Should I become a nurse?

[graciehamm]

Hello nurses! Before I start I wanted to tell you that I have a large amount of respect for you. I have been reading posts on this website almost everyday and understand how stressful it is to be a nurse. I have a very large interest in nursing and am very excited to start preparing for nursing school. I am about to start high school and am going to take pre-nursing courses as my CTE. This will let me be a certified nursing assistant at the end of high school and I am planning to work the summer before college so I can "dip my toes in the water". I am unsure of what specialty I want to go into, but that's okay. (especially since I am very prepared for my future so young) I am thinking of going into anything pediatric related. I love kids and work with them very well.

I wanted to ask all experienced nurses and nursing students for tips on how to prepare for nursing school in high school and what specialty you recommend (if you are in one) What did you do in high school to prepare? How did you manage the stress and/or how are you currently managing the stress of nursing school? Any random tips/ advice I should know?

Also the most important question you hear everybody ask: should I really become a nurse?

Thank you so much, in advance, and I will love reading your responses.

[RNtoACGNP]

Good job on thinking about your future now. I will say this, I am almost 27 and the biggest thing I can tell you is that you will change so much from now until college. I'm guessing your about 14 years old, and it's great that you want to be a nurse and are taking CNA courses. Asking if you should become a nurse is not something anybody can answer for you, but just know that as you progress through high school and college your perspectives will change tremendously, so just do the pre nursing stuff you're doing now and don't plan too far ahead past that because frankly you just won't know until you get there. Once you become a CNA your answer will clear to you.

[graciehamm]

Good job on thinking about your future now. I will say this, I am almost 27 and the biggest thing I can tell you is that you will change so much from now until college. I'm guessing your about 14 years old, and it's great that you want to be a nurse and are taking CNA courses. Asking if you should become a nurse is not something anybody can answer for you, but just know that as you progress through high school and college your perspectives will change tremendously, so just do the pre nursing stuff you're doing now and don't plan too far ahead past that because frankly you just won't know until you get there. Once you become a CNA your answer will clear to you.

Thank you for responding. I know I will change from now until high school and that is why I am taking these classes to make sure I want to be a nurse before I go to college. Thanks for the advice!