What's your Opinion

Published

So I'm in my pre reqs semester leading up to nursing school.

- Married

- Father of two kids 4 years and 1 yrs old

- Work nights as a Bartender

I just applied to get into a ADN program and should know within the next couple of weeks but I'm at a crossroads in life. I'm not sure if I should devote time and energy to nursing and go to school for it due to the fact that I am unsure whether I will enjoy doing it.

Reasons for Nursing

- Give my kids a future

- Financial Stability

- Opportunity for advancement

- Shift Work

- Financially a better standard of life

- obtain a degree and be proud

School just in the pre reqs is taking it's toll on me with keeping up and working and playing dad and husband. It's become so discouraging juggling everything that I've lost all motivation to even do my homework the past couple of days I'm just at the whatever point and I know it will be 10x worse in nursing school along with everything else. I just am lacking motivation and don't know what to do. My dream was to become a barber and open my own barbershop but I'm realistic and want to provide a better future for my children and have insurance and retirement and a decent salary not just scrapping by. This lack of motivation makes me want to drop everything and become a barber and bartend during the nights but i know it's probably not the best choice so it my families needs vs. personal enjoyment and this leaves me in a bind. Not a lot of people I can talk to so I thought this would be the best place for some wisdom thanks for reading guys any thoughts are appreciated. ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.

What makes you think you won't enjoy nursing?

Would it be satisfying to you to know that you are helping people during the most vulnerable times in their lives? Because really, that's the core of it, and the rest is details. Probably no one enjoys changing briefs or cleaning bedpans. Most people don't enjoy sticking sharp things in someone's vein, or rubber things in a urethra, or their fingers in a rectum. I'm sure people don't enjoy calculating and passing medications, or forcing post-surgical patients to get up and walk when they don't want to.

But nurses still do all these things, because they have a drive to help the human being in front of them. That's where the satisfaction in nursing comes from. So can you buy into that?

No, you won't always enjoy your job. But every job has that, and we do work for reasons other than enjoyment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Personally, if you are thinking this way now, then I don't think much will change once you start the nursing program. Nursing school will take up a lot of your time, but there are ways to find balance. You stated that you have a dream and nursing wasn't it. I understand you are thinking of the future and want to do something to take care of your family, but do you really want to get into a profession with a job you dislike? I do hope you can decide either way and have the future you want.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PACU.

If they ONLY reason you are getting into nursing is for the money and financial stability I think you may be in the wrong field.

Outside of the reasons you mentioned, what in nursing would give you satisfaction?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.

On the barber thing....you know that most millionaires in this country are people in business for themselves, right? Maybe opening your own shop from scratch isn't the best idea, but there are a couple of chains that franchise, I think. I'm thinking of a sports theme one and MUG. I'm sure there are others. Bartending on the side at night too.....I don't know. Your kids need more from their father than just a paycheck. They need you to parent them. And your wife needs YOU, not just a paycheck, as well.

Think about it. Do some research.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

Nursing school will most likely rule your life. It takes up a great deal of time if you want to do well. I'm not trying to discourage you but if pre-reqs are taking a toll on you, things are likely not about to get any easier. That doesn't mean you can't do it. People have managed to get through nursing school in similar situations. But if you are lacking motivation, that could be problematic.

What does your wife have to say about it all? Is she aware of the demands nursing school will place on you and what that will likely mean to your family? Is she aware of how your are feelings about it? If you haven't discussed it openly and figured out how you are going to manage school plus the children and everything thing that goes into a family, then I would do that as soon as possible. If she is supportive, you will have a much better chance of succeeding.

However, a pressing question is whether you want to do it. I very much want to be a nurse and school has been hard. If I didn't have that motivation of wanting to be a nurse and that feeling that I will be a good nurse, it would have been just that much harder for me. You're really going to have to search inside yourself to figure it out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks guys for taking the time to reply. Yes my wife is very supportive of whatever I choose she just wants a happy husband. The reasons I like nursing was all the above I mentioned but I do like helping people I'm very personable. I actually just got let go at my bartending gig tonight due to management disagreement ? but it has lit a fire for nursing that I'm going to be successful and be a RN and maybe in the future who knows maybe even a CRNA or PA or NP but I realize a man has to do what he has to do and this is the best route lets just hope I learn in the next month if I'm accepted. Motivation has been replenished?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

I'm glad your motivation has been replenished but you are getting into nursing for the wrong reasons. Money and security is not it. It's hard to find a job. The money is not terrible but I don't think it's what you think it is. I'm not saying it has to be a calling, but you need to reevaluate why you are doing this. Nursing school itself is much harder than the prereqs. The amount of work is crazy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So what are the correct or right reasons?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
So what are the correct or right reasons?

Because it's something you are interested in, can see yourself doing and enjoying (or at least tolerating) for the rest of your life, and because you like helping people. A love for working weekends and holidays doesn't hurt ;-)

A friend of mine graduated with me from nursing school, passed boards, but never went into nursing. Why? Because she made more money (and still does) as a bartender!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It is something I'm interested in I've always had interest in the medical field and actually envied the nurses I worked with while I was a correctional officer. I'm drawn to the wealth of knowledge nurses posses and ability to react to situations

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion