Should I become a nurse or a teacher?

[TinaRiy85]

I am currently a sophmore in college and I either want to apply for nursing or teacher in the upcoming fall. I am confused as to what I should do. The thing i like about teaching is that I will someday have a family and have holidays, weekends, summers off, etc. I thought I wanted to do nursing until I discovered that many nurses hate their jobs. I was also led to believe that nurses made more than teachers but some information says that teachers make more and they only work 10 months out of the year. Is this true? I am just really confused and need some advice.

[nursinggirl05]

I graduated this summer from nursing and am preparing for boards. Nursing school was like punishment and I spent a lot of money on it. I already know about the stress of this job and think that people are fools to go into nursing. There is many other professions out there where you can make decent money. Also, until you don't go through nursing school you will not have an idea how this is. So please , be wise and do lots of research for choosing the right profession.

[TinaRiy85]

I think nursing offers more options, but teaching may allow you to be happier, and have less stress. Not that teaching isn't stressfull, but nursing can really be hard. I worked as a substitute teacher for a couple of years, and worked in the same classroom for half of one year. I loved it, I was actually about to start a program to get certified when I got accepted into nursing school. I have been a nurse since Feb, and I'm not sure I made the right decision. I don't really like nursing. I'm thinking of going back to school to be a teacher, but work as a nurse one weekend a month and during the summer. I don't know. I like some parts of nursing, but docs, families, and other nurses attitudes are taking a toll on me.

I have also thought about getting a teaching degree and then getting an associates in nursing and working in the summers. The thing that really turns me off about nursing is working holidays. THe thought of not being able to spend Christmas with my family stinks.

[nicuRN2007]

If you can't decide, become a nursing instrucctor. Lord knows we need 'em!

[zenman]

I'm a nurse (30 yrs) with a teacher wife. If you want adventure here's something to consider - teach overseas. This is our first year overseas and I wish I knew about this in my 20's. My wife teaches in an American International School and I'm a school nurse. Being a school nurse was never anything I'd considered before as I don't like kids under college age. Luckily that's where mine are! However, my position is a lot of fun as the little critters are so funny. Every teacher I talk to say they would never teach again in the USA. I may never return to the US either except to visit. While each American International School (they are in almost every country) may be slightly different, we have it so good. My wife makes more than me (isn't that a switch) and I make one third of the 90+K I made in the US..and where I had trouble saving a dollar. However, we have a 2,500 sq. ft, 3BR, 3bath house...free. We have a car with US Embassy plates (we are non-diplomatic members) that costs us $600 a year including gas, oil, all maintenance, etc.. We have a driver who ...we pay $100 a month and he's so happy with his life. We have a bearer/cook who makes the same and who cooks, cleans, goes to market, etc.. He's also a happy fellow. I'm happy also as I don't have to worry as much about keeping people alive all my 12 hour shift and then trying to sleep during the day. I go to work with my wife and I love all the school holidays. We are going to travel to surrounding countries every chance we get. In October, we will go to Kathmandu for 7 days for a cost...hotel, air, meals of $800 for two. Am I a happy fellow?? When I wanted a DVD, TV, microwave and other electrical appliances, a fellow delivered it all to our house and came back days later for payment. Just now 7 guys dropped off a wardrobe that was hand made. I'm having a king size bed made out of bamboo which will be a hit of about $130 USD. My wife shops like crazy as you can imagine. The main thing I don't like is the stone age internet here and the lack of my favorite foods. As a nurse, I will not have quite the opportunities as my wife as there are probably not as many nurse positions open but we can live on one salary here. I'm also doing a post-masters FNP program. So, if you want adventure and get paid (we get paid in USD) to go to different countries, you might want to consider teaching. There are 40 different cultures in our school with mostly American teachers.