Should I go back to nursing or stick with accounting?

[angelicasongs]

I finally registered for this site because I'm hoping that someone who is actually a nurse may be able to help. When I graduated high school, I had plans to get my BS and then go to med school. I went to a community college first and then transferred to a university. My gpa dropped dramatically as I had majored in biology(knowing that I hate science ). The classes themselves weren't hard, but I couldn't focus at all and had a hard time getting anything done. So I decided maybe I should try nursing because it seemed more hands on. I only needed to take A&P 1-2 before I could apply for the nursing program at the community college. So I tried A&P 1 and sadly...I took the class and lab online and ended up failing the lab but got a high B in the class. That completely threw me off and I decided to switch to accounting because I have better grades in math and economics. The problem is, I always pictured myself helping people. I love kids, but hated teaching(tried it). I've always taken care of people, being the oldest out of 9 siblings!

So now that I've switched all of my classes, I'm still doubting whether or not accounting or nursing is for me. I had my daughter last December at 26 weeks and spent 4 months in the NICU with her. Right now her dad works nights and I'm going to school so I can get a decent job. I have student loans from my university that I will have to start paying next year, so now I'm in "crunch time" trying to figure out what I want to do. I don't feel like nursing is an option anymore because of my grades, but for some reason I really can't get that out of my mind. Everyone keeps saying accounting would be better, because I wanted to have a flexible schedule in order to be home with our daughter and I've always been shy. I mean I talk when I need to and all that, but in most cases I tend to work alone if possible. So in that aspect accounting makes sense. I keep getting mixed responses about whether or not nursing is as flexible and I already know I wouldn't want to work in a hospital. I feel like I would need hands on experience to decide whether or not nursing or accounting is for me, but I don't have the money to pick one and then find out later that it wasn't for me.

I know that no one can tell me what to decide, but I figured based on my personality(being quiet and getting bored easily), wanting a flexible schedule(definitely not sure that I want 12 hr shifts), and something that I can get a job easily with, maybe someone can suggest which one sounds like it suits me better. Oh and I'm in Northwest Florida if that makes any difference. Thanks~

[BostonFNP, APRN]

If you dislike science and struggled with practical A&P, nursing might be a long hard road for you (not that it should stop you of you truly want to do it) if you are looking for a quick job with good pay and benefits. You also have to conquer being quiet in nursing (at times).

There are many jobs that deal with helping people if science, medicine, and nursing aren't your thing.

You can do it if you want to.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

Quick interjection from a fellow shy person/aspiring nurse: I work with a lot of nurses who are on the quiet side. I will say that it's probably easier to have a "people person" kind of mentality, but there's definitely room for those of us who more introverted too. A gentle, calming presence is just as important as being friendly and talkative, and I'm sure you could find a specialty where your focus could come in handy.

So now that that's out of the way: I can't tell from your post what the right path for you is. Obviously you're having some trouble too. Honestly, no one can answer this but you, and you will probably be able to see yourself in these two different places doing equally well (or equally badly).

If you can do it, would you consider taking some time off of school to work while investigating each career path more in depth? Whether by volunteering, interviewing RNs and accountants, reading books, whatever - that might help you get a better taste of the environment you'll be in for both careers. That way, when you go back to school, you'll at least have an idea of what you're in for.

If that's not an option, honestly, my thought would be what's best for me and my family. Considering salary, lifestyle, and "would I be busy/occupied enough in this to not worry about whether this is the right career for me?" There are going to be days where you're going to think you made the absolute wrong choice, no matter which program you choose; that's just life. Just think of which one you'll be the most proud you stuck out and will keep the busiest in a good way.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Just to clarify, some of the most competent RNs and NPs I know are quiet but they all don't hesitate to speak up when the situation warrants it, as I am sure the PP does. You don't have to be gregarious but you do need to be confident and an advocate when warranted. Just don't want people to think I was bashing shy people.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

Just to clarify, some of the most competent RNs and NPs I know are quiet but they all don't hesitate to speak up when the situation warrants it, as I am sure the PP does. You don't have to be gregarious but you do need to be confident and an advocate when warranted. Just don't want people to think I was bashing shy people.

Precisely! As long as you can say what you need to say, and trust your knowledge and experience, that's what you really need. Small talk is an important skill, but it comes with time; you just need to show your patients that you care and that you are competent; the number of words you use to do it doesn't matter.

[thenameismac]

I think you have to really understand the duties of a nurse first before you decide that's something you want to do. I work with a few nurses who say all the time that if they knew this is what nursing would be like they would have majored in something else. It's not all about passing out meds and documenting that you did so. It's not all about getting a fat paycheck with little schooling. It's much more than that and I hear more often than not that nursing is taxing mentally. I did a ton of research and volunteered before I made the final decision to major in nursing. I am still trying to get there but as a tech I get to see things first hand.

If you don't have a passion for either accounting or nursing or anything for that matter major in something that will get you a job now and change careers later. Either way you have a few years before you can start working (1.5 years at the earliest) and nursing is really competitive so expect to work hard for it.

With that being said, I think you will find where your heart really lies and no matter what we say here on allnurses you will follow your heart. I wish you the best in whatever you decide.

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

Just speaking to the flexibility of accounting. I've worked in accounting/finance (mostly finance) for many years and I don't think it offers flexibility. Almost all corporate accounting jobs are 9-5, five days a week, with busy month-end/quarter-end/year-end. At some companies, there is some flexibility to leave work early, come in late, or work from home, but most of the time you stick to that 9 to 5 schedule. You can have considerably more flexibility if you are a CPA and have the entrepreneurial drive to work for yourself, but you still need to get experience in public accounting for at least a few years, and public accounting has insane hours.

Also, it is rare to see part-time accounting job except for book-keeping. Prior to looking into nursing, I have never even heard of the word "Per Diem". Furthermore, it is common to get pigeon-holed to a certain industry and that could limit your ability to relocate to areas without that industry's presence or moving out that industry if you hate it.

By the way, it is a misconception that accountants are shy bean-counters.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Ok, I'll be the one to offer the reality check. I don't do this to be mean, or non-supportive, but rather to save you some heartache and money.

Grades have to be stellar nowadays to get into nursing schools, and the waitlist is long WITH those grades. You don't have the grades to compete.

I understand you want to help people, and are concerned that accounting isn't a passion, but there's ALOT more to nursing than "helping people". And if you can't get through the pre-reqs to get INTO nursing school--and then survive that--I don't see nursing in your future.

I am not trying to be discouraging, I am trying to encourage you toward a realistic goal. You say you "definitely" don't want 12-hour shifts, and you know you don't want to work in a hospital, when that might be all that is offered to you. You might find that all you are offered is nightshift in a hospital--are you prepared for a 12-hour nightshift job? Beyond that, you might very well be offered NO JOB at all. The job market is tight; in many places experience is the only thing to get your foot inched through the door. Are you prepared to wait years for employment? And yet you say you want a job you can "get easily"?

You say you've been getting mixed responses on how flexible nursing is. That is probably because the jobs with the most flexibility go to people who have put in years to gain the experience needed for those jobs, and earned the reputations to get them the spots. The least flexible? New grads who need to 'earn their stripes' so to speak. Are you willing to wait the many years that will take (between getting through nursing school, working as a new grad and waiting for a plum job to open up)?

I say your biggest problem in getting into nursing is that you have placed far too many restrictions on what you won't do: long shifts, hospital shifts, you want flexible hours (and, I presume, lots of family time?). On top of this, you want to be able to find employment as a new grad with no experience easily. And you don't seem to have the grades to get in in the first place.

Stick with accounting, and volunteer your time in a shelter, or in some other charitable organization to "help people", and leave nursing out of the equation.