Registered Nurse or Special Education Teacher

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Hi, I have been so indecisive, for years, as to which path I want to pursue whole-heartedly for a career. I am 38 years old and need to make that decision as I'm not getting any younger. I love working with individuals, young and mature, with disabilities, impairments, or health issues. I love caring for, and advocating for these individuals. Naturally, I have the personality of a caretaker. For years, I worked as an assistant in a classroom with students of various ages, who had moderate-severe disabilities. I also provided respite care for one of the students, in her home, and loved it! I am not grossed out by bodily fluids, blood, vomit, diarrhea, smells, etc. . I love working with the elderly as well and enjoy their company! I have spoken to many special education teachers and nurses about their positions. Many of the teachers I've spoken to seem burnt out or dissatisfied with their career, which I don't fault them for at all and understand their perspective. I recently became a CNA and loved my experience during clinicals. My greatest struggles during clinicals were talking to the residents too much (I wanted them to feel comfortable) & feeling like I didn't have enough time, and shaking when I was nervous performing various skills because I'm new to the field and don't want to mess up. The differing schedules of nursing vs. teaching is not important to me. I can do both and realize that both put in serious work and time. The path to pursue nursing will take me longer than special education teaching. I have a bachelors already and am interested in ADN or BSN. I guess I'm just asking for some insight into my decision and your experiences as nurses.

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Specializes in MSICU.

As a special education teacher you won't work with the elderly population. Obviously I am a bit biased as I chose nursing, but a couple years ago I decided to leave the field of social work and was deciding between a program designed for career changes offering a masters in education with an unrelated bachelors and a similar program offering a masters in nursing with an unrelated bachelors. I chose nursing because the pay is better than in teaching, but also more importantly because nursing is so diverse and offers so many field to work in! Also, not to complicate things, but have you thought about physical or occupational therapy. That was what came to my mind when reading your post.

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I recently decided to pursue a career in nursing. I was more on the track to become a special ed teacher or work in disability services at the college level. I decided to apply for an accelerated BSN program, got into one of my top schools and am starting in 2 weeks! I don’t necessarily have advice for you because I’m not even a nursing student yet but I understand how it feels being torn between two careers that are both rewarding and challenging. I decided to pursue nursing because I knew I wanted to work in a caring profession and wanted to work with a more diverse population rather than just people with disabilities / special needs. I have a brother with Down syndrome so my path to special education was paved early on but I am excited that I chose something more broad and fitting to my character as a whole. Go with your gut, it wouldn’t hurt to just explore different programs in your area and perhaps take a few classes online if you decide to apply (there are prerequisites you have to take in order to apply). Best of luck!

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I say it all depends on what you are passionate about and also what works for you overall. Consider factors such as work hours, benefits, flexibility, or whatever else matters to you in general. Determine if you can see yourself working long term in either profession. Also consider the downsides to each job. For me the downsides to nursing include sometimes not being respected by patients and colleagues and exhausting shifts. Pros include being able to truly help others, flexibility in certain jobs( i can self shedule myself 3 12 hr shifts. Looking at the year in days without using pto I work less than half a year), working in a specialty that you love, ability to change specialties, finding environments where you are respected by patients and colleagues. Overall I am super happy about becoming a nurse because although I have experienced stressful times on the job, given my personality type, I’ve grown stronger and have become a more understanding and well rounded person and nurse from experiencing those times. I’ve found a work environment that works for me and above all am enthused to be in a position to serve others. Wishing the best for you. Hope you make the decision best for you.

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On 5/8/2019 at 12:37 AM, araew2129 said:

As a special education teacher you won't work with the elderly population. Obviously I am a bit biased as I chose nursing, but a couple years ago I decided to leave the field of social work and was deciding between a program designed for career changes offering a masters in education with an unrelated bachelors and a similar program offering a masters in nursing with an unrelated bachelors. I chose nursing because the pay is better than in teaching, but also more importantly because nursing is so diverse and offers so many field to work in! Also, not to complicate things, but have you thought about physical or occupational therapy. That was what came to my mind when reading your post.

Thank you for taking the time to write thoughtful & insightful advice! It's very helpful to have another perspective. You reminded me that as a Special Education Teacher I won't be able to work w/ the elderly. I also love working w/ cancer pts. & those w/ mental illness. I love how diverse the nursing field is in that respect. It's funny you brought up Occupational Therapy; I actually began a Master's program for Occupational Therapy @ a private univ. near me. At the time, I had aspired to be an OT and eventually incorporate service dogs into my therapy (as I'm also passionate about animals). My MSOT program began w/ an intensive (6 wks.), 9-unit Gross anatomy course. It was INSANE. I was there M-F, 7 a.m.-10 p.m., including tutoring. At the same time, I was living in a new env., broke up w/ a boyfriend, & helping my Mom & best friend, who both had cancer diagnoses. It was a rough time. I actually completed the course w/ an 79%, but an 81% was required to continue on. During my time caring for my Mom & best friend, I realized I love caring for sick people. I have also helped my Mom w/ a subsequent drug addiction which I also enjoyed, despite my personal pain. Sorry for TMI, but all of these issues required me to care for my family & friend & I feel as though I have done so w/ out personalizing too much of it; something I thought might be a good characteristic as a nurse. Thanks again for your input...much appreciated!

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1 hour ago, gopats1234 said:

I recently decided to pursue a career in nursing. I was more on the track to become a special ed teacher or work in disability services at the college level. I decided to apply for an accelerated BSN program, got into one of my top schools and am starting in 2 weeks! I don’t necessarily have advice for you because I’m not even a nursing student yet but I understand how it feels being torn between two careers that are both rewarding and challenging. I decided to pursue nursing because I knew I wanted to work in a caring profession and wanted to work with a more diverse population rather than just people with disabilities / special needs. I have a brother with Down syndrome so my path to special education was paved early on but I am excited that I chose something more broad and fitting to my character as a whole. Go with your gut, it wouldn’t hurt to just explore different programs in your area and perhaps take a few classes online if you decide to apply (there are prerequisites you have to take in order to apply). Best of luck!

Thank you for taking the time to respond w/ such thoughtful insight. Congratulations on getting accepted into your top schools! You must be elated! I completely agree; I do like how nursing would allow me to work w/ such a diverse population, rather than specifically w/ those who have special needs. Although you won't be working specifically w/ those who have special needs, I imagine your experience with your brother has made you a compassionate, empathetic, and patient advocate for those experiencing challenges whatever they may be. You'll be an excellent nurse! I agree I should go w/ my gut; however, I notice I gravitate toward special education, but I'm not sure if it's just because it is what I know & am very familiar w/, having worked in the field for more than 6 yrs. At one point, I did experience burn out as an Instructional Assistant. I have taken most of the pre-req.'s (still need chemistry) for nursing & I liked & did well in them. I have been seeking employment as a CNA to get more familiar w/ nursing & see if it'd be a good fit. Good luck with your BSN program. If you have time, or remember, let me know how you like your program. What school will you be attending?

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1 hour ago, Mr.E said:

I say it all depends on what you are passionate about and also what works for you overall. Consider factors such as work hours, benefits, flexibility, or whatever else matters to you in general. Determine if you can see yourself working and realistically maintaining the current passion that you have long term for either profession. Also consider the downsides to each job. For me the downsides to nursing include sometimes not being respected by patients and colleagues and exhausting shifts. Pros include being able to truly help others, flexibility in certain jobs( i can self shedule myself 3 12 hr shifts. Looking at the year in days without using pto I work less than half a year), working in a specialty that you love, ability to change specialties, finding environments where you are respected by patients and colleagues. As you can maybe tell I've experienced good and bad in nursing but want you to be aware of the bad so that you can decide what you are willing to deal with. Overall I am super happy about becoming a nurse because although I have experienced stressful times on the job, given my personality type, I’ve grown stronger and have become a more understanding person and nurse from experiencing those times. I’ve found a work environment that works for me and above all am enthused to be in a position to serve others. Wishing the best for you. Hope you make the decision best for you.

Thank you for taking the time to respond w/ your insight & perspective! I am having a hard time figuring out which one I'm more passionate about; education/teaching is familiar to me and I have yrs. of experience under my belt, so it seems I can relate to it & gravitate toward it more, but I'm not sure that translates it to being a passion...it's comfortable to me I guess. I have been told I'm great at it & it's what I should pursue, but I have experienced burn out in the past from it. I also don't want to take work home w/ me (physically)...I did all the time just as a junior kindergarten teacher. When actually at work, I like to be busy! I thrived on checking blood sugar and administering Diastat (under nurse authorization, training, & liability) for students in our class. I volunteered for it because I like to be busy & help where I can. I have dealt with disrespectful parents, students, & colleagues, but I imagine I'd have more of it in nursing given the stressful/critical/dire times patients & their families are experiencing. I am seeking work as a CNA and hoping to gain more experience in the field to help my decision. Have you, yourself, been able to change specialties? Is it time-consuming or difficult to transition to a new specialty; are there additional educ. & experience requirements?

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I think working as a CNA will give you a good understanding of whether or not nursing is for you because you will be seeing it first hand and involved in the field. As far as switching specialties, education is provided to you via the job generally. My job sent me to class training to learn theory and skills of my specialty. It can be time consuming to switch specialties because certain specialties are unique and require new learning but is often worth it. I like that in nursing if one looses a desire to stay in a specialty, one can switch specialties.

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I totally agree with Mr.E! Becoming a CNA will give you a general feel for nursing since you will be working with them. It may or may not be in a hospital setting, but you still learn a lot. I would go with whichever you are most passionate about. My mother is a special ed teacher and she absolutely loves it and her students. The job market was very competitive but after getting her masters she makes the average RN salary (about $67,000...we live in Ohio). The best part is, she gets summers off!!!! I can't even tell you how jealous I am of her and my teacher friends lol

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

Special education was one of the field I considered when making the career change that ultimately led me to nursing. I found talking to individuals in the respective fields I was considering helpful, as well as really prioritizing my own values around what I wanted out of a job (level of education, flexibility of career path, ability to move, interest areas, work/life balance, typical salary, daily schedule etc). For me, nursing ultimately ticked more check-boxes of what I wanted than other careers, because in many ways in incorporated elements of those careers that appealed to me, and didn't have as many of the elements that didn't appeal.

I could help you to write up a pro/con list of each profession, (and pathway to getting there), as well as spending some time really getting to understand each career (which it sounds like you are already doing).

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Thank you all for your responses! Everyone's input has really given me some perspective. I am still incredibly indecisive between the two...one day teaching and the next nursing. I am applying to jobs to work as a CNA, so hopefully after working as one for a little bit, I'll have a better idea about which one I would rather pursue. Nursing schedules are more attractive to me; however, I have not completely experienced working a nursing schedule first-hand. I like that with nursing, you go and give it 110% at work and then you go home and leave work at work (albeit some residual emotions from the shift). Obviously with teaching, I always gave 110% at work too; however, the shift was shorter, but I always took work home with me, even as just an assistant. I like with nursing, again hypothetically speaking since I don't have the actual experience yet (correct me if I'm wrong), you can work your 12 hr., 3-day shift, or less hours within a 5-day shift in a different setting, and pick up more hours if you so choose. It seems as though there is more flexibility in choosing how many hours you want to work in a week. I just think nursing might offer me a more ideal work-life balance. Thanks again for all your input!

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