Gwendolyn Said:

Options for Being a Registered Nurse?

We Answered:

From what it sounds like, you may be very well suited for a job in a pediatrician's office. They are around children all day, and a lot of the time babies. Although you probably wouldn't be dealing with pregnancy in this area, you would have a normal work day schedule (9-5) for the weekdays, and pediatricians take the weekends off. You would still have the experience of working as a nurse, but with a schedule that would better fit your lifestyle! Good luck!

Rose Said:

Is nursing a wise career option?

We Answered:

Definitely!

Sara Said:

career options? what should i do?

We Answered:

Open a doggy day care. They are booming in my area right now, you would be amazed at what people pay for their dogs to be taken care of when they are at work.
You have the office skills to run a business, and a love of animals. Either that or a dog walker, they make good money too.

Howard Said:

Should I be a Pediatrician, Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner?

We Answered:

Only you can really answer this question and sometimes it's not an easy decision to make. To a certain extent, medicine chooses you, rather than you choosing medicine.

I chose to become a Registered Nurse, but a year or two into my training, I knew I had made a huge mistake and I have now applied to study medicine. It's exactly as the above poster stated; if you were meant to be a Doctor, you will not be happy as a Nurse and that's exactly the problem I had. All throughout my training, I knew I was capable of much more and I was frustrated that I couldn't do more.

My reasons for choosing Nursing were simply because I wanted an easy life to be honest. I didn't want a long career path and medicine is a long road. At 18 I didn't have the commitment needed either. Also, both my parents are Doctors and I saw the long hours they worked (the working hours have got better btw). I think for me, it all boiled down to the fact I just wasn't ready for that sort of commitment at 18. You need to make sure you understand what you are taking on.

I fooled myself into thinking I would be satisfied with Nursing, but I think deep down I always knew I would enter medicine.
I reached the stage where I needed something to stimulate my mind and make me feel alive. Nursing just doesn't do that for me. I have just completed my masters degree, I hoped that would give me better satisfaction, but it didn't. My job role was more or less the same and it doesn't change anything. If you aren't happy as an RN, you won't be happy as a Nurse Practitioner either, so your choice is narrowed down to Nurse or Doctor basically.

Also, I want to point out that Being a Doctor is not a step- up from Nursing. Although they are in the same field and are complimentary to each other a Dr and a Nurse are two completely different professions- it's vital that you understand the difference. You need to work out which one you want to be. You should never chose Nursing simply because Medicine seems too hard. You must ensure you enter Nursing or medicine for the right reasons otherwise it won't work.

Do you like science? Do you have a passion for science and medicine? Are you a good detective? Do you like the idea of having responsibility? Would you be able to give sound clinical judgement? A big part of being a Doctor is about understanding the basic mechanisms of disease, being able to test hypotheses and show curiosity. If this doesn't sound like your thing, medicine might not be for you.

Nursing is a rewarding career, don't get me wrong. It just wasn't for me, and you need to find out whether or not it's for you.

It's not just about you wanting to be a Doctor, it's about possessing the right qualities required to be a GOOD Doctor. Two major incorrect reasons for entering medicine are money and status.

You can have a family with both careers. Medicine is a longer career path than Nursing. Both jobs require shift work.

Good Luck in whatever you decide, but just don't make the mistakes I made, make sure you chose your career for the right reasons, after all, you are going to spend the next 40 odd years doing it.
Best Wishes

Fernando Said:

Should I become a Registered Nurse?

We Answered:

If you are a people person and love helping others this is for you. But if you do well in school I suggest you continue past associates to the BSN level. Not that much longer and most nurses I know who did the two year program go back to the BSN while working which is tough. I always recommend you do as much school as you can afford because where you enter the field is very important. Many more good jobs for BSN's. Floor work is becoming pill pushing with no time to really help the folks.