alsolwish

Avery Are you located in the midwest? If so I might be able to present a better alternative...

I can agree with that. As a teacher, you have to find the "good" schools. (In my experience, those are in the rural areas) -- just too much pressure in the cities on the teachers. I am sure that both jobs have their ups and downs and I have heard that they are both very political. The starting salary for a 1st year teacher in the Midwest ranges from 28 - 32K. Many people think that teachers have it "easy" because we get summers off. I agree that summers are nice, but as a newer teacher I have to work in the summer just to keep my finances alive. Teachers spend a lot of their own money for school (each year I end up spending almost 1k, b/c the schools don't provide much at all.) Yes salary is based on years of experience, it goes up 500 - 1000 dollars a year depending on your area. It is a good job, but most of us that are "making a difference" work at least 12 hours each day, not the 8 that they would like you to see. (grading, preparing lessons, phone calls home, madatory tutoring, loss of lunch breaks for ISTEP remediation etc) So the summers off kinda makes up for the amout of work during the year. I hope this helps -- if anyone has any specific questions you can PM me too.

Samanthalu I feel the same way... I am going into nursing but still a little apprehensive about "what if I find I liked teaching better" - but I guess as my husband says you cant win unless you take a risk. hes so smart And I figure there is a reason that I am thinking about it - I want to give something more than I feel like I am now. if you do hear from a teacher who has made the switch and likes it let me know and ill do the same. I think one person I have talked to said he did.

Thanks for all of the encouragement. You guys rock!! And I am gonna do it...:roll Started my CNA classes, working on my prereqs, and met with an academic advisor for the accelerated program-- she seems to think I am on track and will get in next spring!!! I am really excited...

It depends on a lot of things... where you are located, what area you teach etc. For instance in Middle/High School social studies, art and business tech teachers are not in demand BUT math, science and some English teachers are. In elementary, it just depends on the area... though I will say that male elementary teachers are very likely to be hired first. hope it helps

Amen!! I totally agree and I only think that the situation will get worse for teachers until someone wakes up and realizes that the teacher cant be the 1) Parent 2) Disciplinarian 3) Motivator 4) Counselor 5) Teacher 6) the "good" guy 7) Aways entertaining host (which is what kids expect now in this society) 8) Ever - improving Scorer on standardized tests ... the list goes on. And your are right, a lot of it is out of our control - but it is made our responsibility because the students are completely unaccountable. (they dont even have to flush, turn on a faucet or hand dryer anymore... it is all automatic. Maybe I am just being picky but I think it sends the wrong message that things will be done for them. :uhoh21: My first year was eye -opening into this world of Politics in Education. I do have to say how surprised I was that so many teachers, administrators, counselors were ready to cut us new teachers down at any opportunity they got... I actually had my job threatened by a couselor once over a student's *lack* of participation in a voluntary community service project-- Give me a break!! On a positive note - I love my kiddos, even when they are disrespectful, or I'm playing mom and disciplinarian and counselor! :) And I think all of these experiences will make me a better nurse.

Thank you!! It is so great to have inspiration... after reading a few of the threads I felt like I started second guessing my dreams. (a few unhappy nurses in bad situations I guess it is) I mean, I am all for being practical, and making informed decisions, but sometimes I think I just have to take that leap of faith!! You were so encouraging-- Thanks :)

Does anyone know what the situation for nursing jobs is like in INDIANA? How about south of Indianapolis like Columbus, Seymour New Albany???

IdahoNurse - If you see this... I was wondering if you could brief the pros and cons of teaching and nursing since you have done both. I am a teacher and considering the move to nursing. Thanks

I am in this exact position... and I know how you feel. (I am trying to take my prereqs (3 semesters) while working as a full time teacher - English and History- something in common!) And when I am done with those I will have to quit and hope I get accepted... It is a stressful situation. I visited the advisors on campus and they "dissected" my transcript to show me where I stood with the competition. That made me feel better. Have you done that yet? The best 'therapy' for me is to talk with my husband, talk with others on here and pour my heart into studying so I WILL get in!! :) I hope this helps... Let me know if you find any other 'coping with the anxiety' strategies!!!:)

Thanks for the reply... I know that I feel the same way. Just need to hear it :) I am really excited about this... How would I go about job shadowing? I looked on the internet and it seems like there are many opportunities for high school students only. Is shadowing a readily accepted and welcomed thing, like I could just call a hospital? Or should I try to locate a friend and go through them?? Thanks again

I have been looking at nursing as a possible career for about 3 years now... Only problem- I am a high school teacher and I am afraid of "making the leap of faith" into more schooling and another career. My husband is very supportive, my parents are not. They think that after I have invested my time (and their money) into a teaching career that I better stick to it. I am almost finished with my second year of teaching and I KNOW that it is not something that I want to do forever. (I feel like as a young female I can 'save' more of them from bad choices now than I will ever be able to reach in the future) I hope that doesn't sound silly. Anyway, I am taking my pre requisite courses to be accepted into an accelerated BSN program, and I was wondering if there was any advice out there for me. I would really like to just have it all "laid out in front of me" PROS and CONS from new and veteran nurses. What things are the most challenging? (emotionally, physically..etc.) What are the best / worst parts of nursing? Any thoughts, feelings and stories would be much appreciated. I have decided to enroll in a CNA course locally so I can get "first-hand" experience in a hospital and do some investigating from within (during my summer off) Is this a good idea? What more can anyone suggest? I don't want to send the message that I don't enjoy teaching... I really love my students - more than the subjects that I teach in fact. I feel like I do more good each day when they come to me for advice or just to talk. It really is amazing to see their confidence soar because no one has believed in them before. To me, these things are more imoprtant than "how a bill becomes a law" and that is why I think that I want to pursue nursing. Any help???? Thanks :)