Pre-nursing student needs help figuring out life! :) Is nursing worth it?

CPFall · Sep 27, 2011

Hello and welcome to Florida. :)

I graduated from FSCJ's ADN program less than a year ago. If I could turn back the clock, YES! I would definitely pursue nursing again. Yes, the job market is horrible, but it's not too bad. The only thing that I would do differently is I would get a job at a hospital as a CNA while going through the nursing program. I've had classmates that did that while we were in nursing school, and they got jobs as RNs right after we graduated. By the time I had thought about becoming a CNA at a hospital, I was 3/4 of the way through with nursing school and it was a bit too late. I'm now working at a nursing home, trying to get into the hospital. Nothing against working at a nursing home, but it's not my cup of tea. Administration is horrible and they expect you to work miracles with what little resources and time they give you. The residents are the facility's only saving grace. They never fail to bring a smile to my face.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do! I was a broke student with a useless AA and wanted a real career and a real life. I've got a real career now and am on my way to not being broke and having a real life. I don't regret nursing at all.

ADeks · Oct 21, 2011

Every job has it's ups and downs. I don't think I have crappy pay. And there are MD's/patients/families who can be jerks and a real pain in the booty. But that comes with the territory of working with other people in general. I was able to swing a job as soon as I graduated because I worked as a tech at a hospital during school. And hospital jobs are hard to find with no real work experience, but they are there. Also, like CPFall said, working in a nursing home gets you a job, maybe not where you want to stay but it is a job.

I don't regret it really. I like having those good days and the end of the night. There are bad days, but hey I work 3 days a week. I'm a positive person so I find the positive in it. If you can't then you might want to move on.

CynthiaRN813 · Oct 27, 2011

Make sure they are regionally accredited, not nationally. Also, get a job as a tech or CNA at a hospital while going to school or you won't even have a chance at getting a job in a hospital afterwards. Seriously! It's ridiculous trying to find a job as a new nurse. I've applied to well over 100 positions and have only had one interview at a health and rehab for a prn position, and I had a high GPA. Also, go for the BSN if you can. They have preference over ASNs for all of these positions, esp. the internships.

Good luck.

Borntobenurse? · Oct 27, 2011

(Sorry this post is so long ...)
Hello all!
I just recently moved to FL from the Midwest and am looking to attend nursing school at Florida State College - Jacksonville (ASN program). I'm about to submit an application to start the program in January. However, I am really starting to question my decision. I graduated in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field where the job market has COMPLETELY dried up (I'd say only about 25% of the people I graduated with actually work in the field now).
I decided to pursue nursing because it sounded like an interesting/rewarding job (my original plan in HS was to major in biology and pursue something in healthcare, but I fell in love with my degree field). The purported "stability", "decent pay", "lots of openings" and plenty of opportunities for advancement were also a big draw.
Three years later after taking countless hours of pre-requisites and being rejected from the ASN program at my previous school, I am really starting to question my decision. The more research I do, the WORSE nursing sounds .... no respect from MDs, patients/families, management or fellow co-workers, crappy pay, long HARD hours and now NO JOBS FOR NEW GRADS. Even getting INTO a nursing program is getting more competitive by the second.
The only reasons why I haven't scrapped nursing altogether is:
1) My REAL dream is to be a CRNA or family/women's health ANP (and the $$$ that comes with it) and that will NEVER happen if I don't stick it out with school and bedside nursing first.
2) Fear ... If the economy makes an upturn soon and nurses are BACK in demand, I will have missed out on a great field.
I am toying with the idea of abandoning nursing all together and using those pre-req credits to pursue something in allied health ... PT/OT, PT/OT aide or RD. I may even elect to pursue a completely different field altogether (accounting/finance or IT sound promising right now). I may just try to find a job in retail/HR/insurance/higher education for the time being, but my job search in those areas have been fruitless thus far.
Any advice or words of encouragement? For the seasoned RNs (particularly ANPs, CRNAs or CNS'), if you could turn back the clock would you pursue nursing again?
Idk what to do ... I'm tired of being a broke student and just want a real career and a real life!

If you want to be advanced practice just skip the nursing. Go for Anestisiology Assistant or P.A. If all you are trying to do is use nursing as a stepping stone to something else it will just **** you off and wear you out. It might even wear you out so bad you won't be able to do those other things.

I have done and tried simular things. And even though I currently have a BSN and am working, I can tell you the Job search was horrendous. The pay is not that good for newbies. Nurses are abused and used. Unless you are blessed to have a friend or relative who is managing an ICU that you can striaght get into, your life will suck.

Just go P.A. and skip the rest of this mess. Nursing is hard, long, unforgiving, and not something to be done with half-hearted commitment. If your already having troubles it will only get harder. Forget about the debt and just do the thing you really want too. Cause you'll be doing it awhile whether your right or wrong.