Career Help Needed

[Snowman5933]

I need some help deciding what to do. I currently work as a mid-level manager in a human services field. I've become rather unhappy lately (partly because of the mundane day to day operations, and partly because I want to go back to college). I want to go to nursing school to become an RN. It will be about 2 years before I can truely get started (I can take a couple classes before I get accepted to the program, but that's about it). So, I can stay where I'm currently employed or I can quit and go to work at a hospital or nursing home as a CNA. On one hand the experience could prove to be beneficial, but on the other hand it could be a bad experience. I live in a small town and I worry that starting as a CNA could be a mistake. I would essentially be working under the same RN's that I will be working side by side with after graduation. Some might say I would earn alot of respect by doing this, but I tend to think I would always be a CNA to them. Let me know what you think.....Thanks.

Snowman

 

[center_stage]

My coworker is currently in school to become an RN. She is going to the local community college and she is working a 35 hour work week. She is going crazy because of the workload. She has so much reading to do and she doesn't know how she is going to get it finished every night.

I would suggest getting a part time job while you are in school just because you need the money for basic necessities. Or, is it possible for you to work at your current job for a little bit longer and save some money so you can then just concentrate on school?

I think that being a nurse is a very rewarding career. I was considering being a nurse, but I would never be able to give a needle. Plus, nurses are very in demand. Whatever your decision is, good luck.

 

[Cathleen]

Short answer -- go for it.

But, what about finances? Will you need to stay at your current position to finance your educational plan? I'm assuming CNA is Certified Nursing Assistant and I think getting some experience in the field is a very smart idea. What about volunteering for a while to see if the environment and work is truly of interest to you.

In my experience when I was unhappy at a job every other job looked great! Whatever the requirements of a new job I knew I could and wanted to meet them. It was more an idea of just getting out of where I was than truly wanting the potential path I saw in front of me. (Kind of like voting for president for me -- more often than not my vote falls into the category of the lesser of the two evils.)

So, what are the finances? Will you truly want to work as a nurse?

The idea of not being seen as a nurse once you've accomplished the goal is not something I would have thought about actually. For me I encouraged people to learn more or move forward and respecting their newer titles was just never a thought. I might be naive on that but it just doesn't resonate with me.

 

[Eilan]

But, what about finances? Will you need to stay at your current position to finance your educational plan? I'm assuming CNA is Certified Nursing Assistant and I think getting some experience in the field is a very smart idea.

I was going to ask about finances as well. Can you support yourself on a CNA's pay? Will you need to be able to support yourself?

I'm sure it depends on geographical location, but where I live, a CNA/STNA is lucky to make $7.00 an hour; I know that they can make more money in more heavily populated areas, though.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

 

[NaughtyLil1]

I think it's great that you want to further your education. I think working in a nursing home would give you give you valuable insight. Besides, you're not limited to working only in a nursing home. One of the benefits of nursing is that there are so many opportunities.

 

[wgbseb]

My wife graduated with a BSN 25 years ago, and has worked off and on as an RN (between raising 3 kids). I will tell you she worked INCREDIBLY hard during college with very demanding course loads -- she worked much harder than I did in my management classes. It was every bit the class load of being a pre-med major. Now, that aside, what I have heard her say over the years is how hard it is to be a nurse. Constant staffing shortages, hospital administrators that try to squeeze more patients per nurse, Doctors who have little appreciation for the work nurses do, other nurses getting hurt lifting heavy patients. The training has given her flexible schedules, but she also feels that if she could do it over, she would put her hard work against another career. So, maybe out of all of the above you can take the hospital job of CNA and get a sense of how nurses are perceived and treated and appreciated before committing fully to the path. My two cents.....

 

[Snowman5933]

Thanks for the replies. I have two options for financing nursing school (tuition reinbursment through a potential employer and my personal savings). Since I have previously attended college I will only need to take the actual nursing classes, so I will only have 1 class per semester. If I use tuition reinbusment through an employer I will be under contractual obligation to work for a predetermined amount of time. If I use my own funds then I can work where I choose. Taking a job as a CNA would be a big pay cut compared to what I currently make. That is what makes this decision so hard. I am trying to figure out if the experience I would gain would be equal or greater than the money I would lose.

I have gained alot of experience in my current job. I supervise medications (psychotropics, controlled substances, and injectables) for 46 individuals. My job had previously been to administer these same medications, but now I deal with the scripts, ordering, disposal, and inventory. I train new hire employees on medication administration as well as CPR. I also have alot of hands on experience with texas catheters, blood sugar and blood pressure monitoring, administering insulin, and g-tubes (feeding, administering medications, and pump operations). I've cleaned up enough urine, feces, and vomit to last a lifetime. I even have a small amount of experience with physical therapy and wound care. So, I'm wondering if there is anything relevant to learn if I were to take a job as a CNA or would I be wasting my time.

 

[Cathleen]

Snowman, have you made sure your college credits will carry forward? Are you going for a BS with the RN or the RN separately? I don't know where you live or how long ago you were in college, there is a time limit on some transferring of credits.

Hearing your experience I'm not sure taking the financial hit to CNA is worthwhile. Perhaps even educationally too. I can see why this is a difficult decision.

 

[Snowman5933]

Snowman, have you made sure your college credits will carry forward? Are you going for a BS with the RN or the RN separately? I don't know where you live or how long ago you were in college, there is a time limit on some transferring of credits.

Hearing your experience I'm not sure taking the financial hit to CNA is worthwhile. Perhaps even educationally too. I can see why this is a difficult decision.

Yes, I have contacted the college and made sure that my previous credits are in good standing. I will be going for an associate of science in nursing. After graduation and passing a state exam I will be a RN. There is another college where I could pursue a BS/RN degree, but from what I understand, the only difference between 2 year and 4 year RN's is 4 year RN's are usually in management.....I have no interest in a management position. I also do not believe that becoming a CNA will be super beneficial.

I'll keep you posted.