Nervous Breakdown

Okay I have been racking my brain for months now. I am currently working as a bookkeeper, and was determined to become an accountant. After only 2 years in this field I've decided to change career paths.

I feel like I'm about to have a nervous breakdown...I don't know what career path I should choose. I was stuck on becoming a nurse because I believe nurses really make a difference in people's lives. However, after reading through the forum I found that a lot of nurses feel unappreciated and underpaid. I don't want to switch careers only to find out being a nurse isn't what it's cracked up to be.

I'm also so lost on what type of nurse I want to be. I want to make enough money so I can retire when I'm older, but I also want to do something I truly enjoy. I'm really leaning towards pediatrics...does anyone have advice for me?
The advice that I would offer you would be to seek some career counseling before proceeding. Most universities offer these services, or you can also hire one that works in private practice. I would also suggest that you job shadow a nurse (and other health care professions that you may be considering) and volunteer in a health care facility to see if it is something that you may like to do. You could even seek training as a nurse's aid to get hands-on experience. I really wish that I would have done this before becoming a nurse. Good luck!
Quote from HealthyRNThe advice that I would offer you would be to seek some career counseling before proceeding. Most universities offer these services, or you can also hire one that works in private practice. I would also suggest that you job shadow a nurse (and other health care professions that you may be considering) and volunteer in a health care facility to see if it is something that you may like to do. You could even seek training as a nurse's aid to get hands-on experience. I really wish that I would have done this before becoming a nurse. Good luck!
Do you live near any university medical centers? Many Schools of Nursing offer job shadowing programs or you could try contacting the hospital directly.
Being a hospital volunteer is nothing at all like being a nurse. I know because I was one before I went into nursing. Maybe you could take CNA training and get a job as a CNA (Certified Nursing Asst). Depending on where you live and your state's requirments, CNA training is anywhere from two weeks to six months long. I took a four month long course at a community college, which included clinical rotations and skills lab. CNA classes are pretty cheap, and some nursing homes provide short-term classes for free (if you agree to work for them afterwards, or pay back the cost).Being a CNA will give you some idea of nursing, and is a quick way to get a little taste of the field.