have i made the wrong decision?

idnkph

hi folks
Im just about t embark on 3rd year training to be an Intellectual disability Nurse. In the mean time i do care work for agency. Im getting disheartened by the thought of th ID nursing role.
I rather the caring side of things than the nursing side of it.
When i actually finish the degree (2 years from now) i could take up a 2 year contract in the role but the wages are worse than what im earning with the agency now.
So thats another 4 years struggling and as i have mortgage and family before id be entitled to go onto the first level of pay for registered nurses.
I know a degree opens up doors but am i wrong to want to go full time caring from now and make things easier and less stressfull on my family and myself?
the way I see it it will be 4 years minimum before i could actually start knocking on the other doors that may or may not be available to me with the degrees.
any help would be really appreciated. thanks for reading

Mr. Loverman

Personally I would get the degree.

Things might be good for you now with the agency, but long term this may not be the case.

You need to think long term. Having a degree is the smarter choice.

Mrs OBumble

Is there any option to transfer from your current degree to a Social Care degree?

monflat

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Is there any option to transfer from your current degree to a Social Care degree?

Pm d you op

But where would social care get the op?

No there is no option like that if he or she wanted to do social care they would have to start afresh.

There.is no comparison between an ID nurse and a person with a qualification in.social care other than they may at times work with the same group of people.

mdolly123

You could take transfer to Social care to widen the roles you would be qualifed for but it would still mean poor wages as you are in an area that simply does not pay well

idnkph

thanks for all the imput and thoughts guys. I appreciate them. Changing course is not an option so I will plug away and get the degree. My negativity is high at the moment so i suppose i need to get that into check and change my way of thinking.

Larianne

Is there a career guidence office in your university/college? Go speak to them and see what your options are.
Have you had any placement yet?

Look at it this way - you could work as a carer for the rest of your working days with no career progression, or you can stick out the next 2 years, get your degree and take it from there. A nursing degree can open you up to a few options other than nursing roles. Working as a carer will just be that, no where to progress other than maybe work as an activity co-ordinator.

qwertyabcd

stick with it, my mums nursing home has ID nurses working for her so there is the private sector when you finish up

triple nipple

Definitely talk with the career guidance officer. Short term pain for long term gain ! keep at it :-)