Right now I'm 3 semesters away from getting my LPN license. But after my experience with the clinicals, I don't think I'm really cut out to be a nurse. It's just not something that I enjoy doing. Plus I really doubt that I can finish these last 3 semesters without failing a class (which would get me kicked out of the nursing program). So I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with my life right now.
I'm kind of interested in being an EMT-basic, and possibly work my way up to paramedic. EMT basic takes only one semester I believe. My parents are both strongly against this idea, since they say nurses make more money, oh and they're both nurses by the way. But I think working as an EMT is something that I would really enjoy doing on a personal level.
Right now I'm still trying to finish up my last 3 classes to be an LPN. I figured I've already come this far, might as well try to finish it. But I still plan on taking the EMT basic course whether on not I finish my LPN courses. I guess my question is this, is it worth it to try to be an EMT and make less money if it means doing something that I actually enjoy?
Career advice?
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Carolynn
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Take a job you hate rather than a job you might enjoy? On one level, you already know the answer to that. I think you are just looking for justification. Whatever, complete your LPN and do as well as you possibly can at it. It can only help you in the future and it is a "fall back" position if you need one later.
I worked at a career as an archaeologist for nearly 40 years, and liked most of it. Finally my GID brought me so much depression I didn't care if I went to work or not, so I retired. But yeah, I would have hated to have a job I hated, 'cause then I would have had nothing to relieve my depression.
Good luck with your decision and justifying it to your folks.
Carolynn
I worked at a career as an archaeologist for nearly 40 years, and liked most of it. Finally my GID brought me so much depression I didn't care if I went to work or not, so I retired. But yeah, I would have hated to have a job I hated, 'cause then I would have had nothing to relieve my depression.
Good luck with your decision and justifying it to your folks.
Carolynn
"It’s not given to anyone to have no regrets; only to decide, through the choices we make, which regrets we’ll have,"
David Weber – In Fury Born
David Weber – In Fury Born
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DonnaT
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What is it about nursing that you don't like, as compared to an EMT, duty wise?
You definitely don't want to fail, and changing your career goal is OK as long as your sure.
I would think some of your nurse classes would help in trying to be an EMT.
But not knowing anything about what it takes to be an EMT, etc. I can only say, best of luck. You've your own life to live, not your parent's life.
You definitely don't want to fail, and changing your career goal is OK as long as your sure.
I would think some of your nurse classes would help in trying to be an EMT.
But not knowing anything about what it takes to be an EMT, etc. I can only say, best of luck. You've your own life to live, not your parent's life.
DonnaT
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Anita
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Donna wrote:
As to one 'fail' class knocking you out of the program--I'm assuming that you've done at least three semesters prior to this, and probably more. Did you only skate by on the thin edge in all those classes? Or is it just because you're losing interest that you think you might fail?
It occurs to me that the two are similar enough that you might be able to find a position in the medical field that was more like an EMT in duties, but required an LPN, and so paid accordingly.What is it about nursing that you don't like, as compared to an EMT, duty wise?
As to one 'fail' class knocking you out of the program--I'm assuming that you've done at least three semesters prior to this, and probably more. Did you only skate by on the thin edge in all those classes? Or is it just because you're losing interest that you think you might fail?
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Davita
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Couldn't ask an easy question? In my humble opinion:
1) Maybe take a break from the classes so that you don't fail or at least don't fail yet. Take what sounds like a needed rest.
2) If you don't finish the 3 semesters, you'll be beating yourself up for years. Besides, that degree is a plus for any job hunting whatever you decide.
3) If you need the money to pay off school debt, then bite the bullet for awhile to cover your debts with the higher paying job. heck maybe you will find an environment that's okay after all.
4) If you don't like the job, you don't like the job. Not liking the job will wear on you until you are upset with everything in your life. Don't let it get that bad, but instead, use the LPN as a stepping stone for doing the best EMT work you can when you are financially able to transition.
Just my old lady thoughts for you.
1) Maybe take a break from the classes so that you don't fail or at least don't fail yet. Take what sounds like a needed rest.
2) If you don't finish the 3 semesters, you'll be beating yourself up for years. Besides, that degree is a plus for any job hunting whatever you decide.
3) If you need the money to pay off school debt, then bite the bullet for awhile to cover your debts with the higher paying job. heck maybe you will find an environment that's okay after all.
4) If you don't like the job, you don't like the job. Not liking the job will wear on you until you are upset with everything in your life. Don't let it get that bad, but instead, use the LPN as a stepping stone for doing the best EMT work you can when you are financially able to transition.
Just my old lady thoughts for you.
{squeezes}
Davita
Davita
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Amy Santos
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Thanks for all the responses
Anyway classes starts in a few days. I guess all I can do for now is hope for the best. Thanks again for the replies.
Well this might sound silly, but for me when it comes to nursing I just get this feeling like I'm not really making much of a difference. I know this isn't true, and that nurses do a great deal. But it's just a feeling that I can't seem to shake.What is it about nursing that you don't like, as compared to an EMT, duty wise?
I finished 2 semesters and did pretty well. Not quite excellent, but I was never in danger of failing. The third semester was the one that I failed, that's why if I fail any other classes they're going to kick me out. I don't think it had to do with me losing interest. The lecture material just seemed be a lot harder. Every single exam I took I was about a few points bellow the class average. I ended up needing to get 85 points or more on the cumulative final, and I just couldn't pull it off. Plus the clinicals were extremely stressful since the clinical instructors were basically done holding our hands and wanted us to take a more proactive approach caring for the patients. If by some chance I did pass that final exam, I think my clinical instructor would have failed me anyway for my clinical performance.As to one 'fail' class knocking you out of the program--I'm assuming that you've done at least three semesters prior to this, and probably more. Did you only skate by on the thin edge in all those classes? Or is it just because you're losing interest that you think you might fail?
Anyway classes starts in a few days. I guess all I can do for now is hope for the best. Thanks again for the replies.
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Paula G
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I would always encourage anyone to finnish any course they have started. Potential employers in any field like to see a course completed rather than "time wasted". Skills and attitudes learnt as part of your nursing course are transferable to an enourmous number of other potential careers, certainly potential employers would be impressed that you completed the course, gained the qualification, but then took the mature, informed descision to follow other avenues to fullfillment.
Now on a more personal level ask yourself are you going down this route for yourself or for your parents, personally I am now on my fourth career, and have been very happy in two of the four, the other two were down to doing what other people wanted / expected me to do. If you are not absoulutly certain what you want to do, it is OK to just take a job to pay the bills untill you do know. I have always adopted the attitude that when I have to make a decision to get up in the morning to go to work, then it's time to change.
I am now a gardener, however my parents, school and social network would all have been horified if I had tried to persue this as a career when I left school over 30 years ago, but I am now happier with my work than at any other time other than when I made a sort of living out of music. You spend so much of your time working it may as well be something you enjoy, otherwise it will blight your whole life.
Now on a more personal level ask yourself are you going down this route for yourself or for your parents, personally I am now on my fourth career, and have been very happy in two of the four, the other two were down to doing what other people wanted / expected me to do. If you are not absoulutly certain what you want to do, it is OK to just take a job to pay the bills untill you do know. I have always adopted the attitude that when I have to make a decision to get up in the morning to go to work, then it's time to change.
I am now a gardener, however my parents, school and social network would all have been horified if I had tried to persue this as a career when I left school over 30 years ago, but I am now happier with my work than at any other time other than when I made a sort of living out of music. You spend so much of your time working it may as well be something you enjoy, otherwise it will blight your whole life.
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Absaroka
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If you are failing nursing school that may be a sign that you would be better at something else. Scientists often say they learn the most from experiments that don't have the anticipated result, you might think of your situation in those terms rather than as failure.
everything under the sun is in tune
but the sun is eclipsed by the moon
but the sun is eclipsed by the moon
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Kyra
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Hi Amy,
My wife was both an EMT and is currently an RN. She liked being an EMT, but it was physically hard work. (Lifting patients into and out of the ambulance all day long) That's what spurned her to go back to school and get her degree.
My perspective is this: A degree, in any field, looks good on a resume. (An LPN degree is not too shabby, I might add!)
If you're half way through school, then you probably have fulfilled most of the requirments to become an EMT. (I bet you only need certification) You might want to look into this. I still think you should try to finish school, though. In one respect, your parents are right...Nurses make a heckuva lot more than EMTs. That's a fact.
Now for my switcheroo! In order to live life to its fullest, you have to like what you do for a living. If you take a job just for the money, you will always wonder "what if".
Good luck in your decision, and I hope whatever choice you make, it makes you happy.
Hugs,
Kyra
My wife was both an EMT and is currently an RN. She liked being an EMT, but it was physically hard work. (Lifting patients into and out of the ambulance all day long) That's what spurned her to go back to school and get her degree.
My perspective is this: A degree, in any field, looks good on a resume. (An LPN degree is not too shabby, I might add!)
If you're half way through school, then you probably have fulfilled most of the requirments to become an EMT. (I bet you only need certification) You might want to look into this. I still think you should try to finish school, though. In one respect, your parents are right...Nurses make a heckuva lot more than EMTs. That's a fact.
Now for my switcheroo! In order to live life to its fullest, you have to like what you do for a living. If you take a job just for the money, you will always wonder "what if".
Good luck in your decision, and I hope whatever choice you make, it makes you happy.
Hugs,
Kyra
For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. - Leonardo DaVinci
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Julie Dawn
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Hi Amy
I agree with the advice already given above, don’t waste the time and work already done on this course. Finish it and get the qualification. As Kyra said, “a degree, in any field, looks good on a resume”,
When I finished full time formal education, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. (It didn’t occur to me that my hobby (a passion for logic systems) could also be my career. So like Paula G, I’ve had four distinct careers, the first three quite short, and collected two degrees along the way (both engineering).
I can still hear my mother’s words ringing in my ears, “you’ll never make anything of yourself, you can never stick at a job for long enough”. At that time I suppose she was right, but I got there in the end.
My last position was project manager (electrical), where I was given virtually carte blanche, designing and developing production plant control systems. This was my boyhood passion, (evolved into PLC’s), but now I was getting paid for it, wow! My wife says my passion for my job was worse than me having another woman! She could compete with another woman, but with this job, no contest.
I agree with the advice already given above, don’t waste the time and work already done on this course. Finish it and get the qualification. As Kyra said, “a degree, in any field, looks good on a resume”,
When I finished full time formal education, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. (It didn’t occur to me that my hobby (a passion for logic systems) could also be my career. So like Paula G, I’ve had four distinct careers, the first three quite short, and collected two degrees along the way (both engineering).
I can still hear my mother’s words ringing in my ears, “you’ll never make anything of yourself, you can never stick at a job for long enough”. At that time I suppose she was right, but I got there in the end.
My last position was project manager (electrical), where I was given virtually carte blanche, designing and developing production plant control systems. This was my boyhood passion, (evolved into PLC’s), but now I was getting paid for it, wow! My wife says my passion for my job was worse than me having another woman! She could compete with another woman, but with this job, no contest.
Julie = 2B + ¯2B¯