Nursing Field

jazzy1

I know this is way off the topic of our cancer, but figure I have a varied group of gals on these boards and possibly someone can pitch in to help.  

My daughter, 21 yrs, is at college working on her business degree, emphasis in marketing.  Been working this summer at a financial corp as an intern, but wondering if this is what she really wants.  Great, as we figured one more year of college and she would graduate.  Now the new thoughts of "what do I really want to do".  We've tried to tell her DO WHAT YOU WANT, DIG DEEP DOWN INSIDE (we've heard ideas in past of law, teaching, to name a few), and now her thoughts are going to the nursing field -- her take -- I want to be rewarded at the end of the day, by helping others.  As I remind her, you've only been at this internship for a whopping 2 weeks, how can you know the business world isn't what you want?  

Now that she's looking into the nursing field, searching for any one who can chime in to give me their experiences.  My concern, she's really not a grest science student, but excellent in math, plus with this new Obamacare coming soon, what will that do to the nursing field?  Hearing so much about shortages of doctors and lower pay with our socialistic health care programs.

We want her to find her spot, but with me I didn't know until I really got out and worked.....took me a few years, but I found my true passion.  At this point I want her to get her business degree in one more year, then step into the corp world and find her niche.  But nursing, as this just popped up this week??  

Appreciate any input you gals can provide.  Thankfully we have only 1 child...gee!!

Hugs,

Jan 

 

 

 

ConnieSW

Nursing

Hi, Jan. I am a retired nurse.  It was a good career and although the pay was lousy in the beginning, it did improve in my last years.  I think there will always be job security.  I also believe critical thinking skills, compassion, and common sense are even more important than a natural aptitude for science.  On the other hand, I wonder how different my life would have been if I could have spent weekends and holidays with my family.

 

At this point, I think she is better off finishing her business degree.  I know many people who made nursing their second career.  With all the changes in our world, who knows what may open in the future.  She may become an entrapaneur (sp?) who combines the 2 fields into something cutting edge and exciting!

Ro10

Jan I too am a retired nurse

I found it tobe a very rewarding career.  As Connie said the pay was not that great.  I found great satisfaction in helping patients and families get through their illness.  I always tried to take care of patients the way I would like my family taken care of.    There are so many different opportunities in nursing today.  I feel there will always be a job for nurses. 

I can understand you wanting her to finish her business degree. College is so expensive.  Maybe your daughter could work as an aide or med tech to see what nursing is all about these days.

nursing gives flexibility in hours, but I worked many weekends and holidays.  I still miss not working, but could not do the 12 hour shifts I was working. I  am happy I chose nursing as my profession.

good luck to both of you making decision.  In peace and caring.

ConnieSW

Ro10 said:

Jan I too am a retired nurse

I found it tobe a very rewarding career.  As Connie said the pay was not that great.  I found great satisfaction in helping patients and families get through their illness.  I always tried to take care of patients the way I would like my family taken care of.    There are so many different opportunities in nursing today.  I feel there will always be a job for nurses. 

I can understand you wanting her to finish her business degree. College is so expensive.  Maybe your daughter could work as an aide or med tech to see what nursing is all about these days.

nursing gives flexibility in hours, but I worked many weekends and holidays.  I still miss not working, but could not do the 12 hour shifts I was working. I  am happy I chose nursing as my profession.

good luck to both of you making decision.  In peace and caring.

As Ro said,  the patients and their families were my biggest rewards.  Even more than that, one of them may have saved my life.  Many, many years ago I gave terminal care to a woman with advanced uterine cancer.  There was an odor, and I noticed the same odor associated with a discharge from myself in Feb '12 and hied myself to the dr.  She didn't believe it was cancer but I was convinced it was.  I think of my pt often .  Who knew.

jazzy1

ConnieSW said:

Nursing

Hi, Jan. I am a retired nurse.  It was a good career and although the pay was lousy in the beginning, it did improve in my last years.  I think there will always be job security.  I also believe critical thinking skills, compassion, and common sense are even more important than a natural aptitude for science.  On the other hand, I wonder how different my life would have been if I could have spent weekends and holidays with my family.

 

At this point, I think she is better off finishing her business degree.  I know many people who made nursing their second career.  With all the changes in our world, who knows what may open in the future.  She may become an entrapaneur (sp?) who combines the 2 fields into something cutting edge and exciting!

Connie

Thanks for the good information!  I know it must be so rewarding as I've spoken with many nurses over the years of my care with cancer.  

My husband and I have spoken about her  exisiting program which is only 2 more semesters, then graduate.  By the time she even knows if nursing is an option, she'll be past this coming fall semester.  We remind her things in life change (look at her mother with cancer who quit her corp job) so get the first degree, then continue on with nursing if she still feels the need.  

Britt worked at Nordstrom selling women's shoes last year, plus another job in retail prior years, and just go so tired of the crazy hours.  We've tried to tell her nursing won't be much different.  In the end if she has the PASSION, the hours and possible lower pay won't mean a darn thing.  

Still not sure what the Obamacare will do to our health care workers?  Should be interesting

Glad you had a great run in the nursing field...nice to be in an industry you love.

 

Jan

 

jazzy1

Ro10 said:

Jan I too am a retired nurse

I found it tobe a very rewarding career.  As Connie said the pay was not that great.  I found great satisfaction in helping patients and families get through their illness.  I always tried to take care of patients the way I would like my family taken care of.    There are so many different opportunities in nursing today.  I feel there will always be a job for nurses. 

I can understand you wanting her to finish her business degree. College is so expensive.  Maybe your daughter could work as an aide or med tech to see what nursing is all about these days.

nursing gives flexibility in hours, but I worked many weekends and holidays.  I still miss not working, but could not do the 12 hour shifts I was working. I  am happy I chose nursing as my profession.

good luck to both of you making decision.  In peace and caring.

Ro

You too....had no idea!!  Well if she wants "satisfaction in a career" seems like nursing would be a potential fit.  As well looking at the NP (nurse practioner) and PA (physician assistant) degreesl.  One of them here in my state, Missouri, is now an additional 2 years on top of the nursing 4 yrs with RN.  Come to find next year it'll be 4 yrs, not 2 yrs,as the requirements have changed.  Gee...might as well be a doctor...well not really, but one must really love school after 8 years.

Yes I had nurses with me during my hysterectomy time in hospital and all were on 4 days/week with 12 hr days.  All I heard were complaints of the long hours as anything past 9 hrs they were "fried" and not as functional.  Makes me worry about that as surely don't want an RN helping us falling asleep when should be monitoriing us.

She might "shadow" a nurse some time over this summer as looking for some more thoughts on what the job is like.  Hoping it's on the weekend, night shift so she really sees it full tilt.

Thanks again Ms. Ro~

Jan

Ann55

jazzy1 said:

Ro

You too....had no idea!!  Well if she wants "satisfaction in a career" seems like nursing would be a potential fit.  As well looking at the NP (nurse practioner) and PA (physician assistant) degreesl.  One of them here in my state, Missouri, is now an additional 2 years on top of the nursing 4 yrs with RN.  Come to find next year it'll be 4 yrs, not 2 yrs,as the requirements have changed.  Gee...might as well be a doctor...well not really, but one must really love school after 8 years.

Yes I had nurses with me during my hysterectomy time in hospital and all were on 4 days/week with 12 hr days.  All I heard were complaints of the long hours as anything past 9 hrs they were "fried" and not as functional.  Makes me worry about that as surely don't want an RN helping us falling asleep when should be monitoriing us.

She might "shadow" a nurse some time over this summer as looking for some more thoughts on what the job is like.  Hoping it's on the weekend, night shift so she really sees it full tilt.

Thanks again Ms. Ro~

Jan

I am also a nurse and can't

I am also a nurse and can't think of anything I would rather have done for the last 35 years.My daughter also questioned her chosen field but did finish and worked in the business world for a couple of years.She went back to school on a fast track program and got a nursing degree in 18 months,she is very happy in nursing.There are so many choices for nurses now,With all the changes that are taking place it would be good to work in the field for a couple of years and continue education for nurse practioner if you found you were happy in nursing.

debrajo

jazzy1 said:

Ro

You too....had no idea!!  Well if she wants "satisfaction in a career" seems like nursing would be a potential fit.  As well looking at the NP (nurse practioner) and PA (physician assistant) degreesl.  One of them here in my state, Missouri, is now an additional 2 years on top of the nursing 4 yrs with RN.  Come to find next year it'll be 4 yrs, not 2 yrs,as the requirements have changed.  Gee...might as well be a doctor...well not really, but one must really love school after 8 years.

Yes I had nurses with me during my hysterectomy time in hospital and all were on 4 days/week with 12 hr days.  All I heard were complaints of the long hours as anything past 9 hrs they were "fried" and not as functional.  Makes me worry about that as surely don't want an RN helping us falling asleep when should be monitoriing us.

She might "shadow" a nurse some time over this summer as looking for some more thoughts on what the job is like.  Hoping it's on the weekend, night shift so she really sees it full tilt.

Thanks again Ms. Ro~

Jan

Nurse

Hey Jan!  As you know my daughter just got her state RN degree two days ago and my daughter in law will be getting her RN in Sept of this year.  It was really hard on both and they REALLY wanted to be nurses and they are both super smart.  My advice...Have Brit volunteer for the summer at a nursing home or get her CNA(it's pretty short schooling) and see if she is even cut out for that field.  You really have to LOVE nursing to be able to do the worst jobs and a nursing home is THE perfect place to see if she really wants to do this.  At any rate, she should finish her degree.  She can pick up her BS and go into the nursing part with a lot of her credits intact.  Debra

soromer

Great advice so far from people in the field

As someone who taught at the university level for years, I'd add that it's really important to do what you want to do for yourself. And it's also smart to shadow or take other jobs before embarking on a long-term commitment. Practical, first-hand knowledge of day-to-day life at work is indispensible.

That said, if she can manage to hang on to finish her B degree it would be strategic. Could she take some classes in health care management as a senior? There might be several classes that would eventually be helpful.

If it works as planned, Obamacare will likely bring more patients into the system, which is not necessarily a bad thing, especially for underserved populations. We do have a shortage of medical personnel now, and those in the field will be even more overworked until the bottleneck eases with more people getting trained. However, nursing schools have been turning prospective students away for a while because of a shortage of instructors, too. There are no immediate or easy solutions.

Good luck to your daughter as she seeks to identify her vocation.

 

cheerful

 

Hi Jan:

  I saw your post regarding your daughter and her deciding on her career so I wanted to give you my thoughts on this.

   Regarding law, I have worked in legal as a legal secretary for 20 years and worked 10 years in litigation.  I also worked in Corporate Law for a few years and did real estate law which I really enjoyed.  I was let go from a position back in 2007 as it did not work out as I was there for a few months and I was looking for full time work as a legal secretary before my cancer diagnosis back in 2011 and once I was diagnosed back in Feb. of 2011, I stopped looking for full time work because I did not know how I would react going through the chemo which ended up making me extremely tired and exhausted after each of my 6 treatments so I decided to look for part time work last year (2012).  And right before I started chemo in March of 2011, I was offered a full time position in law, but I turned it down because I knew I would have to take 2 days off for each of my chemo treatments as I was going to start chemo the following month and the timing was not good at all and I did not know how I would feel after each of the chemo treatments.

  The legal field right now is very difficult to find part time work and the hours that you want, but I refuse to give up my search and will continue to look for part time. I just read in my local newspaper that the economy is supposed to strengthen later this year so one of my references who is an attorney I worked with at a big major law firm in Phila. for many years mentioned I should continue to look even though I have been looking for a part time position. I also have been looking under Admin support in my area. I have my resume posted on one of the major job boards. Right now, I also am interested in a temporary assignment for a day or so to see how I feel. I also am on medications for my heart for cholesterol and high blood pressure so I do take a number of medicines. 

  I would like to go back part time 2 days a week as a part time legal secretary (the days my son does not attend college) because my son is going to college for 3 days a week they are half days and I pick him up those 3 days from school which is a 15 minute drive from my house.  Also, I am older, and more experienced in my field and this could by why that employers want younger workers for their positions with their company although they do not have the legal experience to offer like I do.  Anyway, I will continue to look and search in my field.  I will be able to collect Early Social Security in Sept as I will be turning 62 next month which will be a big help to our family.    

  If your daughter wants to go into law, I assume she would want to study to be an attorney or even a paralegal, but as I mentioned, the legal field is not good right now, but it is improving - there are many more full time jobs out there than part time - also I have my resume in with a number of recruiters as well.  

  I also would recommend your daughter going into Nursing because I do have a very close friend who has been a Nurse for many years and always has had a job even through this difficult economy. I also have a cousin who retired to Florida a few years ago and she was a nurse in the Wilkes-Barre area and lived in that area for many, many years until she and her husband retired to Florida.  

  I hope this was of some help to you.  Good luck to your daughter in whatever career she decides on.

Warm Regards,

Cheerful - a/k/a Jane

 

 

Kathy G.

cheerful said:

 

Hi Jan:

  I saw your post regarding your daughter and her deciding on her career so I wanted to give you my thoughts on this.

   Regarding law, I have worked in legal as a legal secretary for 20 years and worked 10 years in litigation.  I also worked in Corporate Law for a few years and did real estate law which I really enjoyed.  I was let go from a position back in 2007 as it did not work out as I was there for a few months and I was looking for full time work as a legal secretary before my cancer diagnosis back in 2011 and once I was diagnosed back in Feb. of 2011, I stopped looking for full time work because I did not know how I would react going through the chemo which ended up making me extremely tired and exhausted after each of my 6 treatments so I decided to look for part time work last year (2012).  And right before I started chemo in March of 2011, I was offered a full time position in law, but I turned it down because I knew I would have to take 2 days off for each of my chemo treatments as I was going to start chemo the following month and the timing was not good at all and I did not know how I would feel after each of the chemo treatments.

  The legal field right now is very difficult to find part time work and the hours that you want, but I refuse to give up my search and will continue to look for part time. I just read in my local newspaper that the economy is supposed to strengthen later this year so one of my references who is an attorney I worked with at a big major law firm in Phila. for many years mentioned I should continue to look even though I have been looking for a part time position. I also have been looking under Admin support in my area. I have my resume posted on one of the major job boards. Right now, I also am interested in a temporary assignment for a day or so to see how I feel. I also am on medications for my heart for cholesterol and high blood pressure so I do take a number of medicines. 

  I would like to go back part time 2 days a week as a part time legal secretary (the days my son does not attend college) because my son is going to college for 3 days a week they are half days and I pick him up those 3 days from school which is a 15 minute drive from my house.  Also, I am older, and more experienced in my field and this could by why that employers want younger workers for their positions with their company although they do not have the legal experience to offer like I do.  Anyway, I will continue to look and search in my field.  I will be able to collect Early Social Security in Sept as I will be turning 62 next month which will be a big help to our family.    

  If your daughter wants to go into law, I assume she would want to study to be an attorney or even a paralegal, but as I mentioned, the legal field is not good right now, but it is improving - there are many more full time jobs out there than part time - also I have my resume in with a number of recruiters as well.  

  I also would recommend your daughter going into Nursing because I do have a very close friend who has been a Nurse for many years and always has had a job even through this difficult economy. I also have a cousin who retired to Florida a few years ago and she was a nurse in the Wilkes-Barre area and lived in that area for many, many years until she and her husband retired to Florida.  

  I hope this was of some help to you.  Good luck to your daughter in whatever career she decides on.

Warm Regards,

Cheerful - a/k/a Jane

 

 

Hi Jan!
I just wanted to put

Hi Jan!

I just wanted to put my two cents in since you have always been so helpful to me....

I have 3 daughters in their 30's and only one went directly to college after high school. The two who didn't had no idea what they wanted to do that early on. Although I would have liked them to get started on their careers early on for a variety of reasons I understood where they were at. Like you say sometimes the best way to find out where your passion lies is to get out in the world and work. I was a homemaker and did not complete my degree until I went through a divorce at 30. By then I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

So since your daughter is only 21 I can understand at her age the pull to something different than what she started out wanting to do. I would suggest since she is so close to finishing her degree she do that, and then like the good suggestions above if she wants to pursue nursing she can transfer some of the credits she has already accumulated to her nursing program.

I believe nursing is a calling like some other fields and the pay, the hours, and other issues are something someone destined to go in the field will tolerate because they are dedicated to the work they do. I have worked with many clients who went into this field and never regretted it. Some seemed to find some really great positions as LPN's where they worked 3 days week/12 hour shifts and this was considered full-time with benefits. They had the rest of the week off. I would love a schedule like that, but how it really shakes out can really only be verified by someone who is a nurse...some things sound great, but in reality there are drawbacks.

I wish your daughter and yourself peace and wisdom as you both work through this process. I think both fields are a good way to go, and like it is said when you see some folks graduating from college and entering the work force at 40, 50 or above it is not so important WHEN, but that you accomplished the goal at all!

Kathy

jazzy1

debrajo said:

Nurse

Hey Jan!  As you know my daughter just got her state RN degree two days ago and my daughter in law will be getting her RN in Sept of this year.  It was really hard on both and they REALLY wanted to be nurses and they are both super smart.  My advice...Have Brit volunteer for the summer at a nursing home or get her CNA(it's pretty short schooling) and see if she is even cut out for that field.  You really have to LOVE nursing to be able to do the worst jobs and a nursing home is THE perfect place to see if she really wants to do this.  At any rate, she should finish her degree.  She can pick up her BS and go into the nursing part with a lot of her credits intact.  Debra

Debra

Yes I thought of you the other day, knowing your daughter was on line with graduation with RN degree.  Lots of science and Britt's not a science girl, but if she has PASSION she'll get it.  Mentioned to my hubbie about volunteering at nursing home and he thought that was an excellent idea.  Get her out there to see what the job is truly like.  Right now all she's doing is asking friends, etc, but heck they're not in the field, only schooling towards the degree.  

We'll not pay for nursing unless she does finish her BSBA....we just have to be strong on something here.  If every time she has a whim to look at difference areas and never completes a degree, she'll end up at 60 yrs still in college...darn!

Hope you're feeling well,

Jan

jazzy1

cheerful said:

 

Hi Jan:

  I saw your post regarding your daughter and her deciding on her career so I wanted to give you my thoughts on this.

   Regarding law, I have worked in legal as a legal secretary for 20 years and worked 10 years in litigation.  I also worked in Corporate Law for a few years and did real estate law which I really enjoyed.  I was let go from a position back in 2007 as it did not work out as I was there for a few months and I was looking for full time work as a legal secretary before my cancer diagnosis back in 2011 and once I was diagnosed back in Feb. of 2011, I stopped looking for full time work because I did not know how I would react going through the chemo which ended up making me extremely tired and exhausted after each of my 6 treatments so I decided to look for part time work last year (2012).  And right before I started chemo in March of 2011, I was offered a full time position in law, but I turned it down because I knew I would have to take 2 days off for each of my chemo treatments as I was going to start chemo the following month and the timing was not good at all and I did not know how I would feel after each of the chemo treatments.

  The legal field right now is very difficult to find part time work and the hours that you want, but I refuse to give up my search and will continue to look for part time. I just read in my local newspaper that the economy is supposed to strengthen later this year so one of my references who is an attorney I worked with at a big major law firm in Phila. for many years mentioned I should continue to look even though I have been looking for a part time position. I also have been looking under Admin support in my area. I have my resume posted on one of the major job boards. Right now, I also am interested in a temporary assignment for a day or so to see how I feel. I also am on medications for my heart for cholesterol and high blood pressure so I do take a number of medicines. 

  I would like to go back part time 2 days a week as a part time legal secretary (the days my son does not attend college) because my son is going to college for 3 days a week they are half days and I pick him up those 3 days from school which is a 15 minute drive from my house.  Also, I am older, and more experienced in my field and this could by why that employers want younger workers for their positions with their company although they do not have the legal experience to offer like I do.  Anyway, I will continue to look and search in my field.  I will be able to collect Early Social Security in Sept as I will be turning 62 next month which will be a big help to our family.    

  If your daughter wants to go into law, I assume she would want to study to be an attorney or even a paralegal, but as I mentioned, the legal field is not good right now, but it is improving - there are many more full time jobs out there than part time - also I have my resume in with a number of recruiters as well.  

  I also would recommend your daughter going into Nursing because I do have a very close friend who has been a Nurse for many years and always has had a job even through this difficult economy. I also have a cousin who retired to Florida a few years ago and she was a nurse in the Wilkes-Barre area and lived in that area for many, many years until she and her husband retired to Florida.  

  I hope this was of some help to you.  Good luck to your daughter in whatever career she decides on.

Warm Regards,

Cheerful - a/k/a Jane

 

 

Jane

Sorry you're finding the legal area to be tough for jobs.  When Britt  looked last year about law, I did my research.  The debt these kids come out of school with is huge ($100K plus) and lawyers don't make what they used to...not the glamorous job it once was years ago.  Plus Britt doesn't want to work that hard.

 

If she has passion for Nursing we're 100% behind her, but thusfar, not sure this is truly what Britt wants.  Time will tell as doing her research and deep thinking.  At least the undergraduate degree will be completed.  

 

Thanks,

Jan

jazzy1

Kathy G. said:

Hi Jan!
I just wanted to put

Hi Jan!

I just wanted to put my two cents in since you have always been so helpful to me....

I have 3 daughters in their 30's and only one went directly to college after high school. The two who didn't had no idea what they wanted to do that early on. Although I would have liked them to get started on their careers early on for a variety of reasons I understood where they were at. Like you say sometimes the best way to find out where your passion lies is to get out in the world and work. I was a homemaker and did not complete my degree until I went through a divorce at 30. By then I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

So since your daughter is only 21 I can understand at her age the pull to something different than what she started out wanting to do. I would suggest since she is so close to finishing her degree she do that, and then like the good suggestions above if she wants to pursue nursing she can transfer some of the credits she has already accumulated to her nursing program.

I believe nursing is a calling like some other fields and the pay, the hours, and other issues are something someone destined to go in the field will tolerate because they are dedicated to the work they do. I have worked with many clients who went into this field and never regretted it. Some seemed to find some really great positions as LPN's where they worked 3 days week/12 hour shifts and this was considered full-time with benefits. They had the rest of the week off. I would love a schedule like that, but how it really shakes out can really only be verified by someone who is a nurse...some things sound great, but in reality there are drawbacks.

I wish your daughter and yourself peace and wisdom as you both work through this process. I think both fields are a good way to go, and like it is said when you see some folks graduating from college and entering the work force at 40, 50 or above it is not so important WHEN, but that you accomplished the goal at all!

Kathy

Kathy

Yes I do believe "nursing is a calling" and not sure Britt is hearing the calling with passion.  She's young so what's the rush to know it all now...very impatient kiddo.  I've got quite a few friends whom took early retirement and now working on another degree on top of their other degrees from years ago.  Never too late to gain additional education.  

Some times these kids need to learn to start at the bottom and work their way up.....not what most do!!!  My therapist told me a long time ago, kids today have so much anxiety and stress as everything needs to be done NOW...immediate response from cell phones, ipods, FB, etc, etc.  What happened to slow down and enjoy life a bit more???  Keep telling her these are the best years of her life, enjoy as one day she'll have a mortgage and kids and have less flexibility.

Appreciate your input!

Jan

debrajo

jazzy1 said:

Debra

Yes I thought of you the other day, knowing your daughter was on line with graduation with RN degree.  Lots of science and Britt's not a science girl, but if she has PASSION she'll get it.  Mentioned to my hubbie about volunteering at nursing home and he thought that was an excellent idea.  Get her out there to see what the job is truly like.  Right now all she's doing is asking friends, etc, but heck they're not in the field, only schooling towards the degree.  

We'll not pay for nursing unless she does finish her BSBA....we just have to be strong on something here.  If every time she has a whim to look at difference areas and never completes a degree, she'll end up at 60 yrs still in college...darn!

Hope you're feeling well,

Jan

Britt

If she does go the nursing home route it will be like throwing her into the deep end of the pool, but at the same time she will find out that nursing is not all fluffing pillows!   We just had a friends daughter graduate from A&m Univ. with a full Masters degree in Nursing.  Come to find out she quit her first week on the floor because she couldn't stand to draw blood or hurt people!  She is now trying to figure out what to do and is looking into....Law!  Parents are NOT happy looking at another 4+years of school.  Kids do want everything NOW, mine does(19) and very low drive to make it happen.  He has changed his major four times in his first year of college!  Oh well, he can always flip burgers!  Debra

P.S. Doing well...same ole' stuff but ca125 is steady at 15.3 ,x-ray on lungs clear, heart still beating, so wait another six months!  Love NED SOOOOO much!

Double Whammy

jazzy1 said:

Jane

Sorry you're finding the legal area to be tough for jobs.  When Britt  looked last year about law, I did my research.  The debt these kids come out of school with is huge ($100K plus) and lawyers don't make what they used to...not the glamorous job it once was years ago.  Plus Britt doesn't want to work that hard.

 

If she has passion for Nursing we're 100% behind her, but thusfar, not sure this is truly what Britt wants.  Time will tell as doing her research and deep thinking.  At least the undergraduate degree will be completed.  

 

Thanks,

Jan

Business AND nursing vs. OR

Here's my 2 cents.  First I wish I was young and loaded with money because there are so many opportnities available for those with a good education and there are so many opportunities in the health care field for those with nursing degrees that go beyond what we think of as typical nursing.  So, I'm gong to vote for something that would combine the best of both worlds and that doesn't necessarily have to be, but could be, nursing.  There are combined degree programs at a lot of universities (usually at the graduate level) for MPH, MBA, etc., etc.  Maybe she needs to talk to a guidance counselor at a good nursing school or university medical center and explore career options.   And, she may still change her mind a dozen times.  Ah, youth.

Suzanne

Kaleena

College & Stuff

Hi Jan:

Nursing would be a great career for your daughter, but like you said she should really want it.  I was a volunteer paramedic and loved it.   I started out as an EMT.   I was also a legal secretary.    Your daughter is just going to have to go out and try some stuff.   Just when they think they know what they want, they change their minds!   I have three sons.  My 22 yr old is just graduating from college.  My 20 year old thought he wanted computer science, but now that he is going into his third year of college changed to Teaching/History.  (which is a 5 year program).   My youngest son just graduated from high school and is going into vocal performance.

 

My oldest son changed his mind many times, although it still revolves with him wanting to help people.   He started out with law enforcement and graduated with psychology degree.   He may go to law school, but like you indicated in one of your posts, graduates from law schools are having a hard time finding jobs that pay enough to cover their school expenses and firms are not hiring as many due to the economy.    

 

Getting a business degree is not a bad idea.   She can also volunteer too at a hospital to get an idea if she should really like nursing.  

 

Kathy

P.S.  Funny story.  When my oldest son just graduated (still not knowing what he wants to do) said now what do I do.  My husband and I said "Get a Job!"

 

jazzy1

Double Whammy said:

Business AND nursing vs. OR

Here's my 2 cents.  First I wish I was young and loaded with money because there are so many opportnities available for those with a good education and there are so many opportunities in the health care field for those with nursing degrees that go beyond what we think of as typical nursing.  So, I'm gong to vote for something that would combine the best of both worlds and that doesn't necessarily have to be, but could be, nursing.  There are combined degree programs at a lot of universities (usually at the graduate level) for MPH, MBA, etc., etc.  Maybe she needs to talk to a guidance counselor at a good nursing school or university medical center and explore career options.   And, she may still change her mind a dozen times.  Ah, youth.

Suzanne

Suzanne

Oh my gosh, you look beautiful...this is your own hair?  I do remember your blonde wig and thought that was cute, but the real thing is even better.  

Thanks for the college input, as it's sure nice to be young....but changing ideas continually really adds to the college expenses.  Time to do it on her dime not mom and dads always, so we're working on that part of the process.  Part is she hasn't spoken to anyone at her university yet, so this is all up in air too.  One thing, she has prerequisites in nursing and there's only one time per year to apply to nursing school and it might mean a year of no school.  Funny how she feels if this is the option, what does she do for that one year off colleg?  DAH...dear one, you'll have an undergruaduate degree how about GETTING A JOB!!!  Gee....

No matter what she chooses she'[ll come out with at least an undergraduate and hoping she works as she'll really find what is her passion.  She's young, so why be in a rush to know at this young age how to plan out your whole career path.  Loosen up and enjoy life is what I'm always preaching to her.

Hugs,

Jan

jazzy1

Kaleena said:

College & Stuff

Hi Jan:

Nursing would be a great career for your daughter, but like you said she should really want it.  I was a volunteer paramedic and loved it.   I started out as an EMT.   I was also a legal secretary.    Your daughter is just going to have to go out and try some stuff.   Just when they think they know what they want, they change their minds!   I have three sons.  My 22 yr old is just graduating from college.  My 20 year old thought he wanted computer science, but now that he is going into his third year of college changed to Teaching/History.  (which is a 5 year program).   My youngest son just graduated from high school and is going into vocal performance.

 

My oldest son changed his mind many times, although it still revolves with him wanting to help people.   He started out with law enforcement and graduated with psychology degree.   He may go to law school, but like you indicated in one of your posts, graduates from law schools are having a hard time finding jobs that pay enough to cover their school expenses and firms are not hiring as many due to the economy.    

 

Getting a business degree is not a bad idea.   She can also volunteer too at a hospital to get an idea if she should really like nursing.  

 

Kathy

P.S.  Funny story.  When my oldest son just graduated (still not knowing what he wants to do) said now what do I do.  My husband and I said "Get a Job!"

 

Kathy!

I like the GET A JOB comment...oh how true.  That's wht I really think she should do right after the undergrad in business as she'll really find what she wants and narrow it down.  Exactly what I did, worked from high school graduation in administration, then started to realize possibly gettins some college would be helpful and started in 2-year community college.  Realized heck the 4 year would make better sense so transferred all credit to a university and got my business degree.  Then started my true passion in corp sales and I flew up the ladder.  Without come challenges in finding my spot myself, no amount of college at beginning would have helped.  

Since we foot the bills here, we're holding some things over her head and one is VOLUNTEER AT HOSPITAL or some form of area in a hospital to see what she likes or doesn't.  Funny thing happened this morning our little dog is older and upchucked some of his food and she started yelling for me to help.  Told her to clean it up. but Britt wasn't close to the papertowels.  Then while I was cleaning it up she started to moan about the smell and yucky color.  I stopped looked her in the eyes and said -AND YOU WANT TO BE A NURSE????  Her response, well this is a dog not a human.  Oh my dear daughter you might be picking up a lot worse with humans, so get used to it NOW.  Hum...what I see is interesting from a girl who wants to help others in hsopitals....crazy kids!!

Thanks for the input, very helpful!  Wow 3 boys...some expensive education costs!

Jan

Double Whammy

jazzy1 said:

Suzanne

Oh my gosh, you look beautiful...this is your own hair?  I do remember your blonde wig and thought that was cute, but the real thing is even better.  

Thanks for the college input, as it's sure nice to be young....but changing ideas continually really adds to the college expenses.  Time to do it on her dime not mom and dads always, so we're working on that part of the process.  Part is she hasn't spoken to anyone at her university yet, so this is all up in air too.  One thing, she has prerequisites in nursing and there's only one time per year to apply to nursing school and it might mean a year of no school.  Funny how she feels if this is the option, what does she do for that one year off colleg?  DAH...dear one, you'll have an undergruaduate degree how about GETTING A JOB!!!  Gee....

No matter what she chooses she'[ll come out with at least an undergraduate and hoping she works as she'll really find what is her passion.  She's young, so why be in a rush to know at this young age how to plan out your whole career path.  Loosen up and enjoy life is what I'm always preaching to her.

Hugs,

Jan

It's my new wig

Thanks, Jan.  My own hair never looked that good and, of course, I would NEVER post a picture that wasn't flattering.  I did post a photo of the real me on my Expressions page, tho,

Our children do eventually grow up and find their ways, or at least we hope so.  We found with ours that it truly is a matter of THEM findig it - and they were all truly immature until age 25.  We committed to undergraduate degree funding.  Two didn't go to college but are doing very well in spite of that.  Two did finish college (finally) but both took more than 4 years.  They're the boys and they had a different mindset I think about making $$ so their direction was toward that goal. 

As I reach my older years and have this thing called hindsight, I'm more relaxed about mistakes and choices they may make along the way.  When you're so worried about the mistakes they might be making, it can make you flippin' crazy!  I was very very crazy when my kids were teens and early 20's.  And it could have not gone well, but it did.

We do the best jobs we can as parents at the time.  At least your daughter knows she wants a career path, even if she's uncertain about which fork in the road to take. 

Suzanne