Should I still do nursing?

WanderingWilder, ASN · Apr 29, 2017

Plenty of people do the LPN to RN route, but I would encourage you to really think about what you want to do and not just go to school because you feel its the next step. You can pause, get a job, work for a little while then go back when you really know. So many people rack up student loans in school then end up not even wanting to use their degree. Then when you find your passion you won't have any financial aid left to go back to school.

MotoMonkey, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2017

...really think about what you want to do and not just go to school because you feel its the next step. You can pause, get a job, work for a little while then go back when you really know.

What WanderingWilder said is so very true.

In high school I did very poorly, embarrassingly poorly. I ended up taking four years off after high school and had a variety of jobs from stocking shelves to wildland firefighting and beyond. By the time I was ready to start college I was more responsible and ready to buckle down and achieve my goal. When I was accepted into nursing school I had a 3.96 GPA, which was something I never would have imagined happening while I was in high school.

So just know that there are all kinds of options and routes to consider before jumping in.

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Apr 29, 2017

I wouldn't let Advanced Biology dissuade you from attempting a nursing program.

Advanced Bio is more academically rigorous than are nursing classes.

And OMG, being a lawyer? That's enough to make me hurl right there.

You're so young that you have plenty of time to try, change, try again, switch, stop, start and finally figure out what your path is. Choose what you think you'd most like to do and give it your all. If you change your mind or it doesn't work out, you've got plenty of time to get it right.

I wholly endorse this:

(don't) just go to school because you feel its the next step. You can pause, get a job, work for a little while then go back when you really know.

Only go to school when you're (a) working toward something that you want and (b) have the mindset to give it your full attention and effort.

How do I know if I should switch to nursing?

That's a tough one. You need to start by defining what you want out of a career and what kinds of activities you enjoy and detest. Decide what you believe nursing offers that attracts you. Talk to real nurses and figure out if your view of nursing matches the reality of it. Talk to people who know you well and get their feedback. Make a list of pros and cons, prioritize it, and then choose. Choosing any career field entails risk that you may be choosing wrong.

Tacomaboy3 · May 7, 2017

For you, I would recommend working as a CNA for a little bit to get a more accurate glimpse into what nursing is. At the very least, you should try and find a volunteer/shadowing opportunity at a local hospital. If you are SET on nursing, you should plan on taking a couple prerequisite nursing courses once you graduate high school. I would also argue the path toward law school is much more academically rigorous. You have some time to figure out your passions and career path! Don't feel ultra-pressured into anything.

AspiringNurse0223 · May 7, 2017

I was interested and set on being a registered nurse for all of highschool (I'm in gr.12). I changed my mind on becoming a nurse because I did poorly in my Adv. Functions, and Biology class (65%-70%). I'm definitely not strong in these classes, so I decided to do law instead. I'm going to Ryerson's Criminology program next year, but I'm considering nursing again. If I decide to go to school for nursing, I can attend a nearby college, and get a practical nursing diploma. Then I guess go to Ryerson to become an RN.
Has anyone struggled with these courses? How did you overcome it?
Did anyone take this path from LPN to RN? How was it?
How do I know if I should switch to nursing?
Thank you!!!

You can upgrade those marks through correspondence then apply to Ryerson's program. I have taken a course through ILC (ilc.org) and liked it. It stands for the Independent Learning Centre and it's an online high school in Ontario. I actually took biology through there and got an 85. It took me 2 months to do the course (so less time than in class... but I worked on it everyday). You should also check out that site... courses are about 40$.

I don't think anyone will really *know* if they like nursing becuse you can't take it for a test run or anything lol. And hospitals in Ontario, even the teaching hospitals, don't allow shadowing due to confidentiality. BUT I would suggest you volunteer at a hospital so you're around nurses and see what they do. THat's what I did... I volunteered at a teaching hospital for a few years so got to see the different roles :)

AspiringNurse0223 · May 7, 2017

For you, I would recommend working as a CNA for a little bit to get a more accurate glimpse into what nursing is. At the very least, you should try and find a volunteer/shadowing opportunity at a local hospital. If you are SET on nursing, you should plan on taking a couple prerequisite nursing courses once you graduate high school. I would also argue the path toward law school is much more academically rigorous. You have some time to figure out your passions and career path! Don't feel ultra-pressured into anything.

Good suggestion, but assuming OP lives in Canada, Canada (or at least Ontario) doesn't have any CNAs. We have PSWs (Personal Support Workers) but they are quite different from a nurse's aid. They usually work independently and do very different roles than nurses. They often don't work with nurses nor do they work in hospitals or anything. It also takes nearly a year to get certified as a PSW.