School choices (for me)

emar129

I'm really torn on what I should do. I'm posting this here because you are logical people and often bring up things I wouldn't think of!

I've always debated going to school for nursing but never did it. I have a Bachelor in Human Development and Family Studies right now...which is pretty much worthless without furthering my education. I worked as a social worker...not for me. I am now working as an infant teacher in a private center. I like it, but it's not my forever career. I just started taking classes for my initial licensure in 4-9 social studies and language arts. I'd then have to take masters classes and get a masters in education.

EDIT: I guess I should add I do like teaching! I taught swim lessons for years too. I just don't like being in a daycare!

I feel like I may not be making the right decision. I like the teaching hours and I do like history and politics (that's what id like to teach). I like medicine a lot more. I don't know the best way to go about deciding? I know I'm the only one who can make the decision, but maybe you guys can point out some things about each profession? ( I know we have teachers and nurses here! )

Meghan14

Warning!: Never pick teaching because you like the hours.  I cannot say this enough, my typical teaching day was 11 hours!   If you do not have a passion for teaching RUN AWAY NOW!  If you do not love it, you will hate it!  You would be doing yourself and any potential students a disservice if you enter this field without a love for it.  Sorry if I sound rude.

OK, I've said my peace, stepping off soapbox and will answer the rest of your question now.

If you believe you like medicine more, I think that's where you need to be.  Why would you want to invest your efforts in learning a career unless it was what you love?  If you study education and end up unhappy, won't you just end up needing to go back to school to find a new career later?  I say follow the path you think is most likely to bring you happiness, which based on reading your post would be nursing.  (Although this is another career where if you don't have the passion, stay away.)

Good luck with your decision.

Unrelated: Your siggy has already won in my mind.   

TessyMessy

I'm not a teacher or a nurse but I think you should pursue the profession that will make you happy. From what you mention above, that sounds like nursing. You are lucky to be at a point in your life where you can decide which direction to go. Nursing may take longer however if that is something you feel passionate about you will likely be happier in the long run.

iwubrory

Teacher here, I get liking the hours. While I do work plenty when I'm not technically on the clock, I do get a heck of a lot of time off where I can just relax and not think about school. You mentioned liking history and politics but how do you feel about teaching?

I'm going to state the obvious, at least in my area, nurses make way more than teachers. One of my friends is an RN and makes triple my base salary so that's pretty appealing but her work hours can be pretty sucky.

It sounds like you are more passionate about medicine so it may be a wiser choice to head I that direction.

ETA: Haha, forgot to say follow your heart.  I want you to end up happy with your choice.

nebraska84

I am a teacher and love it, but I agree with the previous post, don't pick it for the hours. It is a lot of work but can be beneficial, I love it. Where do you live? There is a great college program here in Washington that really works around working parents schedule called WGU (Washington governor's university) good luck

karich

I'm a nurse.

I work part time in my hospital's critical care float pool where I go to MICUs, SICUs, CCUs, the ER, and respond to codes and traumas as a rapid response nurse. It's a cool job if you are into adrenaline. But, it took me a few years and a lot of extra training/certifications to get here.

Then I work per diem in maternity at a smaller community hospital. This is amazing for obvious reasons.
Again, this is really hard to get into and it took me awhile to break in.

For me, going back to school was the best decision I ever made (my first career was a middle-school English teacher...go figure!)

The hours are great for mothers.
I see my kids much more than your average full time working mom. The schedule is SO flexible. I work nights but I can work days, eves, weekends....you get the point. Our childcare bill is minimal as a result.

The money is good and job security is solid. I will always have a job. And, there are SO MANY avenues you can go as a nurse. You don't have to work in a hospital. Think offices, schools, legal offices, drug rep/device sales etc etc.

The bad side? I work a lot of weekends and holidays. This Xmas is my 3rd in a row where I'll be with someone else's family besides my own.
Also, it's not a very glamorous job. I'm quite literally up to my elbows in shit most shifts. I've also been hit, bit, jumped on, and we get verbally abused on the regular.

But, it's pretty rewarding. Sometimes we have a really good save and it makes you feel like you are making a difference.
A lot of the time though, you are faced with difficult ethical dilemmas. Your faith will be rocked on a daily basis.

Feel free to ask me any other questions

Wow. Sorry that was so long!!!

emar129

@katybriggs @karich @golfergirl08 thank you for the great perspectives into the medical field! I've always been amazed by different aspects of medicine since I was younger. My mom is a nurse and I used to go with her for the "Bring Your Daughter to Work Day" or whatever it is called. I loved being in the hospital and watching various things happen. This is super weird, but I had a microscope when I was younger and I used to hold different bugs with tweezers so I could "examine" them. Science has always been an interest!

Anyways, ignore that blabbering. I guess one of the only things that has held me back from pursuing this is the fact I NEED to work, I'm not sure if I could give it up during clinicals or labs that are time consuming. If I do decide to pursue it, I will have to make it work. 

All of the different careers you all described sound SO interesting. Lab work sounds appealing, but so does interacting with patients. I wish there was an easy way to figure this all out.

Everyone with a teaching perspective. Thank you all as well. I think maybe this means I need to lean more towards a medical career. I don't want to regret it later by not pursuing my true passion.

karich

There are a lot of nursing programs out there now that cater to the working individual.
The program that I went to offered a weekend/evening option. Class once or twice a week, and clinically were every other weekend.
I did it working and while DD1 was an infant (actually got pregnant in nursing school) so it's totally doable.

MissDemeanor

I'm actually taking a program to be able to train and teach. I already have a bachelors degree (Hospitality Management and post bacc international Business ). I love teaching and training, which is what I did in my previous job. So I'm hoping one day I'll be able to teach at a college diploma level, or do the training in large companies.

That isn't exactly related to your question, more to point out that there are other ways to be a teacher.

It sounds like your heart is in the medical field. I vote follow it. Maybe one day you could even teach nursing