Thinking about Nursing as my second Bachelor degree... yay or nay?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm currently a studio art major, I have one year left till I get my degree... but recently I have found that I am less and less becoming interested in making ART a career. I love art, I really do, but as far as a career, I think that is too much. I am young, this is my first degree, and I think it may have been a bad choice... maybe... not sure. I am thinking that after I am done with this degree, I will skip out on getting my masters and instead go into nursing. It seems so much more safe than Art. Plus, going for nursing will not require me to move away from my hometown, while going for my masters will. I hate to make my art degree useless though ya know? I don't want to make a bad choice.

I didn't know where to ask this, so I figured those in the actual degree of nursing can tell me whether nursing is a good choice for some one who was originally an art student.

I'm just looking for some more info so I can make a better choice. Thanks.

I just wanted to add something about the financial aid situation.

I had no problem whatsoever in getting aid for school as long as I was taking classes at a 4-year university. Last spring, I took two classes and got a loan no problem. I didn't qualify for grants because I wasn't taking a full course load. If I had had at least 12 credit hours, I would've received those as well.

For several reasons, I decided to finish up my pre-reqs at the local community college. That's where I ran into problems. I don't qualify for loans or grants at all at a CC because I already hold a degree. However, if I decide to go for my ADN instead of my BSN, I can apply for a hardship once accepted into the nursing program and receive aid at the CC then.

So.. if you choose to finish your art degree, you should still have options available to you for aid for a 2nd bachelor's. If you plan to stay at USF you will probably be fine, but definitely talk to someone in the financial aid office to be sure.

I was/am in a similar situation as well....except I graduated w/ my BA in Art in 2004, tried to find "stable" work in the field, realized I did not want to make a career out of art (b/c for me that took the enjoyment out of it). I ended up going through an accelerated LVN program rather than a RN or BSN program b/c I had researched how impacted nursing programs were, and how the waiting lists in my area (CA) were keeping people from entering programs for 2-3 years. So in 2007, I did a full time, one year LVN program, graduated in 2008. It took me a month to find SOME type of work....very part time contract work, working for a company that provided health screenings for corporate employees. Then I was able to find some agency work at schools in my area...again very part time (and not advisable to start working in an agency w/ little to no experience, but I was very careful/picky in what cases/jobs I chose to work, and made sure to ask a lot of questions, and not work beyond my comfort level).

So fast-forward to now. I am working full time as a LVN in pediatric private duty, loving the work, and having a stable income/paycheck (something I could not see having w/ art). I have held off on going for my RN, b/c I've contemplated if I really want to move forward in nursing in the future....or obtain my masters in Psych/Counseling, get my LMFT certification, and work as a therapist/counselor w/ an emphasis in Art Therapy....THIS is where my previous BA comes into play. I am able to really feel like I can combine both my art AND nursing backgrounds. Most of my nursing work has been working w/ patients one on one, which I've really found fulfillment in. The art therapy path (or simply therapy) would be similar in that respect. I might go for my RN, I might not. I've always wanted to obtain my masters, and for now THAT seems more in my reach than another bachelors or even an ADN (moreso b/c of the impacted programs). But then again, it all depends on what path you want to go down and where you want to end up. Take some time to really explore/think about what it is you want to do before going down a longer road you have to commit to, if you are unsure. Hope this helps! Keep us/me posted! :)

P.S. My "arts" background has consisted of teaching ceramics/art to kids in an after school program....not stable; working for a non-profit startup lifestyle magazine as a Director of Photography/photographer....VERY fun....awesome environment, but again, not stable hours OR pay...ended up running out of funding and shutting down. And then of course trying to get my own business off the ground...which just sucked any enjoyment out of it for me...

I am also considering getting my Wellness Coaching certificate, as a stepping stone towards getting a masters in psych. Incorporates spiritual/mental/physical health and well-being...

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