to nurse or not to nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm a 29 year old television producer/editor who is worried about the way my industry is turning into contract and freelance positions. Kids are leaving school with more knowledge of new software, and I'm thinking I don't want to be 50 and struggle for work because I'm too old to know whats "hip" on tv....So I am thinking of switching into nursing...something more stable.

I have read here that some disagree with the stability claim, but I hear there are many jobs opening up with the aging of the baby boomers. If you were me, would you tough out my industry and try to keep current enough to keep the jobs coming?

OR go back to school for 4 years and become a nurse, which would bring more benefits/security in the long run.

There are some things I would not like about nursing... like the abuse, and cleaning vomit/poop, but many here say "you get used to that". If changing a few pans means job stability and not having to constantly schmooze so you can get new work, maybe it's worth it.

I know you have to pay your dues and work the long hours to start (I practically worked for free for my first year in TV) But I'm sure there are a few 9-5 jobs right?

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Not all nurses have to clean poop. If I were you I head over to the BLS.gov website and do some research on all of the different nursing professions first and then consider what degree you want to pursue.

Good luck! :bow:

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Specializes in ER.

There will always be a need for television producers/editors. If you love what you are doing then stick with it. Keep up to date with the latest developments in your field, either through self study or going to conferences or both. Join an trade or professional association in your field as well. Look at getting a side job at a local technical college to teach a production/editing class so you can really be at the forefront of the latest in your field (someone has to train the new generation of producers/editors). If you are thinking about going into nursing for the economic benefits then you may not get as much personal satisfaction out of the job had you gone into nursing as a calling. As for the poop/vomit/blood, yes, you do get used to it. As for the abuse, I only experienced it while getting my degree (and I reported it) but I've never experienced it in practice. Never, ever, ever tolerate abuse, or it will continue and get worse. Pay your dues with a smile on your face and be quick to thank those who help you. Always remember, there are no perfect jobs (9-5, 100k/yr), but there are good jobs.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

You COULD switch careers...I was a graphic artist for Kodak for a number of years before I went into nursing. It was not an easy switch, but I am soooo glad I made that decision.

You don't necessarily have to complete a BSN program. You can get your ADN and then do an online bridge BSN program. You still have to start from ground zero to get all of your pre-reqs, so you may very well end up being in school for 4 years anyway. I placed out of a lot of the pre-reqs so I only had to take a year of classes.

You can do this, but it will take a lot of time and commitment.

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Specializes in TELEMETRY.

Honestly It is a stable career but not so easy to get a job now a days. Try being a nurses aid and see what you see in that setting. It is not a physically easy job at first but you can go into something less demanding.

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

I recommend volunteering somewhere where you can observe nurses at work, like a hospital or nursing home. This will help you get a better idea of whether or not nursing is for you, and will also help you get into nursing school if you do decide to go that route (knowledge of the nursing profession and what it entails is something that nursing schools look for in applicants).

But please don't go into nursing just to have a stable job. Nursing is a labor of love, and if you don't love it, you may end up hating it.

Good luck with your decision!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

To the OP -- PLEASE do your homework before making a decision. You are buying into a media-perpetuated myth: that the number of nursing jobs will automatically increase as the need for nursing services increases. This is a fallacy. The number of available Nursing jobs is linked to the financial health of their employers, which is eroding at a very rapid pace.

Over the last two decades, Congress has mandated continuous declines in healthcare reimbursement as a means to slash Federal spending. At the same time, our industry has to cope with ever-increasing unfunded mandates which chip away at our financial foundations. The average margin in health care is ~3%... compare this to other 'healthy' industries. Shaky hospitals are closing while others are trying to stay afloat by cutting labor costs by replacing nurses with lesser paid staff. And - financial projections of the impact of healthcare reform initiatives are very dire.

Bottom line, do not base your choice on some rosy, "I'll always have a job", unrealistic view of the future.

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If you just want stability - don't go into nursing.

I'm in my first Nursing class and there are students that literally hate what they are doing in clinicals but they stick with it because Nursing is a "stable" career path. Whether it is or not - only the future can tell, right? Either way - their clinical experience is hell.

I started the nursing program that I'm in because I wanted stability and I LOVE helping people. I love knowing that people can count on me to do something that benefits them. I have clinical tomorrow and I'm always very excited to go. Yeah - last week, I only changed urine soaked linens, cleaned an elderly man that looked like he's been through hell and back, put lotion on his dry skin while taking vital signs (pulse, respiration rate, blood pressure, etc.) but I loved every moment of it. The other patients in the room were jealous of the treatment that the patient that I was working with was getting from me.

The people that only went into Nursing because of the stability of the career hate going to clinical. How do you think they will feel when they are working?

It's just something to think of when thinking about going into Nursing.

Either way good luck! =D

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

If you don't love the job you're in then consider nursing. Or stick with your job and go part-time to school and do the pre-reqs for nursing. Once you are finished with those then ask yourself if you still want to be a nurse. :)

Like another poster said, try volunteering at a hospital to see if it fits well with you.

And I would definitely get the BSN rather than the ADN.

Good luck whatever you decide :D

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If you don't love the job you're in then consider nursing. Or stick with your job and go part-time to school and do the pre-reqs for nursing. Once you are finished with those then ask yourself if you still want to be a nurse. :)

Like another poster said, try volunteering at a hospital to see if it fits well with you.

And I would definitely get the BSN rather than the ADN.

Good luck whatever you decide :D

I do understand what you are saying, but I think that the pre-reqs are A LOT to go through to then change your mind. I would first volunteer or shadow some nurses first before even starting the pre-reqs. If you have your degree already, you can finish off your pre-reqs pretty quickly. I finished mine in a year, but I wasn't working. I am in my first semester of nursing school, and all I can tell you is that don't do it if it's just something to do for the stability. Like one of the previous posters stated, it is obvious in school who is going into nursing just for a job because they hate clinicals. It will be a long two years for you if that's what you want to do it for. Also, the lack of nursing jobs out there is pretty scary. There are people who graduated over a year ago in the SF Bay Area who are still unemployed. Not sure about other parts of the country, but I think it's bad everywhere.

If you like your current field of work, try to build your skills and network, etc. to strengthen your current resume. If you like healthcare/nursing, then by all means, go for it. Nursing is a really great field, and it's very interesting as well. You are always learning, and there are many fields you can go into. It's not for everyone, though.

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Thank you all for the advice...I really should look into shadowing. I think stability has to win over doing what you love, because I can not live without money. It may not be as stable as schools make it out to be, but I'm sure out of all the careers it is the most sensible choice. I can always continue video production as a hobby.

:redpinkhe

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Thank you all for the advice...I really should look into shadowing. I think stability has to win over doing what you love, because I can not live without money. It may not be as stable as schools make it out to be, but I'm sure out of all the careers it is the most sensible choice. I can always continue video production as a hobby.

:redpinkhe

If you read around this forum, you will read many threads about new grads from even 2 years ago that STILL can't find nursing jobs. However, by the time you actually graduate, things could be completely different. Shadow, and if it's something you think you're into... then go for it!

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