RN to Teacher

[missnurse92x]

I have been a nurse for about a year now. But, I dread going to work everyday. My days off are spent dreading the fact that I have to go to work. I am miserable. I hate the stress of the job. I hate knowing my every move can determine whether someone lives or dies. I go home wondering if I did enough that shift. See I always wanted to be a Nurse or a teacher. I loved teaching and whenever I studied, I pretended I was "teaching a class". I loved being a tutor in nursing school and I loved the learning. But I was never a big fan of clinicals. I always wished I could love clinicals as much as my friends. The only ones I truly loved were peds & OB. So you are probably wondering why I didn't choose teaching as my major? My mom wouldn't support me. She refused to help me with school, if I was going to be teacher. So here I am working her "dream career" and not mine. I am miserable. I see people pass away and realize life it so short. I want to enjoy life, not be counting down the days till I am free. How do I go about doing this?! Any advice?

[RNperdiem, RN]

Do some research and find out what teaching is all about. Forget about dreams, go find the reality. Talk to some teachers, research the job market for teachers and decide if this is what you really want to do. Teachers have their own stress, and latetly, several of our nursing students have been former teachers.

You did say you loved OB and peds, why not look into those for a job instead? If this is your first job in nursing, give nursing a chance before you cut your losses.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

Take a good hard look at the teaching profession before you make a switch. I happen to know a few teachers (mostly relatives) who actually don't recommend their chosen field now. It's not the same as it used to be. There are many bureaucratic obstacles that prevent teachers from doing the actual teaching due to regulations and paperwork. Schools are underfunded and teachers sometimes have to buy their own supplies and tools to teach. Salary will also be lower than if you were to stay in nursing. Parents don't take responsibility and blame failures on the teacher. It sounds very grim and new teachers have a high rate of leaving the profession.

Nursing is not for everyone and it seems like you have a feeling it's not for you. However, you've only been exposed to a small part of nursing. There are other fields within nursing that may end up being a good fit for what you're looking for. School nursing, ambulatory care nursing, home health care, etc. You already have a year behind your belt and at times, that's all you need to make a transition. I would suggest you look into these other fields of nursing or talk to people who work in them.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Go for it.

[Karou]

There are a few different ways to get into teaching. Since you already have a college degree (BSN or ASN) it's not as difficult as starting from scratch. Start looking into your local colleges (maybe even online ones) and do some research into what it takes to get hired into the school districts around you.

I have two teacher friends, both went the short route. One had a bachelors degree in French, ended up teaching that in a low income/poverty district that forgave her loans. The other was an LVN who disliked nursing, worked as a school nurse for a while, then went back to school for teaching.

Do what makes you happy!

[amoLucia]

You're young enough in your life and lifestyle to do what makes you happy, Even if teaching ISN'T it either, you will have tried.

Figure out what it is that you need educationally to teach and HOW you'll fund yourself, they go for it. Keep your nsg license active - it can be an alternative fall-back career.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Have you considered getting a Master's degree? A Master's, particularly in Nursing or Nurse Education, will enable you to teach collegiately. It's a good way to combine knowledge and skills you already have with your passion for education.

[Mr. Pedi]

Have you considered getting a Master's degree? A Master's, particularly in Nursing or Nurse Education, will enable you to teach collegiately. It's a good way to combine knowledge and skills you already have with your passion for education.

I agree that going into nursing education might be a good move, since it builds on your current training, and there's also a huge demand for nursing instructors right now.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Any advice?

Although I have no advice to offer, I just wanted to commend you for having the courage to follow your true feelings. It takes a smart person to realize that nursing might not be the career for her.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

There are many teaching roles within nursing.

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

I went from ADN to MSN/CNL, and immediately got in to a full time faculty position at a college for nursing.

I. Love. It.

Once you have that degree, the barriers fall away.

[Nature_walker, ASN, BSN, RN]

As a former elementary school teacher I can give some practical knowledge that I learned about teaching. Teaching is great, except that your day is not always about teaching ( you will be observed by your principal, fire drills, assemblies, kids having a melt down throwing the class into turmoil, ect ect). You will bring work home; papers to grade, lessons plans to plan, supplies for classroom to buy, call this parent back, and return a million emails. You "free time" is all about planning the next day, or week. You will have to modify lesson for students who do not learn like others do. You will have to meet with the principal because of some issue that came up and a parent is unhappy. Summer off are great, but not paid, so most find a job to help keep money coming in, or teach summer school ( and more planning on your "free time".). Your classroom load will depend on your state laws and if you can assistance or not based on your class' population.

Now with Common core coming in, you will do lots and lots of data collection. You will teach to tests so that you can make your performance reviews. You will push your kids to make those gains so that you can keep your job. If they don't, in NY after two years of not meeting standards, out you go.

I want you to be informed about what teaching these days can be. Tenure isn't going to guarantee you a job anymore. It was after 3 years when I started but now, you will be on probation for 4 years before you can get tenure. After you get it, if you score low on your reviews and not meeting standards, out you go.

How do you become a teacher? Most states require a master's degree in education. I had a bachelor's in another area, so I was able to start at the master's level. If they do not require it, then those states make you go for national certification. That is a three year process of collecting data, showing how your lessons tailor to the curriculum, and providing evidence of your practice with student work or videos of your lessons.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that you find what you are looking for. I spent 8 years teaching and it is not the same profession as when I started. I loved working with my kids, but teaching to a test that is above their comprehension level just so I could keep my job weighed heavy on my heart. Best of luck.