to be or not to be a nurse...?

Philippines
July 17, 2010 10:39pm CST
In life, there are a lot of confusing roads to choose from. It's really hard that we have to take a risk for every decision we make. Nowadays, I am really totally confused about what I would really want to do. I am a registered nurse since 2009. A year has already passed, yet, I have not practiced my profession. I am currently working as Math and English Supplemental Learning instructor and an online English teacher at the same time. My present jobs give me a little more than enough income every month. If I will quit and start working as a nurse, I will surely lose quite big income. If I will decide to start practicing my profession, I will need to start as a trainee which means that I need to spend my own money for the training fee and my allowances. Aside from that, there is no assurance that I will get hired. And if in case I will be hired in a hospital, I need to start as a reliever which simply means that I will only work if there are nurses who are absent from there jobs. After being a reliever, I will become a staff nurse and get a very low pay. I will still need to have at least 2 years experience as a staff nurse for me to achieve my dream job and that is either to be a clinical instructor or a company nurse. Right now, I am afraid to take a risk. I am confused.
1 person likes this
15 responses
19 Jul 10
My suggestion, you don't have to quit. In times of recession many people don't have job and you are lucky because you have chances to get hired and chances to be a global competitive nurse. See, many youth cant afford to go in school but because you have the capacity to do that, then you did it. And Now you are Registered Nurse, Be proud for yourself and dedicated because you are lucky.
@ermadear (367)
• Indonesia
19 Jul 10
it's nice to be a nurse. very good job and very make benefit for all people..
• India
18 Jul 10
Hello there ! First think clear. What is that you need ? Money ? or your dream ? Is your dream job enough to pay you ? Is your dream really worth the amount of time ? Will your dream remain through your hard ship ? Now ask yourself what you are going to do. This way you are sure to get an answer. Cheers :) My Best Wishes to your career :)
@babymc23 (153)
• Philippines
18 Jul 10
Hi Pentagan12. I am worse than you. I have been a registered nurse since 2007! I have not worked in line with my profession. I actually am working in the BPO industry. The pay alone is more than what we will earn in a month. I have been procrastinating for years. I always told myself that I will quit in this time. At the last minute, I change my mind. There was one time that I actually got around writing my resignation letter but my supervisor talked me out of it. Right now, I have made another decision. I hope I will be able to stick to this one though. What I can suggest is that before you quit, save money that can tide you over for at least a month and only hand in your resignation when you've found an employer.
• India
18 Jul 10
i believe in one philosophy that is if you are confused of any decision just be calm sit in a peace room and think of problem and think how to solve it.... in your case don't think of money just think whether you are satisfied with what you are doing now ... if are not happy and you have risk of shifting to nurse though you want to become then don't think of risk just go ahead..... in my view you just think of your comfort area...
• United States
18 Jul 10
Be a nurse, they make decent money. Don't be a nurse if you hate looking at sick people. It is your decition to make, but I wouldn't do it.
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
18 Jul 10
Hi Pentagan, I can relate to your woes, I have 2 nieces and 1 nephew who are all nurses, they passed the board exam two years ago, but up to now they don't have a permanent job as nurse yet. All they can find is a reliever job in a clinic or hospital, and the pay is too low to even sustain themselves. I know most of nursing students take up nursing because they want to work abroad which promises better pay and eventually, a better life. However the demand of foreign countries for our local nurses has waned down. Also, to qualify you need to have at least 2 years of hospital experience and have to pass those international exams which are also expensive. Another sad part is we don't have enough hospitals in our country to accommodate the rising number of nurses and even if there are, the gov't doesn't have enough funds to pay them. I suggest you stick to your job for now but start taking relievers job during weekend so that you still get to practice your profession until you find a permanent post in the hospital. The hospital stint may not be financially rewarding for now but you need it to build up your experience to qualify for work abroad. I wish you luck.
@p3ks626 (6538)
• Philippines
18 Jul 10
I'd go for not to be a nurse. You are right about everything that you said in your post. However you have to take consideration of the fact that there are so many nurses already and that there's already a huge competition among all nurses. If you wanted to take a medical course then you can also be a medical technologist or a pharmacist. There's also money in those professions.
@tomitomi (5429)
• Singapore
18 Jul 10
Hi pentagan! I understand what you mean. In fact I can relate very well to what you said. You are at the crossroad of your life right now like what I've gone through before embarking on my career. All of us do and you are not alone. Looking back a few things have struck me. The options that I was faced with was quite large. There was quite a number for me to choose from. I consulted my parents, my siblings, my friends as well as my neighbors. And I did a research on each to help me make an informed decision. Finally I search deep in my heart and asked myself lots and lots of questions. Hope this helps you to make an informed decision. I've never been so sure of my choice. The same road I've traveled in life since.
• China
18 Jul 10
If I were you ,I can not be confused about this . Because I must choose your recent job . I prefer be a English Supplemental Learning instructor to be a nurse , although being a nurse is also a good job . But I think English language will be more important in your future . That probably provide some better opportunities to you later . So I suggest that you should do not give up your recent job . It also can give you more money than other jobs . Do you agree with me , friend . In a word , good luck to you !
• Philippines
18 Jul 10
Every endeavour requires some risks on our part. If you really feel it in your heart that you want to practice as a nurse and that it is what you love doing, then you know what to do. Leave all the apprehensions and go for it, no matter what it demands from you. But if you would rather be practical then do not leave your present job, specially if money concerns you at the moment. The best things in life sometimes come in strange packages as they say. So try to weigh your choices carefully.
18 Jul 10
It is natural to be confused. But confusion works for fear and destruction. It stops you from getting the real view of life. If you are not keen enough to determine your own purpose, it will lead you to the biggest camouflage of your life. You will be stuck there forever, miserable and meaningless. And the only solution is to face the challenges and take the risk of failing. For failure teaches you to learn more and more about yourself. Eventually, you will realize the reasons for every challenges and you will begin to understand its worth and how these challenges can change your whole life. Result can be either good or bad. But this is a human world and we are all capable of feeling and falling, you are always allowed to fall short. For when you fall, there are millions of reasons to stand up again. This time you will know what step to take as you will recognize now the key to your happiness and you will feel whole and strong again. Don't be afraid to fall or to take the risk. You deserve more than what you are getting now. God has given you options. Learn more about yourself, and have faith in what your heart speaks off. Pray and seek His guidance and in the silence of your heart let Him speak to you so He may show you the way. Be praying for you. God bless!
• Philippines
18 Jul 10
hi there friend i am also a nurse and i think you should go on with what you are doing now. here in our country life is a struggle and we have to find of other things to cope and earn for a living.. its okey man keep it up, for as long as your happy and your earning no one is abused. so why stop! ahaaahhhaaa..
• China
18 Jul 10
Sometimes,we shuold ignore the rlues and concentrate on the people.following your inner heart is the most important,By doing so,we will not have pities in the later life.
@youless (112118)
• Guangzhou, China
18 Jul 10
If I were you, I would remain the present job. As you said, the paid will be low if you are a nurse now. And nurse's work is very tiring and your relaxing time may not be fixable. Sometimes you may need to have the night shift. And it may be depressing to see the patients to be suffering sometimes. Of course this is only my opinion. If you have a passion to be a nurse, then you can have a try. It may be happier to do a job which you are interested in. I love China