counselor1st

When I was younger sick people, and people in pain frightened me. Now that I myself (and my children, other loved ones) have been in those situations and coped it doesn't frighten me (as much anyway, it's the feeling of not knowing what to do that's bad). That and my mother had a bad experience in her short stint as a nurse (on an IV team). So she esp. thinks I'm crazy. I wish I had majored in nursing the 1st go round in college but I was a different person then, it wouldn't have worked out. The thing that's difficult is the financial sacrifice for my family for me to go back to school. My husband is supportive but he wonders about my commitment because I do tend to flip-flop in my mind. But I think the fact that at least 2x year I seriously think about quitting my job and going to nursing school is telling me something. I have gotten as far as taking the pre-reqs (10 yrs. ago), but then I felt intense pressure to find a moneymaking job fast due to personal reasons and I took a shorter and at the time less expensive route to go to grad. school in counseling. Anyway, thank you for your posts, you're really helping me. And if I start this time they'll have to kill me before I quit.

Thanks so much for replying, and the encouragement! Most people, esp. my family, think I'm crazy for wanting to go back to school and basically "start over". But I just can't see myself doing what I do for the rest of my life. I have been in counseling for 10 years, and you are right nursing is so varied one thing it seems you don't have to worry about is getting bored (and not having a diff. type job you can go to). Anyone out there changed careers? Regrets or not?

currently I am a licensed prof. counselor in private practice (I have a master's in counseling). However, I've always had a dream to be a post-partum/well baby and/or labor and delivery nurse. I have been talked out of this/talked myself out of it at various times in my life due to taking the path of least resistance I guess and being fearful that I would sacrifice a lot and then regret it. When I read the posts on other boards about arrogant doctors, nurses being treated like handmaidens, etc. I think No way! But when I read this board I think, "that sounds cool!" I like therapy but I'm getting kind of bored with it, and bored of working basically by myself, and I've always been fascinated with babies and new mothers. I have two of my own and my birthing experiences were OK, not the best, but I think I could be patient with people because of this experience and the experience I have as a counselor. Unfortunately I couldn't satisfy this urge being a social worker on a floor because I don't have the right credential, and I think I'd like being a nurse better anyway. What do you guys think?