I don't want to regret staying in Nursing....LPN-RN

2 Hello everyone

I need your honest feedback. I'm on several other forums (Occupational/Physical Therapy, etc.) and thought I might come here, too, even though it's probably a tad biased in each forum ;0). Here's where I'm at in life:

• I'm a 25 year old lady who doesn't mind putting in another 4-6 years of college, but I also would like a family someday..preferably by the time I'm 30.
• Just graduated from LPN program and was looking to transition to RN, but haven't started
• LOVE the actual job of nursing, the bedside care, etc. I love helping patients.
• HATE what I have seen/experienced so far in the nursing field, from several areas: backstabbing, cattiness, gossiping, stress, abuse, harassment, bullying, insane workload, constant fear of lawsuits/losing license
• Don't feel nursing is recession proof, in fact, I know there's no shortage at all. I got into it specifically for my passion. I knew there would be some suffering, but didn't realize JUST how much
• Feeling VERY pressured by my family and EVERYONE to continue for my RN/BSN. It's as though if I do NOT go on, for my RN, they consider it "taking the easy way out" or "running from a challenge"..like I'm giving up and I don't feel that's the case. Even my fiance acts that way..they don't say it OUTLOUD, but from all their comments, it's easy to read between the lines.
• Don't feel like nursing really is what it's portrayed to be. I want to help people, not have depression and anxiety because I'm fighting with my coworkers nonstop or being treated like dirt.
• I know that I wouldn't stay in nursing unless I eventually earned my Masters, due to my concerns above. A Masters would enable me to eventually become self-employed..my ultimate goal.
• I have 60ish college credits, total, and would like to stay IN the health science arena. It's just what I love.
• Considering OTA or PTA program, but I want to make sure that I will be able to go on for my Masters and/or PhD after I finish my associates. I have heard that it doesn't work like that, and I'm confused.
• Really wanted to finish my BSN, but have this terrible feeling that I'm going to look back in a few years and think "What a regret, I wish I would have gone for OTA/PTA, etc.".
• Whatever I do, I preferably want to specialize in Geriatrics.
• Don't mind making a little less, so long as I'm happy w/ my career

Any advice?Are there awesome Nursing jobs? Sure, but you better believe that you need experience, seniority, and a good reference. You don't just apply and stroll right in...and let's face it, experience takes YEARS...if you want to be any good anyway . In those years, I feel like I could be finishing a degree in a "less-miserable" field. I don't want to bash nursing, so please don't take offense. I really wish Nursing WAS Nursing, but I just don't feel like it is. I don't mind blood, feces, vomit, yelling patients, etc. What I *DO* mind is the terrible management and being treated like dirt...as though I'm stupid. I've seen it with my own eyes..at several different facilities, ALL over the country. Thinking that I'll have to deal with more of that, than I already did in my awful nursing school, actually depresses me. At the same time..I don't want to make the wrong choice. Any suggestions? Are OTA/PTA much harder to get into than Nursing programs? Am I absolutely being unrealistic wanting to make this change?



Sorry if this is so long! Last edit by NurseOTPT on Oct 15, '10
If I knew then what I know now, I would NOT have became a nurse for all the reasons you stated and more.Follow your heart. Not what your family says. Its your life and your career, whatever you choose.
Quote from feisty_lpnIf I knew then what I know now, I would NOT have became a nurse for all the reasons you stated and more.Follow your heart. Not what your family says. Its your life and your career, whatever you choose.
There are so many other opportunities in the medical field, PT's, MT etc. I know I shoulda/woulda/coulda gone for something like MT - love the science or PT where it's a bit more laid back and way more patient oriented and you are working towards goals of getting them better.Good luck with your choices, I'd suggest visiting and talking with folks in the areas your interested in and find out how they feel about their fields.
I can't imagine PT/OT programs are any more difficult to get into than nursing programs, and if it's similar educational requirements, you get to provide patient care without the grunge work associated with nursing. And it pays better.It does sound like this is where your passion is, forget what your family is telling you, do what YOU want.
Quote from DogWmnThere are so many other opportunities in the medical field, PT's, MT etc. I know I shoulda/woulda/coulda gone for something like MT - love the science or PT where it's a bit more laid back and way more patient oriented and you are working towards goals of getting them better.Good luck with your choices, I'd suggest visiting and talking with folks in the areas your interested in and find out how they feel about their fields.
Quote from OttawaRPNI can't imagine PT/OT programs are any more difficult to get into than nursing programs, and if it's similar educational requirements, you get to provide patient care without the grunge work associated with nursing. And it pays better.It does sound like this is where your passion is, forget what your family is telling you, do what YOU want.
I almost dropped out of nursing school (BSN) after a year to pursue an OT degree. I wish to this day that I did it. I love love love taking care of people, but for the same reasons you listed, I'm not sure nursing was the right route for me. I'm unemployed right now, but when I had a job I had horrible anxiety and was in tears everyday before work. The only thing that kept me at that job for a year was literally every week, I had a patient or family member thank me for taking such good care and actually showing empathy towards them. I think you should shadow other healthcare professionals before you make a decision though. A lot of OT/PT programs require shadowing anyways. Hope this helps!
Quote from BeSweetI almost dropped out of nursing school (BSN) after a year to pursue an OT degree. I wish to this day that I did it. I love love love taking care of people, but for the same reasons you listed, I'm not sure nursing was the right route for me. I'm unemployed right now, but when I had a job I had horrible anxiety and was in tears everyday before work. The only thing that kept me at that job for a year was literally every week, I had a patient or family member thank me for taking such good care and actually showing empathy towards them. I think you should shadow other healthcare professionals before you make a decision though. A lot of OT/PT programs require shadowing anyways. Hope this helps!
My best friend is an OT and she LOVES it. We live in the MD/DC/VA area and there is a always a need for OTs. For this reason, she is able to negotiate her own schedule most of the time. She has a very flexible schedule and works primarily in assistive technology and early intervention. She rotates from working in schools, clinical settings, and home health. She has regular work hours (who does OT at 10pm or 12pm) and works on weekends and holidays when she WANTS to. Plus the pay is NICE. I agree with the above posters...follow your heart...whether it leads you to PT, OT or RN.
Quote from NurseOTPTAre you speaking of Medical Technologist? I'm researching MANY different fields in Healthcare. I don't think my family and friends understand that my passion is to help others, in the health care setting..or maybe outside of it. I LOVE the healthcare setting...I love the science..I love working towards a goal...I love the field. I just don't feel like I should limit myself to nursing..but with everyone rambling about the baby boom, I sometimes wonder...will I see RNs being hired like hot potatoes, in a few years, and then say "Crud, should have stuck with it?". I guess I'm nervous that I will become an Occupational Therapy Assistant and fail at finding a stable job and advancing...I'm probably being negative...I'm a little scared, but thinking about making the switch excites me. I feel like I have my LPN to fall back on, and worst case scenario..I can go back for my RN, if I absolutely regret it.
Quote from NurseOTPTbut with everyone rambling about the baby boom, I sometimes wonder...will I see RNs being hired like hot potatoes, in a few years, and then say "Crud, should have stuck with it?".
Pt/Ot?... go, run forget RN.I wish I would have.Your family is being unfair... this is YOUR career. I doubt they realize the issues involved... or how BRUTAL the work is.