Waiting...

I'm a bit on edge right now, waiting to find out if I've gotten in to the nursing program for the Fall.  The TEAS test was going to be offered twice- two weeks ago on Friday (the date I took it) and last Friday.  Now that both groups of invitees have tested, the college has its entire pool of qualified applicants...  I can't imagine it would take more than a few days to process the information and conduct a second lottery if necessary.  I doubt that the person in charge of doing this works weekends, and today was Memorial Day, so the soonest this might happen is probably tomorrow.  Nevertheless, I've been checking my email like a maniac!  The next few days are going to be tough.  If I don't hear anything by Wednesday, I'll probably call the school to find out when I can expect to hear more.

As I've mentioned before, I'm not totally convinced that nursing is the best career avenue for me.  I work with nurses, and my front row seat to their struggles and frustrations definitely gives me pause.  Med-surg nursing doesn't excite me, to say the least.  But nursing is a vast profession, and I have no doubt that I can find a niche where I'll be happy and do a good job.  That's all I ask for- the opportunity to find a niche where I can put my knowledge and concern for others to work, and command a decent salary in the process.

The local newspaper just featured an article about the lack of even nursing jobs (assumed by many to be a recession-proof profession) in today's tough economy.  Apparently, many nurses of retirement age are postponing retirement, and many per diem workers have entered the field full time- in some cases because spouses are out of work and a full-time position comes with medical benefits.  So the job outlook for new grads is a little dim at the moment, but with nearly half the workforce approaching retirement age, it's just a matter of time before the jobs start posting again.  One of the interviewees in the article predicted that a turnaround would take place in 2 to 4 years...  That works for me!  Assuming I get in this Fall (please, please, please let me get in!), I'll be finishing up in two years. 

It's off to work now...  More thoughts on all of this later!