Any of you Accoutants?

I keep thinking about nursing school and wondering if it is really what i want to do and the more i think about accounting the more it sounds better! So any advice from you accountants about work and pay difference average nurse starts at around 35-40,000.???????????????????????????????????????????????????/

I am an accountant and my mother is a nurse, so I think I have a little perspective. I work a 9-5, and I get a salary, which is great for security, but as a nurse, you can make a lot more money and choose your hours. I make a little over $40,000, plus bonuses, and, of course, my benefits, which is OK, but not great (especially considering my affinity for $300 shoes). When I am out of work (like for my RNY and subsequent hernia repair), I get my full pay every week. The work is OK, but a lot of the same (although I work for a medium-sized family company and also function as the database administrator, which I really enjoy). At any rate, I am not thrilled with accounting, and am working on my Master's in Sociology, because I would like to work in research/statistics someday. My mother is a nurse and works 2 jobs. Her first job is working in the Massachusetts Men's State Prison. she works for the state, so the benefity are great. She makes a base pay of $45 an hour and works a 2 16 hour shifts a week. She is paid a $100 bonus for each double shift. She says the work is extremely easy, and she doesn't have to deal with women (she hates working with women because she says they are terrible patients). If she is called in to work another shift, she gets a $200 bonus. Last Christmas, they were desperate and called her in to work on the 3-11 shift and offered her a $500 bonus plus quadruple time plus her holiday pay, so she was able to earn $2,300 in 8 hours, which is not to shabby. Her second job is at a drug detox facility, where she works on the men's floor. Also, she says, very easy work, and most of the time is spen****ching tv or reading, and she makes $30 an hour for that. So, I say, go for nursing. There is always a nursing shortage and plenty of money to be made. The work is not real physical (most of the hard work is done by CNAs), and no 2 days are ever the same. Everybody and their brother has an accounting degree, so the demand is not real high, and the pay is marginal. But, above all, you should do whatever is going to make you the happiest. I wish you the best in your decision. Carrie

How emotional are you? Be sure to take that into consideration. I was an LPN for a few years but found I could not stand the site of someone dieing, ect. I would say Nursing would be a far more rewarding career, If you have the emotional stamina. And Money would be better with nursing as well. I am now an accountant for the government. It is OK! But I feel like I do the samething over and over and over. It is very monontanace. But you need to go with you gut. what would make you happy? Good luck, Deb

Be an accountant! I've been a nurse for 13 years. You don't want the hassle of nursing. Sandra

Marlena, I have been a RN since 1988, so my opinion is biased. I love nursing. I like the fact that in my years of nursing, I have been able to work in a lot of different types of nursing. A job in nursing is always available too. Hugs, Lori

I am a second career nurse, and I love it!!! I work in a busy ICU, so I am never bored. The pay is great, and whenever I need extra I just sign up for an extra shift. Plus, I get to really help people heal, which is an awesome way to spend your time. My own bias aside, I think you must ask yourself which job suits your temperment... Need to keep moving? Hate getting dirty? Ever wanted to be a hostage negotiator? Love order? Rather wear designer clothes to work? One more thing to keep in mind, nurses work in all kind of settings, not just hospitals... There are even nurses who preform a similar function to accountants, they audit medical records, and insurance claims with an eye toward the bottom line... Good luck, I guess I just muddied the waters, but either way, they are both interesting ways to use you talents! Kate

Hi Marlena, I am an accountant. I make good money but there is quite a difference in nursing and accounting. i love doing payroll and accounting. I cant imagine being a nurse and caring for someone else every day. It takes a special kind of heart to be a nurse. If you are that type, then go for the nursing cause you would be bored doing accounting all day. I am very analytical and love doing figures and the challenge of finding a penny if I am off in an account. That is very, very different from nursing. I applaud anyone who can be in health care. I know it can be demanding, and the hours are very different. I dont know about the money, I do make much more then 40,000 but I also have been doing it for 30 years, so I have a lot of experience. I would imagine that entry level accounting jobs pay around 30,000 to start, but it depends on the area and cost of living where you are. Good luck in your decision. hugs, Soos