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 Expert
Posts: 1304
 
| So I'm considering this complete change in career direction. I have my B.S. in Agribusiness and will have my Masters in AG in May. But I've thought about nursing off and on since high school (I'm 23). I was a caregiver for 2 years and although it was draining I oddly liked it and it was rewarding. I've been applying for jobs and as much as I like agriculture, this health related job I applied for really lit my fire and I want it so badly. So then that got me thinking more about how many times I've said "sometimes I wish I would've done nursing". Yesterday it kinda clicked, why not? I would hate to not use my degrees and feel like I've wasted time (and not very much money thankfully), but I also feel like I'll regret it and I'm young right? I would only get my ASN/RN as it's shorter, they're paid the same as those with a B.S. where I have interest at working, and they'd pay for your BSN. Obviously being a caregiver isn't exactly the same but I do know somewhat it involved and the hours, how stressful it could be, etc. I do like a challenge, am a huge people person, etc..pros and cons? My state (WV) is desperate for RNs, or atleast that's what I've been told and get from the amount of job openings/sign on bonuses there are around here. My mom got burnt out being a nurse so I guess i fear I would too. It'll be about $12,000 for me to do this and I would like to save some/pay as I go. Is working a part time job and bartending feasible while being in school? Any thoughts? Thank you guys!
Edited by blccwgl55 2017-04-08 7:22 AM
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
   
| There is a demand for nurses and the nurses that I know have the best rigs in the parking lot. (They make good money) |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | You are so young and have a long life ahead of you so I say you had better go for it, sounds like you'll make a awesome nurse  |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | I agree with Miss Roxie---go for it
Edited by Chandler's Mom 2017-03-27 10:56 PM
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Regular
Posts: 73
| I say you do it! I'm a RN in the ER and I love it! Nursing has so many different avenues. If you start to feel you are becoming burnt out you can move to another area. I find myself having some harder weeks than others but for me I feel it's mostly because I work nights and pick up overtime often. It's a great paying job I just bought a. Re truck and I only have to work one overtime shift a month to pay for it! Such an awesome feeling and really is a rewarding profession. I worked through nursing school it was tough but I had no options so I made it work! Good luck ! |
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Expert
Posts: 3300
| do it! since you have a bs... you can find an accelerated bsn I'm in California and there are a few out here also an entry level masters..... there are a lot of options but one thing is I wouldn't go to a tech school for it stay with a cc or local state school
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | I'm currently applying for school for my ADN. I've been in school for almost 2 years now. Most schools require that you have your LPN, or be a licensed paramedic first to move onto getting your ADN (associates degree in nursing) then onto get your BSN. You need to check with different schools first off to see what requirements are, because agriculture degrees aren't going to match much to nursing lol.
I work full time, and go to school part time, on top of being a single mom to a wild little 4 year old. I really enjoy it, and I can work at my pace going part time. I would love to be able to go to school full time to knock it all out, but money wise cannot afford that. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 246
Location: Idaho | I became an RN because I needed to support my horse habit. ?? I have my ADN (i also have a bachelors in science of education) and it took me two years. Which flew by! I was 24 when i went. I also got my LPN after the first year so i could start making a little more money and get nursing experience I could use when i got my RN. I have mostly worked in dialysis but have also done private in home care and worked in a family practice clinic. Ive never done hospital beause i like having nights and weekends off. I did sign on with a travel company and did one assignment as a travel nurse in dialysis. I worked 13 weeks, got paid every week making well over $1000 a week after being heavily taxed sometimes close to $2000 weekly depending on hours and call back I also, got a completion bonus and every hour i worked earned points that could be saved up and used to buy all kinds of things from the companys online store. While i have taken a stable, permanent job close to home, my plan is do go back to travel nursing in dialysis when I want to go more with my horses.i made twice the money in half the time. It would be awesome to work only 6 months a year and maybe do an assignment in arizona during the winter. Take my horses, run barrels, and still be able to support myself while enjoying a warmer winter :) |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | You are young and free - DO IT NOW!!!
Wish I could be young and free again..... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1074
| Go for it!!!! Nursing has many options, jobs every where you want to live, flexible schedules, and make good money. Do it while you are young and in school. Taking a break makes it harder. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I would say get your BSCN then all the doors are opened. With your BSCN you can work anywhere in the world, all you need to do is write the country/states exam.
In the USA it appears there are quite a few jobs available as I live in Canada and constantly get phone calls and emails asking me to work in California, Texas, etc.
It is a phenomenal job, but not necessarily horse friendly.
If you work shift work, and you will be expected to work evenings, sadly most of the time you will miss out on barrel events.
There will be days when you will be mandated to work when you don't want to, you will be mandated to stay late. Yes you will get paid well for this, but it does interfere with the social life.
Nurses do have a higher divorce rate compared to teachers, nurses do have a high burnout rate, you need to be able to leave work at work.
There will come a time when you have done everything right and the person still dies, you have to be able to let it go. Faith/religion really helps.
It can be challenging, and very rewarding, it does take a special type of person to be a nurse, it isn't all roses. |
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Expert
Posts: 1304
| Thank you for all of the replies!! I always love, well usually (haha), to hear what you guys have to say as you all have good information and experiences. Luckily the programs I'm looking at are straight Associates degree in Nursing/RN programs at accredited schools. The biggest problem I'm having at this moment is that the TEAS test you're required to take isn't offered at a ton of places near me and where it is, the tests are in April. The earliest one I can take is April 7th and the woman in the program I applied for said that may be too late and the last four spots may fill up by then...cross your fingers. I really don't want to wait basically two years to get in this program. I'm already only getting to apply for the Spring 2018. That gives me time to save up enough money though so I cna pay out of pocket and not take out loans so that's a plus. I would get my bachelors, but honestly I don't want to take super long as I've already been in school 5 years and if I can get someone else to pay for it that's what I'll do. Luckily I live within walking distance to our big University Hospital where I would like to work at full time this summer and continue working at during school part time not only for experience, but to get my foot in the door there. If anyone has any good info on what I should really study for for the TEAS test or anything let me know. It's nice to hear there are so many options and good experiences in nursing though! You have to try and make the best of it I think. I know it can be mentally and physically draining but I always appreciate those nurses that make you feel normal and like they're your friend. I also remember the nurses that I remember for the wrong reasons and that's who I don't want to be. Good luck to any of you in the same position I am!! |
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Expert
Posts: 3300
| I took the teas 6 in November and the hardest part was the science everything else was a breeze |
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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | I got my bsn 2 years ago and am now working on my masters. Around here hospitals won't even look at you without your bsn unless you were already employed and they're requiring that you have your bsn within a certain amount of time. I love my job most nights. It is stressful to say the least, but very rewarding. I just got done with a weekend contract where I worked every weekend for 3 months. I got all my shift differentials plus like 30%. It sucked in the social life aspect but I was able to breed one of my mares without working extra to pay for it. My work is also paying my schooling for my masters as long as I work there 5 years after. The schooling is the hardest thing you will ever do but it's worth it! I love working 12's and having 4 days off (even if 1 of them is usually wasted sleeping). |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 349
Location: texas | I have my BSN the operating room was my specialty....
Which i loved the OR, it was my passion...
IMO nurses are not paid enough for the job skills needed, same as teachers and police departments.....
I am currently subbing at our schools and its awful, i considered getting my alternative certificate for teaching since i had my BSN already BUT no way jose........
Granted u can make some great money but u wont be able to enjoy it, u will too tired/overworked and underpaid.....
We had a saying about the CV OR girls, ya they drove fancy expensive cars but they were always parked in the parking garage at the hospital....... |
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Regular
Posts: 63
Location: B-F-E | I'm a BSN RN for 10 years now and have worked on the same cardiac floor for all of them. I work resource so I make my own schedule, can work any shift I want whenever I want, and only have to work 6 weekend shifts in a 6 week period so I'm able to go to horse shows and camping pretty much as often as I'd like. The money is really good, especially when they throw tons of it at you b/c they're so short. The job itself can wear on you if you're sensitive. Family's treat you awful more so than the patients. Most of the time I feel like a hybrid of a waitress and a doctor. Unfortunately they don't teach a class on how to handle those types of people but I wish they did. It is a very fulfilling job however if you enjoy helping people. Just be prepared to take a lot of abuse as well. It's not all rainbows and unicorns. I would recommend getting you bachelors straight away as a lot of hospitals are seeking magnet status and require all the nurses to have a bachelors. Getting your associates first is fine as long as you know the hospital you want to work at will accept an associates but know you will probably have to get your bachelors at some point. School will be the hardest and busiest time of your life, especially if you're working through it, but its doable. Best of luck to you :) |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
| I work 3 12 hour shifts which I love! Helping people has always been a passion of mine. The pay is good. I have no regrets going into nursing and I can't imagine doing anything else! I say go for it! With anything there are ups and downs. Sometimes the job is very depressing. I see a lot of messed up stuff. Families and patients can be rude. I think the good out weighs the bad though :) |
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Expert
Posts: 1304
| Thank you for the replies! And for you all out there that do make a difference. I'm putting a hold on going to nursing school. A job I really really wanted in the healthcare field was offered to me. It's a wonderful position for a respected foundation and everything is great but the pay. There are many pros and I love everything about the job, just negotiating the pay right now. I'm young and it's a good opportunity so I'm probably going to take it. I'll be working for a research corporation linking care to Hep C/HIV patients (WV's IV drug epidemic has caused a spike in Hep C here) and educating clinic's, etc on these diseases. I'm very excited and prayed on it and can deal with the low pay for a good opportunity! Then if I like this so much, and yearn more to deal with patients I'll go to nursing school  |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| i think PA WOULD BE EASY WITH THE DEGREE THAT YOU HAVE ALSO. DEPENDING ON THE STATE YOU ARE IN. |
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  Extreme Veteran
Posts: 403
Location: Armuchee, GA, NW section of Ga | As a retired nurse/administrator, LTC has been my nitch while specializing in Medicare. Consider if you would long term care, it has a unique level of care. BUt if not, I have a young friend who recently got her BSN and joined the Navy. GReat for her. She is newly married to a navel officer. Currently on the Hope hosp ship and really enjoys it. She is an officer because of her degree which in itself has great benefits. But really with a BSN you can name your own price, your own area of skill. |
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