Cold feet?

Hi everyone,
I didn't want to put this in the student section because I thought it was a topic more relevant to people who have graduated and are actually nurses now. I am supposed to be starting an accelerated BSN program in a couple weeks. I feel kind of like I'm making a mistake. I have never really been excited about being a nurse, it's not like something I aspired to be when I was younger. I started nursing prerequisites last year, thinking that I would work on getting into nursing school and re-evaluate as I went. Now it's time to be enrolling in my first semester classes, and I feel like I have no idea how I got here. I know what I was thinking- good job, good pay, flexibility, a job that uses your brain, and helping people. I have always been a great student, so I know nursing school will be hard, but I'm sure I can handle it. I just feel like I don't have a passion for it- I just feel fine about nursing. I know that it might turn out that I love being a nurse, but I'm also worried that I won't like it, and I'll have wasted another year and $15K.

I guess I'm just looking for some opinions- do you think you need that "nursing is my dream" feeling to be successful? Do you think the potential of the job is worth the potential for getting a second bachelor's degree I don't enjoy using?

My mom was an NICU nurse for 15 years, and she is pushing hard for me to go, because she thinks that for the year/$ investment, I will have great lifelong job security.

The other problem is that I have no idea what I really would rather do than go to nursing school, but that doesn't seem like a very good reason to go .
What is our first bachelor's degree in?

Quote from Been there,done thatWhat is our first bachelor's degree in?

To be brutally honest, it seems as if you're attending nursing school for all the wrong reasons. Primarily, it seems, for your mom.Nursing is not the rock-solid career that it used to be. Times are changing and the nursing role is evolving. Facilities are working consistently short-staffed to save money, and burnt-out nurses are falling by the way-side. It takes a great deal of commitment to make it through nursing school and another heap of commitment to stick to a job that can be back-breaking and relentlessly exhausting. I don't hear (from your post) that you have that commitment.Trust your gut. It's telling you to stop and take a second look at what you're doing.

Ok, I'll weigh in. When I went to nursing school, it was NOT because I had a burning passion to become a nurse. It was NOT my "dream". It was not the culmination of years of self-sacrifice until I could one day attend nursing school.I did it because I had been looking for something to do (career-wise) once my kids were old enough to let me be away from them for hours at a time for schooling. I didn't wish to go back to my former career (former, as in prior to becoming a mother); it wasn't flexible enough to go with being a mom.I needed a decent-paying job that I felt I'd be good at and would have pride in myself for doing as well. I wanted to do something with my life that my children would respect, that my family and friends would, as well. I wanted to find a job satisfaction OUTSIDE the home that I had found IN.So what to do? A close friend told me I should become a nurse, and why. He didn't focus on the warm fuzzies that people long for...he didn't talk about holding patient's hands and fluffing pillows and making people "feel all better". He told me that my ability to teach would be invaluable; patient education was such a large part of nursing. I thought it over, and realized that I COULD do the coursework, I'd be GOOD at it (I thought, lol, I like to think I was right). And I knew I could find a job pretty easily (that WAS the case, at that time).So off I went to nursing school. Juggled husband, kids, life in general. Hard work, long hours, and then I graduated.Where am I going with this? I didn't view nursing school as a passion, or even the means to getting me to my "dream". I saw it as a viable career, something I could take pride in and do well, heck I might even enjoy it And all these years later, I know I made the right choice.Rainbows and kittens and warm nursey hugs isn't reality, but I don't think it HAS to be.If you think you can be a good nurse, if you are willing to put in the hours and work required to get to graduation, and stick with the time it takes to find a job, I say do it.

first of all, you're not the first individual that doesn't know what truly is their calling regarding career wise and that's not unusual. having said that, even though you stated that you're a great student i have met several students who did fantastic during their pre-req's however, when it came to nursing they were without a clue on how to handle the demanding program. unquestionably, you could integrate your previous degree in another career if you will, the sky is the limit. moreover, i understand that your mother means well, however, just because nursing was her choice it doesn't mean it's your calling. consequently, this is why i think its a good idea to volunteer at a facility just to get your feet wet sorta speak. on this level, any individual will know if nursing is the right choice for them. in addition, you also stated that you don't even have a clue on what you really want to do in terms of a career. with that said, several universities, and colleges offer career expos or workshops hoping to attract the students prior making a definitely decision. pursuing this further, for some individuals the expos allows them to research how best to enter their chosen career while for others it is a chance to browse all careers before making a decision. universities usually have a strong presence at these events, but they aren’t the only form of higher education offered. for example, universities don’t offer beauty therapy, hairdressing or remedial massage, therefore, other institutions frequent these expos as well. in the light of the, you might want to some research on line to find where these expos are being held in your area. honestly, i don't want you to commit to a 2 or a 4 yr. program that when it's said and done, you won't feel satisfied and the only thing you gain is a student loan that you have to repay. wishing you the very best in all of your future endeavors...aloha~

I have to admit, I went to Nursing school because I needed a job with the flexibility and pay. I did not really find the program to be that difficult, i graduated with honors, and worked full time all the way through. I never ever in my life I think had a Passion for nursing, until just recently, and that is because I got a new job which I love (it is not bedside nursing). but for 11 years I went to work, focused on work at work, got excellent evals, etc etc, and got a very steady paycheck. I was never that excited to head out to work. I graduated during the last nursing shortage and had multiple job offers months before graduation. Apparently this is really not the case anymore. Have you worked as a CNA? Before going to Nursing school, I decided to get CNA certified and work. When I realized that I could tolerate that work, I was reassured that I could also be a nurse. It's a lot to think about.

Thanks everyone for your responses! I do want to clarify that since I already have a bachelor's degree it will only take a year to get my BSN. I also want to say that I have been reading Allnurses for months now, as well as some nursing books, and I am interested, I just don't feel super passionate. I took CNA class and got certified last summer, but I got an administrative assistant position that offered $18/hour, so I took that instead of working as a CNA. I also volunteered with Hospice and shadowed a nurse in a mother-baby unit for part of a shift. So, you can see that I have been working on making this decision for a while! Maybe I am being unrealistic in how much passion I should have before I start, heh.

Your mom probably knows you well You can and would not turn you in the wrong direction. It is not uncommon to be unsure of a career path. Nursing provides so many different directions so it has built in job flexibility. Also, keep in mind that a career is only one aspect of your life. Anyone can find things they hate and things they love about any career field. I would suggest beginning the program and giving it a try.

in lieu of your recent post, i will inform you that i have worked side by side with several rn's that weren't passionate of their chosen career. however, they became good nurse's and several of them have joined the administration side of nursing, which they seem to be more content with their present choice. in addition, since you also stated that you have volunteered and shadow a nurse, them i can only add that there's no one better than yourself to answer your own question; if nursing is the career your willing to pursue. once again i wishing you the best....aloha~

What has your international business degree prepared you for?On one hand I agree with your mother. Having a BSN will be very valuable. How could you combine your degrees?On the other hand... nursing is brutal... physical work. It is demanding emotionally and spiritually as well.In other words. . it takes mind , body and soul to be a nurse.Are you up to that challenge?

Quote from Been there,done thatWhat has your international business degree prepared you for?On one hand I agree with your mother. Having a BSN will be very valuable. How could you combine your degrees?On the other hand... nursing is brutal... physical work. It is demanding emotionally and spiritually as well.In other words. . it takes mind , body and soul to be a nurse.Are you up to that challenge?

I have a co-worker who became a nurse because she "saw all the RNs making way more money than the aides like me." She has a strong work-ethic and is among the most skilled nurses I know. And it's not because she has a passion for nursing - she never has. However, she works hard and does her job well. Perhaps you could be like her.