Would you encourage someone who was considering nursing school?

[Joe V]

How encouraging would you be toward someone who was considering going to nursing school?

• Very encouraging - many jobs will open/re-open as the economy improves and there could be a large group of nurses who could retire in a short time.
  
• Moderately encouraging - there will always be a need for nurses as our population ages and chronic illnesses demand attention.
  
• Slightly encouraging - it's as good a career field as any and better than many other choices.
  
• Neutral - heathcare can work out well for some, but it's not the guarantee it once was of being able to find a good job.
  
• Slightly discouraging - there might be jobs, but nurses will be working longer hours at more stressful jobs, and the pay probably won't be worth it.
  
• Moderately discouraging - for all the expense and effort it takes to become a nurse, you could go into some other field and end up with far better results.
  
• Very discouraging - I would tell them going to nursing school is a big mistake and try to talk them out of it.
  

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Yes, I would encourage someone to go into nursing. It was a second career for me so I knew what other jobs were out there. Its been a fun ride.

[MSADN, ADN]

I picked neutral for my own reason, not those listed above. I think that if someone can be talked out of nursing by telling them the truth of what they will do, then they should be. If someone believes that becoming a nurse is a good way to make decent money, then I would point them elsewhere. If someone believes nursing is like being a doctor "sort of maybe", then I'd point them toward medical school.

If someones understands that they will deal with body fluids from both ends of the spectrum; if that someone understands a nurse makes a decent living but this is hard work, emotionally and physically; if someone understands you are not dealing with disease, you are dealing with people; if someone understands that the patient in pain at the end of the hall will call for pain medicine as often as they can and IT IS YOUR JOB to assess and then help that person's pain; then I would tell that someone that this is the best job in the world for them.

This is the best profession in the world and I want to work with nurses who care more about their patients than their paychecks. (Though a bigger paycheck would always help.)

Just my opinion.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I selected the "neutral" option. Nursing is not a good fit for everyone who thinks they want to be a nurse, and divulging anything less than the truth would do the person a huge disservice. Your personality, intellect, adaptation abilities, and interpersonal skills must be a good fit for this profession.

Some people don't adapt well to change. These people need not apply, because the medical field is constantly changing with new advances all the time.

Some people possess really poor interpersonal skills and have the personality of a tree stump. These people might be unhappy doing bedside nursing.

Other people have caring spirits and hearts of gold, but they're not "book smart" and have difficulty grasping the simplest of concepts. These people might fail in nursing school.

It's different strokes for different folks. I'd recommend nursing to some, and discourage others from considering it.

[vashtee, RN]

I put moderately encouraging... it's a great job if you hate being bored, but darn! it can be a tough job!

[live4today, RN]

I voted that I would very much encourage those who have a desire to become a nurse to attend nursing school. If they have a heart of caring for people, and can handle the down and dirty of the job...why not. Go for it! Just do it from a passion point of view, and not just for how much money they think they'll make. You'll burn out before the money arrives if you don't. :)

[MomToRickyBoo]

Hey MSADN, I was going to write my own post but your words are mine. Great job! BTW - my selection was moderately discouraging. I don't want people becoming nurses for a paycheck. My son passed away from brain cancer May 25, 2008. I quickly gained appreciation for those nurses in whom it was evident they were in the field because they have compassion versus the "here for the check" nurse. I'm applying to the nursing program at Crowder College and hope to begin January 2010. I'm going to make a fantastic nurse.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

I put moderately, just because there are some people I know that if they were considering nursing I know its "not for them" but others I would highly encourage them.

[prmenrs, RN]

I would be encouraging unless I thought for some reason the person would not be a good "fit".

[adtdb8]

I would encourage someone to go to nursing school. It is a very rewarding job. You can go anywhere in the country and get a job and you have a little more job security. if that person thinks nursing is for them then I say follow your dreams. You have good and bad days but that's with any job you do.

[Laguna92677]

I would encourage and support someone entering this exciting career. Nursing has given me so many opportunities and experiences that many other careers could could never match. I learn more each day and am never bored.

[buttercup99]

I put moderately encourage. It depends on the person, their reasons for wanting to be a nurse and whether they seem cut out for it. Like others have said, i would discourage some and encourage others. I would tell the truth about what it entails though, no smoothing over the truth from me!