Picking a major, HELP!

When I experienced my first patient death as a student I cried for about a week. It is a difficult experience and it does not mean that you are not capable of being a nurse. It can be an overwhelming experience and takes time to learn how YOU deal with it. Everyone deals with death in their own way, again, you just have to find your own way of de-stressing. There are many threads on this site that you might find of assistance on that particular topic.

Many of us have struggled with math or science courses...as long as you are willing to seek extra help (tutoring, office hours of your professor, etc.) and work hard you can make it through. Your nursing courses will be very different from your math and science courses. I would not base your ability to become a nurse strictly on the fact that you are not very good at math or science...nursing is very different...

Have you considered shadowing a nurse? I would call around to the hospitals near you to try to shadow a nurse to see if this is truly what you want to do. A lot of people have a misconception on what being a nurse really entails. Being passionate about helping others is absolutely wonderful...but there is so much more that goes into the job.

Before you jump into a nursing career please research the facilities in your area. Do they hire LPNs, ADN nurses, or do they prefer BSN nurses? Nurses- especially graduate nurses - are not as in demand as everyone seems to think. It is very important that you make yourself attractive to future employers should you choose to major in Nursing.

I agree that you should do what you love, but, make sure that you do your research and try to shadow...just to make sure that you really know what you are getting into.

Very best wishes on whatever you decide.

One thing to think about is that in nearly all areas of nursing, including all of the ones you mentioned, you will encounter death sometimes. I don't think I've ever come across a nurse that is immune to the impact of losing a patient. It hits us in the heart, even if we've only known the person for a few hours, or are watching both their birth and death in the same breath. It's okay to be emotional. Should you choose to become a nurse, you will learn how to deal with it in your own way, but it'll never stop hurting when you lose someone.

On a very different note, have you looked into becoming a doula? It's far less science-heavy, but you get to assist laboring moms and their babies, which might be up your alley, and you can always choose to pursue nursing later. It'll give you a good taste of what the nurses are really doing, because it's much more technical than what a doula does. If being a doula isn't what feels right, I would encourage you to get that CNA cert and work for awhile. Try to get in somewhere that's one of your desired fields. You'll be in elbow to elbow with nurses, and you can see what the job entails. I also agree that you'll need to get a sense of the job market and pursue the degree that makes sense in your area. Be aware that nurses are not in demand in most areas, and most new grads are struggling to find work.

Finally, one friendly heads up, change your avatar to something more anonymous, and keep your name and/or nickname off this site. You need to protect your identity, especially if you do choose to become a nurse!!

Good luck with whatever path you choose!

We all go into nursing for differing reasons. This is a question you need to answer for yourself by doing some research. I will tell you there is no guarantee of a job with nursing once you graduate. Depending on where you live, nursing is not in demand. Ask new grads in CA. It is a science laden field. I was terrible in science in high school. Now I love it and pull A's in all of my science classes. If you enjoy kids and making them happy, why not be a teacher? Why not be a counselor? My question for you is, why do you want to be a nurse? Research several fields. Do some volunteering. Experience different things and figure out what you want. It's your life to live.

Nursing is a life science profession... with emphasis on the SCIENCE. If this is a no-go for you, don't even attempt it.

There are a lot of other "Helping" professions... social work, psychology, counseling ... that don't require heavy science and math. Maybe you need to take a look at those.

Thank you for responding dear! The Nursing field has always been an interest in my life. I tried to call one of the nearest hospitals for job shadowing, but they wouldn't allow me to. They only allowed Ultrasound Tech. shadows for some reasons. I have also just contacted another hospital for job shadowing, but I cannot drive (which is the issue). They do have shadowing available, but it is also a huge long process. I know that they hire, LPNS and BSN nurses. I am not sure about ADN.

Thank you for responding. I had never heard about a doula until you mentioned it. I am not sure if there are any positions within that specific field in my city. I have researched about it, and it seemed pretty amazing. :) Also, thank you for notifying me about the display picture !

Thank you for responding. I have heard that being an RN in CA is very hard. And, have heard that many of them had to move out of the state to find a job. I have thought about being a teacher, and a counselor actually. But, there are not a lot of options around my location. I would definently love to volunteer, but, I also cannot drive. I am working on my lisence right now, and it's tought atm.

I will have to do more research and figure things out, thank you. :)

Thank you for responding. Yes, definitely. It's just so hard to pick a major for some reasons.. :/

I just graduated from Nursing school and honestly THERE ARE ZERO JOBS. I went to the best school ranked in my state, got my bachelors degree, among many other qualifications and experience Ive had and cannot get a job anywhere to save my life. I would highly suggest looking into PA if you are interested in the medical field or choose something else. Just thought I would warn as a struggling new grad who has to still live at her parents 6 months after graduation. Nursing school was especially hard for me because I had to work nearly full time in college. It was extremely hard but I pushed through thinking there would be light at the end of the tunnel and there is not.

I just graduated from Nursing school and honestly THERE ARE ZERO JOBS.

Look into rural areas. This isn't true there. Do what you need to get a fit in the door.

Foot, dang it. Stupid autocorrect.

There are nursing jobs in my area. Some of the hospitals are severely understaffed in my area. I just want to make sure before you spend the money, this is what you want to do. I find that many people have a romanticized notion as to what nursing is and entails. It's not quite what many people envision it to be. I blame the for profit schools on this and their stupid commercials. Be a nurse and it is the answer to all of your life's problems. Be a nurse and feel fulfilled while earning a ton of money. And get a job anywhere, because people are so desperate for nurses, they have no hiring standards. This is simply not true. It's not 1854 and they need nurses to take care of the dying menfolk where you will be hailed as a hero. It's just like any job and has it's ups and its downs. There is no guarantee of a job, people do have hiring standards, and it's not a huge amount of pay. The pay isn't bad, but you still have to pay taxes and bills. I would though first focus on getting a drivers license. You need one for school and getting a job. Unless you live a very urban area.