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 :/

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?

I just wanted to comment, the hospital itself will have a lot of impact on how well you are staffed or not and how well RNs are treated. Do your research about hospitals, look for magnet status, shared governance philosophy, teaching hospitals, look at reviews, etc. You can be a bedside nurse at one hospital system and love it, then at another in the same med-surg type unit, and it's your worst nightmare.

Since I live in an area that has about like 7-8 hospitals all less than 2 hours drive, I can tell you that not all are created equal lol.

I also noticed that in small hospitals (like 500 bed, trauma level 2 or something. So you really will have a lot of choices about finding the right niche for YOU, as long as location isn't a huge block.

I find the >500 bed hospitals EXCITING but I also get a sense of being lost there sometimes, not physically lost lol but at the small hospital I feel like I kind of get recognized as a person. So as exciting as it is, I like the small hospitals. But I'm starting off at a larger one as a new nurse graduate after May, for the experience and learning, but you don't have to at all.

I'm really not trying to persuade you what you should do, I'm just pointing out bedside nursing might not be the only scenario you're thinking of, with short staff and high turn outs. Anyway update what you decide if you want!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I understand what you are saying. Im sure it depends on where you are located though. I live in Southern California so im not sure how that would be over here?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for your input i really appreciate it ! How did you decide on nursing as a career choice just out of curiosity? As ive stated i am undecided

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OP to address someone directly for questions make sure to first click "quote" at the bottom right corner directly under the person's comment. As far as bedside nursing fears go, I want to tell you not to worry about that for now because nursing is very broad and you will surely find your niche. You must also keep in mind that you will not avoid the bedside while in school but beyond that, it's completely up to you where you will work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
OP to address someone directly for questions make sure to first click "quote" at the bottom right corner directly under the person's comment. As far as bedside nursing fears go, I want to tell you not to worry about that for now because nursing is very broad and you will surely find your niche. You must also keep in mind that you will not avoid the bedside while in school but beyond that, it's completely up to you where you will work.

Thank you for teaching me lol. I understand what you are saying. i would do bedside for a while becaue i want hands on experience so that i know exactly what im doing and am very comfortable beofore i venture out somewhere i just want to know that i wouldnt have to do it for a long period of time before i can go and test out other aspects of nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There are so many areas of nursing you could easily find your niche. I would definitely encourage you to go for it. there is a great need for public health nurses and although you will need to get some experience you can get to you rend goal and do well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It might not take that long to get into public health. I had just less than a year of acute care under my belt.

And I knew acute care was not for me, as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It might not take that long to get into public health. I had just less than a year of acute care under my belt.

And I knew acute care was not for me, as well.

If you dont mind me asking, is the salary salary lower than bedside? i know it most likely will be lower but by how much ? and what area are you working in? i am southern california so i am trying to gage what id be working with as far as salary goes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If you dont mind me asking, is the salary salary lower than bedside? i know it most likely will be lower but by how much ? and what area are you working in? i am southern california so i am trying to gage what id be working with as far as salary goes.

This was 20 years ago. Not very much lower, all things considered, and I made up most of the difference by working a few hours on Saturday and never had to work evenings, nights or the whole weekend.

Information about salaries in your area should be available online.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
This was 20 years ago. Not very much lower, all things considered, and I made up most of the difference by working a few hours on Saturday and never had to work evenings, nights or the whole weekend.

Information about salaries in your area should be available online.

wow. Thats amazing. Thats my goal to work in the mornings and be off by evenings and not work on weekends of course. But then again that is everybodies dream..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment