Nursing or Architecture

DeynnaSt

Hi,

I'm looking at getting around 498 points in my Leaving this year, which is not a lot anyway. I'm doing five higher subjects and an ordinary maths.

I am really unsure about what I really want to do in college, I already went and studied law and arts for a year, dropped out, and am repeating my Leaving cert this year.

I have been considering nursing because it is a profession that has multiple advantages, I could move to Australia, make enough money for a standard and comfortable living independently, I can care about people, and with age and experience I can move up the collateral ladder. I know that most people here are saying that nursing is a calling, it's not something I was looking forward and dreamed about as a kid. But I hope I can say that I'm intelligent enough for it and I like people, I like communicating with them, I'm patient and I took care of someone before, be it someone having an accident on the street or people from family.

On the other hand, I am a creative person, my maths skills are not the worst, looking for an O1. I like architecture and I find myself adoring weird structures and building in the streets. I have attended an interview before in DIT, got maximum points for interview, portfolio and a suitability test, but I don't think it has anything to do with architecture to be honest. Either way, again it's not something that makes me feel exiting to study. Neither does nursing. None of the courses do. I think it's quite normal because none of the people I knew from college were mad and in love with their course.

I just want honest opinions on what would be a better career path. I've read that nursing is more safe to go with, as you're most likely to get a job and start getting normal money.
Please no negative comments, my school where I'm currently repeating has no career guidance, if there was, there would be less posts coming from me, I think this is my tenth or so.

muminpajamas

Jobs in architecture will be the first thing to go during a recession (lots of misery) while nurses will always be needed. Either course will be challenging though if you're not even enthusiastic at this stage. I had a friend who started off in nursing and after a few years then switched to architecture and ended up designing lots of healthcare facilities. That was in America though, I'm not sure this country is the best place for either profession. You may need to seriously consider a third back up choice. Best of luck with everything.

DeynnaSt

muminpajamas wrote: »

Jobs in architecture will be the first thing to go during a recession (lots of misery) while nurses will always be needed. Either course will be challenging though if you're not even enthusiastic at this stage. I had a friend who started off in nursing and after a few years then switched to architecture and ended up designing lots of healthcare facilities. That was in America though, I'm not sure this country is the best place for either profession. You may need to seriously consider a third back up choice. Best of luck with everything.

Thanks, that was helpful to hear.

Conor Bourke

muminpajamas wrote: »

Jobs in architecture will be the first thing to go during a recession (lots of misery) while nurses will always be needed. Either course will be challenging though if you're not even enthusiastic at this stage. I had a friend who started off in nursing and after a few years then switched to architecture and ended up designing lots of healthcare facilities. That was in America though, I'm not sure this country is the best place for either profession. You may need to seriously consider a third back up choice. Best of luck with everything.

I qualified as a nurse just as the last recession hit and the jobs we’d been promised all along the way never materialised. It was tough going and working conditions got more and more challenging as funds dried up left right and centre, so I’m not sure I’d quite describe nursing as a recession-proof career.

That said, I was lucky to make it through and didn’t have to emigrate and now at a relatively young age I’ve got a Clinical Nurse Specialist job which pays well but isn’t by any means a walk in the park. I “served my time” if you like- the undergraduate degree wasn’t easy (to me anyway but I’m not very academic- to me 498 LC points absolutely is a lot, it’s more than I got) then doing the night shifts, weekends, short courses and eventually a postgrad specialist qualification at university. It takes dedication to climb the career ladder and you have to be capable, peoples lives are in your hands. It’s a highly pressured career, I honestly don’t know people can do it if they’re not truly passionate about it and I have to say I wasn’t overly impressed any time I met students or newly qualified nurses who spoke loftily about their plans to get straight into admin/management jobs as quickly as possible. People will spot it very quickly if you have disdain for the nuts and bolts, nitty gritty hands on work of nursing. Your line asking for “no negative comments please” is interesting, as a nursing student you will be expected to take on board constructive criticism, even if it’s not what you’d like to hear. Is that something you would find difficult to deal with?

I do see that you describe yourself as a caring person, are you under time pressure to go straight to college in September? If not would you consider seeking some part time/summer work as a healthcare assistant in a hospital or nursing home. It would very quickly give you an idea as to whether you would be interested in a career in nursing.

Wishing you all the best in whatever you do choose.

DeynnaSt

Cornelius Crow wrote: »

I qualified as a nurse just as the last recession hit and the jobs we’d been promised all along the way never materialised. It was tough going and working conditions got more and more challenging as funds dried up left right and centre, so I’m not sure I’d quite describe nursing as a recession-proof career.

That said, I was lucky to make it through and didn’t have to emigrate and now at a relatively young age I’ve got a Clinical Nurse Specialist job which pays well but isn’t by any means a walk in the park. I “served my time” if you like- the undergraduate degree wasn’t easy (to me anyway but I’m not very academic- to me 498 LC points absolutely is a lot, it’s more than I got) then doing the night shifts, weekends, short courses and eventually a postgrad specialist qualification at university. It takes dedication to climb the career ladder and you have to be capable, peoples lives are in your hands. It’s a highly pressured career, I honestly don’t know people can do it if they’re not truly passionate about it and I have to say I wasn’t overly impressed any time I met students or newly qualified nurses who spoke loftily about their plans to get straight into admin/management jobs as quickly as possible. People will spot it very quickly if you have disdain for the nuts and bolts, nitty gritty hands on work of nursing. Your line asking for “no negative comments please” is interesting, as a nursing student you will be expected to take on board constructive criticism, even if it’s not what you’d like to hear. Is that something you would find difficult to deal with?

I do see that you describe yourself as a caring person, are you under time pressure to go straight to college in September? If not would you consider seeking some part time/summer work as a healthcare assistant in a hospital or nursing home. It would very quickly give you an idea as to whether you would be interested in a career in nursing.

Wishing you all the best in whatever you do choose.

Hi,

Thank you for your reply.

I have no fear of body fluids, blood, puke, faeces, anything. Yes, I am not passionate about this career, not about any career really. If I had all 625 points, I would still not know what to choose. But I have to. I'm quite old, the oldest in the repeat year, so it's time for me to choose a degree and do something. I take on criticism quite well. I asked for no negative comments on my behalf, not sure why.

Thanks you for your reply again, it is very helpful.