Scared I won't like nursing! Wondering if I should be a teacher instead.

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I just got into a very competitive Nursing Program (University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio) Its a great school and I will be graduating with a BSN. I decided to take the nursing route because I am a very nurturing and compassionate person. I have a knack for working with children. Every job that I have had has been either at a preschool, day care, or substitute positions. I really enjoy teaching elementary and I am thinking about changing my major but if I do I will have 40 hours of 82 that will not transfer and my husband is in the military (with his job that he has will not move much) but we both don't want to stay in San Antonio and I know that teacher licenses do not transfer easily sometimes. I was attracted to the nursing profession because of the diversity of the field and there are always jobs but I am worried that I might be making a mistake. I am so great with kids and I love the school environment I can't say the same about hospitals. I feel discouraged from reading some of these threads and speaking to other nurses. It almost seems like more nurses are unhappy with their jobs than are happy and I have been hearing awful things about working in hospitals. I keep hearing that people are really mean in hospitals and its common to be short staffed. I also worry that I would make a mistake that would hurt a patient. I hear a lot of private offices just hire MAs. I know that there would be other places for me to work besides hospitals but I don't know how hard it is to get into a position like that. If I pursue Nursing my goal would be to go into school nursing, but that also is very hard to get into. I feel like if I major in education I would be limited because I could only teach whereas with nursing I can always switch specialties and whatnot. I just want a career that I will be happy with what I am doing. Sometimes I don't handle stress very well and I know that nursing and teaching are both very stressful jobs, so I really just don't know what to do. As far as the pay is concerned teachers in SA start out at 38,000 whereas new nurses start out around 35,000 (and they work a lot more!) Any feedback would be so much appreciated!!

Another teacher here; I taught for a long time in the public school system. I'm currently finishing my last prerequisite for Nursing School; I'm also a CNA at a hospital (part-time) and I'm substitute teaching too.

Substitute teaching is a BREEZE compared to "real teaching". No grades, no lesson plans, no meetings, no PARENTS,no required after school clubs, etc. you go in and you leave...do not compare substitute teaching to having a regular class of your own (there is nothing the same...seriously). You will spend hours and hours of NON paid time grading papers, getting materials ready, calling parents, etc. You will spend way too much of your OWN money buying supplies; are you aware of the economic disaster the educational system is in?

Finish up at nursing school; you can still be a teacher if you decide to...you'll have to take extra classes, student teach, pass the required tests for the state you live in AND THEN FIND A JOB! Do you have any idea how many unemployed teachers are looking for any type of work. Stay where you are, get your RN and then see what your opportunities are; you cannot go wrong in the healthcare field.

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I have checked with the local hospitals and a new RN makes around 17 per hour and its the same with a BSN or ADN. I can't believe the pay is so low for such a stressful job but I know the pay is much better in other states.

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Specializes in psych, general, emerg, mash.

dont be surprised! it not uncommon! perhaps if pay is your only problem, perhaps you should check in Canada or overseas. Its the same in any job, good and bad.

Teaching, the kids have you by the short hairs. No touching even a hand on the shoulder to say, good boy or girl is now taboo! Paranoid society we live in. Nursing, if you dont like working 3 shifts, find something else.

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I just got into a very competitive Nursing Program (University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio) Its a great school and I will be graduating with a BSN. I decided to take the nursing route because I am a very nurturing and compassionate person. I have a knack for working with children. Every job that I have had has been either at a preschool, day care, or substitute positions. I really enjoy teaching elementary and I am thinking about changing my major but if I do I will have 40 hours of 82 that will not transfer and my husband is in the military (with his job that he has will not move much) but we both don't want to stay in San Antonio and I know that teacher licenses do not transfer easily sometimes. I was attracted to the nursing profession because of the diversity of the field and there are always jobs but I am worried that I might be making a mistake. I am so great with kids and I love the school environment I can't say the same about hospitals. I feel discouraged from reading some of these threads and speaking to other nurses. It almost seems like more nurses are unhappy with their jobs than are happy and I have been hearing awful things about working in hospitals. I keep hearing that people are really mean in hospitals and its common to be short staffed. I also worry that I would make a mistake that would hurt a patient. I hear a lot of private offices just hire MAs. I know that there would be other places for me to work besides hospitals but I don't know how hard it is to get into a position like that. If I pursue Nursing my goal would be to go into school nursing, but that also is very hard to get into. I feel like if I major in education I would be limited because I could only teach whereas with nursing I can always switch specialties and whatnot. I just want a career that I will be happy with what I am doing. Sometimes I don't handle stress very well and I know that nursing and teaching are both very stressful jobs, so I really just don't know what to do. As far as the pay is concerned teachers in SA start out at 38,000 whereas new nurses start out around 35,000 (and they work a lot more!) Any feedback would be so much appreciated!!

So, I'm not clear on where you stand with your education. You say you will be losing 40 hours out of 82 if you change majors now. Does that mean you have taken about half of your nursing courses or are you figuring that courses such as chemistry and A&P will be wasted also? My actual advice would actually depend on how much nursing you have left. If you are nearly done I would say to complete the program. If you are only a couple of courses into the nursing I would say to change now.

Both teaching and nursing are difficult professions but it does sound like you have an aversion to aspects of the profession of nursing that are somewhat basic. Even if you practice as a School Nurse your focus will be on the child as he/she relates to the medical condition (ventilator in school, medications, state regulations, etc) so you should at least like it. You might try to communicate with some pediatric nurses to see if their work experiences are better than on the adult boards.

Also, if you do consider changing to a teaching degree, check to see if you will be required to get a Masters within a certain period of time. In NYS a teacher has 5 years to obtain a Masters or they will not be able to renew their license. That may be a factor that could help you decide what to do.

With respect to your reason for choosing nursing - that there is diversity and that there are always jobs - this may not be so true at the present moment. Jobs are becoming difficult to find in both professions so you should try to choose based on what you love.

That's my advice - "Do what you love". :redpinkhe

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Specializes in PICU.

I know salaries in SA are low, (as is cost of living) but I find it hard to believe it is THAT low. In the DFW area salaries start at around $50,000/year for days and $60,000/year for nights. And fwiw, I love the hospital where I work. Something to keep in mind is staffing level in pediatric hospitals is traditionally better than adult facilities. Kids need more attention. There are definitely low stress jobs here in areas like pre-op, rehab, and observation units.

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