Should I go through with nursing?

Boottuff · Mar 9, 2020

I did it for the money and it's been a good career. Allowed me to buy a house, pay cash for it. I'm able to put 2 kids through college without having to take out any loans. But I sacrificed alot of time with them to do that to make that kind of money. Plus being a nurse makes holidays kinda useless since I had to work so many of them and I've put up with alot of crap over the years. If your goal is financial security, it's a good gig and it can be fun at times. But it's like any other job; it has good things and bad things that come with it. I'll never love it but I'm good at it, my family is secure, and the paycheck has been steady.

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Mar 9, 2020

So it sounds to me like health care is not exactly your passion but I dont think that necessiraly will make you a bad nurse or hate the profession overall. Have you been to clinicals yet? Had direct patient care yet? I definately wouldnt want you to waste your time if this truely is not the career path for you, but I dont thinks it the wrong one per say.

My experience in nursing school 15 years ago was similar. I was friendly with classmates but didn't really bond with them. I really did not like nursing school and felt there was a lot of drama. I showed up to class then went home and didn't socialize much. I am kind of an introvert. I did go into healthcare because I wanted to help people but at the same time I wasnt that student who was all bringing their guitars to clinical and singing for their patients because nursing truely is their passion. Because I am an introvert I even had one instructor tell me she didn't think I would do well as a nurse in 2nd year clinical. I'm not sure what her deal was. Jokes on her, I've been in critical care for 15 years, get along very well with all my coworkers, and I've had great references from managers and physicians that I have worked with and always have had excellent evaluations. I really do care about giving great patient care.

There are so many areas of nursing you can work that are for different personalities. And nursing school is not the same as the real world. I hated nursing school. But you still have to want to care about people etc. Nursing is brutal work. You never have enough time, administrators breathing down your neck, you charting is never good enough even though you were coding your patients all day etc etc. It's frustrating to say the least.

Some days I dream of leaving the profession and working in a garden nursery. But that doesnt pay the bills and I am able to garden for my hobby. Working 3 12 hr shifts a week is the only thing that keeps me going sometimes. I love working in critical care, but you become disillusioned with the system and non compliant patients pretty quickly. But then once in a blue moon I will have the most sweet patients and it kind of makes up for it. Job portability cant be beat and pay is decent in most parts of the country. If you do feel in your heart health care is for you, I think you will be fine, but if you are really feeling like health care isn't for you I would find a different path.

GiosueFedele, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2020

On 3/5/2020 at 11:00 PM, nursingstudent6 said:
Hi,
I'm a first semester nursing student for a two year degree. The program hasn't been too bad so far and it isn't as hard as I expected. I originally picked it because it's stable, the pay is decent, and I have the potential to make good money if I eventually become a CRNA. I enjoy helping people to some degree but since I work in customer service I am aware that most of the time it is a thankless job, which can be a bit depressing. My biggest concern is that I just don't have anything in common with my classmates or professors and I'm not able to connect with them. It's super lonely and I don't want to work in an atmosphere where I don't fit in for the rest of my life. I guess maybe nursing draws a certain personality type and I'm starting to think that it's just not for me? How can I tell for sure? I can handle doing a job I don't particularly enjoy but if I'm not able to at least have a good time with my coworkers I'll go crazy. Any advice would be really appreciated , thank you!

I think you should re-evaluate wether nursing is really for you or not. Nursing isn’t a social circle. You’re there to take care of people, not amp your social life. I also think you should shadow a CRNA and do your research if that’s the route you want to go.

klp2006, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2020

We had a student drop out 18 months into a 24-month program because as much as she kept trying to push on, it just wasn't for her. Nursing has an extremely high burn-out rate as it is. For those who aren't passionate about it, it's higher. The path to CRNA will require: *based off of my geographical area and personal journeys of CRNA friends. Experiences will vary*

These two years of your ADN
2 years working in an ICU (if your area will hire an ADN new-grad into that unit. If they won't you have a year or two on the floor before getting into the ICU for at least two.)
Working and saving WHILE getting and paying for your BSN
4+ years from now, applying to CRNA school
6-7+ years from now - Become a CRNA and finally make money
Pay back $XX,XXX - $XXX,XXX in debt

CRNA's that I know had to scrimp and save for years so that they didn't have to work during CRNA school. Some, took out loans for those years of living expenses, on top of their educational loans for the program. Either way, for most it's an academically challenging and austere life. Again, it depends on your situation and area... and some may also argue, it depends on your age, and financial support.

Yes, there is good money to be made, but it is far from fast, easy, or cheap.

Do a cost analysis for everything you're trying to do (cost of school, living expenses, not working, etc.) for this entire 6-7+ year journey. Get a patient tech job working in the ICU and evaluate if this is the path you want to be (potentially broke on) for the next 6+ years... until you become a CRNA.

FWIW, I made six-figures in sales and a degree wasn't required. Engineers in my area come out of college with a 5-yr degree making $250k with less educational time and debt than chasing a CRNA. Real estate can be lucrative (and "fun/social") for the right individual and depending on your state you're looking at about <200 hrs of instruction and <$1,000 in tuition.

Time is money. Money is money. Debt is very expensive money. (Don't forget to factor in interest rates on your loans).