The post about...

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 25, 2005

Should I or shouldn't I be a nurse has me thinking. I want to go back and do something in the medical field b/c I love science. Though, I don't know about nursing. If you had to pick another career path in the medical field, what would it be and why? I would love to hear from those in the medical field now b/c you can give me great insight to other career possibilites since you work in the system already.
I agree with all of your posts that nursing is a calling and your have to be totally committment.
Thanks,
Jenn

When I was a very young child, I wanted to be a nurse. Became a candystriper at the local hospital and after grad from highschool, went right into University to become an RN. A few years after, became an NP. Got my MSN and now in the legal aspect of nursing as a consultant/expert witness.

If I had it to do all over again, I would have gone into medicine then law. I do not regret becoming a nurse, but, I was too shortsighted to realize that I was never suited for hospital nursing. I have tried to circumvent this all my career. It is hard to admit this for I have had a great NP career with much advancement. I am not a bedside nurse and have always felt like I missed out of the true calling of being the nurse I had pictured as a child.

So, be certain of your pathway....yes, go into nursing and fit it to your aspirations of the future. I have finally come to the conclusion that I have done well and opened doors for others to follow.

guest27716 · Jul 25, 2005

When I was a very young child, I wanted to be a nurse. Became a candystriper at the local hospital and after grad from highschool, went right into University to become an RN. A few years after, became an NP. Got my MSN and now in the legal aspect of nursing as a consultant/expert witness.
If I had it to do all over again, I would have gone into medicine then law. I do not regret becoming a nurse, but, I was too shortsighted to realize that I was never suited for hospital nursing. I have tried to circumvent this all my career. It is hard to admit this for I have had a great NP career with much advancement. I am not a bedside nurse and have always felt like I missed out of the true calling of being the nurse I had pictured as a child.
So, be certain of your pathway....yes, go into nursing and fit it to your aspirations of the future. I have finally come to the conclusion that I have done well and opened doors for others to follow.

Siri,

So there are plenty of opps with your NP? I would not like to do beside nursing but would love to do research and teaching but been told many times I have to start out in bedside nursing. I know I wouldn't like it b/c I was a CNA for a time and hated it. I loved watching the DON or NP's work. I followed a whole bunch of people from a CRNA ( too boring for me, rather be a surgeon-that is where the fun is), watched a PT and OT and that seemed slow and the time dragged, followed a Nuc. Med. tech and I almost went to sleep. I followed other things but nothing has stuck out and I am upset b/c it seems I spent the last 10 years trying to explore careers and have come up with nothing. So then, what do I do int he menatime? I have a BS degree in HR management and that is ok if I am working in training or recruitment b/c it is fast paced but it isn't my passion. I love neuroscience and movement disorders but don't know what degree to go for. I am a very confused person and I am 30 years old. I am getting scared that I will never find anything.