Positive advice

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jan 9, 2015

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I think if you're already questioning your choice even before school has started that you might be wise to listen to that little voice inside you. Health care in general, and nursing in particular, is a difficult career path to be on these days, and it looks like it won't be getting any brighter in the short term. So many changes are made for financial reasons that end up being bad for patient care, and that in turn makes providers' morale plummet. It's hard to go to work every day knowing you're not going to be able to do your best work through no fault of your own. That's where the negativity comes from. So you may want to consider your options with the courses you've already taken. The biggest red flag for me in your post was that you don't feel like you want to do direct patient care. Sure, there are lots of nursing positions that don't involve direct patient care, but in order to graduate from nursing school, you can't escape it. And most nurses have spent at least a portion of their careers at the bedside, gathering the knowledge and experience that allows them to take on those positions that don't involve hands-on care. Being a nurse is hard work. You're never going to forgive yourself if you spend years of your time and boatloads of your money to emerge at the other end absolutely miserable. Give it all some more thought. Then make a choice that will work for you. Best wishes.

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 9, 2015

It sounds to me as if you may need to take a break some school to spend some more time "out in the real world" before choosing a career path. It would be foolish to spend a lot of money on education for a career that you aren't going to want once you get there. Too many people have made that mistake, ending up with enormous student loans that will cripple them financially for decades while they try one career after another.

Such people keep going back to school until they find a job they like. They should do it the other way around. Don't invest in an education and THEN discover you don't like the field. Find a career field you will like, THEN invest in the education for it.

My father was a physician and I did some volunteer work as a high school student. Sure, I got a few surprises once I graduated from college and was a real nurse ... but my expectations were in line with the reality and I was determined to stick with it. So I did. If you don't think you really want the reality of a nursing career, take a little off from school while you do some career research and spend some time trying out other fields. Then make a decision you will be willing to stick with -- in good time and in bad times.

Iknowwha2du · Jan 9, 2015

Don't let other peoples opinions affect how you feel. Don't make that mistake. It is ultimately your choice what you do. No job is easy and if the pay is low, that doesn't help either. You will have a lot of options once you get experience. You can do something else in the medical field but if you do nursing you are open to decent pay and there will always be a place willing to hire. People will always leave nursing, get tired or do something else. I am not saying there will be a ton of jobs but it isn't that bad. It can be tough yes but at least you will have something to do that will sustain you in this economy, if you don't want to pick a degree requiring more classes etc.

Iknowwha2du · Jan 9, 2015

You don't have to do bedside nursing although it helps to do it for awhile. Get that experience and get a desk job or something related.