Unsure if Nursing is right for me??

ICU, RN, BSN, B.S. · Sep 14, 2011

If you're willing to move for 16 months---could apply to Mass college of pharmacy and health sciences accelerated BSN program...for students who already have a previous bachelor degree in another field. It's in Worcester, MA. I went there. And yes, you should go for your BSN.

ICU, RN, BSN, B.S. · Sep 14, 2011

It's about the whole picture...patient and the family. Yes there is a ton of documentation, esp where I am right now in the ICU. Depends where you work for holidays...if you are in certain areas of the hospital yes you will need to do 2 major summer holidays and 2 major winter holidays. My sister works in the O.R. and Endoscopy and PACU....she obv does not have to do holidays....just on call for emergencies.

What made you want to chose nursing over other career changes?

palemoon · Sep 14, 2011

My first instinct was: Why exactly did you want to switch from education to nursing?

Are you interested in the medical field? Did you have a family member get excellent care from nurses?

If you have heard stories about nursing being "recession proof," and in "high demand," please take a second look. No job is recession-proof, and nursing is experiencing a backlog because of the recession. Older nurses are finding themselves unable to retire, while new nurses continue being put out without jobs.

You will be responsible for patient care. That means medications, IVs, breathing tubes, feeding tubes, all manner of technology, depending on which specialty you go into. You will have to work certain holidays, most likely. You will have to interact with physicians, families, and all of the personalities that come with those people, day in and day out. Year after year.

I'm trying to have you go into this with eyes wide open. This is a serious career change, and a big commitment.

Good luck with whatever decision you make :).

Preeps · Sep 14, 2011

It seems so many people are trying to get into nursing due to the economy and lack of jobs elsewhere.

I was speaking to the nursing instructor on our floor who had a group of BSN students in the accelerated program. They were doing clinicals on our floor. I asked her if these students were more focused, mature etc since they already had degrees and were older. She stated that she was less excited about these students as most of them did not really have a passion for nursing but were doing it because of lack of job prospects in their degree. She said surprisingly they were not "better nursing students' than the ones in the 4 year progam and many were worse.

I think nursing is a very hard, demanding, and stressful career choice. And you are correct in that new grads are having a much harder time getting their foot in the door especially in the acute care setting.

I would think long and hard regarding your decision.

ICU, RN, BSN, B.S. · Sep 14, 2011

It bothers me when people go into nursing for that. It just seems odd to pick a profession and career that Obv not everyone can do, very stressful physically mentally, challening, gotta know your stuff...and that they pick that bc of a crappy economy. I think it's because you can do programs that are quick. You don't hear people saying "i'm going back to school to become a doctor." Because it takes 4 years plus all the residency years.

I think you will love it or hate it. I love science! I don't see how people go into nursing not loving science either :)

ICU, RN, BSN, B.S. · Sep 14, 2011

I am a recent graduate in Childhood Education/Special Education in NEW YORK. There are very limited jobs. I was thinking of starting over and going back to nursing, however, I don't know if this career choice is right for me. Is it really about the patients?? Or do you have to worry about paperwork/doctors/patients families more than that?? I need insight on the field, the Ins and Outs, the good and the bad to really help with my decision. I would appreciate both negative and positive aspects of the field. Also I am from NEW YORK- and have heard recent graduates cannot find jobs- is this them being picky? Or is the job market tough in the Nursing field----
Please Help!!! All comments welcome!!! =)

Some could be picky....but most aren't. My friend just applied to over 120 applications....she just got hired Per Diem at a step down type of rehab facility. My sister applied to over 70 applications about 1.5 years ago. Once you have your foot in the door, it makes it a lot easier to move around. My sister is already in the Operating Room, PACU, and Endoscopy....after only being an RN for 1.5 years!

Her Own Catalyst RN · Sep 14, 2011

I am a recent graduate in Childhood Education/Special Education in NEW YORK. There are very limited jobs. I was thinking of starting over and going back to nursing, however, I don't know if this career choice is right for me. Also I hear that you should have your BSN, not just AN? This would mean I would have to find a 12 month accelerated program to get into and make sure I have my BSN. I do not know if I should stay with education and go for my masters, or make the career choice now while I can. The only thing that worries me is my husband is a police officer. His hours rotate, he is never off for holidays, and when I have children I want to make sure I am around for them. Is this possible in the field?? Do nurses hours always rotate?? Do you hvae to work weekends and holidays???......
Is it really about the patients?? Or do you have to worry about paperwork/doctors/patients families more than that?? I need insight on the field, the Ins and Outs, the good and the bad to really help with my decision. I would appreciate both negative and positive aspects of the field. Also I am from NEW YORK- and have heard recent graduates cannot find jobs- is this them being picky? Or is the job market tough in the Nursing field----
Please Help!!! All comments welcome!!! =)

Hi Purky,

I'm going to play devils advocate here, I've been a nurse for 3 years and ultimately I regret my decision to go into nursing. When I was in high school, I thought "yeah! nursing! I want to change the world!" When I got to college, I started to think that nursing wasn't what I thought it was...I wish I went with my instinct. I started dreading clinicals, and told myself "Well, this is just because I'm a student, no one respects us, and we're used as mules." But the truth of the matter is, I think of us as indentured servants. No matter how how you strive to make a difference, there are people in your way (at least for me) who stunt your progress. This could be fellow RN's, aids, secretaries, managers. I found that people wanted to do the least amount of work possible, and never really followed the "treat others the way you want to be treated" mindset. Not to mention family members jumping down your throat at every corner. This lead to my burn out. I miss my patients. I miss the connections I've had with people, but I was drowning psychologically and physically. At most hospitals, weekends are a requirement. I live in NJ and the two hospitals I worked for it was required to work every other weekend, and every other holiday. Let me tell you, even though you have 4 glorious days off a week, it truly stinks to have to say no to family parties and holidays. Now that I'm pregnant with my first baby, I've switched to a desk M-F 8-4 position with no holidays or weekends. I want to be able to be home every night with my baby and spend every holiday making memories with her. Although being home 4 days a week is GREAT, I just couldn't stress that nursing is not what you think it is. If patient ratios were mandated, and hospitals weren't run like hotels/businesses things would be different.

On the plus side of things, with nursing you have TONS of opportunities. You can teach, going into computers (that's where I am), going into the legal field etc etc. Many other careers do not offer these opportunities. In retrospect, I wish I would've become an ultrasound tech or a special education teacher.

I don't mean to discourage you, this is just my opinion. Good luck in whatever field you choose! :)

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2011

hi purky,
i'm going to play devils advocate here, i've been a nurse for 3 years and ultimately i regret my decision to go into nursing. when i was in high school, i thought "yeah! nursing! i want to change the world!" when i got to college, i started to think that nursing wasn't what i thought it was...i wish i went with my instinct. i started dreading clinicals, and told myself "well, this is just because i'm a student, no one respects us, and we're used as mules." but the truth of the matter is, i think of us as indentured servants. no matter how how you strive to make a difference, there are people in your way (at least for me) who stunt your progress. this could be fellow rn's, aids, secretaries, managers. i found that people wanted to do the least amount of work possible, and never really followed the "treat others the way you want to be treated" mindset. not to mention family members jumping down your throat at every corner. this lead to my burn out. i miss my patients. i miss the connections i've had with people, but i was drowning psychologically and physically. at most hospitals, weekends are a requirement. i live in nj and the two hospitals i worked for it was required to work every other weekend, and every other holiday. let me tell you, even though you have 4 glorious days off a week, it truly stinks to have to say no to family parties and holidays. now that i'm pregnant with my first baby, i've switched to a desk m-f 8-4 position with no holidays or weekends. i want to be able to be home every night with my baby and spend every holiday making memories with her. although being home 4 days a week is great, i just couldn't stress that nursing is not what you think it is. if patient ratios were mandated, and hospitals weren't run like hotels/businesses things would be different.
on the plus side of things, with nursing you have tons of opportunities. you can teach, going into computers (that's where i am), going into the legal field etc etc. many other careers do not offer these opportunities. in retrospect, i wish i would've become an ultrasound tech or a special education teacher.
i don't mean to discourage you, this is just my opinion. good luck in whatever field you choose! :)

while i don't dispute your experience, i don't see that "indentured servant" is even a remotely accurate description given the complaints you described.

there are a lot of considerations for the op - if hospital nursing, she well may have to work less desirable shifts, holidays, etc. but it's not a given. i'm a rn and i do not work nights, weekends, holidays, nor do i take call. i'm there for my family. this was not always the case, but i didn't have to switch careers to put myself in similar position to where you are now. i just had to switch facilities.

EmergencyNrse · Sep 14, 2011

Do you read the threads here? No jobs here. No jobs there...

Nursing is an occupation that is taxing to say the least. If your only motivation is just to find a job I think it will go poorly for you. At some point you will actually have to want to provide care and comfort for those that will absolutely walk all over you just because they can.

Time to do some soul-searching. Nursing isn't cute hats, skirts, and stockings...

-It's puke, snot, pee and feces... It's getting a cold, the flu and every other community illness that comes along every season.

-It's looking at Mrs. Jones that is there again for Schedule-II narcotics for the 5th time this month whose story is abdominal pain this week because headache and back pain have already been played out earlier.

-It's dealing with Mr. Smith that is demented with heart, renal and liver failure that is confused and lashes out to hit you at every opportunity. Oh, and you are tasked to spoon feed him his meals.

-It's caring for the 97 y/o invalid that is unaware/unresponsive, on a ventilator with tube feedings that remains a full-code because his elderly children in their late 70'd are leeching off his retirement checks. (They only get paid if daddy is alive).

....lol. You wanted both good and bad comments. There you go...

Good luck with your choice.

ICU, RN, BSN, B.S. · Sep 14, 2011

I'm studying right now, but i'll write more later...people are making it seem like a horrible job. I love being an RN! :)

Benwho · Sep 14, 2011

I am currently on the same path as you purky128, I graduated with my Master's in Special Ed. I taught for a fe years and realized this was not what I wanted to do for various reasons. I am also in New York, after serious thought and discussion with others I have decided I want to be a nurse. I understand that this career path will be hard, demanding, etc.. but it is what I want to do. I enjoy taking care of others, I have seen the joy and passion my mother who is a nurse has for her job and wish to have the same when I become a nurse. It's not going to be a 9-5 job if that is what you are looking for.