Undecided between Nursing :(

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

So i am 24 years old, i have my AA degree in criminal justice. I decided to switch my career choice because i felt that it will be way to risky. i switched to nursing. I am also considering Physical therapy assistant. The only thing is that i am not interested in bedside nursing. I am really interested in public health nursing. However im sure ill need some type of experience bed side nursing. I just dont know if i should just go for nursing because i see a lot of negative videos on youtube but then i hear that a lot of people love their jobs. Another thing i know about is that you can do a lot with a nursing degree so that also inspires me to do nursing. I'm 24 right now and planned out my nursing future and by 2021 i should be working as an RN with my adn. I am just so hesitant about it :/

I understand. If i am not interested in bedside nursing which means taking care of 10+ people and running around in a hospital for 12 + hours, is nursing not for me?

I work 8-hour shifts (okay, they're more like 9 or 10 by the time I finish giving report and charting), and usually have 5 patients on a med-surg floor. Night shift nurses usually have slightly larger assignments, but not 10+ patients. If you have 10+ patients who are sick enough to be in the hospital, that is not a safe assignment.

So, I'm wondering if your lack of interest in hospital floor nursing comes from unrealistic expectations based on social media horror stories. Have you talked to real live nurses (not people posting on YouTube or AllNurses)? Asked them about a typical day? Their patient ratio? Because I love bedside nursing, but if it meant taking care of 10+ patients and running around in a hospital for 12+ hours, nursing wouldn't be for me, either.

And there are many nurses who don't work in hospitals, and never have. Nurses work in home health, nursing homes, doctor's offices, and health clinics. Now, some of those jobs might want you to have bedside experience under your belt before they hire you, but, honestly, YOU might want that experience, too, before you take that on.

One of the benefits of starting in a hospital is that they usually make sure you know what you're doing before letting you out on your own. Typically, you have a preceptor for the first few months, and even after that, if you have a question about something, there's always someone around you to ask. If you go out on your own doing home visits fresh out of school, you are quite likely to find yourself wishing for someone to support and guide you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How about sonogram technician? They make a good salary and they seem so happy while working, my observations working with them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Would you recommend i go for nursing instead of physical therapy assistant? If i am not interested in bedside nursing is nursing not for me? I want to care for patients just not the chaos that comes in a hospital as a nurse taking care of 10 + people. I really would like to do public health nursing.

Public health nursing gets pretty chaotic though?

I feel for you, not knowing what to do, afraid to make a wrong choice. I think maybe all of us were in those shoes at some point. There are some areas in the hospital where it is not AS chaotic though usually.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

If you want to go into public health then nursing would open many doors for you. If your biggest fear in this path is bedside nursing then be aware that not all bedside nursing looks the same as working a hospital floor. While the majority of students in my program went on to get jobs in hospitals, most on med-surg floors, this is not obligatory. Several of my classmates obtained jobs in county health clinics or other non-hospital based locations.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OP I think you can do this easily by going the nursing route and since you are still young it's even better. I can tell you they'll be a lot of need for you in public health. I know a nurse practitioner working for the state in public health and another nurse with her MSN who is in infection control at the hospital I currently volunteer at. The question is if you are willing to put in the effort to obtain the degrees.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm a little biased towards nursing, because that's the path I chose! However, I think a Nursing degree opens more doors than almost any other undergraduate degree. I think you may have an incorrect view of inpatient hospital nurses. No nurse has 10+ patients. Or if they do, it's probably an awful hospital. Most hospitals (especially Magnet hospitals) give you 3-5 patients, depending on their severity. Nursing is in incredible high demand right now, and I can't imaging a better time to be a nurse. Remember, job security is worth a lot. It was only a few years ago that jobs were scarce, and you were lucky to have a good one.

I think most people could be a nurse. It takes time to get used to the job, and what you'll be doing. However, there is tremendous job satisfaction. How much you get paid is a small portion of what makes you happy in your career. But if your job is exciting (nursing is very exciting), challenging, and rewarding, then you'll enjoy your job. Nurses work hard, so don't think this is a job where you make big bucks by sitting around at a computer. Nurses are on their feet a lot, and hustling to get things done. But isn't that the fun part of any job? I can't stand jobs where I'm sitting around with nothing to do. There is always something to do as a nurse, and that's exciting.

Good luck with your choice!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for enlightening me. I think the enormous amount of patient to nurse ratio have been from short staff hospitals or for whatever reason they are short staff that day? im not too sure but you are correct. its best if i get out and meet a nurse face to face to talk to them face to face to see what they go through. One of my close friends is an lvn going to be starting his rn program soon and i will be shadowing him very soon. I'm excited. While i dont see myself being really really excited about bedside nursing inside a hospital, i definitely would want the experience. How long do you think i would have to do it until i could possibly land a job in public health nursing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am considering it. I am just trying to figure this all out. Thank you for the recommendation. Are you an RN yourself?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Was is hard for those of the students who got jobs in clinics to actually get that job with little to no experience bedside nursing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am willing to put the effort. I just know that bedside nursing is something i wouldnt enjoy as much as helping communities as a whole instead. So i am just not too sure how long id have to do bedside nursing until i could land a job in public health.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for the reply. You do bedisde nursing?? I am struggling because i feel that its possible that if i am not really really excited about bedside nursing in a hospital and rather more excited about public health, nursing isnt for me? or am i wrong?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.
Was is hard for those of the students who got jobs in clinics to actually get that job with little to no experience bedside nursing?

Not particularly. All of them knew going into senior practicums that they wanted to do something other than hospital nursing and requested community based placements. 2 of them were offered positions at the end of the their placements. Others were able to use their placement experience to network for positions.

Some jobs may want experience, but many do not and are willing to hire a new grad who has potential. Only caution is that these kinds of jobs won't offer the same intensive residency experience a hospital job can, and typically pay a bit less.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment