Not an easy choice to make

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 10, 2014

It's a choice you have to make with your heart -- and your post didn't give us a clue to that. How do you really feel about being a nurse? If you don't take the opportunity to become one, will you always wonder "what if?" and regret not giving it a try? If not, then take the management job and be happy with that choice. You'll be making decent money without the expense and stress of nursing school.

But if you are going to spend the rest of your life saying ..."Oh, I should have been a nurse ..." every time you have a bad day at the furniture store, then go to nursing school. It's the only way you will get it out of your system.

So how do you really feel about nursing? Is a true calling -- and you will never be happy if you don't give it a try? Or is it a career you chose for other reasons?

xenogenetic · Dec 10, 2014

Be sure to make an honest assessment of yourself. What if this retail store goes out of business? Do you think you could easily find another equivalent retail job with your company's competitors your skillset? Who is promoting you...a single person that likes you? What if that person leaves or gets fired, how will that effect your status within the company? I urge you, even if you stay in retail, to still go to school...if not nursing, then management or MBA, because you have to always remember to work harder on you than on your job. This way you will have something to fall back on and are not just riding the coattails of that particular company's existance. Good luck with whichever route you choose!

Cassybear · Dec 11, 2014

Thank you! I appreciate your responses.. It makes me feel better..

It just the "WHAT IFs" that scare me.. Investing a few years of not working and trying to find a job as a new grad afterwords, having a family to feed in the meanwhile and being a 40 y/old - that what bugs me... VS the "warmth" of the paycheck in my pocket right now... Anyway, I realize that in the long run nursing is a better choice.. I guess I just need to close my eyes and "jump off the cliff".

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Dec 11, 2014

Yep. And keep your contacts so that while you look for a nursing job you can work in the retail to put bread on the table. Long term nursing will most likely be a better choice, but nothing in life is guaranteed so don't burn any bridges. Stay part-time if you can through nursing school. I worked full-time through school so I know it can be done.

Cassybear · Dec 11, 2014

My goodness!! How did you do that?? I would love to try but the school said we will not have any free time for/to work, that we will be swamped completely.. Even part time.. So the load is actually doable? To work and school at the same time?

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 11, 2014

How do you do it?

It might not be possible if you have a lot of family commitments on top of school ... but ...

Can you work part time during breaks in the school calendar? (In between the semesters or on the weekends.) Tell the store that you are not sure you are going to like nursing school and want to maintain your presence at the store. Can they use you for a few hours during peak times? during the holidays? etc. Even if it is only a few hours per month ... of it is only for the holiday shopping season, etc. ... I have seen people do it.

SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2014

I worked full time while going to school part-time. It was not easy, but it can be done.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Dec 31, 2014

I worked full time while going to school full time for my LPN. I will have to do the same for my RN. Sometimes you don't have a choice not to. I would stay part time at your current gig while at school. It's nice to have a back up plan. Are you done with your prereqs? If not stay until those are all done.