Should I change my major?

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2011

I'm currently struggling with answering the question "Do I want to be a nurse?"
I was super sure I wanted to be a nurse for awhile, and then A&P came along. I struggled with it a lot and barely made it through A&P I but did well in A&P II. I then felt confident again that I wanted to be a nurse. At that point, I actually started nursing school. I loved it at first, and I did well throughout the entire semester, but maybe halfway through I started questioning if nursing was what I really wanted. It didn't help that mental health wise I wasn't doing well at all. I decided to take the spring semester off from nursing, and during that time decided that I wanted to change my major...to what, I wasn't sure. Over the summer I was thinking I'd like to be a teacher...another respectable career which I have some experience in. I took this semester off partly because of mental health and partly because I'm just not sure what I want to do. I'm doing well mental health wise, and am going back to school next semester so I have to decide and answer the big question of what I'm going to do. Lately I've been thinking about changing my major to occupational therapy because it's still in health care and that's definitely where I want to be, but it has more of a focus on daily life and the like and still has lots of options like nursing, plus I feel like it's a lower stress job. I've talked to OT students and am working on shadowing an OT, I emailed the hospital to see if that's an option and will call a couple nursing homes as well. Do you think I should change?

Well, changing your major all depends on what your long term goal is.

Nursing is only as stressful as you make it. If u work in a busy hospital you will be stressed out. If you work in say and OB/GYN office, General Med office, im sure the stress is significantly less (at least this is what ive observed.)

Dont get discouraged over the A&P thing...prerequisites and usually like that. very trying and challenging..but once u get to nursing its a little better.

What ever you decide, go with your heart:redbeathe:)

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2011

I'm currently struggling with answering the question "Do I want to be a nurse?"
I was super sure I wanted to be a nurse for awhile, and then A&P came along. I struggled with it a lot and barely made it through A&P I but did well in A&P II. I then felt confident again that I wanted to be a nurse. At that point, I actually started nursing school. I loved it at first, and I did well throughout the entire semester, but maybe halfway through I started questioning if nursing was what I really wanted. It didn't help that mental health wise I wasn't doing well at all. I decided to take the spring semester off from nursing, and during that time decided that I wanted to change my major...to what, I wasn't sure. Over the summer I was thinking I'd like to be a teacher...another respectable career which I have some experience in. I took this semester off partly because of mental health and partly because I'm just not sure what I want to do. I'm doing well mental health wise, and am going back to school next semester so I have to decide and answer the big question of what I'm going to do. Lately I've been thinking about changing my major to occupational therapy because it's still in health care and that's definitely where I want to be, but it has more of a focus on daily life and the like and still has lots of options like nursing, plus I feel like it's a lower stress job. I've talked to OT students and am working on shadowing an OT, I emailed the hospital to see if that's an option and will call a couple nursing homes as well. Do you think I should change?

Yeah, a lot of kids want to go to medical school until they take chemistry. It happens. A&P is, to me, way better than nursing school. At least A&P seemed educational. Teaching isn't something I'd recommend. I taught H.S. science for a minute (not by desire), and it was.....well, the cuss word rhymes with kitty. If you want to do OT or even PT then have at it! They make bank and don't do jack. I'm down for it. I couldn't do OT though. I have the patience of a rabid dog. You could even do OT assisting or PT assisting. In my neck of the woods they make more than RNs, and there's a running gag that if you flunk out of nursing school here you go 30 miles to the nearest community college and do OTA or PTA.

I'm glad your mental health has come along and doing well. Sometimes you just need to take a break from things to get better. I'm sure that someday once I decide not to be a student anymore and stop working multiple jobs in the same career field I'll become sweet and gentle.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2011

Well, changing your major all depends on what your long term goal is.
Nursing is only as stressful as you make it. If u work in a busy hospital you will be stressed out. If you work in say and OB/GYN office, General Med office, im sure the stress is significantly less (at least this is what ive observed.)
Dont get discouraged over the A&P thing...prerequisites and usually like that. very trying and challenging..but once u get to nursing its a little better.
What ever you decide, go with your heart:redbeathe:)

You're so sweet.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 10, 2011

How about Radiology or Respiratory Therapist? Also consider occupational therapy and speech pathology.

SingDanceRunLife · Dec 10, 2011

As I said in my OP, I've been through a semester of nursing school and did my clinicals and such and I didn't love it, and there's a huge part of me that says that I shouldn't continue because of that. So it's not just A&P...that was back in the past.