Stuck between Nursing Major and Education?

[emma97]

I will be finishing my junior year of high school in a month and I'm so stressed out! I understand you don't need to know your major, but in my case, I kind of do. See, I am torn between being an education major (elementary) or a nursing major (BSN). Where I live, you don't need to go away to a $30,000 a year school to get your BSN, but with education you kind of do because of the competition. So I sort of need to know, and my problem is that I absolutely cannot decide. My parents want me to be a nurse and I do too but the thing that gets to me is the wacky schedule and the lack of respect. Also, soooo many people say "Do not go into nursing", that goes for education too, but so many nurses hate their jobs. I love the job description, the pay, and the fulfillment you'd get from the job because I have a passion for helping others, but working nights, holidays, and weekends? I know you get used to it but I want a family one day and I feel like that's just tough. People say it's flexible but how is working on holidays flexible, lol? Overall, I think I'd love the job because like I said, I love to help people and I love medicine. Part of me also wants to be a teacher because I love kids and the whole aspect of education is cool to me. Also, the schedule (Mon-Fri 7-3 but there is also the taking your work home aspect) The problem with teaching is the pay and lack of jobs. I know the pay isn't terrible or anything, especially because you get summers off and lots of other days off too. Pay isn't that big of a deal though, I've just heard horror stories of many ending up without jobs. I love the idea of being able to teach children. These are two jobs that I have wanted to be since I was a little girl and it never occurred to me how hard this choice would end up being!! I know you'll probably say it's too early to make this decision but I decide on colleges starting in 4 months and I need to know where I'll be attending, you know?

SO, my question is, what are the pros and cons of both? Could I go wrong with either? Would it be better to start out as a nursing major first or a education major and then maybe switch? Is it common to major in something else before majoring in nursing? Thank you for your help!

[DEE S.]

As far as nursing. I had to decide what to do to get away from a 13 desk job at Verizon. My nursing friends kept bringing up nursing. One finally said to me nursing is whatever you want it to be, its more then the sick and dying. With that said. Your options for nursing ranges from a hospital floor nurse - a University Nursing Instructor (the best of both worlds for you). You will need your Masters however with so many affordable nursing programs on line you can get your masters in about 18 months. You can work in a doctors office where you will be appreciated more, you can work in Hospice where you will be appreciated more, school nursing where you will be a city or county employee with great benefits. Its just so many options. I have had no problem finding nursing jobs. My friend works in a call center as a Phone a Nurse making $33/hr answering calls from patients.

So please do not hesitate you will have a ton more options with nursing then education. Also nursing schedules are flexible in the hospital, most hospitals allow you to schedule your self up to your required hours 36 a week. Actually nursing is the most flexible scheduling of a job I have ever had. I work 3 (8 hr shifts) and 1 (12 hour shift). I have another friend who is a flight nurse in a helicopter. There is research nursing, clinical trials just tons of stuff. Long term the money and earning potential is endless and that will be important when you are raising a family or looking to retire and you have saved up a good amount of money from what you have earned as a nurse.