Seeking advice.... Would you go for an RN degree if you were in my shoes?

Nurses General Nursing

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I live in NYC, I'm approaching 30, not getting any younger. I've been working in the health field for the past 6 years or so, I started out in EMS and then moved into EKG/Phlebotomy. My job is under a union that will pay for your school as long as the degree is healthcare related.

So I've been in college for 3 semesters now, taking the pre-requisites for nursing. I thought about doing Healthcare Administration since I've always kinda had a soft spot for business admin in general, but based on my research, the job market is supposedly bigger for nursing (even though that's what many where I live are going for).

Is RN or Healthcare Admin what I *really* want to do? No. Those are my Plan B careers.

My passion, all my life, has been in making/writing films. Before you tell me that they have schools for this as well as Media Technology degrees, you don't really have the same opportunities one would have when graduating with a "regular job degree".

For instance, I can graduate with a bachelors in Nursing, go to XYZ Hospital down the street with my resume, and apply for an RN job. On other end, if I were to graduate with a degree in filmmaking or media tech, I don't have that same luxury. I can't walk into Warner Bros studios or Disney or Miramax with my resume and say "Hi I'd like to work as a Director for you guys, may I please have an application?". Nope, you're pretty much on your own with those degrees, it's more about who you know. If you can sponge up enough $$$ on your own to make your own film by yourself, if people in Hollywood like it, then you're in ("Paranormal Activity", anyone?). Totally different (and much harder) ball game than "regular degree jobs".

So if you're unfortunate enough to have a passion/dream in that field, it's an automatic MUST that you need to have a "Plan B" career in case all goes wrong or nothing works out. So for the past several years, I've been doing filmmaking on my own (I'm self-taught), I started with screenwriting and now I've begun making short films. I'm pursuing my passion while maintaining a Plan B route. But I'm trying to do this in the least stressful way possible for the sake of my own mental and physical health.

So I'm kinda lost on what I want to do next semester now. People keep on telling me how hard nursing is, I keep ignoring it, but then again I ask myself "If it's as hard as they say it is, am I really going to have time to study as an RN, go to work, have family time, and do filmmaking on my own time outside of that -- all while trying not to go insane?" or perhaps I should go with Healthcare Admin if the workload is a little bit less?

Like I said, I'm still in the prerequisites, I haven't touched any science classes like Bio yet, so I can still switch if I wanted to. Don't get me wrong, I love healthcare and I love dealing with patients, I'm not trying to undermine it in anyway by calling it my Plan B route. But in the event that my dream doesn't work out, I'd still like to live under the assurance of having a financially comfortable life.

What would you all do if you were in my shoes?

Specializes in I/DD.

There are other healthcare related degrees you can look into as well. Dental hygiene, radiology tech, respiratory therapy, scrub techs. Have you thought of any of those? The only one of those that is a 4 year degree is respiratory, and I wish I had even known it existed before I went to school.

Jade,

where do u recommend I check about the job market for my area? Should I just ask my campus advisor?

Beckster,

I know what you mean but I'm trying to avoid careers that require me to go to school for a masters or that require most high level math.

I already had to deal with algebra and I know I have to deal with pre calc and statistics possibly for nursing and that's enough already. So I don't think radiology is gonna work that's a lot more math and physics than my brain can handle.

Go make/write films. I work with too many nurses who hate their job already.

AMEN!!

OP, for god's sake do NOT waste a space in nursing school that would be otherwise occupied by someone who is actually serious about being a nurse rather than someone looking for a degree that does not "require too much high level math". Nursing school is not for someone who just wants to play games and thinks that being a nurse would be an easy alternative to getting a "real" job, like screen writing.

AMEN!!

OP, for god's sake do NOT waste a space in nursing school that would be otherwise occupied by someone who is actually serious about being a nurse rather than someone looking for a degree that does not "require too much high level math". Nursing school is not for someone who just wants to play games and thinks that being a nurse would be an easy alternative to getting a "real" job, like screen writing.

excuse me but I think you have the wrong idea about me. I am by no means a lazy person looking to play games. I like healthcare and I take it seriously (how can anyone not? That's a big no brainer).

its easy for you to tell me to forget nursing and go out and make films. You can not get those jobs the same way you get regular jobs, it doesn't work like that. Plus I have a wife and 2 kids, I don't have the luxury of taking risks with my career, I have to make sure we are going to survive and live comfortably. I'm not living with mom and dad no more so there's no more room for screw UPS.

just because I'm looking at RN as a plan b career does not translate to "to hell with all patients, they can croke, gimme my money". Things are not that black and white as you think.

I've been in this field for a while now, I have no issues with it. I'd rather do filmmaking but if that doesn't work out I don't mind taking care of patients and make a good living.

Jade,

where do u recommend I check about the job market for my area? Should I just ask my campus advisor?

I would have a frank talk with the campus advisor, and see what that person has to say about how to fit in a few film classes in the mix. Also see if there's a film club at your school to really get into what it is that you want to do. Network big time.

I would also sign up for some of the job search engines, plug in RN as well as Health Care Administrator, and see what comes up in your email. If there's no jobs for new grads, or if there are no jobs for administrators without a masters, then you will have to re-think and re-group. You could also go to some area hospital websites to see what is available. Sometimes health care administration can also include HR in hospitals. Speak directly to some of the HR directors and ask what they look for, what you would need, etc.

Specializes in Pedi.
Well I live in New York City if that helps.

If you're in NYC, I think you're a bit disillusioned as to how easy it will be to find an RN job as well. There is an abundance of new graduate nurses and few new grad positions. Jobs for nurses, especially new grads, have been tight for years. There are many threads on here about new grads struggling to find employment in NYC.

Specializes in I/DD.
Beckster I know what you mean but I'm trying to avoid careers that require me to go to school for a masters or that require most high level math. I already had to deal with algebra and I know I have to deal with pre calc and statistics possibly for nursing and that's enough already. So I don't think radiology is gonna work that's a lot more math and physics than my brain can handle.[/quote']

I think all of those choices are Associates degrees, with the exception of RT. Radiology technology is more math/physics, so maybe that isn't for you, but it isn't impossible. Really, dental hygiene isn't too hard, you make reasonable money (not a ton) and it isn't very much school. Same with scrub techs. In fact, in my area they are replacing scrub nurses with scrub techs except for more involved surgeries like cardiac.

Specializes in Med Surg.
Plus I have a wife and 2 kids, I don't have the luxury of taking risks with my career, I have to make sure we are going to survive and live comfortably.

If you don't think pursuing a career as an RN is risky, then you are outta your ever loving mind.

Specializes in Emergency Department.

I would say that if your "heart" just really isn't in it for Nursing, doing lots of patient care and the endless charting, then you probably should take a look at doing healthcare admin. You may be able to piggyback a 2nd degree in public administration or perhaps find your way into a business program. I know that film is where you have your passion, but consider that you might actually have an easier time on the business/admin side of healthcare than perhaps you would getting an RN job.

Just something to think about.

Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

NYC is a horrible market for RN's right now, ESPECIALLY new grads. You may do all that work and find out you can't get hired. I'd look into the admin, if that's the only other option.

Alright so after some consideration and research, I've decided no on nursing. I've narrowed down my options to healthcare admin and resp. Therapy.The later is only offered as an AAS degree in NYC so I'm guessing that's all u need?As for healthcare admin, I don't know if this article regarding the job outlook in NYC holds any water but http://healthcareadministrationsite.com/why-mba-is-needed-by-healthcare-industry/

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