thought about pharmicist. What do ya'll think? In my area, they make +100,000, more than double an RN here.

Thanks. :uhoh21:

I think it really depends on the time that you are willing to commit to a program, as well as the type of patient contact that you desire. Pharmacy school can be very long if you need to take the prerequisites, up to 6 years full-time, but then again so can an RN program if there is a waiting list. As far as patient care, if you desire indirect patient contact (i.e. educating a patient about a medication, community involvement) then you can certainly still perform it if working in a retail pharmacy.

I wouldn't worry as much about school but instead think about where you could imagine spending the rest of your life (i.e. drugs vs. bedside care).

Hope this helps!

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I would say at this point not to give up on nursing. I have been an RN for a year and my opinion of nursing has varied a great deal. LTC RN's have a very different job than hospital RN's or public health RN's, etc. You just have to find your niche. I worked as a med/surg nurse since graduation and found hospital nursing to be stressful. Now, I am working at the health dept. from 8 to 5 and I really like my work. You should pursue your RN and remember that there will be a variety of jobs you can do in your nursing career. Don't give up. :)

Hi all,

I have been a "LVN" since May in LTC (right out of school). I am going to start back to school in late Aug. (already have schedule). I have been seriously thinking if nursing is for me. I would rather be in ED, but where I am, you have to have RN. I am staying in LTC b/c the hours can easily fit around my schedule. I MISS MY KIDS (8 and 4), and am finding it hard to believe I want to be a nurse for the rest of my life. I see my RN's and they have NO patient contact except maybe 5 minutes a week! I do not want that, but I can not live off LVN pay (13/hour). I have thought about pharmicist. What do ya'll think? In my area, they make +100,000, more than double an RN here.

Thanks. :uhoh21:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER and ICU!!!.

I have been thinking about this long and hard, and I have decided to continue on the road that I feel God has lead me. I will get my RN. Although I am currently in LTC, I really feel like I should be in ED, and to pursue that I need my RN, so off I go. Thank you to all who have given me a little insight. Texas

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