teacher to nursing?

[RNtobe23]

As you probably know from my previous posts I have a previous degree in psych education.. I realized as I was entering the education program that this was not what I wanted to do, I realized I had a passion for nursing but alt that point it was too late to switch so I miserable pushed forward.

Anyway by the time I got to student teaching I was completely depressed and all around miserable. I really realized that this is not what I want to do in my life. I was having frequent panic attacks and crying fits. After I graduated and got my degree I wanted to apply for a nursing program at my local community college but I just couldn't get past this never ending internal debate of feeling that my previous degree will be a complete waste if I go I to nursing and I feel ashamed. It holds me back and I keep trying to convince myself to go into my current field even tho I know it won't make me happy.

What do you think?

[englishgeek]

You have to decide for yourself. But I do know that a background in teaching would be applicable to nursing. Good nurses ate teachers.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I was an elementary school teacher but there were lay-offs and I couldn't find another teaching job. I went back to school and became a nurse. Then, I got my MSN and became a nursing instructor....best of both worlds!

As others have said, good nurses are teachers. With your education in education, you'll know how to teach things more effectively than someone without your background might do.

We are the sum of our experiences....go for what you want to do and grab it with both hands!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Did you know that psych nurses are more rare then hen's teeth, or frog's hair, depending on which part of the South you are in at the time. If you got your generic nurses license, worked as a hospital nurse or in a behavioral facility then worked on your Masters degree in nursing education, you would be sought after as a nursing school instructor. Longtime goals for sure, but would keep you working till you WANT to retire. All nurses are psych nurses to some degree, but that is besides the point.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I'm a psych nurse and a psych nursing instructor, in part of my life. I have NEVER had a problem finding a job in the field. For psych nursing, in general, the teaching education helped. So did the fact that I was older than the usual just-out-of-school graduating nurse.

When I was looking for a job teaching psych nursing, within one summer, I had 4 offers. We are rare. There has to be an opening, of course, and sometimes someone has to retire in order for there to be that opening, but once there IS an opening, it's really difficult for schools to fill it. If you ever think you'd like to teach on the university level, keep that in mind.