Put yourself in my shoes. Go for nursing or not?

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Specializes in RPN student Fall 2010.

I posted this in general nursing a month or so ago and got no feedback so I thought going more local would help.

So my story is that I'm a 29yr old male, married, homeowner, 2 dogs and no kids yet, now for the last 18months or so I've had my heart set of nursing school and had been slowly working on the prereq's to even apply for school, 3 almost down and 3 more to go. I was passionate about it and happy that finally I could pursue a career that I wanted to do and not that boring office job that I needed to pay the bills. My passion for nursing gradually faded and finally about 2 months ago I was presented the opportunity to apply for a skilled trade apprenticeship job, now I never did get a callback on it, but it got me thinking. I like the trades, I like working with my hands and I'm good at it, but never considered a career in it until now.

Now this is where you put yourself in my shoes. I still want to be a nurse, the job itself focuses on many of my values mind the shift work, but the road to get there is the concern. My wife and I have a mortgage, a house that we keep dumping money into and a large $30,000 line of credit debt mostly from our home that we are slowly trying to pick away at. Financially for us to afford me in school we would need to take on 2 roomates, we have 1 now and its working great, but another one not sure, and I would have to work a part-time job. That would put us in the green, but tuition would need to be borrowed:cry: adding to our debt. After that comes the fact that I hate school, I'm not an acedemic and that can already been seen in that I hate doing my prereq courses, sure I'm doing great in them (mid 80's), but its a chore for me to do. Reading is something I have little interest in too and the idea of sitting through hours of lectures bores me. The thought of school stresses me out sometimes too. Lastly is the fact that we would like to have kids in a couple years, but we don't want to have to wait 5yrs until we can, I'll be 35 by then and all my friends are having or have kids.

Forgot to mention that I likely won't be able to have the time nor the money to keep with my love of mountain biking, that is a big bummer too.

In general I'm concerned that life will be hell, money will be a constant stress, no chance for a vacation or newer car or anything thats not a neccessity and unexpected expenses are going to hurt ( 2 dogs means lots of vet bills, $1500 surgery 2 weeks ago), with a part-time job and full time school I don't see there being any freetime and I worry about my marriage in the long run too. Not having the chance to start a family is a concern too and just the overall feeling that life is on hold until school is done it going to be a burden. So when I think of all that the idea of getting into the skilled trades seems like a much more attractive idea, now I realize going into that field will be no easy task, pay cuts and starting at the bottom is a concern, but its doable. My goal is just to have a job that is a challenge and keeps me out of an office environment.

So what would you do?

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Specializes in obstetrics.
I posted this in general nursing a month or so ago and got no feedback so I thought going more local would help.

So my story is that I'm a 29yr old male, married, homeowner, 2 dogs and no kids yet, now for the last 18months or so I've had my heart set of nursing school and had been slowly working on the prereq's to even apply for school, 3 almost down and 3 more to go. I was passionate about it and happy that finally I could pursue a career that I wanted to do and not that boring office job that I needed to pay the bills. My passion for nursing gradually faded and finally about 2 months ago I was presented the opportunity to apply for a skilled trade apprenticeship job, now I never did get a callback on it, but it got me thinking. I like the trades, I like working with my hands and I'm good at it, but never considered a career in it until now.

Now this is where you put yourself in my shoes. I still want to be a nurse, the job itself focuses on many of my values mind the shift work, but the road to get there is the concern. My wife and I have a mortgage, a house that we keep dumping money into and a large $30,000 line of credit debt mostly from our home that we are slowly trying to pick away at. Financially for us to afford me in school we would need to take on 2 roomates, we have 1 now and its working great, but another one not sure, and I would have to work a part-time job. That would put us in the green, but tuition would need to be borrowed:cry: adding to our debt. After that comes the fact that I hate school, I'm not an acedemic and that can already been seen in that I hate doing my prereq courses, sure I'm doing great in them (mid 80's), but its a chore for me to do. Reading is something I have little interest in too and the idea of sitting through hours of lectures bores me. The thought of school stresses me out sometimes too. Lastly is the fact that we would like to have kids in a couple years, but we don't want to have to wait 5yrs until we can, I'll be 35 by then and all my friends are having or have kids.

In general I'm concerned that life will be hell, money will be a constant stress, no chance for a vacation or newer car or anything thats not a neccessity and unexpected expenses are going to hurt ( 2 dogs means lots of vet bills, $1500 surgery 2 weeks ago), with a part-time job and full time school I don't see there being any freetime and I worry about my marriage in the long run too. Not having the chance to start a family is a concern too and just the overall feeling that life is on hold until school is done it going to be a burden. So when I think of all that the idea of getting into the skilled trades seems like a much more attractive idea, now I realize going into that field will be no easy task, pay cuts and starting at the bottom is a concern, but its doable. My goal is just to have a job that is a challenge and keeps me out of an office environment.

So what would you do?

Getting accepted into nursing school is more competitive these days, and I think you answer your own question when you say, "I hate school." Seems to me that the path you'd need to take to become a nurse would be overwhelming for you, and that you'd be happier finding a trade you'd enjoy. Good luck!

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Specializes in RPN student Fall 2010.

Hating school is one part of it, I think my biggest worry is that life as I know it will change significantly so living the life that I have now become used to will be largely gone for 4yrs, it will change to a students life which scares me. If I could keep everything just as it is and the only change was no job and school instead I could make it work, but either I'd have to win the lottery or my wife you have to land a job paying double what she is making now.

I've starting doing to career/life coaching and finding my values is one of the exercises assigned to me and as it turns out "freedom" is one of my values and that will be lost while in school and thats even IF i can get into school, I know its very very hard to get into nursing school.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

My thoughts exactly. Lectures, studying, reading clinical dry-as-dust research and exams don't stop when you leave university as a registered nurse... it's continual. It's a requirement to maintain your registration that you partake of continuing education - classes, lectures, reading, studying... it doesn't ever go away! In an apprenticeship many employers pay for the educational part, you'd start earning money early on and although there's continued learning in the trades, it's usually hands-on. Best wishes with whatever you choose.

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Specializes in obstetrics.

As I said, good luck with your decision making. The journey toward becoming a nurse is challenging...seems like you're trying to sort out whether four hard years to achieve that dream would be worth it, provided you get accepted into nursing school. I think you're the best one to answer that question.

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Two or four years to achieve a dream may seem like an eternity at your age, but when you grow older and living with the results of the decisions you're about to make now, you may realize that four years wasn't a very long time after all.

Whatever path you choose, may luck be with you :)

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Specializes in RPN student Fall 2010.
Two or four years to achieve a dream may seem like an eternity at your age, but when you grow older and living with the results of the decisions you're about to make now, you may realize that four years wasn't a very long time after all.

Whatever path you choose, may luck be with you :)

I completely understand your thinking, at the start I was thinking just the same, 4yrs for a lifetime result, but now that has changed. No longer is nursing the only answer to my career troubles, when nothing else was out there I was willing to go through school, perhaps I was naive in the beginning thinking school was going to be a breeze, but now that the trades are an option and something that interests me the idea of school and nursing in general is not as appealing. Not to mention what I know of nursing is only what I have read so whats to say after school that i will actually enjoy it, on paper I should, but reality can be much different. I have tried to shadow a nurse, but the hospital won't allow it, what I am doing is trying to volunteer at the hostipal to at least get a taste of life in the hospital. Perhaps that will help me make my decision.

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Where in Canada are you?

With the way provincial govts are playing with healthcare, there are NO guaranteed job like there used to be.

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Specializes in RPN student Fall 2010.

Kingston,ON

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Specializes in Cardiology.

Hey mate.

It sounds like you're at a significant cross roads in your life.

I'm currently in nursing school (accelerated program at the U of C) and I would suggest 2 things.

1- If your hospital won't allow you to shadow a nurse, try a different hospital/facility.

My first day of clinical was a HUGE wake up call about the realities of nursing that no readings could prepare me for. The more information you can gather about these realities the better off you'll be. :)

2- (I would suggest this to anyone wanting to studying nursing). Unelss you have a true deep felt passion for the profession, perhaps it may not be the right one for you.

I recently had a "gut check" moment and took a big step back to evaluate if I made the right decison. The problems with my school, the fact there's a hiring freeze in my province were really weighing on me. I realized this is my calling and I'm now more committed and motivated then ever. One may call it an "AH-HA" moment.

You'll have your "AH-HA" moment too. Just trust in yourself that you'll make the right decision for you and your family when the time is right.

Best of luck!

cheers

Peter

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Hi there,

Personally, if I were you I would go for it (the nursing). Is there anyway you could do the nursing course part time and work full time? If so, then you don't have to get into debt. If not, focus on paying off some of your debts before you get into school.

I left a very WELL paying job (here in the U.K.) to become a student nurse - currently, I'm schooling full time, working part time and raising a 16 year old ON MY OWN. I spent a year paying off all my credit cards (because I was focused and didn't want to be a broke 40 year old student). Currently, I pay my mortgage, utilities and other bits and bobs, etc. I know I don't have the pets, etc., but anything is possible if YOU REALLY WANT TO DO IT!

Sometimes or should I say all the times the answers lie deep within us - but at times we're looking for affirmation. The fact that you're doing your pre-reqs shows that there is a desire. Have faith, follow your heart and go with it. If you have a supportive partner then things WILL fall into place - TRUST ME!!!

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Until next time.

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guvner

You haven't mentioned which trades interest you, are you looking at something in healthcare? Since you have completed the pre reqs, maybe a certificate in phlebotomy is an option? A phlebotomy certificate can be done quickly and you can work with nurses in a hospital or at a bloodbank, which will give you a better idea of a nurses role and may help to decide if you want to become a nurse at some point in the future. If you go this route you will leave the door open to getting into a nursing program more so than if you take a non-healthcare related trade. Maybe a student counsellor at your local college can give you more information about your career options? Just thowing some ideas out there, hope you find a career path that is right for you.

In case you are interested the medical laboratory technician program at St lawrence college is one year http://www.stlawrencecollege.ca/index.aspx?iPageID=139&iMenuID=6&progId=462

dishes

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