Nursing as a career?

Right now, I'm entering my senior year of high school. Ever since fourth grade, eight years ago, I've "known" that I wanted to be a band teacher when I grow up. It's been my dream all along, and everything I've done has been music oriented. (Class selection, etc.)

Well, I was visiting my mom in the hospital today. The idea of being a nurse as a career came up. I learned that they make about twice as much money as band teachers, get to be selective with their hours, have much more job security, and don't require the massive amounts of med school that doctors would need. All of this has me thinking that I might just want to bail out of my music dreams before they even get started.

Basically, anything that you could tell me about being a nurse would be appreciated. How much education would I need? How much technical/medical know-how do different nurses need? How much money do the different levels of nurses make? What are your experiences? What do you see the pros and cons as being?

I've made B's in GT Biology, GT Chemistry, and Physics. As of right now, no science classes are on my schedule for next year. I could probably do better, but I've been practicing music three hours a day...

I'm a guy, if you think that makes a difference.

I'm going to look into being a shadow at a hospital for a week or two over the summer, but do you have any advice on anything else I can do?

Hi.. I am a nurse (LPN, working on my RN).. And am a male.

First, let me say nursing is a very exciting career choice that is difficult but rewarding, and something that should not be chosen simply because it pays more than other jobs. It pays more because it is harder, and you have a lot more responsibility than other professions. What you do, right or wrong, can affect someone's life.

So, what do I think you should do? Three things:

1) Contact your local hospital where you live, and make an appointment to talk with the Director of Nursing. He or She can give you a tour of the hospital, explain what a nurse does, and answer any questions you have about training.

2) Stop by the volunteer office, and sign up. You will gain an enormous amount of experience by observing nurses as they work. Also, there are a number of other good paying jobs in the hospital that you may not have considered, such as Radiology Technician, that may interest you. A couple days a week after school and over the summer will give you a better understanding of what all different types of jobs the medical field has to offer.

3) Don't do anything based on how much money one can make. Follow your heart, and your dreams - its better to be poor and happy than well off and miserable at a job. Remember, if you work full time its 8 or 12 hours a day, 5 days a week - and a lot of nurses have 2 or 3 jobs, and most of us work every other weekend. Its a serious commitment to become a nurse.

As an LPN, I report to an RN. But, I am responsible for 60 patients on my floor. As I work 11pm to 7am, there are no doctors or others to make decisions if something goes wrong with a patient.

If you want to talk to other nurses online, I suggest you go to allnurses.com. Its a site that breaks down the types of nursing, what we do, why we do it, and even has some salary info ...

I wish you the best of luck.. you have a bright future ahead of you if you remember ---- do what makes you happy. The best job in the world is just a job if filled by the wrong person for the wrong reason. :)

Go with your passion. If you care about helping people medically speaking, then perhaps being an RN is for you.

Expect to rack up some serious debt becoming an RN. Typical 4 year RN degree requires an AA and then 2 years of RN training. My wife dropped 40k for 2 years of RN schooling at U of Portland.

Yes, do it. I entered nursing right out of high school and have been employed as a registered nurse in an acute care hospital for 20 years. I took 1 year of pre req and a 2 year associate nursing program at a junior college. I wanted to be a pediatrician, baby doctor but couldn't stand that much school. Nursing can take you anywhere in the world you want, the pay is great, work is steady and can be found anywhere. The drawbacks, it is hard , honest work. More and more men are coming into the field. Check it out.

Hello there! I am currently in my freshman year in college to get my RN.

Here's the run down on what some nurses and techs need (sorry if I leave out something) RN-Registered nurse-BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing) LPN-Licensed Practical Nurse-I believe its 2 years, but I could be wrong CNA-Certified Nurse Assistant-a fancy way of saying a nurse tech, two years (need special training), philbotomist-2 or 4 years I can't remember (they are the ppl who take your blood) all of these need licenses, which includes taking a test after all your schooling is completed.

All the different levels are different on pay, it also depends on what like of hospital you work at. Anywhere from $15-$45+ an hour. Different type of nurses changes the pay as well. I am thinking about becoming an OR nurse which pays more.

I personally don't see any cons, well, besides seeing vast amounts of nudity and putting in catheters.(gosh I dont know how I will do that) If you have queezy stomach its definetly not for you. The pros are that you can provide pretty well for yourself and that you can help people.

If you are intested in nursing be sure to check out with hosptials, because some will pay for 4 years, some only 2 in return working for them 2-3 years while still getting paid pretty well. Also the government has grants for nurses, non-payback kind of grants.

If you're willing I would try to volunteer at the hospital along with shadowing, you get to see what all the nurses do besides care for the patient. (ie fill out and file patient files, just to name a few) I've been volunteering at a hospital for 4 years now, along with shadowing, and it really has helped me make a decision to become a nurse. Good luck in your search and let me know if you have any questions. Hope this has helped.

You have to really like it to do it. If u will just be an RN for monetary reasons, u will be added to the statistics of nurses who gives grief to their co-workers. Being a nurse should come from your heart, if its not really what u want, nursing for u will become work. If u are passionate about music, go for it. But if u really wanted to be a nurse, consider that option.

Hi. Ive been a nurse for 10 yrs now. And I love it!
If you are right for it, and have the calling. Then go for it.
It isnt easy. That is for sure. But there is nothing better than getting up every day and going to a just that you not only love, but allows you to better the world at the same time. It is a Victory High everyday for me.

My reccomendation: Find a Mentor early on. Someone that is going to keep you on track. It can be lonely in Nursing School. Hook up with a local or National nursing association. It was the best thing I ever did. Youll meet a lot of like minded individuals.
Second, sometimes a 4 yr track may be overwhelming. Starting out in an associate program might be for you. Youll be dont in about 2 yrs and get a great job that will give you tuition reimbursements.
There is such a shortage that companies and hospitals will give you money for school to entice you to work for them.

BTW, There is a great need for male RNs!

Follow what your heart tells you. Just because you choose one doesn't mean you can't be the other. If you become a nurse and can select you hours you can make it so you can also be a band teacher part time on the side. The question you are asking isn't one that family or friends let alone strangers can answer its what you truly want. Spend some time thinking about it. I'm sure you will come up with an answer. It's your future not ours so we can't and shouldn't decide it for you.

Nursing is great if you have the desire to help people and the patience. My Mom was recently in the hospital and some of the nurses were so rude that I thought they didn't belong in that position. Make sure you do what you love, not what makes the most money.

Being a nurse is a good job. I have deeply researched the profession. It would take a 4 year bachelors degree to become a Registered Nurse or you could get an associates degree to be a Licensed Vocational Nurse which would take 2 years, in my opinion if you can, get the bachelors degree, RN's get paid more. You have RN's LVN's and an advanced practice nurse called a Nurse Practitioner NP these are the big dogs, they are nurses(RN's) with masters degrees with advanced practice they are over all of the other nurses, but their jobs are a bit harder and challenging but more stimulating, they prescribe medicine, diagnose patients, order lab tests, etc. and evaluate them, pretty much everything a doctor does just they dont have to have Medical degrees. RN's are making an average of about 59,000, LVN's make a little less around about 30-40,000+ and NP's well they can make up to 100,000+ but average around 80,000. Pros of these jobs: Helping people, satisfying career, challenging and stimulating, good pay. Cons: My biggest quirk; exposure to diseases, but always take Universal Precautions; challenging but can be to a point where it is overwhelming, stressful, and physically draining!! But I can tell you with practice and hard work, safety, etc. Nursing is a good field and well worth the education that you have to get. Some more Cons: great job availability, flexibility and travel nursing-have you heard of it!?! Go anywhere you want for 3-6 months on a contract, your housing and vehicle will be paid for, plus you still get your salary all while exploring the country and meeting new people, plus job experience, now can you beat that-especially if you are young and have no kids or obligations. Well, I hope that I have helped. Good luck and God Bless. Put God first and everything else will follow.

My first instint would be to go with your passion, yes nurses make good money, but if you arent passionate about your job then its only a job and not something worth doing and in the end you will only be unhappy. I too wanted to be a nurse, I started off as a EMT and worked as a nurses aide in the local hospital and hated it. The nurses were often overworked and had way to many responsibilities and it was easy to see how they can easily get overwhelmed and burnt out. Also nursing is a hard back breaking job, on a daily basis you are lifting any where from 150 to 300 pounds, you are assisting in baths, daily personal care of all the patients in your care, along with medical care and handing out medicines and ensuring patient safety. It is a very stressful job and a difficult job. I was personally hurt on the job and can no longer work due to migraines and fibromyaglia and a back injury that occurred 2 years ago. After working in a hospital and seeing how much responsibility a nurse has and how much crap a nurse has to take from the doctors I decided that there was no way that I could ever be a nurse. Here in KY where we live most nurses go to college at least 3 years 1 year to get their basics in and 2 for the Associates in Nursing they then graduate with there Registered Nursing degree but they still have to do 120 hours of working with a nurse and then have to pass the state boards which is about a 400 dollar test I believe, eventually all nurses have to achieve their bachelors degree and then many go on to get their masters. The average pay depends on the area that you live in, my sister works nights and makes $21 per hour once she gets her bachelors she will be making up to $25 but different nurses make different amounts of money. But I will tell you that once you are accepted into a nursing program kiss your life good bye because it is very intensive and very hard and if your dont pass you are simply out of luck and fail the program. If this is the path you choose good luck to you but I do hope that you choose to go with more of your passion than your need for money.
The most important thing to remember is that money isnt every thing but your happiness is. I hope that this will help you