Please Give ME any Good Reason to Stay in the Nursing Field

Guest219794 · Sep 19, 2018

Background: 28. Creative but business minded girl. Family hx of Nursing.
LPN (familial pressure) worked a little, started a BSN program, took a break after 1ST semester. In the meantime I got a Bachelor's in Business and dabbled in fashion, art, and music.
Now: auditing the 1st semester of BSN again, feeling overwhelmed & I'm not even doing much. I'd only have about 18 months to finish but the idea of nursing is making me nervous, scared, and feeling like I'm wasting more time. Like it's little reward & high cost.
Note: SUPER caring persone & taking my life decisions out on others is not my thing anyway. I love helping people. So I don't need that lecture.
I love the security of nursing and I'm actually glad I toughed out the LPN program because it makes ok money but I hardly work in it & I DESPISE the set up of the medical field where nurses are often overworked and underpaid. That is not what I want in my life and I do not like LTC.
My goal is to make 6 figures and not feel like I am a slave to a system to do so. I love to create and I want to own businesses.
Am I just wasting more of my life to get into heavy debt to have to work hard to pay it off? (I am in a lot of debt already and my nursing school is super expensive)
Is it worth it to finish out my nursing program just to get another bachelors to become a RN (No six figures + Hard work) or should I quit go for my MBA (No definite path/would not major in healthcare admin).

Scrubs. Super comfy, and I can, literally, get dressed in the dark. That answers the title of your post.

Regarding your bigger question: Sounds like you don't want to be a nurse. I would skip nursing school, given that you don't want to be a nurse.

If you have the talent and ambition, you should be able to make more, and work less.

Good luck

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Sep 19, 2018

This is often true. However, some people live in lower cost of living cities and commute into higher paying cities per diem to make fairly big bucks on the side. There are several posts saying that RNs are underpaid and I just don't think we are underpaid in CA.

I don't think people mean outright underpaid. I think they mean underpaid in relation to expectations

Editorial Team / Moderator · Sep 19, 2018

Like not.done.yet, I also hit the 6-figure realm this year. I've been an RN for 10 years. That "6 figures" is the result of two jobs (one full-time, one part-time online), so I work a lot of hours in the week. I am also a mom and a wife and a DNP student, but I manage to fit it all in. I love what I do. I live in a pretty low-cost area, so I can support my family well on my income. My husband is a full-time student and hasn't had income of his own since he left the Army in 2012, so it's helpful!!

Like Spanked said, if you have to be talked into something, it's not for you. Follow your bliss. And just remember money can't buy happiness (but you can be a lot more selective about your misery). And choose wisely; if you accumulate too much student loan debt, you won't enjoy that 6-figure income for a long time.

NeoNatMom · Sep 19, 2018

If I wanted 6 figures, nursing would not be my pick. Everyone has a right to their reasons for entering the field, but if it is for financial reasons, I would not imagine the pay being sufficient for you to want to stay. Most do not make what you desire and the job and process of obtaining a license is very difficult and requires a ton of dedication. I wish you the best!

NICU_Nurse_Casti, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2018

I'm not a nurse. In fact I only recently got accepted to a nursing program. However, I have owned and operated 2 businesses and trust me when I tell you that you are a slave to your business if you want to make any type of significant income. Owning a business is no simple task and it is very difficult to make 6 figures doing it.

Nmbeck · Sep 19, 2018

I heard somewhere that nurses today still make more money than the average female college graduate, so it's a decent living. It's also a great career for parents who want flexible schedules or decent part-time pay while raising children.

I would however advise someone like you to leave nursing school because you simply don't LOVE it. It's way too hard and too expensive to not love it and be proud of being there. I was so excited to be IN nursing school, I am SO PROUD to be a nurse...that isn't you! And that's ok!

You're just here cuz you're afraid to risk the unknown out there and find where you really belong. I myself did other things, the inverse of your situation, because I was afraid of nursing! I was afraid of not being admitted to a school, I was afraid of math and chemistry, I was afraid of the awesome responsibility of nursing! While working in business and avoiding my calling, I gained life experience, confidence, and maturity. By the time I went back to nursing school, I had no doubts!

Don't be afraid to do what you really want, get aptitude testing if need be. If you love what you're doing, the money and success will come. Take care.

Wuzzie · Sep 19, 2018

I think the poster who said "if you need to be convinced to do something you probably shouldn't do it" said it best.

Nmbeck · Sep 19, 2018

I made just shy of six figures last year, and I'm at the bottom rung! Don't let anyone tell you there's no money to be made in nursing! They don't know what they're talking about. Factors affecting pay are locale, nursing shortage, experience, and education. I have been paid huge bonuses just for picking up extra shifts in addition to overtime. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are going to be covering physician shortages (thank you Obamacare/Medicare). There is money to be made in nursing if you have the aptitude for it, but it's NOT a job that can be done well for money alone. Nursing experience and education can also translate into many other well paying careers besides bedside care. Hope this helps you make the best decision for you.

Southpawdown · Sep 20, 2018

Nursing Directors at some hospitals make close to 6 figures - at least where I live and those that are CNO's for sure do.

tinyRN72, BSN · Oct 6, 2018

A few years ago my daughter was in school and she was doing what I see you doing, so I'm going to give you the same advise that I gave her. Stop thinking about that 6-figure income. Start thinking about a career that will make you HAPPY. There is no point in making a lot of money but hating what you do 40 hours per week. The first thing you should do is decide on a career path that will make you happy to go to work every day, then decide on an educational path to get you there, then plan a career path that will lead you to the income you want.

djh123 · Oct 7, 2018

A few years ago my daughter was in school and she was doing what I see you doing, so I'm going to give you the same advise that I gave her. Stop thinking about that 6-figure income. Start thinking about a career that will make you HAPPY. There is no point in making a lot of money but hating what you do 40 hours per week. The first thing you should do is decide on a career path that will make you happy to go to work every day, then decide on an educational path to get you there, then plan a career path that will lead you to the income you want.

That is VERY true. I was a programmer for a long time, and even though at times I was underpaid, I made more money the last 10 years doing that than I have in my 5.5+ years as a nurse so far. But although there are pros/cons to just about everything, at least for me, nursing is more rewarding.

And just for one more thought on the money-happiness subject, my DON probably makes quite a bit more than me, but you could not pay me enough to do her job. She comes in all the time when she should be off, answers calls/texts at all kinds of crazy hours, and more. When I leave work, I want to LEAVE.

Mimi001 · Oct 8, 2018

I did this exact thing . Owned a business, closed it , currently going back to nursing