[tcdaniels]

Hello all,
I'm new to this site and only posted once before so I thought it was time to try again. Anyways...I just graduate from nursing school in December with a Bachelor's degree. The problem is I don't want to be a nurse anymore. My rotations were a big turn off and I really wasn't impressed with some of the nurses that mentored me. Previously I was in the Finance industry and I am currently trying to get back into that field. Do you think that I should still take my nursing boards?

[opus]

I would only take the boards if you plan to use the RN license in the future. I'm sure there are jobs out there that could encompass your financial background and also use an RN license. Look at the multitude of nurse managers that have very little nursing experience.

[cassioo]

I would take it to have it just in case there is more then floor nursing and things might change after you have a break from school

[nursinghumor]

If you've already gone through nursing school and are eligible, I'd take the licensure exam. I'd also get a job in nursing before you decide to move on.

You might find a very different enviroment for you as a staff nurse vs being a student. Look around for Magnet Hospitals in your area.

There are plenty of facilities and types of nursing that you can go into. It opens up a world of opportunities in other fields as well.

I wouldn't write off the career based on your experiences in nursing school. Look for a job in the department you liked the most during rotations, find someplace that will give you a decent orientation program (3-6 months).

It's a shame to waste all the time/money you spent in nursing school just to quit right before taking the boards.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.4nursing.com

[smbrn]

I would take the boards now just in case you decide you want to use the license in the future. You certainly may be able to combine your experience in finance with a nursing degree. I wonder what made you think you wanted to pursue nursing in the first place?
As far as magnet hospitals, I would forget that as a criterion for deciding on where to apply. I work at one and if anything things have gotten worse for staff nurses, not better. We have no nursing education department to speak of. There are still arbitrary ceilings on how much any nurse can earn. (I just had my annual review and "earned" a 4.5% raise but was told I couldn't have it because it would put me over "max"). In addition raises are now based on how many committees nurses belong to, on their own, uncompensated time, of course. Magnet status means nothing in terms of how nurses are treated. It is a paperwork status, not a reflection of how nurses are treated in the workplace.
Good luck. It is a shame to have put in the kind of time you must have only to discover you don't like it. How about running a homecare company or working in a company that does medical equipment sales on the financial side of things? There must be any number of opportunities out there if you go digging.

[tcdaniels]

The reason why I thought about nursing was because I lost both my parents and an older brother to cancer...all within a very short time period. I am actually finding it very difficult to combine my finance and my nursing. Most administrative positions require that you have previous experience working in a medical facility.

Thanks for your comments! I appreciate them.

[nursinghumor]

You might find that if you work a few years, and think about getting a masters in business administration, or healthcare administration that finding a job in a hospital, insurance company as management would be much easier.

Most facilities will pay your tuition while you're working to boot.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.4nursing.com

[nurse4research]

I would go ahead and take the boards .. while you have the information fresh in your head. If you wait, and change your mind in a year or so,…then you may have forgotten much of what you will need to pass. Remember, once you get your license, you do not have to practice, just pay the fee and do not let the license lapse!
If you do, you will have to take the boards again.
You never know where life will lead you, and if having the credentials of being a licensed nurse may impress someone somewhere.
You never know.
Also, consider this, if the U.S was ever attacked in a biological or disease aspect of warfare. The medical professionals would be protected and served with the anecdotes before the general public ...of course, I would imagine you would be expected to serve in such an emergency ...it’s something to think about.