Not sure what to do....

[Fin1216]

Ok, so I am feeling extremely confused, discouraged, and very desperate. I guess I just need a place to vent, and maybe to hear some words of encouragement or maybe some similar situations any of you have had. So here is the deal:

I have a bachelor's in biology and spent several years working in a lab. My job became monotonous, offered no benefits, and I wasnt making much money, plus I had an hour long commute each way. I thought about other paths to take and decided to give nursing a try. I spent over a year thinking about it, then spent a lot of time and money taking 2 pre-req classes I needed. I mailed my application and spent 3 months in agony waiting. While waiting, I unexpectedly was laid off from my job, but received my acceptance letter 3 weeks later. I was thrilled and felt relieved. I then spent the next 5 months searching for a job that would work with my school schedule. It wasnt easy and I didn't find anything until a few weeks before my nursing classes started. I found a part time weekend job.

I started nursing school expecting it to be overwhelming and hard, but expecting it did not prepare me for it. I withdrew after a month. I was so unhappy and I don't feel that I have a passion for nursing like all of my classmates did. I was doing good grade-wise, but I was miserable. After withdrawing, I started my job search again, this time looking for full time positions. I recently had an interview for a dream job, but just found out today that I did not get it. I feel so devastated! At this point in time, I have applied to over 150 jobs.

My part time job (which pays a LOT of money) isn't going so well, because they never put me on the schedule. I have learned that the position is really PRN, to basically "fill in the gaps" when the full time employees dont sign up for overtime on the weekends. I haven't worked in a month, and my finances are reflecting it. I feel so low and depressed and feel like giving up. There aren't many jobs around where I could use my degree, and I feel like trying to get a job is like trying to win the lottery!

I have looked into a local medical technologist program and I plan on applying for next year's class. I plan on shadowing some MTs for a few months to really get an idea of the profession. But I love being in a lab, and I really want to be in healthcare, so I think this profession might be a good fit. I did not know about this profession when I applied to nursing school, if I did I am 100% positive I would have not given nursing another thought.

I feel so desperate now for a job, that I am considering reapplying to my old program, or even applying to a different school's accelerated BSN program. I dont think this is what I truly want, but I am afraid I made a crippling mistake by quitting nursing school. Maybe its not my "dream career," but what if it was really my best option??

I know this is ridiculously long, but I feel a little better just typing this out even if nobody responds or reads it. This is definitely not how I pictured my life at 28 years old. And I am afraid of making decisions out of desperation. I guess Im wondering has anyone been in a similar situation? Maybe unsure of their profession, or if nursing was the right path?

[douxmusique]

If you do not want to be a nurse then dont apply and dint consider it an option. There are too many dedicated hard working individuals who deeply desire to be accepted into limited nursing schools slots for you to not be sure this is something you want to. Sorry youre having a rough tine finding a job but nursing isnt your guarantee to landing a position. ..

[MDS3]

If all you want is a job, then stay away from nursing because you aren't guaranteed one and if you do get one, you need the right mindset for it.

What did you plan on doing with your biology degree? Become a professor, a teacher, a scientist? Any other areas if healthcare that you are interested in?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Go with Laboratory Science! It is a great career field, that allows specialization and career growth. Nursing is very unstable right now - huge impact from all of the changes in healthcare reimbursement & no one knows how it is going to turn out.