Should I become a nurse for the money??

Grumpygs, MSN, RN · Mar 9, 2012

I'm only answering this because you are young and appear to need some information.

That being said - you should NEVER attempt a career 'just for the money' - especially NOT nursing.

You may want to consider starting off as a nurse assistant and see how that goes for you before you spend a lot (and I mean A LOT!!!) of time and money taking courses only to find out that nursing isn't for you.

As a nurse assistant, you will help people that need your help more than you will believe. It appears from your post that you have a compassionate streak and the people that you will be working with as a nurse assistant will benefit greatly from your compassion.

I didn't decide to get into nursing until I was almost 40 - you have your whole life ahead of you - don't be in such a rush to decide on a concrete career. Try a few different things out - see how things feel and work for you.

Good luck with your future.

ashafae · Mar 9, 2012

Nursing is ABSOLUTELY not the career to go into just for the money. It is a very difficult profession that I feel takes an special kind of person to excel in the position.

With that being said...Have you thought about maybe going to be a counselor? I worked in the Substance Abuse field for quite some time and it was very rewarding. You can choose your specialty such as substance abuse, mental health counseling, family/marriage counseling, adolescents, school counselor...the options are endless, especially if you enjoy working with children. I would advise looking into it!! After reading your post that’s the first thing that popped into my head for you

:thankya:

PMFB-RN, RN · Mar 9, 2012

My guess is that all those people telling you to become a nurse are victems of the false and self serving "nursing shortage" propaganda. There is no nursing shortage. There are almost no jobs for new grad nurses. Many new RNs spend years trying to get their first job. As for getting a job in pediatrics, very unlikely. Everybody and their dog wants to be either a pediatric or labor & delivery nurses. The competetion is fierce for experienced nurses to get those jobs and very, very few hospitals will hire a new grad into such a job. To be a travel nurse you must first have significant, real paid experience in the nursing specialty you wish to travel in.

Personaly I find the notion of going into nursing for the money abserd. The money isn't very good compared to the level of responsibiliety and risk and plain old hard work involved. Nursing school is difficult to get into and while it's not very hard comparied to other fields like chemical engineering, it's no easy either. It's also very expensive. Also if you finish nursing school and then decide nursing isn't for you, well a BSN is a pretty useless degree for non nurses.

There are fields with much less risk that pay more.

ProudStudent · Mar 9, 2012

I'm not going to be a negative-nelly here, but don't do anything just for money. You'll end up disappointed, big time. I personally thing it's GREAT that you're 16 and have this determined vision of your future. There are many free career assessment quizzes that you can take online, if you really want other ideas. I would agree with others and say that a CNA class or volunteer time may be a good fit before you spend the time and money on your education. Take advantage of your age and use the time wisely!

leenak · Mar 9, 2012

Have you looked into the peace corps? I think you have a good idea of what you want. You are still at the exploration phase though and it can change somewhat as you get older and get more experiences.

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Mar 9, 2012

Wot chick,

I can empathize with what you are experiencing. I was also confused and uncertain as to what career path I wanted to pursue at your age.

I would not recommend nursing to you. The prerequisites and the program itself are all science based. You really have to enjoy science to get through nursing school. You also will have to be able to deal with the diseases and everything that comes with that....those are the people who need nurses the most. If you are not passionate about it, or at least interested in it, it will be extremely difficult to be successful in it. Don't listen to the people who tell you to do it for the money. There are other ways to make a decent living without working in a career you dislike. Life is too short to be miserable.

Like ashfae mentioned, what about counseling? That was also the first thing I thought of when I read your post. Keep in mind, there are many other careers out there that perhaps you haven't thought of or even know that they exist.

I commend you on reaching out to people and asking questions and taking an introspective look into what your strengths and weaknesses are. That, in itself, is a difficult task to do for most people. Keep researching and looking for something that will fit with your strengths and that you will enjoy. You don't have to have it entirely figured out before senior year. Don't place that stress on yourself. There are many other ways to "save lives" without nursing. Think about it.

Best of luck to you on your journey.

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2012

I agree about joining the peace corps for a while after high school. You will get the opportunity to see what people in under developed countries are facing and will have a chance to make a tangible difference in their lives. I really don't think nursing is what you are looking for, especially if you feel it would be something you are settling for.

Nursing is not glamorous, does not pay particularly well, has long hours, week ends, holidays and is many times thankless. While there can be much satisfaction in nursing, you need time to find your niche, and science is a big part of school. Nursing school is very competitive to get in, and difficult to stay in. You won't feel comfortable in your career for a number of years after you pass boards and begin work. So there will be no instant gratification, but a lot of sacrifice.

I've been doing this almost 40 years and can't think of anything I would rather do, but it is not for everyone. You have a lot of time to explore your options. Don't rush into anything, and remember throughout the rest of your life....Never settle! Never settle for a mate, a career, a neighborhood. Do what you have to do to get what you want and what you deserve. Never settle! Good luck to you.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2012

Honey, first of all your life won't be over if you can't choose right out of school. I know it seems that way and that is what you are told.......but you can spend a year getting pre-requisites for college that can be applied to whatever it is you finally decide. You have a lifetime ahead of you. Find out if you like nursing, volunteer at a hospital right now.

Please don't choose nursing for the money....for although it does pay OK....this is a hard profession to work in, mentally and physically. It is heavy in the sciences and math, of course. You will have to work all shifts 7A to 7P and 7P to 7A including weekends and holidays. From your post your passion leans more towards teaching and social work than nursing. Besides teaching has better benefits/pension than nursing and you are for the most part in a safer environment.

I see that you have a passion for children, but nursing children is emotionally difficult and it's much more than teaching about STDs and self respect. It's about sick, dying, injured, abused children from cancer, trauma and sick adults who prey on the young and innocent. Just because you do to nursing school doesn't guarantee you a position in a hospital let alone pediatrics.

You will have to rotate through all areas of nursing in school and specialize later. You will wipe plenty of adults bottoms and clean up your fair share of body fluids far more that be exposed to blood.....before you ever get to care just for children. "Travel nursing" means there are jobs you travel to that are in hospitals assigned on need of the facility that you need to have EXPERIENCE first before you go from place to place hospital to hospital.

People keep telling you to be a nurse because they are under the same delusion that once graduated you are guaranteed a job. Well, that is just NOT true. The economy has effected nursing as well and many graduate nurses cannot find jobs for extended periods of time. There is NO nursing shortage and won't be for a LONG time, if it ever has one again.

You can be whatever you want to be. Teachers are the mentors of our children for the future (they have better benefits and don't work holiday and weekends) and save them from a world in ignorance and fear. Education is POWER and it is the power to to give the tools to underprivileged children all over the world to rise above their circumstances. Social workers/counselors care for children and can "save them" from their circumstances as well and teach them a better way. Anytime we contribute to our world around us we are saving the world be a better place and making us a worthwhile member of the world.

Follow your heart, enjoy high school. You have a lifetime to be an adult. Study hard and get your grades up. You'll be fine.:hug:

Wot chick · Mar 9, 2012

What fields would you suggest ? Thank you for your response and time .. : )

kaysmom2 · Mar 9, 2012

IMO you are planning out your life scenerio before you even have a chance to experience it. For example how much you want to make and whether you'll be single or not. If you want to try nursing for the money by all means. I would say in the past I've had some very good paying jobs that were little to no skilled and/or just plain ol' entry level....hated it!!!!

I think the biggest misconception with the nursing field is that people expect it to be the complete opposite of what they are accustomed to in the job market. No politicking...not!...No hating management not! Getting the days off you want in the areas you want with the exact hours you want not! You will not feel overworked and overpaid...not! Sorry if people are selling you wolf tickets about the field I'd reconsider. It's a career like many others. And it's not for everyone. I would however try your hand at being a CNA first to see if you even like catering to the needs or being of service to people.

You may even try the non-profit field, social work, public health and/or psychology. There is not easy way in all require work all have their downfalls and some you may not feel you are getting paid enough. Go in for the passion first and money second.

For example. Teaching...We all know teachers don't get paid what they should. My aunt was a teacher for years and moved in to the administrative staff and eventually was vice-principal. She was making around 6 figures by the time she retired. Now granted it took her some years to get there but overall she has been pleased with what she loves and how much she made.

PMFB-RN, RN · Mar 9, 2012

What fields would you suggest ? Thank you for your response and time .. : )

*** If I had to do it over again I would choose military and then law enforcement, preferably at the federal level. The oppertunity to retire after only 20 years is outstanding. We nurses will be working until will into old age.