Not going to nursing school

[weirhead69]

well i've decided to not attend mcphs this fall. with the job market in the state it's in and this being a second career, i just cannot justify spending 40-50k for a bsn. it's a strange career that an admission counselor says "regardless of the job opportunities, salary, etc, it really should be a career that you think will be the best fit for you." it could be me but those are very real concerns for anyone to weigh before embarking on a career. the best fit for me may be as a cowboy but that would be dubious advice to give someone who decided he was going to ride off west to find the next cattle drive heading out of laredo. schools and the nursing career need to stop seeing itself as a calling. the oversupply of nurses and the rise of per diem work are not positives for the career as a whole. nursing seems to be cast as something that rises above the petty concerns of money and opportunity but that is what work is all about.

[wannabe an rn]

I happen to agree with you. Nursing is the only profession that heavily scrutinizes the motivations of its members. Are you doing it for the money? Are you a nurse because you like people? Are you a nurse because you're a selfless angel of mercy?

Take a close, hard look at the other educated professions in society. Nobody is really questioning the motives of the physician, attorney, college professor, engineer, librarian, social worker, physical therapist, businessman, linguist, or pharmacist. Other members of their professions aren't bothering them about selecting their respective career fields for the love of the job itself or other altruistic reasons. Other members of their respective professions aren't asking, "Is this a higher calling for you?"

This might sound blunt, but another individual's personal reasons for entering the nursing profession are absolutely none of my business. We, as nurses and future nurses, need to take a lesson from the other professions and stop beating each other down. I do not work for free, and I fully expect to be paid for the services that I render.

I've always wondered why the motives of those wanting to be a nurse are questioned. Do they ask doctors why they want to be a doctor? Quite honestly, if you want to pursue nursing, despite all the valid reasons not to, that should be praised, not questioned.

[abbriody]

I agree. However, there is one profession in which it is imperative to screen prospective members regarding a higher calling---the ministry. My son was recently accepted into seminary and was asked---and will continue to be asked until he is ordained---how he discerned that he was indeed called by God to serve in this capacity. My son can pinpoint the exact time when he first felt called to the ministry. My husband, who is an ordained pastor, can do the same.

In all honesty, I envy them and wish that it was as straightforward as getting some sort of sign from God. I have felt "nudges" or subtle suggestions in my life but never anything as dramatic or life-altering as a "call".

I can not agree with you more. I do believe that one can feel a calling to be a nurse. I did not listen when GOD called me to be a nurse the first time. I actually did not listen until he was pretty much beating down my door; leaving me no other option. So, I returned to school... and just received my acceptance letter to begin nursing classes spring 2011.

I must say, I have more spiritual peace now than I have in all the years I tried to go my own way. Listening to the call wasn't enough; sometimes one must be still, listen and then act. My action has brought me peace. I know I will continue to do well because I am finally following a path the Lord has put in place for me. I serve the Lord first and will serve my patients second. This will be my 'secret' to success.

However, I must add: I know not all nursing students/nurses are called into the field with the same passion. That is okay. Whatever your motivation is, it is NONE of my business. One should only judge another on their actions, not their intentions. If you are a great nurse it shouldn't matter what pushed you into the field to begin with. Where you started on your career path does not determine where you will finish.

With many blessings...

[moma8gma1]

You're smart to question the worth of going into so much debt, as well as devoting the time for the degree when you're not sure. Have you tried volunteering (or shadowing) to see if you'd like hospital work? What drew you to consider nursing in the first place? Is there something you've always wished you could do as a career? It might be worthwhile for you to spend some time with a career counselor to help you figure out where your gifts and passion may lie. Nowadays, there are a bunch of jobs/careers that weren't even around 10+ years ago. There is something out there for you. Keep looking if nursing doesn't feel right.

Good luck to you!