What's the Reality of a Nursing Career?

I come from a family that has no less then 10 nurses in it. It all depends on what area you want to work in but when my sister graduated (in the 90's) she had to work a crappy shift at a trauma hospital in an urban area, after a few years she went into a women's and infants hospital and loved it since it is 95% happy. She did an accelerated program and graduated early, but she had no life while in school.

But the stories she would tell me about the ER, YUCK!!

Most of my aunts are nurses and they all graduated back in the 50's and 60's. They all had nice careers and were happy in their jobs and they all have back problems including my sister. Lifting people takes its toll after a while.

Just remember to think about what you can handle when it comes to blood, guts, broken bones and the very disgusting surprises. Maybe consider an administrative nursing position.

So at best you would be 53 when you graduate. Can you afford to quit working to go to school full time. Then hard studying at night. Your husband is in med school. What about your son and his needs. You might want to investigate less intensive careers. There are so many areas thst you can help people. Just trying to be realistic.

It's a high demand career with good pay. But you, like your doctor husband, will work holidays, weekends and third shift. Figure out if you can do that with kids.

If it's not a passion for you, don't start up with school and bottom-rung jobs, which may start at per diem and night work. I have friends who are fresh out of nursing school and they are willing to do what's necessary to get into a hospital setting - but they are 24 years old and can manage the hours. My son's girlfriend just went into a rigorous PA program (2 years, no summer break) - she'll have no trouble getting a job, but she's in class and lab/practicums from 8:00-5 and then the studying starts, until midnight and all weekend. She's been in it for 5 weeks and she's exhausted already.

I have other friends who were in the nursing field for years, and have left due to the hours, holidays and schedules. They felt they never saw their kids. We live in an area with a lot of hospitals so there are plenty of choices. These 2 friends were RNs but not BS/RN so they had fewer choices for advancement. Do you have any coursework that would count toward this, or are you looking at a 4 year program now?

There are a million careers for people who like to "help people" which is a huge, broad area. If you like the medical field, you can look into RT, PT, OT, mammography technician, ultrasound technician, and other things that may (or may not) give you more power over scheduling. Hospital work will have the same constraints with time off, and in-office jobs are in high demand for those who like the 9-5 schedule. But PT and Mammography folks don't work the night shift, for example, so those might be worth looking at.

I think you need to do more investigating.

Updated

It's a high demand career with good pay. But you, like your doctor husband, will work holidays, weekends and third shift. Figure out if you can do that with kids.

If it's not a passion for you, don't start up with school and bottom-rung jobs, which may start at per diem and night work. I have friends who are fresh out of nursing school and they are willing to do what's necessary to get into a hospital setting - but they are 24 years old and can manage the hours. My son's girlfriend just went into a rigorous PA program (2 years, no summer break) - she'll have no trouble getting a job, but she's in class and lab/practicums from 8:00-5 and then the studying starts, until midnight and all weekend. She's been in it for 5 weeks and she's exhausted already.

I have other friends who were in the nursing field for years, and have left due to the hours, holidays and schedules. They felt they never saw their kids. We live in an area with a lot of hospitals so there are plenty of choices. These 2 friends were RNs but not BS/RN so they had fewer choices for advancement. Do you have any coursework that would count toward this, or are you looking at a 4 year program now?

There are a million careers for people who like to "help people" which is a huge, broad area. If you like the medical field, you can look into RT, PT, OT, mammography technician, ultrasound technician, and other things that may (or may not) give you more power over scheduling. Hospital work will have the same constraints with time off, and in-office jobs are in high demand for those who like the 9-5 schedule. But PT and Mammography folks don't work the night shift, for example, so those might be worth looking at.

I think you need to do more investigating.

I don't think you should go into nursing, or anything, if it's not your passion, or something close to a passion.

Actually when I saw that P. from FW had written this my first thought was Nurse Case Manager. You like to help people, connect people with resources and can deal with red tape. That is what several nurse case managers that I know do. These ladies have been nurses for several years. Of course, you would need basic nurse training and an RN degree and education and experience in your chosen area (pediatrics, oncology, etc.) Some handle patient discharge and coordination of meds and arrange patient follow up care. Others work for insurance companies and medically manage high risk patients over the phone by monitoring their appts and lab results and making sure they get the care they need. Good luck! Check into what you would need as pre-requisites to get into a nursing school. I understand that it is very competitive.

Most nurses work 8 hour shifts, though some work 12 hour shifts. If it's 8 hours, assume the schedules will be similar to:
7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
3 p.m. - 11 p.m.
11 p.m. - 7 a.m.
Because you'll have the least seniority, you will most likely get the overnight shift. The day shift is unlikely, as typically the most senior people get that shift.

Holidays are usually divided evenly, not just given to the people with most seniority. Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve/Day and New Years Eve/Day will be the ones that have to be negotiated. You'll have to work some of them for sure, but not all of them and not necessarily the same ones each year. Depending on your shift, some will be worse than others (for example, it's not too bad to work Christmas Day if your shift doesn't start till 11p.m.)

the amount of gross work you do will depend on the department you're in. You'll definitely need to have a strong stomach, because no matter where you are, there will definitely be some blood and other bodily fluids.

You may also be able to consider a career as a nurse in a doctor's office, rather than at a hospital. In that case, your hours would be more regular (8-5ish) and they would probably close on holidays. Less bedpans that way, too.

Nursing needs to be your calling, your vocation. I always laugh when I hear the field described in terms of " a good job". Funny. Funny. Funny. It is very difficult and draining job. Under graduate nursing school was the most difficult time only matched by my first year, stuck on 12 hour night shift as a new grad. I worked every other weekend, I worked every Christmas and Thanksgiving. Easter and 4th of July for 3 years. Even after that you have to alternate the holiday you work. That being said, I loved nursing and felt it was my calling. But I was 20 and right out of college. I only had to take care of myself after a 14 hour day.
After a few years in a hospital as an in patient nurse you could find a clinic or job such as case management which was mentioned in another post.
Honestly, I can't imagine going to nursing school in your fourties.
Up at 530 to be at clinical by 630 at the latest. It's a wonderful career if your heart has called you to the art of nursing but its a very long road to becoming able to make choices about where you work. A new grad has about as many choices as a first year resident.
There are so many careers in which you can help people which are less demanding. I hope you find the right path for you and your family.

I don't know what it's like to be an RN. But I have the utmost respect for nursing.

And, I agree with your husband, I, too, think you would make an outstanding nurse. I think you're deeply caring, yet pragmatic and sensible at the same time.

I'd also like to say that I understand being an MD's spouse is no easy feat either.

:)

Your vision of bedpans, bodily fluids, backbreaking on your feet is a pretty accurate description. Nursing offers much more, but you have to pay your dues with the training process before you get that license and the dream job, so includes all of the above.

If you don't feel it in your heart at 47, it would be a tough road to compete with the youngsters just out of high school, going into nursing. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, hours and hours of study, writing papers, and once you get through school, you will get your "clinical skills" with basically "on the job training". Most Nursing programs do not prepare you for the level of responsibility, high stress staffing demands that you will be thrown into at the get go.

I am a 44 year career RN, Oncology Certified for 24 and still love what I do, with great satisfaction in helping people. Early on in career, I thought pediatrics would be great, and thought a camp nurse job would be such fun. What you want and what you get can be very different, it was the worst job ever. Ha Ha!

My niche has been IV therapy, infusion specialty in Oncology, but have experienced nearly every facet of nursing, from being a nurse's aid in my teens, to being a director of a small town hospital, medical surgical nursing, emergency, surgery, labor and delivery, oncology clinics, home infusion therapy and have loved practically every job I have had. But believe me, you have to take the good with the bad, the clean with the dirty with every walk of life, with the nicest people you will ever meet to the very dregs of society. You can't get through Nursing school without exposure to all of that.

What ever you choose, whether nursing or something else, whatever you don't like and want to change, remember, you will just exchange one set of problems for another, so you need to decide which problems will be the least trouble or what you want to put up with. That includes family sacrifice, weekends, nights, holidays, missed events, overtime.
If you are looking for a dream job with good pay, you have to work your way from the bottom. An associate degree program would get you to a Registered Nurse License in 2 years, and a BSN at least 4. Some places will not hire without a BSN.

At age 47, just thinking about becoming an RN, you are looking at considerable time before you get the "big bucks" With a husband in Medical School, I don't envy where you are, and if you don't feel "drawn to" or passionate, I wouldn't recommend it. As far as "family friendly", unless you want to be a phone nurse or paper pusher, a school nurse job might offer better hours, and MAYBE fewer bodily fluids but usually not the great salary.

There are already enough "nurses" in the field that treat it as a "job", not a passion. I know plenty of them who do it because it does pay well and offers security in having a job, but they hate the hours, the sacrifices and don't want to give anymore than what it takes to get by.

Though old enough to retire, I am thankful I still love the career, still look forward to going to work, love the personal growth and satisfaction that I am doing something with such great purpose.

We only hire AAs and CRNAs but none of that holds true for them. They have weekends off. There is a weekend call rotation but you volunteer and get a bonus if you are in the rotation and you are paid darn well for doing it on top of your salary. We have four shifts. Standard 8, four 10, three 12, and a flex shift. We also have part time, hourly.... Start with six weeks vacation and never knew anyone to complain that they were bumped.

We hire straight out of college but you are talking a specialty.

I'm an RN. I love it, and wouldn't do anything else, but bedside nursing is tough.

If you want a decent salary for minimal education, then you're looking at hospital work. Almost all hospitals want the coveted "magnet" status, so even if they hire you w/ an associate's degree, they expect you to get your bachelors within a year or two. Almost all new hires start on nights. Almost all hospitals work on 12-hour shifts. A lot of coveted areas - critical care,for example - go through phases of hiring only experienced nurses, so it's hit or miss for getting into the area you want. Most hospitals require you to work at least 2 weekends a month, and 2 major/1 minor holiday every winter.

Then there are the holidays you don't thing about - halloween, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, the 4th of July. All your friends/family will be off and celebrating & 9 times out of 10, you'll be at work. Disappointed kids, no holiday pay ....

There are no snow days in the hospital.

And depending on your area, there may be techs or aides to help with bedpans and such, but ultimately, it's the nurse's responsibility. It's ALL the nurses responsibility.

I like only working 3 days a week, though, and not having to take my work home with me. I make a decent salary, get good benefits, have terrific coworkers, and love being at the bedside.