Stuck between a rock & a hard place :(

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Specializes in ER, LTC, SCALF.

I initially wanted to go into education to teach elementary school, but I do not want to be stupid and obtain that degree and then wonder why I do not have a job. I do not really believe that it matters what state you are in - education is on the rocks. But when it comes to what I am truly passionate about , it is education. Unfortunately, passion doesnt pay bills! So my first year of community college I pretty much took general courses for education, so I didnt take any biology classes. Well lately Ive been feeling a thing for nursing and I'll admit its mostly for job prospects, but I also believe I would like it simply because I enjoy helping people and I typically handle stressful situations well. But in the end - NO , nursing is not what calls me.

I am still thinking about changing to nursing but I have to catch up on all the biologys that I hadnt taken the first 2 semesters. So Im stuck trying to think whether to go to a community college and get my adn, or just stick it out and get the BSN. I feel like with going to school at Wallace Community College they will help place me, (almost all graduates get jobs comming from their nursing program) or I could just wait and hope to get accepted into Troy University for next fall. I do notice a lot of jobs saying BSN preferred - but I hear that riftraft has been around for awhile.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated - Im just feeling like I cant win when it comes to education and my future..

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Specializes in Trauma.

Be careful of getting into nursing for "the job prospects." Contrary to what the media says there is not really a nursing shortage. I have friends that graduated nursing school in May of 2011 that took up to 6 months to get a job. Most had to grab any job they could, including a nursing home. One friend had to take a job as a psych nurse or go back to driving a truck just to support his family.

I am not sure exactly where you are located but look on your local hospital job sites and see how many open RN positions are listed, then think about how many local schools have an RN program and the number of new grads they produce each year. In and around B'ham there no less than 6 nursing schools, ADN and BSN. They produce approx. 400-500 new grads each year. I would bet there are rarely over 75 total jobs posted at any time in the B'ham hospitals.

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Have you thought about eventually teaching nursing? It may be a good compromise between wanting to be a teacher and a nurse. I graduated in may and found it really easy to get a job. I was even fortunate enough to get into the exact field I wanted (nicu). The people who didn't have jobs that I know weren't proactive.

As to bsn or and, its up to u. I have my bsn and will tell u from interviews, it is the preference. Hospitals want magnet status and to get that you need more higher level degrees.

Nursing is a great field with a lot of options. U can work in a hospital, office, long term care, research, teaching and more.

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Specializes in ER, LTC, SCALF.

~ Thanks for the comments guys ! I have decided to just double up on biologys and try to get into a BSN program. I know there is no longer a nursing shortage, but in alabama when you pull up any job board all you see is RN constantly. So im feeling Id get a job, that is the least of my worries. My issue is just getting into the program and realizing when its too late that it is not at all what I want to do. I am trying to get into a nursing home cna program but the waitlists are so long because they are free, and I cannot afford to pay for the course because I am paying out of pocket (from waitress money) for my community college. But thanks for the suggestion about teaching nursing. Do you need a MSN to do so?

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Yay for going for the bsn! It will be worth it in the long run. I had a few teachers that didn't have an MSN, but were working on it while they were teaching. So from what I can see, u can teach with a bsn.

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Specializes in ER, LTC, SCALF.

~ if I had gone into education I would have eventually went back to get my masters, so I can do the same with nursing. Since my overall goal is to teach. Is their any advice you all could give me as to what to expect &what not to expect..just stuff u wish you would've known. Btw I'm pretty excited about this &i can't share it with my family bc they are so disappointed I let go of teaching.

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