thecadman99

I have to say that as a whole, the population on this forum has really impressed me. Your posts are causing me to re-think my decision, simply because it would be great to spend a workday with professionals of this caliber (I know, I know, not everyone is going to be great to work with). I took my wife to an appointment this week, and while she was in the waiting room (for 2 hours!) I had ample time to wander about the hospital (Don't know if I should say where) and talk to several RN's. I have to say everyone was positive and some were downright enthusiastic about their jobs. The one exception was a young RN who was working on the Cardio floor. He simply said it was a good job if you liked where you were at in the hospital, but that the variance of liability, patient load, and stress was large. I got the feeling he felt like others in the hospital had less of a load that he did, but he still did not discourage me from pursuing nursing. So, I got out my planner (thanks for the tip) and loaded up my google calender with all my assignments, tests, reading schedule, clinicals, etc... and I'm going to go to class this weekend and try to become a nurse. I stayed up last night and wrote one of two papers due Sunday. Already the first unit test has me sweating (a test on 9 chapters... really?) I have a ton of other stuff to catch up on, but I'm going to give it my best shot. I really think my area here in Va. has nursing salaries that are equally as low as the teacher salaries. A young lady I went through anatomy with just got her first job after graduating, and I believe it was just under $22 an hour. As a teacher I make $25 an hour (working the required 200 days a year), but to put that in perspective she is $3 under me and I have been at my job for 15 years. As a teacher, it would be very hard for me to simply to move to a new area and find work in my field, as a nurse I think I would have a better chance. So,for my family sake, so I can continue to grow as a professional, and so I won't be crying "what if" in a few years, I am going to continue my classes. Thank you all again for the heartfelt advice, it is much appreciated, and needed.

Wow, I'm overwhelmed at the constructive advice offered, thank you all. I am 99% sure that I am going to drop my classes tomorrow. My biggest problem is I feel like a quitter and I haven't ever quit anything. As several have gathered, I'm not the most empathetic person. I'll take care of my kids,wife or whoever is in need to the bitter end, but I'm your typical guy, lacking the "motherly" qualities that I would probably need to be an effective nurse. I'm not so much burned out on education- I love teaching, but spending 6 hours a day (vocational teachers teach longer hours than high school teachers usually) with high school students for the past 15 years has about burned through my optimism concerning much of our current youth, not to mention no raises for 6 years and none in sight. I would still like a career change, I just don't think there is a place in nursing for me. I'm a hard worker, and in good physical health, I just don't think I have the "heart" of a nurse and that would probably make all the difference. Thanks again to all!

I'm at a crossroads. I have a decent teaching job right now. In 5 years I'll have 20 years in the school system. I just turned 42. I have the opportunity to be an RN in 3 years. I'm already in the RN program having completed all my pre-req's . The classes are night and weekend for us working folks. Here are the negatives I'm looking at: 1. I'm just about burned out on education. I'm tired of scraping to survive and it doesn't look any better for teachers anytime (15 years in the system and I still don't make 40k) 2. I'm old! I don't know if I can handle a career change this late in life. 3. I'm a technology guy- I teach CAD. I don't have a background in healthcare. 4. Teachers in my area are being let go due to a shortage of young people. Lots of us old farts around here though. Now my question is this- Is it going to pay off? Is three years of classwork, losing my weekends (24 hours of classes ever other weekend), classes after work until 10 on Mondays and not to mention all the work/studying going to be worth it in the end? I haven't had any problems with the classes (had a 4.0 till Pharm) but I just don't know if there is a place for a 45 year old NEW RN with my skillset (I've been a DJ, a surveyor, and a drafter). I only took the classes to support my wife who was a phlebotomist for years but wanted to be a nurse. Now she is dropping out due to neck problems and here I am with the opportunity to keep going. Are there any older guys out there who are new nurses who can share their experiences? Thanks!