Is Nursing a better career than Chef/Cook?
Asked by XpPrEsSiOn
what do you think? im confused!!!!!!!!!! i love to cook, it's my passion, working with my hands, eating, smelling, cutting.. but i also like to help people feel better and cure them... which one is better? i'll be in grade 12 in september, i have to decide fast! please help! i dont know where to go after high school or where to go! can you please list some advantages and disadvantages that you think these 2 jobs have? either chef/cook, nurse or law clerk. CORRECTION: WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO DO

Best Answer:
As a disadvantage, both careers involve long hours, working nights/weekends/holidays when everyone else is off, and are physically demanding. Although I'm a cook, and my aunt is a nurse, I think both jobs have their advantage in that you are directly affecting peoples' lives, whether you feed them or help heal them. You'll make better money as a nurse, but you need less formal training and education to be a cook. With both jobs, you may face shifts of up to 12 hours, and who knows when you'll get a break just to sit down. With both jobs, you'll have a very high level of responsibility - if you mess up there is a potential to seriously hurt someone. With both jobs, you can have the personal satisfaction from meeting the challenges of the day. Oh, and there IS a difference between being a cook and a chef - it all depends on: how much paperwork you're willing to do; how many hours you want to work despite being salaried instead of paid by the hour; how many years are you willing to apprentice yourself for low pay; and how well you handle being a supervisor. Give it lots of thought, talk to your family/friends/school advisors. They'll help you choose the right direction. As for the schools to attend, that depends on where you live and what tuition you can afford. Nursing programs are found at 2- and 4-year schools, as are culinary programs. Good luck!
Personal experience as a professional COOK who has seen lots of CHEFS come and go....
Answered by Chele

Who says you have to decide fast? You must only be 17 years old. You have one more year of high school and then if you're going to college, 4-5 years. A lot of people who are still in high school pick career paths they believe they will stick to only to change schools once, change their majors twice, and change their job fields three times. Don't rush. You have plenty of time. Just get good grades and decide what college you want to go to. Having a degree is a good fall back to have.
Answered by Flowergardener

If you truly do love to cook, then definitely do that. Remeber the saying....if you love your work, it wont feel like work at all. However, nursing is a highly underrated profession by many people. Once done with nursing school, you are practically guaranteed a position for the rest of your life. It is a very in-demand field.
Answered by wtkincaid

Pitfalls in nursing are many. Working holidays, weekends, and you'll almost always see people at their worst. Up side is the money is good you can get a job anywhere advancement is all up to you, and if you're in a hospital they'll always pay for advanced degrees, and training. Usually by reimbursement. But, the more you know, the more money you're worth. You can specialize in care, teach, travel on contract. I know nothing about cooking for a living, but that sure sounds like where your heart is. In the end, I think, the best job is the one you enjoy doing the best. You only have to work for, like, the next forty years.
Answered by biggestnurse

Ther eis no such thing as better. Each one has distinct benefits and disadvantages. It really depends on what your skills are, your passion really is and there is no rule that says you can't do one and then change your mind - You should research (not post on a website) each profession and what it takes to earn degrees. Nursing may require a college degree, if you want to be an RN, but to be an LPN may be different, then a nursing school can best tell you how each type of nursing position differs and what kind of education is required. There are a few things you can do to kind of test the waters, first develop a set of questions that will help you determine what would suit you best : - Contact people in the field (either by contacting agencies/associations and letting them know you'd like to have an informational interview with someone in that field. It could be as easy as going to your local hospital and finding the name of the Head RN and asking her if she/he has some time to talk. Or conversely go to the restaurant where you LOVE the food and get the name of the chef (or sous chef, or line ) If you go close to closing they may be able to talk to you - or you can arrange a better time. Be persistent - it's your future. - Write letters to people in each industry asking them the same set of questions (especially useful if the head of the RN Assn is in Florida and you're in Idaho). Be sure to use correct language, spelling and business letter format - using correct capitalization and grammar. It took me 10 seconds to pull this up http://www.nursingworld.org/about/mailroom.htm, I'm sure there are others as well - Go to a library or bookstore or find a website that does career advice - and start reading. (What color is your parachute) - Talk to your HS guidance counselor they will have resources and can speak your language - Think about volunteering or applying for summer internships for next summer. Your High School grades may determine what is available to you - a law clerk typically is someone who has a LAW DEGREE, not a paralegal. As far as advantages and disadvantages - each individual job, not profession has its own distinct set - so an RN working for a hospital may have the advantage of paid education or job security but an RN working for a private agency may have other advantages (no politics) or disadvantages (employment location and hours varies). In the end what you may see as an advantage- someone else may see as a disadvantage. I say go get an education and then decide.
Answered by Samantha