Switching majors after first semester BSN

nyteshade, BSN · Nov 25, 2010

What do you do???!! I can tell you that you won't be making that as a new nurse. I've seen job postings for NPs getting offered $70K, and that's a masters degree (+)!

I also don't think it was any of the instructor's business, and asking you to fail is very wrong. Probably could get fired for asking a student to fail on purpose. Anywho, most dieticians I know are pretty happy, and make more than the nurses in my area.

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2010

If ur 'sitting around' (in ur words), can't u ask if there is anything u can do to help anyone? I always ask if other nurses want help when I am not so busy, to me it's just common courtesy.

I don't think nursing is 4 u. Many other health professions get paid higher than nursing, and have better pay, conditions, hours, etc. Psychologists in Aust - in my opinion - do not probably work as hard as nurses, but the pay is way more after so many years of experience. An experienced psychologist here can make way over $100,000 whereas nurses here could hardly ever reach that amount. And I counsel people in mental health every week and use my limited knowledge of psychology to help them - and my wages are measly compared to the limited work they have to do.

I agree the financial side isn't worth it. I regret so much doing nursing as my 1st degree (I'm pursuing something else now). When u get older u don't necessarily get much more money, and nursing is hard on the body too. I am getting out of this field in the next year (hopefully), and I wouldn't advise anyone young to go into nursing as a 1st degree.

Look at the job ads currently for what ur going to be studying (though the job market & economy I know is changeable) it will give u some idea of the pay, conditions, and try to talk to people working in that field re what it is really like.

Don't dwell on past failures (we all fail at some point), learn from it and do better I say!

heartflutter, ADN, BSN · Nov 25, 2010

I'm an technician for a federal agency and sit around most of the day for 70K stress free. I got that job with little education.

Which agency and are they hiring?

Shazbatz35 · Nov 25, 2010

I also don't think it was any of the instructor's business, and asking you to fail is very wrong. Probably could get fired for asking a student to fail on purpose. Anywho, most dieticians I know are pretty happy, and make more than the nurses in my area.

They actually suggested I withdraw (as a courtesy I guess) during week 12, or I will recieve an "F" grade at the end at week 16. Sort of a warning I guess. It was past the university withdrawl deadline, but they said they would be willing to to sign off on it since I was theoretically passing the class. It was just the practical/clinical aspects they had a problem with, and I guess they can F you for that :). Am I not allowed to make mistakes? I didn't harm any patients, or perfrom anything unsupervised by instructor. I didn't mention that I am a male student, and not much of a brownoser either. It may be a gender biased decision, but it doesn't matter because it's not worth it. Nursing classes are horribly boring. Patho was pretty cool though. Can't wait to get back into my science and math this Spring.

Shazbatz35 · Nov 25, 2010

If ur 'sitting around' (in ur words), can't u ask if there is anything u can do to help anyone? I always ask if other nurses want help when I am not so busy, to me it's just common courtesy.

If I can find them. Probably crashed out in some breakroom. The only way anyone helps is if the supervisors ask them to :)

nedlloyd · Nov 25, 2010

I think the incentives to go into nursing are largely personal, at least for me. I wanted to be a nurse since I was very young, it's truly my passion, I derive personal satisfaction from it (usually) and if I wasn't working as a nurse I have NO IDEA what I would do instead. I would say the pay in most places is "comfortable". Certainly by no means would I call it generous... The potential is there to make the big bucks but that comes with sacrifice. Sure, if I was still single and had no kids I would pick up overtime, maybe work a second job somewhere. But my family comes first now.

I don't think you're making a bad move. You don't sound all that motivated about nursing to be honest. Nursing school is hard work and the initial payoff once you graduate may not be much better, job market for new grads is tough right now, ****** hours (if you are lucky enough to get a job), the stress of adjusting to life as a new nurse can be difficult.

How do you feel about your clinicals? Did you think they were going well or did it catch you off guard when your instructor approached you? And maybe most importantly, do you enjoy clinical?

personally, if i was working a 70k stress free federal job, unless i truly hated my life, i probably would not leave unless i knew i was leaving to pursue a true passion

best of luck in whatever you decide

Shazbatz35 · Nov 25, 2010

Nedlloyd

The problem is I did work and study hard, but still got the shaft. I knew that I needed to improve my clincal skills, but so did the rest of the class. I thought I was there to learn. Trying to hold back a straight "A" student for a semester is not much of a confidence booster. IMO they should have looked for any possible way to pass me. I personally feel there is something they didn't like about me.

I didn't like bathing people, or cleaning privates, but who does. It's a job and I just did what I had to do. Clinicals weren't that bad. I knew that you have to pay your dues. I got along with the staff and patients too.

erikab987 · Nov 25, 2010

I noticed that a few people argued that a new BSN nurse wouldn't be making $70k/year or even close, and that Master's nurses start at that salary...just wanted to interject that we should consider the standard of living in the state of the OP before offering salary advice. I live in Maryland, not California, New York or any other super-high-dollar state/city and our new grads start at about $70k/year in a hospital. This has obviously slightly dropped as of late, along with the chance of actually finding a job, but NP's here make much closer to 6 figures. Just a suggestion. Not sure where the OP is from, but considering MD doesn't have a super-inflated standard of living, it is possible for a new grad to bank $70k or close.

Gluteus Maximus · Nov 25, 2010

The problem is I did work and study hard, but still got the shaft. I knew that I needed to improve my clincal skills, but so did the rest of the class. I thought I was there to learn. Trying to hold back a straight "A" student for a semester is not much of a confidence booster. IMO they should have looked for any possible way to pass me. I personally feel there is something they didn't like about me.
I didn't like bathing people, or cleaning privates, but who does. It's a job and I just did what I had to do. Clinicals weren't that bad. I knew that you have to pay your dues. I got along with the staff and patients too.

Looked for any possible way to pass you? Are you for real? Obviously you weren't a straight A student if you were failing your labs/clinicals. Maybe you're book smart but that's only half the job of nursing - you've got the science but you're missing the art.

Everything about your posts screams nursing is not for you. Stick with your Plan B.

beewink · Nov 25, 2010

I would take it as a blessing in disguise. I think you'll look back on this years from now and be very glad that you did not become a nurse. If only I could go back in time...

Shazbatz35 · Nov 25, 2010

Looked for any possible way to pass you? Are you for real? Obviously you weren't a straight A student if you were failing your labs/clinicals. Maybe you're book smart but that's only half the job of nursing - you've got the science but you're missing the art.
Everything about your posts screams nursing is not for you. Stick with your Plan B.

Thanks for the encouragement. You may be right though. If I really wanted to be nurse, I would be continuing. Continue with the politics and BS :)