So..why does your current job suck and what do you hope will be different about nursing?
I'll go first. I got a degree in Psychology, and worked in research for 2 years, went to law school for a year, and am now working as a social worker (basically) with kid's with mental health problems.
The research job? Ugh...try basically telemarketing trying to force people to complete lengthy (I'm talking 3 or 4 hours) interviews about their "mental health," and then having to take a hit on your hours if you can't get enough of them to agree to do an the interview. Did I mention the interview itself is confusing as hell and no one really knows how to use it? Oh yeah..and the research subject are getting paid better then you are.
Law school? Sounds good, but be prepared to argue all day, every day, work your a** off, and have no life outside of your career. Oh yeah, and unless you want to work for a law firm (and are able to get one of those coveted jobs, just so you can work 60 hour weeks) you'll be making around the $35,000 mark, and be in upwards of $80-100,000 in debt (yup, that is the average salary in the public interest sector).
My current job with the kids with mental health problems? Again, hours are all dependent on people wanting you to come over to work with their kids (oh..and being there when they say they will). You have to come up with full time hours, but families only want you there a couple hours at a time, generally. Either that, or they want you to babysit their bratty, nightmarish kids. You can take the kids out, but not to your home. And remember, you have no money to spend on the kids (and the families are poor), and you don't get money for gas. Oh yeah, and the families will regularly curse you out, and you're supossed to "just understand" that they have problems. Did I mention the mountains of paperwork to justify the time you are spending with these kids as being "therepeutic?" I could go on and on....
Jesus...nursing is appealing to me because I fell like I'll finally have some predictable hours. Moreover, I feel like helping people in the medical arena is much more black and white then the fuzzy area that is mental health. I also feel like nursing allows for a much more balanced lifestyle, given the numerous options for employment, and work that doesn't follow you home. However, my previous three experiences since graduating from undergrad have me concerned that maybe it's just me:idea:
