Fabery22

I meant I wouldn't want to work on a med/surg floor with older patients just from what I have seen at my hospital. I grew up in a home with many elderly people as they lived with us while my grand mother took care of them. I also volunteered at a nursing home for 6 months as an activity aide for school and usually felt really sad for the people there and it was depressing although we played games and had fun. I also witnessed my grandmother who I was very close to me, suffer for 6 months throughout many hospitals and care homes while she had multiple medical problems, she turned into a completely different person before she finally was a peace. I'm not 100% comfortable with the elderly.

That was posted before I had seen her comment and I'm grateful for the interaction. Im wondering if I can have a successful career as a nurse even with my apprehensions with med/surg floors and providing bed side care to the elderly. Or if I should try to find something else.. (I have been activity looking) I want to get into nursing because I think I would very much enjoy working in the units mentioned. I also would like to eventually advance and not many other careers or degrees allow for those opportunities like nursing does. I have talked to everyone I know and receive no guidance. I would love to talk to a career advisor or some one of the sort but I'm having a difficult time finding one which is why I turned to all nurses for help.

I think I have stated my apprehensions as to why I'm torn on going to nursing school. As for school its self I think I would love it and I'm very excited to start if I choose to do so.

Thank you for replying. My comment was to try to get someone who was viewing to comment. Im 20 I graduated high school 3 years ago and graduated from my pharmacy tech program this January. I have tried to seek a career advisor but the closest are two hours away and have a pretty high rate. I posted on here seeking advice because I have already tried other channels. I am desperate for advice and insight from nurses who understand my situation. I understand their families come into play.. My point was I am not comfortable providing bedside care to elderly. I also understand tragedy happens and my main interest is working in neonatal critical care. My hospital is constantly hiring RNs, LPNs, and CNAs. There also is a bigger hospital 25 mins away that is expanding by 200 or so beds in the next couple of years. I realize many new grads need experience which typically is med/surg and that is what worries me. I am actively looking for job shadowing opportunities so far I have had no luck. I also would rather not work as a nursing aid.. I already currently work full time in the pharmacy. I visit every unit at least 4-5 times in a shift and every morning I deliver cassettes to patients rooms on various units. I feel I understand for the most part of the hands on work an aid does.

PLEASE someone help! I'm desperate for advice!!!

I have been thinking about nursing school for almost a year now, I had a meeting with admissions last week and its making everything too real. Im sorry if this post is all over the place but I need advice and guidance. I think I'm going to have an anxiety attack soon if I cant find peace with my dilemma. Everyday I worry if going to nursing school is a mistake for me. I love the opportunities and advancements nursing provides. I have my heart set on working with babies (NICU,L&D,PEDs) and feel that is the only population I could provide "bedside" care to. I wouldn't mind working in ER, possibly ICU, or in OR. But I know for a fact I would not be happy on a med/surg floor. I currently work in a hospital as a pharmacy technician and I round the units very frequently so I see the type of patients on med/surg and it makes me cringe knowing what nurses have to do. The other units such as Family beginnings and L&D I walk through with awe and wish I could spend more time there. Personality wise i'm more interested in diagnoses and treatments rather than providing bedside care (with the exception of babies and children) I love learning and im very excited with everything im sure ill learn in nursing school. Ive had many negative past experiences with the elderly and could be why im so opposed to working with them. im not saying I would not provide exception care if I had to but my heart and passion would not be in it and I would be miserable. I would like to continue on with pursing a nursing care but the "heart" of nursing is bedside care and that typically is to the elderly. So im torn. Im interested in nursing because: 3 12 hour shifts is appealing and 36 hours is considered full time. I love babies and would be very happy to help comfort and take care of them I would eventually like to advance and become a NP, CRNA, or PA. Im very interested in travel nursing There will always be a demand for nurses I like how im not limited to the work I will be doing and could switch units/specialties I like knowing I will have basic knowledge of heath care I know many new grads usually work on med/surg floors to gain experience and this makes me very nervous because I do not know if I could handle that even for only a year. I'm also interested in diagnostic sonography but there is not much advancement with the career and I feel I would become bored. I like the idea I will still somewhat be working with babies, it is not beside care, the salary is about the same as a nurse, and schooling would only be 2 years instead of 4 for my BSN. Please help me and give me your insight.. any other alternative careers will also be welcomed. I need to figure out what I want to do ASAP as I do not have much time to waste if im going to continue with applying to school. Thank you so much in advance this has been weighing very heavily on me and I don't know what to do.

What type of careers do you suggest that have the same starting salaries and career progression? I am a pre nursing student and every day I'm wondering if this will be a mistake. I love learning and I love medicine but I'm more interested in the 'diagnose & treat' part of medicine then the actual caring and helping with activities. The only reasons I want to be a nurse is the variety and I'm very interested in NICU, L&D, or OR. And potentially ER & ICU. I also like that I can do travel nursing or can advance and become a midwife, practitioner, or anesthetist. I'm very lost in my career path and search and have been trying to expose myself to other options.

No I am not. I went to school for pharm tech as a way to get myself out of the minimum wage job market until I figure out what I really would like to do. I currently am not considering any other careers. But I think I would love to stay in Health care. Im attracted to nursing because I do enjoy challenging work and I think it's a very self rewarding career. I like the variety it offers with different specialities, advancements, and the ability to travel. I'm currently interested in pediatric work which could very well change once I'm in school. I have the idea that my dream would be a traveling NICU nurse at least for a couple years. And of course a CRNA. But there's so many options for a RN I think I could find a few pathways I'd be happy with. I do look at nursing as a job that makes decent money (at least in my hometown) I think expected wage for a RN is around $25/hr and cost of living here is realativly low. I've seen higher wages quoted on all nurses and I'm willing to relocate. I love learning and I love science and math concepts. Going to nursing school is very exciting to me and I'm eager to learn. I have a year to decide and I very well should shadow some nurses. My main concern is I do not want to invest the time or money into a downward spiraling career (such as lowering wages and benefits/difficulty finding a job/low job satisfaction due to having to provide "customer service" to patients beyond caring for them) Nursing does seem like a tough and physically demanding job. I'm all for putting my all into a career and I will work my butt off to do the best I can but I want to be compensated. If I'm working hard I want to be able to provide a satisfying life for myself and eventually a family.

I currently work as a pharm tech employed in a hospital and interacting with the different units everyday has sparked a great interest in a nursing career.. I will be able to apply to school (4yr BSN) in November 2016.. I will be 25 when I graduate. Ive read a few different forums stating the nursing field is over saturated and wages/benefits will continue to decrease. also a forum asking if you would change your career (from nursing) if you could and almost everyone stated they would. This is discouraging. I try to research the job outlooks and find articles saying nurses are still needed and growth is above national average and blah blah blah if you were in my shoes do you think investing the next four years of your life for nursing school is wise?