Career Crisis

[JeSsIkA]

Hi

I am 23yrs old and finally finishing by Bachelor of Nursing at the end of this year after 5 long years of studying.

but i have a problem... for the past 2 weeks i have been working full time at a hospital as part of school and i am not enjoying it at all. in fact i really dont think that i want to be a nurse at all.

not only am i not enjoying the work, i am totally buggered, as i am 24weeks preg with number 2 and not used to being on my feet for 8.5hrs straight a day. My legs are aching and my back too. I am soo sore. i really dont want to finish the 3 weeks i have left but i need to otherwise the past 5 years will have been a waste.

i am soo sonfused... i dont want to be a nurse but have no idea what to do....

[Angel_baby_1982]

I did 2 yrs of my b.nursing before deciding I hated it :rolleyes: so I know how you feel. My advice;

hang in there if you only have a few weeks to go, you may find its just the pregnancy hormones, they can stuff you around a bit!

or

ask for a deferral or some time off on the grounds you are pregnant (just get a doc certificate) and take some time off to consider your options.

[flower]

Jessica...relax!
Ok, now: In our "lifetime" we will statistically last time I looked...have about 7 jobs.
So thats probably a bit more.
The fact that you've finished doing all this study blah, blah...doesn't mean it was a complete waste of time. Put it under your belt...and learn more...and other things. There is nothing wrong with multi skilling yourself....your young....you will find that one day you will find the perfect position for you which takes a pinch of this and a pinch of that....
Its like when you apply for a job and they say : MUST have degree in Capricorn, Blue eyes need only apply....and Nursing degree will be highly sought after.
This qualification will fit in somewhere down the track if you dont know where it fits in right now.
Thats all part of your life experience.
I agree....there are plenty of jobs where you have to be on your feet for all eternity...and later in life I got myself an office job where I sat on my bum and answered phones, did the paperwork, and chased up the staff....and got paid more that I did on my feet all day long.
People are going to criticise you as they are going to think your throwing away the last 5 years...but dont' worry.....its all part of the big picture.
Find something that might be an administrative support perhaps in the field...learn new skills...
Your resume is going to look great.
It will be fine.
Believe me...Do I lie? :eek:
O's mom.

[Manxie]

Hi Jessika

Hang in there :D , I'm a registered nurse and can totally sympathise with working whilst pregnant, I made it to 34 weeks. It must be really hard being a student as at least I had my colleagues to try and make it easier for me, do you get much support? It is physically a really tough job pregnant or not and I really think they should prepare you better for it.

I'm still not convinced nursing is for me (it was a late career change) however, it does have huge advantages. It enabled me to come and live in Oz and get a job with no problem. I can go back part time work at weekends or nights and DH can look after my baby without us having to organise childcare.

I do also have days when I really love it, it can be exciting, challenging and rewarding.

Keep on going as the others have said it wont be wasted and a nursing qualification can lead you down all sorts of different paths. You dont have to be hospital based.

Good luck :D

[carls]

Jessika - what about specialising in a field - for example midwifery? You might find that you enjoy it after spending so much time around them during your pregnancy!

Definitely no problems in being multi-skilled. Even if you decide not to be a nurse you will always have that to fall back on as nurses are wanted everywhere! Maybe even consider being a casual nurse - I see them advertised all the time and I hear the pay is fantastic!

I'm a trained Legal Secretary but I also have hospitality and retail under my belt - Ive been labelled as a 'grasshopper' in one job interview (hopping from job to job) but it certainly helped finding jobs when I was in the UK!

I remember a tip from a wise old owl regarding work skills: "you can never have too many pieces of paper!"

[veve]

hey JeSsIkA :)

I guess I just wanted to say 'stick with it!!!!!!'

I think nursing is kinda like teaching - in that once you have your acreditations... you can pretty much do with them what you want!!!! - quite a few people I graduated with as teachers aren't teaching anymore ...

IF (and I did say if :) ) you decided to stick with nursing when you have your 'bit of paper' - there are so many areas to work in!!! - a couple of the nurses at my last school (special ed) were there working full time because they needed a change from the hospital scene...

5 years is a long time!!!!! - stick it out till the end .... can you book yourself in for some 'me time'??? - like a massage???? it is amazing how much prettier the world looks after you have been pampered!!!

xxxxx
good luck!!!

[CrazyBeautiful]

I know how you feel. I'm an RN and I complain all the time about my job. It has it's advantages though. I have travelled around the world with nursing which has been great. I work casualy through an agency, this allows me to pick my shifts around my lifestyle and I make it work for me. Hang in there, it will all be worth it. I worked up until a week before I had my DS who is 3 1/2 months. I'm back at work now and work the weekend. Great penalty and agency rates, it's fantastic. Good luck and well done for completing.

[Mischief]

Stick with it! Its only 3 weeks....!! Okay 3 weeks seems like 3 years at the moment, but after 5 long years....dont give it all up for 3 weeks.

Is it possible to go to 4 days a week??? That might help you a bit?!

Good luck jessica!!!!