Thinking of becoming a nurse...please comment

[imaferretperson]

Most people will tell you that going into nursing for the "security" or the "pay" are the wrong reasons, that the right reasons are because you have a need to help people, that you have always wanted to be a nurse. Well, why do we work? Do we always love the job we do? Those are some of the questions that I always ask. We have to work, it would be nice to love the job we do and some people are lucky enough to have that. But most people aren't that lucky. I've worked for a hospital for 16 years and the next logical step for me was to pursue nursing. I've thought about becoming a nurse since I was 18 years old but the computer career won out and I started to work at a hospital and one day I woke up wondering why I still wasnt' a nurse. There are great opportunities in the Nursing field and the pay can be good, depending on what it is you do with your career. If this is something you would like to pursue, do it. Don't let anyone talk to you out of it. It is a steady job, and people will say a hard job. But I say every job is a hard job. If it wasn't, they wouldn't have a four letter word for it - "WORK".

[Orly]

To anyone who thinks like the OP: My suggestion is that anyone who thinks they want to do nursing for the job security and money is better off getting certified as a nursing aide first. Classes take anywhere from maybe a week to 12 weeks. It's very fast, inexpensive, and a great way to figure out if you're cut out for nursing. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain by going that route if you're unsure about a career change. Aides do all of the dirty work, so if a person can make it through that and still wants to be a nurse then it's a good time to move forward and go to school. If a person can tolerate belligerent old grumpy people with smelly bottoms then they can do anything that they set their mind to, lol.

[Pucklpnemt]

I have a BA degree and was a technical writer for many years (in software) before most hi tech jobs were outsourced overseas. I have been raising my kids and unemployed (because of the outsourcing) for three years. I need to start over because my profession has virtually disappeared. I am thinking of becoming a nurse because I know that it will not be a profession that will disappear, as mine did. However, I have never really been interested in nursing. I have to be honest and say that this would be strictly a "smart" choice made with my head and not a decision made from the heart. I have met a nurse that became one strictly for job security and he liked it once he became one. I am wondering if this would be a mistake if I really have never had an interest. Either way, my options are LPN at a tech school (I am starting to decide against this...don't want to work in a nursing home...only other option seems to be a state group home)...or RN Associates' (somewhat affordable for unemployed me). I will be able to skip some classes with the Associate's because I have my BA already...will have to do some science lab pre-reqs. You seem to have more options as an RN with a BSN though...How would a person go from having a BA to BSN via the Associate's RN program and what do you think about a person going for an RN who never really thought about doing it before and is purely interested because of the flexibility in job choices as you age and for job security reasons???

DO NOT GO INTO NURSING SCHOOL.... IT IS CLEAR YOU HAVE NOT INTERST
IN BEING A NURSE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT IS THE $ SIGNS.
IT IS SAD THAT NURSING HAS DEGRADED INTO A PROFESSION THAT ANY
TOM **** OR HARRY CAN GO TO SCHOOL AND BECOME, AND MAKE THE
BIG BUCKS.... THESE ARE THE TYPE THAT DO NOT REALIZE THAT THE
NUMBER ONE PRIORTY IN NURSING SHOULD BE THE PATIENT.
GO BACK TO LAW SCHOOL IF YOU WANT THE MONEY...

[cvp1983]

Nursing is highly stressfull and physically demanding. If you're thinking soley about the income, try working as a CNA in a hospital for a few months. That will tell you real quickly if you've got the temperment it takes to become a nurse.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursinga2z.com

I agree. That's what I am going to do. I always considered being a nurse but ended up being in corporate, where I found out that's not where I want to be. I think starting in a CNA course will clearly define your desires to if you want to be a nurse or not. I thought about jumping into an lpn course, but I rather crawl and see the ups and downs than to jump and walk and later in the line I will be unhappy.