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Hi Everyone, I was hoping to find some help and answers here. I am 26 years old and have a BS in Computer Science. I currently work for a large Gases and Chemicals company in their IT department, I have been there for 6 years. In college, I spent four semesters as a Genetic Engineering major, so I have a good background in the life sciences. In the past year or so, come to the realization that IT is not what I want to do. The bigger problem is, I am not exactly sure what I do want to do or how I can manage to do it. I am single, I own my own home and I have to be able to sustain myself through school and also be able to get another job that will pay me enough to allow me to meet my financial responsibilities.

My mom is a nurse and she believes I would make a fine nurse. She thinks there are tons of specialities to choose from and I will not have a problem. For the past six months I have also been the primary caregiver for my grandmother and her doctors have asked several times if I had ever thought of going to nursing school (and they were serious). Through college, I worked at a nursing home, which I enjoyed tremedously. But I am not sure that all this adds up to a career in nursing. I don't want to invest alot of time and money into something I am going to end up hating, like my current chosen profession. Is there anyway for me to know if I am going to hate this before I even start? Will I know right away if it is not for me?

I feel like I have to make this decision once and for all. My sciences are about to expire and frankly, I can't take another day at my current job without knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I have researched programs in my area and there is a night/weekend program that I can afford. I am planning on calling over there in the next few weeks to try and talk to someone in there Advising Center and/or Nursing Program. I just don't want to make the wrong career decision, AGAIN! :o

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

:welcome: We're glad you're thinking of becoming a nurse.

Be aware that nurses arise from all types of socioeconomic classes, personality types, educational levels, and join the profession for differing reasons. I am a hardcore introvert, so I don't really enjoy interaction with other people, answering questions, and socializing with patients or visitors. However, I like the income, career mobility, varied options, flexibility, potential for growth, and other aspects of nursing.

Would you be able to shadow a nurse for a day? Maybe then you will get a better feeling if this career choice is for you or not. Check out the following book "What Color is Your Parachute". It might help you in your career change. Good Luck to you!

http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2008/dp/1580088686/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197525646&sr=1-1

Hi Everyone, I was hoping to find some help and answers here. I am 26 years old and have a BS in Computer Science. I currently work for a large Gases and Chemicals company in their IT department, I have been there for 6 years. In college, I spent four semesters as a Genetic Engineering major, so I have a good background in the life sciences. In the past year or so, come to the realization that IT is not what I want to do. The bigger problem is, I am not exactly sure what I do want to do or how I can manage to do it. I am single, I own my own home and I have to be able to sustain myself through school and also be able to get another job that will pay me enough to allow me to meet my financial responsibilities.

My mom is a nurse and she believes I would make a fine nurse. She thinks there are tons of specialities to choose from and I will not have a problem. For the past six months I have also been the primary caregiver for my grandmother and her doctors have asked several times if I had ever thought of going to nursing school (and they were serious). Through college, I worked at a nursing home, which I enjoyed tremedously. But I am not sure that all this adds up to a career in nursing. I don't want to invest alot of time and money into something I am going to end up hating, like my current chosen profession. Is there anyway for me to know if I am going to hate this before I even start? Will I know right away if it is not for me?

I feel like I have to make this decision once and for all. My sciences are about to expire and frankly, I can't take another day at my current job without knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I have researched programs in my area and there is a night/weekend program that I can afford. I am planning on calling over there in the next few weeks to try and talk to someone in there Advising Center and/or Nursing Program. I just don't want to make the wrong career decision, AGAIN! :o

Think of it this way, your very young 26 right? You didn't make a wrong decsion you made a career choice that was right for the time. Many people take on a second even third career as they are growing. That is what the word growing means to change. If you want to be a nurse and this is a calling you have then go for it, it won't be a "wrong" decsion, just a new one. I am 39, I started going back to school at 35, I not once in my life made wrong choices I am just growing and changing and working on new goals!

Sounds like you might really have a calling, if I were in your shoes I would look for an MSN program to switch into.

good luck!

Hi there, I am the same age as you and it took me FOREVER to finally pick a major. I start NS in a few weeks! Your username is "Ihatecomputers" :chuckle so perhaps it's time for a change? Happiness is what matters. I think you should totally shadow your mom or someone you know that is a nurse for a day and see what it's like in that field. I think it's awesome that even doctors - more than 1 - see that potential in you. PLUS you worked at a nursing home and you loved it. That should make you feel more at ease about pursuing nursing.

About wasting your time and effort: You have a bachelor's in computer science, so nursing schools that have an accelerated program (which a lot do nowadays), will only take one year! Isn't that awesome? Since I do not have a BS, I have to take the full 2 years of the nursing program. Of course, like you said, you may have to take prereq's again if they are outdated depending on the nursing school's you're looking at. When I did my homework and research on all the NS's in my area, I noticed some wanted me to have my science prerequisites within 5 years. Some just cared about my chemistry and Anatomy classes and they really didn't care hwo long ago my other classes were taken, and etc.. Who knows, maybe you won't have to take that many over like you think depending on which school you look at.

Like everyone tells me, the field is extremely vast. So you have lots of choices. Good luck to you, and let me know what happens!! Hope everything works out great for you.

:welcome: We're glad you're thinking of becoming a nurse.

Be aware that nurses arise from all types of socioeconomic classes, personality types, educational levels, and join the profession for differing reasons. I am a hardcore introvert, so I don't really enjoy interaction with other people, answering questions, and socializing with patients or visitors. However, I like the income, career mobility, varied options, flexibility, potential for growth, and other aspects of nursing.

I don't enjoy interacting with pts and visitors, either.

I like the science aspects of nursing, the decision making, critical thinking, and seeing positive outcomes from my interventions.

I would venture to say that the majority of people who are nurses or are in nursing school didn't choose nursing or follow nursing for a first career. I posted a topic not long ago asking what path people took that got them to nursing. Over a hundred people posted saying nursing was like their 5-10 job. Lots had other degrees before nursing.

The short answer is no, you can't know until you get into it. I think it is like "finding your soul mate." Lots of people ask, "How do/did you KNOW it was the right one"? The answer is the same with nursing, when you do it, it just feels right. Are there times you get frustrated, yep. Are there times you think, what the heck have I gotten myself in to, yep. BUT the majority of the time I CANNOT imagine doing anything else, or turning back to one of my old careers.

GOOD LUCK with your decision process. I hope you find your "soul mate."

Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

yes try it and find out for yourself. i have my computer science degree as well but didn't really use it. so i wanted to "try" nursing for the money at first. i am glad i "tried" it because i enjoy nursing immensely now and i think i have made the right decision to "try" it. i will be graduating soon and i cannot wait to be a nurse in practice. good luck to you. i hope you find your way.

angel

I really want to thank everyone for their support. I have decided that the only way for me to know is to just try it. I am going to apply for admission to the evening/weekend program I found for Fall 2008. I am meeting with an admissions person on 2 Jan to ask a few lingering questions.

If it isn't a fit for me, I am sure I will figure that out within the first two semesters, then I will just have to go back to the drawing board to try and figure it out again. Thanks again for your support.

Good luck to you IHateComputers! Hopefully you will be a little happier with nursing.

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