Totally confused!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jnc0713]

Hi I am fairly new here, but I am in dire need of some advice/guidence. here's my story............................

I recently decided to go back to school after 15years (I will be 33 tommorrow) out and in persue of nursing. Doing my pre-reqs and was very excited about going back to school. Still am but now I'm just totally confused. See I never went to college after high school and have bounced from job to job not liking what I am doing with my life. Since high school I have always had an interest in the medical profession. The 2 careers that I always bounced around in my head were nursing or xray tech. I know 2 totally different fields. But I went with nursing because something was just tugging at me to do that. But recently I have found a program at a hospital about 40 minutes away that does xray. One the one hand I want to do nursing because I want to be challenged at all times which I think nursing can give me that, and I want it to be rewarding to make a difference in someone's life. The money thing is just an added bonus. Not really persueing a career for the money. But after reading some of the posts on here I am scared to death that if I do become a nurse I will make a huge mistake and end up killing someone! The area of nursing that I want to consider is OR, women's health, NICU. But that could change once I do my clilnicals. I just have a feeling that I wont be a good nurse and scared that everything is on the nurses shoulders.

On the other hand, x-ray has always interested me too. But it may not be as challenging as nursing. I get bored very easily which is why I need something challenging. the x-ray school doesnt require so much pre-reqs so it may be easier to get into. Not sure on that. It is also full time days. The nursing program I will be going to is part time nights. So I can still work at where I am. If I did the xray I would have to find new job at nights which would suck because of family obligations (2kids,etc). I just dont knoow what to do. I'm just having a fear that nursing would be over my head. That I wouldnt be able to handle it all. I mean I love the fast pace of it all just afraid i would forget something and end up hurting a patient. Not something I want to do. Has anyone out there has had a fear of this? Or a dilemna of their chosen career path??? I know I can only decide for myself but if anyone was in a similar situation and can share your thoughts it would be greatly appreciated!

[mommy2three2]

This may or may not help so take it for what it is. I know someone who works at the hospital where I volunteer who is going back to school to get her RN, she is an imaging tech. She went and got her imaging tech certificate and works in the MRI room, after working there she decided that it was not quite what she wanted. However, working there also enabled her to ask the nurses in various departments questions about what it was like where they were so she had a good solid idea of what nursing was at the hospital as she went forward in various departments. This particular hospital does offer tuition reimbursement so that is always a plus :)

If the Xray tech is shorter, could you go that route, and do what this gal did by talking to the nurse...perhaps this would help calm your fears and at the same time would give you employment (with the possibility for tuition reimbursement) while you get your pre-reqs out of the way at a local CC?

Best wishes to you in whatever you do.