Teacher turned Nurse

[NamasteNurse]

Even cafeteria duty which used to be a punishment. Listening in on pre-pubescent conversations to get a hint of what the next generation is thinking. Standing in the corner looking bored so they don't know I'm taking it all in.

I miss teaching. Seeing that light bulb go on, hearing myself explain something I really know and looking into young eager eyes that want the information. Priceless. The feeling that something good and real and valuable has happened here today. Sitting quietly with a 14 year old whose friends have decided to 'hate' her today. I miss it.

And yet--nursing the elderly has it's moments too.

No doubt it's worthwhile.

I still get to intimately connect with other human beings. Only this time it feels like most of the learning is on my part. I've been a teenager, I know what they feel, how they think. But old is something yet to be for me. I can only imagine how old feels.

I love hearing the stories when they can tell one and when I have the time. The "good-old-days" when there were no TV's computers or pollution. When people connected in ways we nostalgically wonder about. When Sunday was a day of rest and that meant sitting in the parlor talking. Think about that for a minute.

Looking into old eyes I see the child, the teen, the young man or woman. The lights are still on and someone is in there. They look to me for care, understanding and sustenance. They shake their heads sadly when I just don't get it and I'm frustrated. I can ease their aches for awhile, give them the gift of my time, or a magazine, some cream on their feet. I can try to listen and empathize. They need me, well maybe not me exactly but they need the connection with a younger generation just as we all need connections with people older and younger than ourselves. We are all teachers and we are all students learning how to live how to-be.

So yes I miss teaching and school, but the world is school and learning never ends. Sometimes though I just wish the bell would ring.

[ikoncz]

I am ready to become a nurse and all I need is to figure out which is the best and shortest way to become one.

Being a teacher I have a BA degree, so the accelerated program would be an option. The only problem is that I do not meet the pre-requisites:

Advanced Placement Associate Degree in Nursing

(Qualified Allied Health Admissions Test Scores

* Laboratory Anatomy & Physiology I & II (C or better)

* College Mathematics (C or better)

* College English Composition (C or better)

* General Psychology (C or better)

* Laboratory Chemistry (C or better)

* Transcript from Practical Nursing School (B- or better)

* A Certificate of standing indicating you have an unrestricted LPN license

* Satisfactory CORI check )

Where can take these courses? Did anyone need this many?

Can you suggest a shorter way to become a nurse?

Or maybe another path?

Please advise.

Thank you all!

[Ryba]

Sorry Nurse Marion, but your idea of how teaching is and teachers are is not accurate. We are certainly not pampered by admin and the union is not as powerful as you would think. We too work weekends, holidays, nights with very little lunch or no lunch (especially if we are tutoring or copying or lesson planning or preparing for our 3rd subject we are teaching that day). Leaving sub plans is more difficult than coming in sick most days and students don't "run errands". We are responsible for safety and well being during pep rallies and field trips - it is NOT down time. We too work hard for very little reward, usually "this sucks" "I'm bored". You may work in a school as a nurse, but you have no concept of what is to be a teacher. And as far as more stress and more responsibility than teachers, I doubt it. As for the pay, 10 years experience and I make 40000, which if I worked hourly, would be less than 10 an hour. :)

[Wishinonastar, BSN]

You have got to be kidding, right? No, I grew up in a teacher family so I know for academic subjects the day extends beyond the work day and the school year. That being said, no one dies if you make a mistake with an algebra test. I have had kids with undiagnosed cardiac conditions that I have found, dangerous allergic reactions, critical blood sugars, labor pains, serious injuries. I think critical health issues trumps academic responsibility. Until society recognizes what nurses actually do, the knowledge and skills involved, then they will continue to be lower paid than teachers.

My school- teachers have their continuing education- Master's and even Doctorate degrees paid for by the taxpayers. They have great lifestyles, much higher income than the per capita income in the area. Boats, Skidoos, nice cars, great vacations since they are off. They make more than nurses in local hospitals who work much longer hours all year long making life and death decisions. Some of these teachers have 6 kids in the morning, and 6 in the afternoon or even less. They are paid full time wages for that. 7:30-3:15, a week off over Easter, longer at Christmas. I can't describe this any further as I do not want to identify my school.

I do not begrudge anyone a decent living, but to earn more than most families in the area do with great benefits and great hours is over the top with today's economy. This is paid for on the backs of the taxpayers. Teachers can retire and get close to what their salary was as their retirement. It is just disgusting while I have a Master's degree and am now making about $33,000.

I do know what is going on. Not saying it is the same in all schools, but I know what is going on in mine.

[roemerr]

Please tell me how teacher's are able to get the taxpayers to pay for their master's or doctorate degrees. I have been teaching in Florida for 15 years and have never seen such a program. If such a program exists, many of us have been paying tuition for no reason. Also, in my state, nurses with advanced degrees definitely make more money than teachers with a similar level of education and experience. Our benefits do exist, but we pay towards them (Family coverage on my insurance plan through the school district costs around $500.00 per month. Dental and vision care costs extra.) Most good teachers spend hours outside of the school day contacting parents, grading papers and planning lessons. We are micromanaged by administrators, and very rarely supported by administrators or parents. I would love to know what area allows the small classes you describe. Perhaps I will move there and give up beginning nursing school since obviously, teachers where you live are so well paid and respected.

[miteacher, ADN, MSN]

Yes, I would love to know where such a program exists. I have been teaching for 4 years, and still make less than $40,000 and I was about 1/3 through my master's degree in library science. I do not know of any teachers that work under the conditions described above. I have had as many as 32 students in my classroom, and it is not uncommon for me to spend at least $1,000 of my own money on my classroom and to work 55 hours a week, many of which are unpaid. I think your statements are ridiculous!

[Wishinonastar, BSN]

Good luck with that. There are not many teaching jobs around here. No one in their right mind would want to leave. Tuition reimbursement is the norm for teachers up here, and our benefits cost me currently about $10 a pay for family benefits- that is a union contract that I also benefit from.

My hospital (other job) gives 3 PTO and 2 personal days, 2 weeks vacation after the first year. Retirement is matched at a rate of 25 cents for every dollar the nurse invests. It is a 403B plan. No guarantees- the investment fluctuates. Teachers get a guaranteed rate as long as they live. They invest 7% of their salary right off the top- I think the rate is 10% now. They can retire early if they are having a buyout, or after 5 years when they reach 65, or after 30 years. Nurses work until they can't work anymore or choose to retire or retire and go part time to make their investment last. Who has it better?

As for respect- that is another story. I think the taxpayers have a pretty poor opinion of teachers. Administration varies as in any job. I think most people probably respect nurses more than teachers, that depends on the setting of course.

I realize that these things vary by state, just as nurse salaries do. Obviously your state is not on par with mine for teachers, hope it is better than mine for nurses. Good luck to you.

[jemadi33]

I graduated with my teaching degree 5 years ago and ever since then I've been scraping by. The highest paying full-time position I could find in my city (Pittsburgh) was for $14 an hour (and I have my Master's degree). I moved out of state and had a great job for a year, but I hated being away from my family and my now-husband. It is sad that I had to make a choice between a good teaching job and my family.

Because the pay was so poor, I have had to pick up a second job. I worked 70 to 80 hours a week between my two jobs (not including my grading and prep work) for 2 1/2 years.

The pay is great for teaching, if you can get in. All of the teachers in my city are getting laid off. When you go on job interviews, you have to compete with all of these teachers who have much more experience than you.

Obama does have a student loan forgiveness program. You must work for 5 consecutive years at schools that meet a certain classification of being in need. The problem is that it is extremely difficult to keep a job in my area for 5 years without getting laid off. I cannot just pick up and move. I have two children, a husband, and a house.

I am starting nursing school at a UPMC Diploma school in August. There are so many opportunities for nurses in my area, and they are paid well. I am excited to start my nursing career and to make this change. I am aware that it will not be easy, but I am no stranger to working nontraditional hours. I used to work every holiday because my company provided double time. I would just wake my kids up at 6am on holidays so I didn't miss much! I am just so grateful that I will not have to work 70-80 hours a week anymore and can spend more time with my family.

[Tinker88]

I have taught for 2 years and just feel like I'm not myself anymore! I feel as though I am planning a party event every night too. (It's kind of like doing a school project with your child every evening for 180 days if that helps put this into perspective.) I love teaching but I agree with a lot of people on here. Teaching has changed and the system is literally chasing teachers away. I know nursing will have it's challenging days and is a very stressful job, but I want to take my chances anyway. In fact I was a pre nursing major when I first began college. My friends convinced me to switch to teaching. I feel that I can be a teacher as well as a nurse. Nurses are teachers in there own unique ways. I know shifts are long and you work holidays. I just want to feel good with my career and still make a difference without killing myself.

[Teresa_vasilia]

I joined this website for enlightenment. I have been teaching High School science for 5 years. I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology. Teaching is not fun or challenging anymore. So I am debating: teach or go to nursing school. I love helping people, I am caring and I see very little reward from my high school students. My biggest concern is that I am a new Mom, I have an 8 month old at home. I don't know if the vacations are worth sticking out teaching if I am miserable.