What would you do?

[pistolfannie]

Greetings!!

Would you quit a stable desk job with excellent (some would say perfect) job security that makes $40/hr to pursue nursing?Factor in that you hate this above job. The work is very mundane and at times stressful, but not in any "let's use your brain" way. And because no matter how good you do at said job, you position can never go up. You get cost of living increase in pay every few years, but you will always be what you are today.

You're 31.

This is the predicament I am in. I have a secure job and I make very good money doing something that is very easy for me (I schedule school houses/classes for the military) when I left active duty, I wanted to go into nursing because while I was deployed I volunteered my "free time" in the combat hospital and did medical missions in local villages when I wasn't busy being a mechanic. I fell in love with it and I felt like I was making a difference. I know this is not "nursing" but I got to care for people and long story short a spark was lit. I attempted to get into a nursing program when I first transferred to the reserves (5 years ago) but the waitlist was long and I needed to take classes right away because we needed the GI bill money. So I put that dream aside for a more practical career. Fast forward to now. I found that the community college has an evening and week ADN Program. I have taken a couple of pre reqs and have done well. I am getting ready to take a full course load of Pre reqs this spring with the hopes of getting into the program in the fall or next year. One of the plus sides to my job is it is very easy to go to school and work here due to the hours (I work 40 hrs a week but I am 10 min from school)

Some people say I am stupid for even thinking about walking away from this job and that I should relish in the fact that I have an easy job that makes 70k a year. (I'm sorry if that sounds braggy. It isn't my intention. That number is what puts me in this decision making predicament) I know i will take a pay cut to become a nurse and I am okay with that.

Is it worth saying in a dead end job if said job pays well? Or would you be willing to walk away from that?

So again I ask ... what would you do? I know what some of my friends think but I am curious what a group of people that are pursuing this same goal would think/do in this situation.

thanks for reading my self absorbed novel above :-)

Rachelle from Rhode Island

*Disclaimer: my degree was social Psychology so I am always curious what makes people tick

[bluescrubs16]

No I would not advise someone to walk away from a stable, good paying job on a whim. However I could not personally stay at a dead end, mundane job my entire life either. This could be a 'grass is greener on the other side' situation that you end up regretting if you quit and forge ahead blindly. What I would do is spend a few weekends shadowing a Nurse. If you still can't get nursing out of your mind, start taking the science, math, and any other pre requisite courses you will need at night while working your day job. Perhaps you can take a night or weekend CNA/nurse aid course as well - a lot of programs require you to have this prior to being accepted into an RN program. Begin studying for your entrance exams. Research 1 year accelerated programs for individuals who already have a 4 year degree. When you have completed all of those things and you still want to make the switch - go for it!! Best of luck to you!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I can see that you have a true dilemma. Personally, if I were in a similar situation, I would try to find some sort of compromise or middle ground as I considered all the possibilities. Here are a couple of things I would be thinking about:

1. What is the job market for new ADN grads in your community? In my community, such new grads are having a hard time finding desirable jobs as most of the "preferred" employers prefer to hire nurses with BSN's. Have you explored that issue thoroughly and are you prepared for the possibility that you may have trouble finding a good job after you graduate -- and may never get the kind of nursing job you want without going back to school again for a BSN or higher?

2. What would be your job prospects if you found that you didn't like nursing as much as you think you will ... or if you couldn't find a nursing job that you liked ... etc. In other words, if you quit your current job and then things don't work out in nursing, do you have a good solid back-up plan? A lot of people who start nursing school don't finish ... and some who graduate don't stay in the field for long. Are you prepared for that possibility?

3. Is there another option. The choice does not have to be "current job or nursing." There are other health care jobs out there that would be less risky for you than nursing. Maybe one of them would satisfy your desires for a career move, but would be less expensive and less risky to try.

In the end, all you can do is make sure you have thought through all of the possibilities and then go with your heart -- and prepare yourself for the possibilities that it will not work out.

Good luck to you with whatever you decide.

[pistolfannie]

the original post looks so melodramatic when i look at it now. sorry :-)

I was a CNA (well, i got certified, never got a job doing it as something else came up)while i was stationed in Utah, so I know that aspect of nursing ( I understand there is a difference). I would have to keep this job while going to school so I cant do the its this or that. My issue is there is only one program in our state that offers a night and weeknd course. the accelerated BSN for those with degrees is only offered durring the day. I absolutely cannot quit my job to pursue this.

Another option I keep coming back to is the idea of becoming a certified Lactation Consultant. the education requirments are the same as the pre reqs for my school's nursing program so once this semester is complete all I will have to take is a medical documentation class and I could start with my required clinical hours. I had both a wonderful and horrific experince nursing my two kids and over the past years I have coached friends and friends of friends in nursing (the boob kind ;-) ) i felt so much joy when i was able to help a woman that said they tried with their other two children and failed and I was able to help them have a successful run of it with their third child. this option is appealing as I think I could do this freelance style/Part time and maybe have at least one part of my adult working life feel rewarding. I have a lot more research to do for this now that I live in Rhode island. I am one of those people that looks at every possible outcome before deciding (it is actually what makes me very good at my job) even now, a year after the last time i coached someone my heart feels so happy thinking about getting called at 2 am and supporting a friend through a growth spurt, or going over to someone's house and watching thier child finally get a good latch.

the logical side of my brain is battling with my heart (hows that for melodrama).

your perspectives are very much appreciated. thank you. you bring up excellent questions and give me more to think about.

[CDEWannaBe]

You're only 31! Are you seriously going to stay in a dead end job another 40 years?

Save up your money and start taking your prerequisite classes so you can be prepared to make a change if you keep being led in that direction.

I'm leaving my stable job with crazy amounts of time off and full benefits to do an accelerated program. This isn't a thoughtless decision. I want a job that is a better match for my skills and uses my brain and gives me a new challenge. The reality is that education is one of the best ways to hit the reset switch on a career.

[adamRn79, BSN, RN]

I'd trade with you. Nursing is very stressful.

[texasgirl22]

Volunteer at a hospital and become involved there to see if it's what you REALLY want. Take prereqs that you can take while working, perhaps at a CC so it's cheaper.

The grass isn't always greener on the other side.