Should I pursue my dream?

[mwilburn]

Hi there! I am about to turn 33. I have a wonderful husband and 2 precious little girls ages 6 and 9. I have an associates degree in business, and I am an office manager in a telecommunications office. Every since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a nurse. Back then, I wanted to be a neonatal intensive care nurse. BUT.....time and life goes on and sometimes leaves our dreams left in a dark corner locked a way seeming virtually unattainable. I still take little glimpses of my dream and rays of hope, that one day it may become reality, shine. The spark of obtaining my dream has rekindled, and it is almost a consuming fire. I really want to go back to school to become a nurse, but I also need to work a full time job and raise a family in the process. I am scared I will fail either in my college studies, or fail my family...or BOTH! Has anyone else went through these same feelings?? Any insight from nurses and nursing students would be greatly appreciated!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

This is a family decision and should be made with your husband. Going back to school involves commitments of time and money. Perhaps nursing would pay more, would nab you better benefits or would be more flexible and stable than your current position and would improve your family's circumstances after a few years of sacrifice. Perhaps you would sacrifice those few years and not be better off financially, but with school loans to pay. It is difficult for strangers to advise you as we don't know how stable or financially rewarding your current situation is nor do we know how your husband feels (or is able to) about supporting you financially while you pursue a nursing degree.

You are never too old for more education, but a wise person analyzes the risk/benefit ratio before going forward, and a married person discusses it thoroughly with the spouse and makes sure that the spouse can/will be supportive.

I finished graduate school in the middle of a divorce and while the circumstances were not ideal, I've never regretted it. But I had only myself to consider; not two children.

[amoLucia]

Go for it! You're still a young'un by many standards!

Start getting your transfer credits (if still valid) evaluated as you'll need to complete prerequisites.

Lots of folk here have worked, done school and had a family life. They learn how to manage & balance it all. They usually had all the right support systems in place to do it. But some have had to face obstacles along the way.

If you never try, you'll always have that nagging doubt of the "what ifs?".

Go for it!

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Go for your dream. But before you do, make sure that your "dream" is what you think it is. Read around here on the forums - not only the glowing "I have a calling to be a nurse," but also the reality checks of new grad unemployment, understaffing, nursing as Customer Service, Press-Gainey scores, pressure to take more & more patients with disappearing resources, etc., etc.

Don't spend precious family time and family resources on a dream. Spend those things on a reality-based plan that is thoroughly researched & understood.

FWIW, when I see a non-nurse speak of re-kindled dreams, sparks of consuming fires, etc., my radar goes up immediately. That is a person who needs to look behind his/her imagination and discover the reality before taking a single step toward that dream. Asking us for our opinions will bring you various responses (most involving sunshine & unicorns, [except for RubyVee who tells it like it is]) but only you and your husband can really evaluate the situation.

[mwilburn]

I have been told to do a job shadow to "spend a day" to get up close and see what is like. Do you suggest that also?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I have been told to do a job shadow to "spend a day" to get up close and see what is like. Do you suggest that also?

Absolutely! And shadow someone on a med/surg-type floor. Hiring directly into a NICU as a new grad may be unrealistic, depending upon your area. Observing med/surg will give you a general idea of nursing today. Most nursing students go to school, imagining/dreaming of one type of nursing, but change their minds during school. Or face the reality of spending time in other areas before achieving their dreams. You need to expose yourself to all types of nursing.

[FutureNurseInfo]

Absolutely not! Lol, I am kidding. I am in somewhat similar situation, minus a husband and kids. I am considering both generic and accelerated BSN programs. In either case, working full-time will be very, very difficult. However, I am working on some ways to fix that. You have a husband, who, I am sure, will support any decision you will make. So, yes, like others have suggested, speak to him and make a plan to attain your goals!

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

So here is the voice of truth. I preface it all with, I love nursing, there is nothing else I would want to do. That being said, furthering your business degree is far more lucrative in terms of return on investment. The pay difference between new and top of scale nurse is far less than a new anything and top of scale in any other profession. This means that comparably, new nurses make more than most new professionals, but your peers will quickly bypass your earnings. Hospitals are the employers who pay the highest in most instances, read up on the push for customer satisfaction, these are really the worst change for hospital employees. You will be terminated if a pt doesn't like you and makes a complaint, whether founded or not. The push to get those high customer satisfaction scores means that the truth doesn't matter, only that the customer is happy with the outcome, no matter what. Most procedure policies have an immediate termination clause for patient complaints. I really do love nursing, but I would like to give you an honest assessment of what you are getting into. Good luck on your career choice, whatever you may choose.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Have you asked yourself WHY you want to be a nurse? Little girl dreams are not going to apply to your answer.

Nursing takes heart, mind and soul. People with jobs and family have succeeded in their studies ,you can to. Only you know if it's worth the sacrifice. Because it WILL be a sacrifice. You will spend less time with your family, get a lot less sleep, be a zombie some days at work.

Fail to see how you could job shadow. Patient privacy (HIPAA) would prevent an onlooker.

Best of luck with your decision.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

PP is correct - my organization (and many others) do not allow job shadowing due to legal and liability issues.

I would urge you to consider how the logistics of launching a nursing career would impact your family and personal life. Child care arrangements can be very challenging for people who work 12 hour shifts - especially if you're working nights like most new career nurses. Arranging days off and sequential days for a vacation may be very difficult as you're competing with everyone else on staff in your department. You'll probably be working every other weekend and holiday. Will this work for you and your family?

Of course, there are other non-bedside jobs which have "easier" circumstances, but they are usually only available to nurses with at least a year of full time experience.

Honestly, I don't think any of us want to be Negative Nellie/Ned... just want to make sure you have a realistic preview so you can make the best decision for you.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

You will be terminated if a pt doesn't like you and makes a complaint, whether founded or not. The push to get those high customer satisfaction scores means that the truth doesn't matter, only that the customer is happy with the outcome, no matter what.

Not necessarily. My manager is an extremely solid advocate for her staff, and we have a strong union, and this would never ever fly where I work.

[djh123]

If I could get a BSN at 54, you can do it. Go for it!