Uni vs Real job... which is better?

[clipclop1]

Hi everyone, Got a problem that can only be sorted out by me but I'd like people's opinions on what they would do...

Im 28 and currently at the end of my first year doing a Paediatric Nursing degree and BOY has it been tough!! I don't just mean the workload either, it has ALL been a a bl**dy hard year!!! Everything from finances being extremely stretched and non-existent, having work try to work 7 days a week despite a chronic illness I have, moving 400 miles away from home... NOTHING has been easy and today was just the cherry on the cake! Got pulled into the office by my mentor whol basically wanted to tell me off for 4 different things THAT SHE HAD ALREADY SPOKEN TO ME ABOUT and put me on a serious downer! They were little niggly things that she was irritated about, not like I'd accidently harmed a patient or anything serious, it was about what to do when you answer the phone etc and not be too long taking messages around the hospital! The way she went on you'd have thought I'd poisoned a child and slapped a parent !
The niggly voice in my head is... is it all worth it...? I could EASILY go back to my old job, being a Nursery Nurse manager. Something which I always throughly enjoyed, I'm bl**dy good at, where I get valued and respected for what I do and how I am with children and their families. I only really quit because I wanted to give Nursing a bash and thought it was best to get a job with different avenues and prospects etc...

So what's better, bash out the degree or drop? I know I probably sound like I've half made my mind up but I haven't, it took a lot to get here and to drop wouldn't be a decision made on a whim... YEah I've had a bad day today, really cra**y but the thought is always in the back of my head but I ignore it because I don't know what awaits me at the finish line... the question is, do I wanna finish the race??

Opinions please! (NICE opinions... feeling rather fragile!) :)

[woofgang]

My opinion is that you are not currently in a good place to make such a big decision. When do you next get some free time? Can you put deciding off until then? Such a big thing shouldn't be tipped one way or the other by a single crappy day (or even string of them).

[thenry]

You have put a lot of effort into this post and if you can do that in your end of term thesis for the nursing degree that would be you best option. No matter how good you are as a nursery nurse your qualified nursing options as a career and a living would be far preferable.

[clipclop1]

Thanks guys, yeah it's not something I'm gonna decide right now... Its just always lingering in the back of my head and days like this make me REALLY think about it... It's more a case of being respected and doing a job well coz at the moment, im not valued or respected and have discovered that 1st year student nurses are at the very bottom of the pecking order in clinical settings, FACT! And don't people let u know that!!! :(

[woofgang]

It's harder if you have been used to being in charge and especially if you already know some of the stuff that others need to learn. My sis went from nursery school nurse (when there was such a thing) to nurse on a special care baby unit then as av (very) mature student, to midwife and she encountered some of the same issues as you have, however she is not now, nor has ever been a fragile person and she just didn't put up with it. I am not suggesting that you do the same though, you have to manage it in a way that works for you.
I wish you well in your journey.

[cassa333]

I agree with Woofgang that it can be very hard to go from a well respected management position to the bottom of the heap but that is something you are going to have to put up with for the time being and even when you do qualify you will still only be a newly qualified nurse.

Long term you will be better off though so it may well be worth sticking at it.

I can vouch for the fact that when you are a children's nurse, especialy if you specialise, and you are good at it, you will get all the respect you deserve.

[sinderella]

if the hurdles were any easier they wouldnt need someone as good as you to get over them.

[chrissa1]

As others have said, no decisions right know.

[clipclop1]

I'll be honest, right now Im leaning towards packing uni in and getting a job back in management as that way I can stop worrying about ALWAYS being skint and can finally get back to a job that I KNOW I will enjoy and gain some respect from. Nothing has happened in the last year with Nursing to make me say to myself, 'Wow... THIS is why I wanna be a nurse'. Yeah there have been good days where I've quite enjoyed myself but to know I've got at least another 2 years of this C**P and when I qualify STILL not be any better off in terms of pay. I've been having a good look at the salaries that nurses in the UK get as I was roughly aware but I've never compared them to what I could be earning if I go back to being a Nursery Nurse/Deputy Manager.
But I'd HATE to look back and say, 'Oh I should have stuck with it', but right now I'm thinking that I'm 29 later this year and my bank account is down to my last £200 and its no way I wanna live, skrimping and saving... all I want is to have a job that I enjoy that gives me enough money to keep me comfortable and pay some rent etc.... :(

[clipclop1]

But Thank You all for your answers, you've all been very helpful!!

[chrissa1]

I see what you mean in more ways than one. Discuss it with everyone who is close to you.

[joggybear]

What chrissa said. Also, why EXACTLY did you start the Nursing career move? Think about it. Good luck

[Hopkirk]

When you qualify you could go and work in a hospital in the Arabian Gulf.

You can earn better than here, and have a good life besides.

Just because you are having gyp from one person doesn't mean you should give up. You won't be with her for ever, and she might be like this with everyone.

Don't go backwards.

[cazzz1975]

it would be a shame to throw away what you achieved in a year, you must of had some aspirations when you decided to move 400 miles away to do the course.

do you not think you have just had a rough time recently and are in a quitting mood? personally if I was more than happy in my previous job, changing career would be the last thing on my mind.

I would give it a lot more time before you throw the towel in.

[EDDIE51]

I think you have already made the choice , but PLEASE make certain you have a job before you quit uni.

[clipclop1]

Yeah, When I first posted this question I really was having a bad day and was feeling rubbish, now that I've had some time to chill out about and try to think things through in a more rational manner and the thought hasn't gone away... I don't think I'd see it as going backwards IF I made this decision, more like I'd have realised what truly made me happy.
Yeah you are right there, I Won't be with that particular mentor all the time (thankfully!) but like I say, I haven't had a 'moment' yet where I've thought, 'Yes, THIS is why I wanna be a nurse', I mean, yes, I find it all VERY interesting and am happy and open to learn loads of new things but I went into it thinking that I should have a job that holds a lot more prospects for me, when actually it seems that my original career coontains most of the things I want out of a career....

I;m definately NOT going to make any decisions right now, I'm going to finish my last two weeks AND have the summer but I think I've got to give myself a deadline to either make the jump and quit or to accept that this is where I'm going to be for the next 2 years and stop banging on about it! lol

Thanks again for all your answers though, Its always better to get opinions from people who arn't involved. Most of the people I'm around are academics and believe that you can't do well in life without a degree so all I've had is a lot of comments to say to just get my head down and whack out the next two years, which I find doesn't help as I'd like them to see it from both sides of the coin. :)

[anneasquith]

hi clip. whats does mum think ? :) dont make any rash decisions, the first year is always the toughest, maybe some holidays will put things into perspective for you. good luck. :)