Should I switch to nursing?

[bottlecap1990]

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I am currently in my second semester in college completing my prereqs for pharmacy. After looking at the schools I want to apply to I am starting to wonder if I will be able to pay approx. 30-40 k a year for those schools. I live in New Jersey and there is only one school in here and I know my chances are very slim there. I do have to admit that I wanted to do pharmacy because of the rewarding salary. However, I also do enjoy science courses therefore I want to make the most out of that. I was thinking of becoming a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesist). I heard this program requires much less money but gives much more rewards.

Please don't say I just want to do this because of the money. I love the medical field and I just want to have the best possible profession in it.

 

[PharmDman3901]

If you think it would be a better fit to you then go for it!
Nurses are in demand.

 

[Pancakesteve]

I don't want to sound like a negative Nancy here, but just remember one important thing if you do plan on going the nursing route. While yes, CRNAs make an excellent salary, the schooling is FAR more competitive. Pharmacy schools acceptance rates are usually 10-20%. Programs for CRNAs are typically in the low single digits. That should by no means stop you. But don't think that just because you become a nurse, you're all but guaranteed your NA education. As that's just not the case.

 

[PharmDman3901]

bottlecap1990,
I think that you can find many routes to a good career in nursing, not just as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesist. I hope that you have considred all of options nursing has to offer! My hat is off to you for considring it. That route of patient care is not for me.

 

[ShadowRX]

I am currently in my second semester in college completing my prereqs for pharmacy. After looking at the schools I want to apply to I am starting to wonder if I will be able to pay approx. 30-40 k a year for those schools. I live in New Jersey and there is only one school in here and I know my chances are very slim there. I do have to admit that I wanted to do pharmacy because of the rewarding salary. However, I also do enjoy science courses therefore I want to make the most out of that. I was thinking of becoming a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesist). I heard this program requires much less money but gives much more rewards.

Please don't say I just want to do this because of the money. I love the medical field and I just want to have the best possible profession in it.

I heard Rutgers is pretty darn exclusive.

Have you worked at a pharmacy? Have you volunteered at a hospital, shadowing a pharmacist? (Is is possible to shadow a nurse?) If you have, consider weighing the pro's and con's of both. If you haven't worked/shadowed, consider doing so ASAP to get a small feel for what's in store.

Whatever the outcome may be, hope everything works out for you. I like to think everything works out for the best for everyone.

 

[jackal head]

I like to think everything works out for the best for everyone.

and we live happily ever after

 

[revilod]

You may have to borrow just as much for CRNA school. My husband is currently in CRNA school, and I have just been accepted to Pharmacy school. You will not be able to work while in school for CRNA. The program is very rigorous, much like medical school. Nursing school was not as bad. Also, remember that you can not get into CRNA without a year to two years of ICU experience. If you decide to go this route, you will need a BSN, 1-2 years of experience and 2 1/2 - 3 years of CRNA school. The benefits of each job are both personally and financially rewarding, but I can't say the route to achieving one is any easier than the route to achieving the other. Hope this helps a little.

 

[illegallysmooth]

If you don't want to be a nurse, you will be a ****ty, miserable nurse. I spend all day around nurses who wanted to be nurses, and those who did not. There is a difference. I urge you to figure out what you truly want to do, and then figure out how to make it happen. You will be happier in the long run.

 

[rxlea]

If you don't want to be a nurse, you will be a ****ty, miserable nurse. I spend all day around nurses who wanted to be nurses, and those who did not. There is a difference. I urge you to figure out what you truly want to do, and then figure out how to make it happen. You will be happier in the long run.

I agree with this. There is a big difference in attitude, work ethic, and interaction with patients and colleagues between nurses who truly enjoy being nurses and nurses who don't. As I have always said, people should pursue careers they are truly interested in and will enjoy. You will be spending the next 30 years doing it...

 

[Passion4Sci]

Same goes for anything though.

I worked around Soldiers who wanted to be Soldiers and those who didn't. Same with Pharmacists, same with the people I worked with at Kragen when I was going through college, etc.

If you're miserable doing what you do, it will show almost always. Some people are excellent at hiding it and have an impeccable work ethic despite hating the job, but for the majority it's apparent as day.

 

[tsicamrahp]

Before you make a final decision, you may want to do some shadowing in both fields just so you know exactly what kinds of work each does and to see if one would fit your skills and personality better. As is the case for Revilod above, my husband too is currently an SRNA. He had to quite his job since the program is 2 full years, full-time. He was one of 16 accepted into his program. He had years of critical care experience as a nurse before pursuing the CRNA degree.

 

[JJVmom]

Have you considered becoming a Physician's Assistant? Half of the students in my chemistry class were applying to PA school. It's half the time and half the money as pharmacy college. You do pretty much the same thing as doctors, including writing prescriptions. I think that avg salary is @ $85,000/yr.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Ask yourself if you're ok with wiping ass. If you're not then you shouldn't go to nursing school.

I've thought several times about undertaking a paramedic to RN program, but the bed baths, butt wiping, and pillow fluffing always make me look the other way.

 

[carbox]

Ask yourself if you're ok with wiping ass. If you're not then you shouldn't go to nursing school.

I've thought several times about undertaking a paramedic to RN program, but the bed baths, butt wiping, and pillow fluffing always make me look the other way.

You have obviously never gone through a BSN program. You do None of that as a nurse in school or on clinicals
That's what lpns from tech schools are for.. I never touched crap,fluffed pillows or gave baths

 

[Peaches84]

.

 

[carbox]

Umm...what nursing school did you go to? Because I'm pretty sure every nursing student whether they are BSN/ADN/LPN had to wipe butts, including myself (also BSN, btw). Yes, butt wiping can be delegated to a UAP but the main point of learning to delegate is also learning how to be a team player.

But to the OP, don't go to nursing school unless you can actually see yourself being a nurse if the pharmacy school thing doesn't work out. Don't do it for the money, nursing school is not worth the insanity if you don't actually like what you're doing some of the time. If you're not sure if you want to pursue nursing, contact your local hospital and see if they will let you shadow a nurse.

Emory

 

[nicolemsm]

Have you considered becoming a Physician's Assistant? Half of the students in my chemistry class were applying to PA school. It's half the time and half the money as pharmacy college. You do pretty much the same thing as doctors, including writing prescriptions. I think that avg salary is @ $85,000/yr.

PA school is equal to the time to takes to get your PharmD (that is 2 yrs of pre-reqs and 4 years of school... of course there are exceptions such as people getting bachelors or attending a 3 year school but you could get your PharmD in 6 years solid). PA school requires a bachelors and an additional 2 years for the degree (a masters). But by no means is PA school half of the time.... and they're pretty expensive to attend too!

 

[ArkansasRanger]

You have obviously never gone through a BSN program. You do None of that as a nurse in school or on clinicals
That's what lpns from tech schools are for.. I never touched crap,fluffed pillows or gave baths

Consider yourself lucky. I have personally seen numerous RN/BSNs engaged in acts in the wards, in the emergency department, and in the intensive care units.

 

[carbox]

I know a nurse that went to Emory and she said that she does not recommend going there for the reasons you just stated. She said Emory DID NOT prepare her well AT ALL. Granted, she is now working at Mayo because her husband is a pharmacist there (and she used to be a pharm tech)- but trust me. When you get into the job market, you will quickly find that every nurse will be wiping ass, INSERTING SUPPOSITORIES, putting creams onto the tips of penises, putting vaginal cream onto patients, and wiping arm pits, among many other (gross) things. Our nurses even put leeches on people and then "euthanize" the poor little creatures afterwards 🙂 lol

I got my BSN and phD from emory and they OVER prepare you. Emory is VERY well known and established school. They teach you more than most schools (why spend time learning how to do those jobs which everyone already knows how to do)... I have been in the job market and I don't know what the mayo clinic is doing but nurses at every hospital I have worked at for the last ten years have done NONE of that. We have plenty of techs and lpns that do those types of jobs. You're taking advice from one nurse in one area of the country. Not every nurse does that stuff. Some I'm sure do in some parts of the country, but I have never witnessed or seen that in the areas I have worked (hospital, research, etc.)

 

[rxlea]

I didn't know so many nurses were "above" doing those jobs considering nurses have been doing those types of jobs for decades. Lucky you, I guess lol

 

[Filler]

I am currently in my second semester in college completing my prereqs for pharmacy. After looking at the schools I want to apply to I am starting to wonder if I will be able to pay approx. 30-40 k a year for those schools. I live in New Jersey and there is only one school in here and I know my chances are very slim there. I do have to admit that I wanted to do pharmacy because of the rewarding salary. However, I also do enjoy science courses therefore I want to make the most out of that. I was thinking of becoming a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesist). I heard this program requires much less money but gives much more rewards.

Please don't say I just want to do this because of the money. I love the medical field and I just want to have the best possible profession in it.

Try looking at physician assistant programs, it's a total of 6 years: 4 years BS and 2 years for the MS. UMDNJ has a great program along with Seton Hall. Looks like the next "hot" job.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Radiological technologist and Respiratory Therapist, too.

 

[boost]

Umm...what nursing school did you go to? Because I'm pretty sure every nursing student whether they are BSN/ADN/LPN had to wipe butts, including myself (also BSN, btw). Yes, butt wiping can be delegated to a UAP but the main point of learning to delegate is also learning how to be a team player.

But to the OP, don't go to nursing school unless you can actually see yourself being a nurse if the pharmacy school thing doesn't work out. Don't do it for the money, nursing school is not worth the insanity if you don't actually like what you're doing some of the time. If you're not sure if you want to pursue nursing, contact your local hospital and see if they will let you shadow a nurse.

I agree with Peaches.

Furthermore, to go for CRNA you need ICU experience. With a 2 patient per 1 RN ratio, although some ICUs *may* have CNAs for help, most don't so you will be doing all the care with the patient. That includes wiping butts. There is not as much delegation and ancillary staff in the ICU as with other wards. If you're lucky, you will get accepted into CRNA school after a minimum of 1 year in an ICU. That's 1 year minimum of wiping butts, poop, vomit, and all the smells.

I went into the ICU with the goal of CRNA. Now I'm taking pharmd prerequisites while working full-time in the ICU. If I could do it all over, I would go straight for pharmd. I don't mind the loans if it means I don't have to touch people...