Uh-oh. Tempted to change my major...

ranxerox · Jun 15, 2005

yeah, I have had some trouble getting through the program. I think my situation is different then most, but I got to say that if your not really into it, you really should talk to nursing students. We are a stressed out bunch. I spend a lot of time with one student nurse who is now in AAA....she developed a drinking problem because of the stress..... I dont want to discourage you if your really into being a nurse, but if it's they pay your after, there are a lot of easier ways to get it. Prime examples: Respiratory Tech, Radiological Tech....

I just think you got to want it bad to get through it. On the other hand, our group has jelled incredibly. Everyone here is worried about the other students getting through it.....

Sheri257 · Jun 15, 2005

I talked to people in the program and graduates. They say they make $17 to $20, because it is such a respected program. It's a two year program and you end up with your associates. It also states it is a great way to start a career either as a dental hygienist or a dentist.

Rule number one in choosing any profession ... don't believe what anybody says they make. Go to salary.com and other resources because people always exaggerate. Word of mouth is not a reliable source of info on salaries.

I'd also check out the market in your area. I too heard from dentistry majors that the pay was fantastic. But, in my area there are literally dentists on every street corner. It's very competitive and the pay isn't actually all that great, but it could be different in your area. You probably want to do more research before you make any decisions.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to discourage dentistry if that's what you really want to do. I too question my decision to go into nursing all the time. But I knew what I was getting into and what my prospects are when I finish nursing school. I also live in California where the nursing job market and working conditions are better than other states, mostly because of the ratio law.

All I'm saying is research, research, research ... leave no stone unturned. That's how you'll find the answer one way or the other ... that's best for you.

:coollook:

oregonrene · Jun 15, 2005

sddlnscp · Jun 15, 2005

I have wanted to be a nurse for so long, but lately I haven't felt the passion for it. Everyone in my Chemistry class was a nurse major, and I found them to be unfriendly, way too competetive, and sometimes cruel. I had an extremely easy time in Chemistry, too, and I've found that I'm much more gifted in sciences than I ever gave myself credit for.
Anyway, so lately I've been wondering if I should change my major. Before deciding on nursing, I had wanted to pursue dentistry, but I always gave myself too little credit for how good I was in math and sciences. I just figured I couldn't do it or deal with that many years of school and intensity of training.
On a whim, I dropped by a local college that offers dental assisting each year. Thirty people are accepted. My state has the most duties for any state in terms of what the responsibilities and roles of a dental assistant are. The pay is really good too. I talked to people in the program and graduates. They say they make $17 to $20, because it is such a respected program. It's a two year program and you end up with your associates. It also states it is a great way to start a career either as a dental hygienist or a dentist.
The people in the program were awesome! The students were so friendly and nice. They all worked together and welcomed me with open arms. I was sold on the program, so I decided to register and my name was added to the waitlist. I'm number 17. Meanwhile, back at my other college, I'm still registered for 15 credits of pre-nursing classes.
I feel very confused. I really don't know what I want to do. The pre-req's I have taken aren't wasted. If I want to become a dentist (or a hygienist), I will need all the sciences and math I have completely thus far. I've decided to wait and see. If I get into the program, maybe it was meant to be, and if I don't, maybe I should stick to the nusring path.
I don't know. I felt so invigorated when I went into the dental program and took a tour. The professors were so kind and the students really caring and nice. The dentists actually appreciated the assistants and didn't look down upon them.
I guess I just feel really down right now about nursing. I just completed my CNA course and I'm finding that CNA's are underpaid, underappreciated, and treated terribly by SOME of the nurses (I repeat SOME as to not generalize). It's amazing what is expected of CNA's and nurses in LTC with so little compensation. I just already feeled burned out by nursing and I haven't even started yet.
Has anyone ever struggled like this and considered dropping nursing as their major? I understand there are pro's and con's to both jobs. With nursing, there is so much flexibility and room for growth. I love the idea that I can choose to follow so many different paths with nursing.
I'm confused! Sorry for such the long post. Does anyone have any advice? Comments? Anything? I feel so lost right now!

Well, I have a kind-of similar situation. I just completed a year of course-work headed towards a Bachelor's of Science in Human Services/Management, but I knew that my heart really wasn't into it. I have wanted to be a nurse ever since I was a little girl and decided to take that leap of faith and switch majors. It was really depressing because most of the work I had done was for nothing, those classes aren't prereqs to nursing and they will mostly be wasted time and money. Because of that, I had to do some serious soul searching to decide what I really wanted. When it was all said and done, I would rather be a nurse than continue with the education path I was on, so I went for it. I will begin working on nursing prereqs this fall and hope to be on the waitlist no more than a year or two before getting accepted. Even though I put a lot of time and energy into the other program (carried a 3.92 GPA throughout the entire year), I do not regret my decision to change.

I think that once you make the decision to go for something you truly want, you won't be sorry, but it is hard and very scary to make that decision. My advice . . . follow your heart; better to change your mind and be happy than to stay with something that will not satisfy you - regardless of what your decide that is. Do some serious soul-searching and make your decision based on what will make you the happiest and nothing else. Trust me, you will feel better because of it and you will be happier. Once you have decided on your dream, do it, regardless of what it takes - I could have been close to completing my bachelor's degree before I will ever get into the nursing program, but I'm ok with that because I am doing what I have always wanted to do. Keep that in mind as well as the fact that it is ok to change your mind, you have the right, and you are far from the only one (the average college student changes their major 3 times before they settle on what they want - unknown source) and you also have the right to do what you love. Good luck and best of wishes to you in whatever you do.

hikernurse · Jun 15, 2005

That's funny--most of the hygienist people I know are really nice, too. The hygienist program at my CC is even more competitive than nursing--they can't start until 2013 if they apply now.

I, too, have found that alot of nursing students tend to be quite competitive and a bit, ummm, do I dare say anal? But, I've always found a group of nice guys and gals to hang around and study with.

If you really want to be a nurse, then I'd stick it out, but if dentistry makes you sing, then that's probably a good choice for you. Good luck on your decision.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2005

double post sorry.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2005

Good luck to you in whatever you do Toxic environments aren't good for you. If you feel dentistry is for you, then go for it. I thought Dental Hygienists had the associates degree and assistant the one year diploma. At least that's the way it was at the cc in NC I went to. :)

oregonrene · Jun 15, 2005

Good luck to you in whatever you do Toxic environments aren't good for you. If you feel dentistry is for you, then go for it. I thought Dental Hygienists had the associates degree and assistant the one year diploma. At least that's the way it was at the cc in NC I went to. :)

That's the way it is here, too. Hygienists have an associates' degree and are more highly compensated than dental assistants.

December716 · Jun 15, 2005

Well, I have been researching it. I looked on salary.com, and the dental assistants median income was about $32,000, I believe, A LOT more than I could make using my nursing assistant certification. Washington allows the dental assistants the most freedom and responsibility among the 50 states, I believe, so our programs are a little different.

The CC offers both a certification in dental assisting and a associates degree in dental assisting. I only need two more classes completed (general ed classes) to get the associates, so I might as well go for that. I think there's only about 15 credit difference between the two.

The CC also offers job placement help, with 98% success in finding its graduates jobs. The assistance work with dentists throughout the program, so a lot of them find jobs that way. They have a HUGE, really modern, very impressive dental clinic at the school. I was extremely impressed by it.

Ultimately, though, I would get my dental assistance degree so I could move on to be either a dental hygienist or a dentist. The dental hygienist program IS more competetive than the nursing program. They only accept 40 people a year, and 170 apply. So I would need to be a dental assistant and work in a dental office to get experience for my application. And applying to be a dentist is just as hard. I'd have to get my BS in something like Biology and than apply to the dental school, which only takes a handful of people also.

The nice thing is, though, if I do the dental hygienist associate degree, the UW has a bachelor's degree in dental hygienist I could complete when I was finished.

I'm still very confused. I start a new job as a nursing assistant tomorrow at a LTC. Maybe that'll give me some more insight into what path to follow.

Thank you all for the great advice and responses! I love allnurses and no matter what I decided, I hope I am welcomed! The dental hygienist have the exact same pre-req's as the nursing programs here, so I can still offer advice and an opinion to help others hopefully!

Sheri257 · Jun 16, 2005

If you're going to compare salaries, you really need to compare what two more years of school would pay either way. Just about any job is going to pay more than a CNA position in LTC. Even hospital CNA's make more than LTC CNA's.

Being an LTC CNA is the toughest job there is. Tougher than hospital CNA work, IMHO. But that's not a reflection of what your job would be like as an RN. Very few RN's work in LTC, actually.

I also wouldn't rely on class atmosphere, facilities or, even, what the program is like in making a career choice. School is just that ... school ... it's no reflection of what you're career would be like after school is over.

Why don't you try to shadow some dentists and RN's for a few days ... and get a taste of what those jobs are really like. Maybe that would help your decision.

:coollook:

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jun 16, 2005

I can definetly relate to the situation where in prenursing some students can be cruel and rude. Unfortunately, it is or at least seems that way because of all the competition and barriers one must cross just to get into a nursing program .

However, most have agreed (friends) that it gets better in clinicals. Once people are in there they seem to help each other more and want to make it to the end together.

As for you changing majors. I believe you should follow your heart and ultimately what you believe is best for you. Whatever makes you happier or is more rewarding is the answer.

I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do, :)

Jessica