Several of my colleagues also work part time as nursing instructors and they often share stories about the shock their students experience when they are a) supposed to show up on time b) hand assignments in on time and c) accept constructive critique. On the flip side, I have vivid memories of nursing instructors who took dubious pleasure in tormenting students. The truth often falls in between there are plenty of hard working students and plenty of mindful and helpful instructors. One truth does not fall in between: getting into and surviving nursing school is challenging and then managing to function as a registered nurse once you become one is just as difficult.
One of my spouse's friends grilled me one day about the possibility of his wife going to nursing school. He heard it "paid well" and wanted her to acquire some skills in case something ever happened to him. This is how our conversation went:
Me: Does your wife enjoy functioning in a stressful environment?
Him: No
Me; Does your wife enjoy working weekends, holidays, and shifts?
Him: No
Me: Does your wife enjoy working in a fast paced environment while constantly having to juggle demands and change plans on a dime?
Him: No.
Me: Does your wife enjoy dealing with angry/frustrated patients, families, colleagues, and doctors?
Him: No
Me: Perhaps you might encourage your wife to consider other alternatives.
This article suggests fears about the nursing shortage may be easing in light of increase in young people choosing to go into nursing. For those who want some idea of what the pay range is you can have a peek here although I will say salaries and or hourly wages are very market dependent. I live in Memphis where the hospitals pay relatively well and I work with several people who commute long distances from out of state because the local markets in which they reside offer fewer opportunities and much lower wages.
Once you become a nurse you must remain open to learning. Technology changes, techniques, practices, and institutional policies changes which means essentially once you think you have mastered a particular skill you will often have to revise that approach. When I was in nursing school, they used to advise us to work on a med-surg floor before choosing a speciality in order to grasp the basics. Now, they often hire new grads in speciality areas but I think the old school advice I got still holds. The problem is you have to be able to actually find a non hellish med-surg floor to work on without feeling like you are going to harm somebody. There are plenty of med-surg jobs out there but conditions vary.
Although nurses need to learn a huge range of technical skills the three most important attributes a nurse can hone ( an experienced Kos nurses can no doubt add a few more ) are effective stress management, effective communication skills, and an open mind. The fact is if you will be surrounded by stressed out colleagues, patients, and families, if you cannot develop good stress management skills that guide your own response to things you will be overwhelmed by others. If you communicate badly you will encounter strife, errors, hurt feelings, and bad patient outcomes. If you resist keeping an open mind you will make assumptions about others that prevent you from giving good care, undermine your ability to be a useful team member, and miss important cues colleagues and patients may offer up in a covert way.
Invest in good shoes. Sore feet can dominate your shift and keep you from thinking clearly. I alternate my shoes and wear comfortable socks.
Look for a mentor who likes to teach and takes pride in seeing others grow. Don't be afraid to ask questions even things you think you should know. Be aware that if you are a nurse for fifty years you will still not know everything. I learn something new every single night I go to work. Grab the chance to obtain nationally recognized certifications. They will enhance your knowledge, give you some confidence, and might be a selling point during a job hunt.
You will get your heart crushed by injustice, the system, by the random unfairness that permeates the lives of your patients and colleagues. Things will not always go well. You might rage against God, Buddha, Allah, or whatever deity you rely on for guidance. You will get angry, irritated, frustrated and ask yourself why you chose this path. Even when you work hard, do your best, and go the extra mile things will not always work out. You won't always be appreciated. People will not always be pleasant, grateful, or open to teaching. You might beat yourself up when you make mistakes. And you will make mistakes. And mistakes have consequences.
You will also be astonished by bravery, tenacity, kindness, unexplained events that defy any rational thought, you will get excited when you master something difficult, you will at times have a sense of pride, you will laugh and if you do not already have an odd sense of humor, you will end up with one. You will even look at the jobs other people do and think ack I prefer this mess. You will make a difference, some of your colleagues and patients will actually thank you, and after while people will turn to you as a mentor. You will feel you are a part of a brotherhood/sisterhood. You will also be annoyed by how nurses are portrayed in movies and on TV since it is rarely accurate. Mostly, you will feel it is all worth it because if you don't you will eventually seek out alternative employment.
Oh. Yes. You will work weekends, holidays, nights, long shifts, and some extra hours, you will also work short staffed at times which is when those stress management and communication skills will really serve you well. And yes, the money is decent but trust me: nobody goes into nursing for the money. While altrusim is a mythical part of my profession, you need other qualities to survive. You need to be curious, determined, and a bit thick skinned because some days you will not save the whole world. But it will all mean something you and those you care for.
If all this sounds appealing consider nursing school and be prepared to work your ass off. Nursing is not however, a "recession free" job and you might have to compromise a bit in the beginning in order to get some experience but once you do the only limits will be those you place on yourself.