Question: teaching vs. nursing? What are the pros and cons of each and what are important qualities to have in each field? I am thinking of switching from one to the other. I want objective views to help me make the decision.

Answer: If you're a nurse now you could teach in nursing school or teach science and math classes in college. Depending on where you teach you could be teaching working adults who are eager to learn and willing to do the work it takes to do well in college. Science and allied health instructors in college are often highly respected and, in the right place, well-compensated.\n\nFor teaching: Do you have a deep or broad practical knowledge of a subject? That will help you prepare the class structure, find the right materials, and prepare your lectures. Do you have a passion for the subject? That helps you explain difficult concepts, answer all kinds of questions from all kinds of students, and to have the energy and stamina to work with students who aren't "getting it" right away. Do you remember what it was like when you were a student - what worked in class and what didn't? That will help you create the best possible class for the subject. To teach you should like public speaking and be fairly good at it. With teaching you need to be able to see the big picture and the small details. Just like nursing. \n\nOf course the other thing they have in common is helping people, but in teaching you have far more time to work with individuals as they progress, you have an opportunity to experiment with various techniques and resources, and you're usually not under pressure to make immediate, life-or-death decisions. Teaching can be incredibly rewarding - when you make a lasting impression on a student you can be sure that what you have taught will be carried far and wide in the ripple effects.
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