9 replies to this topic

[idohair]

Hello all, I am new here and wanted a few opinions from people who have experience in the field. I have been a hairstylist for 8 years and really like it (most of the time) hours are flexible, fun atmosphere, no poop and pretty good money. Although, I have felt like I needed to do something more "important". Well, now 7 months into an LPN program, Im stressed to the max, no time for my kids, Im 34, I feel like Im starting completely over and for what? I dont think the money will be much better if at all. I am about to withdraw from classes next Friday after accrueing another $9.000 in student loans. I feel like I should finish but I really dont think I want to. I would feel better if I new there was a light at the end of the tunnel but I keep hearing only negative things. Should I stay or should I go? I wanted to eventually get my RN and work as a psychiatric nurse with drug/alcohol addiction but right now, I just want to sleep. ZZZZZZZ... I thought it was maybe just school, now I think it may get worse and from reading some of your postings from before its confirming my beliefs to quit now before its too late. HELP.... Jennifer

[NurseChat]

In my opinion, you shouldn't make important decisions when you're all stressed out -- your judgement would be impaired.

If you look at the statistics, 1 million new nurses are needed in the next 7 years. There's a huge demand all over the place (e.g. just check out all the sponsors on the ads on the top of this site, for example, looking for nurses!). So, long term your finances should be a lot better in nursing. One can always go back to hairstyling if you hate nursing, but to quit when you're almost at the finish line doesn't seem logical.

Good luck! Maybe try to get some sleep, and things will seem more clear.

[Bev555]

Oh my, I feel your frustrations. A little more education can only help. You have already paid your tuition. Absorb the knowledge it will pay off in the long run.
I am a RN working in Canada and I am very anxious to leave my career and call it quits. Every day is just torture..used and abused. The pay is good but boy you sure earn it. I work as a community nurse and at one time I just loved it but not any more. Some of my friends both RNs and LPNs who work in nearby hospitals are mentally and physically wearing out from the high demands that are forced onto them. The pay is good but I don't think it is worth. I am 51 now and not too keen on changing careers but if I was younger, I wouldn't think twice.
Follow you heart.

[jimaldrich]

Hello there idohair,

Take heart.......valuable things cost a lot...thats why they're valuable. I was 30 when the sawmill I was working in closed down. I had a grade 10 education, wife, two young children. Bit the bullet and went back to school, got my Gr12 then started the Nursing program. Gradded in 1995 at 35. Extremely hard, on my kids, on my marriage etc but worth it all!!!! Wouldn't change a thing. Nursing is the most rewarding career I've done .....been a carpenter, sawmill worker, salesman, smelter worker but this far out shines them all. I will never be unemployed, I can work anywhere in the world, I can choose any number of directions to go Occupational Health, Psyche, Home Care, Med, Surg, Maternity, consulting, Gerontology, Community Health, Public Health etc etc etc. I made $92,000 last year with no OT, worked M-F 0830-1700. Stress? Yes. Fun? Yes. I love my job not for the money but for the adventure
jimaldrich

[idohair]

Okay!! I have decided to stay in school. 14 weeks to go and Im done. I can be a nurse or I can be a hair stylist. Either way, I have both to choose from. EVERYONE is urging me to at least finish and I guess they are right. I did CPR on a guy last week and saved a life.

[wellness4u]

I think it's great that you decided to at least finish school. You will be glad you have the degree after going through all the hard work, and after you are finished you can decide if you really want to pursue the Nursing field. I am a RN and struggled with the decision of finishing school as well. I am so glad I did. I have been practicing in various fields for 9 years and now just do home care part time. I found a great home based business that is in the wellness field and is just exploding. I am having a wonderful time pursing this new avenue and will most likely get out of nursing completly very soon. I have to tell you I learned a lot in my nursing career, and it has offered tremedous credibility for this new line of work. So even if you are having doubts whether you want to stay in the field, you already have the luxury of falling back on hairstyling, and who know what will come in the future. Best wishes, and hang on you're almost there!

[idohair]

Just wondering what your home based business is. I just found one also. I dont really have a lot of time for it but it is something that could eventually lead to not working at all!! Thanks for the reply. Jennifer

[wellness4u]

I am with an International Wellness company that has been around for 29 years and is just now entering the US market. The company is rock solid and already has over thirty million customers, in 34 countries and they have never run an add, needless to say their technologies are trully changing peoples lives. The company philosophy is that total wellnes rests on the Five Pillars of Health: Healthy body,mind, family, society, and finances. A revolutionary concept- total wellness. While partnering with this company I have the privelge of helping peopla achieve a better quality of life through the power of the products and the business opportunity. Let me know what business you are looking into. Wondering if it is the same one or not.

[cattichat]

I live in a rural area,and employment choices for nurses here are either the hospital or the nursing home. I have hated all 26 years of my nursing career. I am a Christian and know God did not call me into nursing, he called me to be a mom. I was able to work part-time many years and put most of my time into my family. The kind of nursing I have done is exhausting. I have NEVER had enough staff. NEVER. I did it all from serving and feeding breakfast, lunch, dinner, draw all labs, check all blood sugars, admissions, discharges, mandatory patient teaching, transfers,some baths, many clean-ups, care of the dying, calling pastors and families,--you see? We had to be Supernurses. I am now disabled with osteoarthritis,fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. I am 49 years old. My co-workers and I were all unhappy in nursing. I would have loved to be the bedside nurse helping my patients instead of answering the phone and call lights etc. I did love my patients. Some nurses here with BS degrees go back to school for a year to earn a "teaching certificate" and teach at elementary and high schools. Most I know want to leave nursing. The only nurse I know who claims she loves nursing did the teacher route.
Keep in mind that hospital nurses usually work weekends, holidays, and nights. Especially when you are the new one. In my opinion the pay is great.
I know of people in the larger cities who seem to be happy with nursing. They have more options. I have never heard of a 9 to 5 mon-fri job in nursing which the gentleman referred to. I was offered $7 an hour a few years to work in a Dr's office. Not kidding.

[3boyzmom]

I work in a hospital-based doctor's office, so I am fortunately able to make the same salary that the hospital nurses make. And it is great hours. Otherwise; although I like the people I work with, and I truly do love the patients, it comes at a high price. High stress, fatigue, worry, etc. Sometimes I go home worrying about whether I did the right thing about a particular situation, or did enough. Then there are staff problems to worry about, etc.

So, for me, on the plus side: I have some wonderful memories of working with patients. I know that I truly make a difference in peoples' lives on a daily basis. The money is good. I have made many very close friends over the years among my coworkers. These things are all very valuable to me.

On the minus side: I have worked more than my share of weekends, holidays, and nights. I have missed family reunions. I don't think I ever missed a school play, but it sometimes took some superhuman doing to work it out. I have missed Christmas with my family. (I was always there when "Santa" came for the kids, but Santa often had to come to our house the day before Christmas eve, or something.) I spend so much time being fatigued to the bone that it's hard to function. My house is clean, but there are SOOOO many undone projects left that have not been done and are not likely to be anytime soon. Making supper on a daily basis is a chore- just throw something easy together. (I want to be one of those moms who plan their meals, and bake, etc.) Getting Christmas shopping done is a nightmare- it's either go after work when my feet are killing me, or on weekends when the stores are packed. How about getting home at 6:00, still needing to cook supper, and finding that one of the kids has a ton of homework that he needs help with or worse, a big poster project due the next day, etc. So you still don't get any rest, and worse yet the kids don't get what they deserve from you. I could go on and on.

Does it balance out? Well, in all honesty I'd have to say not really. I'd rather be a full-time mom. BUT, to the initial poster, by all means, finish your education. Even if you get the opportunity to not have to work, it's important to have something solid to fall back on. Besides, you never know, you may love it. I honestly did, for years, until the kids came and my priorities shifted.

Be good to yourself though. When you start working, remember you don't have to agree to work overtime every time they ask you. You don't have to come in when they call begging you on your days off. It's good to do it sometimes, to "do your part", but don't let yourself get used.

Good luck, best wishes!