Should I major in nursing? Advice please!

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I'm currently a freshman in college and I'm undecided. I want a job that feels like I'm making a difference in someone's life. I also want a job that is exciting and not doing the same thing everyday. I've been considering nursing since I was a sophomore in high school and I can't seem to stop thinking about it. Other majors I'm considering are occupational therapy, counseling, and an elementary teacher. As you can tell I want a job where I help people. The only problems I have with nursing are seeing naked males, poop, and vomit. I've read a lot of comments online from nurses saying that they have to deal with these things on a daily basis and I don't know if I would be able to do it. I'm pretty sure that I would be able to make it into my university's nursing program however since I have a GPA higher than a 3.0. Can someone please give me some advice on what I should major in? Thanks!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I think your teachers, your parents and your guidance counsellor at school are way more equipped to help you than we are. There are also aptitude tests to be taken in high school that can help you narrow your career choices.

Every career has upsides & downsides. You're lucky to find this forum. You have a great resource here to read all kinds of things about one of your career choices - nursing. Reading through some posts will have a far greater value than a stranger on the internet giving his/her personal opinion.

Oh, and don't worry too much about the vomit/poop/genitalia thing. That turns out to not be such a big deal in the long run. And, a 3.0 likely will not get you admitted to a nursing program at this particular time. There are waitists for most decent, affordable programs, and close-to-perfect GPA's are not unusual. Also, there currently is NO nursing shortage; rather, there is a glut of unemployed nurses, mostly new grads.

All of which you will discover by reading some threads here.

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roser13 hit the nail on the head!

if you do decide to go to Nursing School be prepared to give up your entire for life until you pass the NCLEX...it takes a metric ton of work. There were days when i wanted to quit on a nearly weekly basis. 50% of my class failed or quit. some had masters degrees and others with 4.0 GPAs before they started Nursing. Either you learn how to critically think or you go home. HOWEVER, it is a very rewarding if you have the heart and drive to do what we do...and it takes a lot of both of those to make it through school and NCLEX

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You WILL have to deal with naked males, poop and vomit. No way around that. Nursing is not always exciting, you will not be changing lives every day and it won't be different every day. And you will have to work VERY hard to get there. Nursing can be dirty, monotonous and frustrating. It is also rewarding and a wonderful career. Think carefully before taking the plunge.

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Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

You may want to consider taking a CNA course. It will give you insight into the most basic nursing care & you'll get to find out firsthand if you can get past the "ew" factor without spending yrs of your time & thousands of dollars.

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Teachers are underpaid and overworked. Nurses, there's no shortage anymore and it's becoming competitive but if you like excitement you can try to finish your masters and become a Nurse practitioner in Acute/critical care. You can work in a fast pace ER

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Teachers are underpaid and overworked. Nurses, there's no shortage anymore and it's becoming competitive but if you like excitement you can try to finish your masters and become a Nurse practitioner in Acute/critical care. You can work in a fast pace ER

Teachers are paid just fine.

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Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.
Teachers are underpaid and overworked. Nurses, there's no shortage anymore and it's becoming competitive but if you like excitement you can try to finish your masters and become a Nurse practitioner in Acute/critical care. You can work in a fast pace ER

I love teachers, but nursing is the definition of overworked. I wouldn't recommend going into nursing to my worse enemy at this time. Nursing is oversaturated and jobs can be hard to come by. I wish I'd gone into teaching many years ago. And as for excitement; it's more like impossible demands and extreme anxiety with periods of drink, blanket, customer service delivery.

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Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

Moved to Pre-Nursing Student forum.

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.
I'm currently a freshman in college and I'm undecided. I want a job that feels like I'm making a difference in someone's life. I also want a job that is exciting and not doing the same thing everyday. I've been considering nursing since I was a sophomore in high school and I can't seem to stop thinking about it. Other majors I'm considering are occupational therapy, counseling, and an elementary teacher. As you can tell I want a job where I help people. The only problems I have with nursing are seeing naked males, poop, and vomit. I've read a lot of comments online from nurses saying that they have to deal with these things on a daily basis and I don't know if I would be able to do it. I'm pretty sure that I would be able to make it into my university's nursing program however since I have a GPA higher than a 3.0. Can someone please give me some advice on what I should major in? Thanks!

Like others said, a 3.0 most likely won't get you in. I am in a LPN to RN bridge program that has far fewer applicants than traditional RN programs and I still have a 4.0 to ensure entry. You will get over the poop, vomit, and naked males. I hate vomit, always have. If my kids have the flu, I gag. But for some reason, in the health setting, puke doesn't bother me. I don't like it but I can deal with it without gagging. You see one naked male, you see a thousand. I straight cath a guy at work every shift and it's as routine as giving insulin at this point. We generally talk about football during the whole thing if it gives you an image of what a non issue it is.

To figure out if you really want to do this, take the STNA class, be a tech in the hospital. You will make decent money for a college student, flexible shifts like weekends, and you can see if it's what you want to do. Nursing is very competitive as is occupational therapy and teaching so just be aware of your job market in the area you want to live. Nursing school is hard and I have prior exposure to it as an LPN, but I still have to study hours on end and I haven't had a life in three years.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.
I love teachers but nursing is the definition of overworked. I wouldn't recommend going into nursing to my worse enemy at this time. Nursing is oversaturated and jobs can be hard to come by. I wish I'd gone into teaching many years ago. And as for excitement; it's more like impossible demands and extreme anxiety with periods of drink, blanket, customer service delivery.[/quote']

I have been hearing the same thing about teaching from my sister in law. She had a terrible time finding a job and was willing to re-locate for it. Pay was dismal, her performance was based off whether or not her students were doing well, and she had to buy supplies for her job. She quit two years ago and now works at a brewery.

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I agree and disagree with different things people said in this post. Your best determining factor would be to speak to nurses where you live: shadow a nurse.

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