Giving up my job to go study nursing?

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At 28, I'm considering giving up my job next year to go back to college to study nursing. I've always been interested in nursing and at my age and now with a baby on the way, I feel like it's my last chance to go and make a career for myself. I did my leaving cert but I never went to college.

I've been in my current job for the last 6 years and I used to love it but there have been a lot of changes in the last year or 2, staff morale is very low and as far as I can see, it is only going to get worse. I have grown to be very dissatisfied with it. Although it is a very stable job, it is not challenging, there is absolutely no chance of career progression and the wages aren't great. The thought of spending the next 30 years there drives me demented

I have no mortgage or debts and I feel like I would be able to manage the 4 years of college financially etc. I would love to be doing something that I enjoy, something that would make a difference. Am I crazy to want to give up guaranteed employment to go back to college? My main worry would be that there would be no jobs available when I graduate. Can anyone give me any advice? Apart from nursing, the only other things I am interested in are psychology and holistic therapy. I feel that psychology would take much too long to become qualified and also the graduate prospects aren't great and as far as holistic therapy is concerned, the market is already flooded.

Blue Whale

I don`t know much about the jobs prospects in nursing but it seems that it would be a good and rewarding job to have.

Even the fact that you are on your feet as a nurse is better for your health, posture etc than sitting at desk all day.

In terms of giving up your job if it doesn`t feel right then go for it as long as you have your course secured/financially ok. I`m about your age and changing careers completely(although will be sitting at desk all day which can be annoying).

Holiers

You say you have a baby on the way, what is the plan childcare wise? It can be soooo expensive, almost as much as the loss in wages, depending how much you earn.

Pac1Man

I have nothing useful to add but fair play to you. Your reasons for change are very admirable, even more so as you are in a secure position at the moment.

mosstin

My brother had the exact same urge about 5 years ago. He had a steady job in a factory, reasonably well paid but felt the need for something more challenging and more rewarding. He gave up his factory job, did his nursing qualifications, came out with first class honours and felt happy with what he'd done.
That was over 12 months ago and he's now back in his factory job again as there simply wasn't any work available in nursing. He told me that most of his classmates had to move to Dublin for jobs which he, with a young family, couldn't do. It's also a very poorly paid profession for the work people put in. Good luck to you whatever you decide on though.

Drained_Empty

I think you are well and trully mad. Unless the job you have now is horrendous, low paid and has no chance of advancement.

Newly graduated nurses are bascially getting 8 euro an hour at the moment. And it's one of the toughest, physically and mentally, of all jobs going. You will be cleaning up piss, **** and vomit for the rest of your life. Taking abuse from patients, family, more senior nurses and Doctors for the rest of your life.

Unless you are florence nightingale and absolutely nothing would make you happier then to walk around a hospital at 4am changing catheters and taking people's temperature stuck to something else.