[Anonymous]

Hi,
I am a 37 year-od mom, and I am torn between entering a teacher program for elementary school and getting an RN at my local community college. I would like to know if any of you have kids, what your schedules are like, what your pay is like, and do you get enough time with your kids as a nurse. I din't to be underpaid as a teacher, butI don't want to be underpaid and overworked as a nurse either. I have a BA in Psychology and many different courses that pertain to nursing: Chemistry, Spanish, Brain and Behavior, and all of the prerequisites except A&P and Lifespan Growth and Development. I used to have Epilepsy as a kid. I had a surgical excision performed in 1992, and I don't have seizures anymore. I then went to a graduate university and almost completed an advanced degree in Elementary Education, but I became pregnant, and did not continue. I have 2 daughters and I stay at home with them, but when they are both in school I would like to continue a career path of my own, but I don't know which one to choose! I remember when People wanderred where all the teachers were, and I thought I should try to become a teacher. Well, Now nurses are in demand, and I am interested in this profession also, but I need to know what to expect as far as salary, time away from family, and career satisfaction. Do you get burned out? Are you overly stressed at work? Is there a limit to how old you can be? What are Your hours, and how do you arrange for your children to be cared for? I am scared of getting in a career that won't allow me time with my family or to tend to a sick child. I hope there on-site child care facilities or ways to provide for our children. Also, what should I expect from the courseload for nursing, and what is th NCLEX like? I don't want to get into a program and find out too late that I dont have the stamina or brains for it. I am pretty smart, but I don't want the workload to outweigh the benefits of being a nurse. I think I would be a good nurse. I am bilingual (Spanish) and I have had medical experiences that few people have ever had. Brain surgery tops the list. I learned much about brain anatomy that most average people don't know, and I even took a course in Brain Anatomy in College. Boy THAT was an eye-opener! I have had Chemistry and Zoology, and I want to do something important with my life but I do not want to rush into a profession and find that I have single-handedly made my family miserable because I am never home and I am too stressed to enjoy it. Help. Do you all like your job or no?


Thanks,
Laura
Laura77598@houston.rr.com