please help .. i need opinions..

i am looking to change my career.. i am a Registered nurse and i work in pediatrics, Neonatal intensive care.

i would love to be a teacher... even more i think i would love to work with the toddler population... for EI...

anyone know anything about this? job opportunities? money earned? need?

i 'm assuming i could get a bachelor in elementary ed and a Masters in special ed with a certification in the toddler population?

any and all input would be appreciated!! thank you so much!

Re: please help .. i need opinions..

I'll give it to you straight- its HARD to find a job in the teaching field.

Getting your Bachelors and Masters coudl take as little as 5 years full time, 8 years part time.

Its a thankless job with little pay and a high emotional toll


That being said, I wake up every day knowing I am changing the future and the lives of my kids and for now, I'll take all the negatives just for that alone.


Good Luck!

Re: please help .. i need opinions..

If you work for an EI agency, its a lot easier to get a job and the money is great. You can make your own hours too.

Re: please help .. i need opinions..

Do you have a Bachelor's in Nursing? If so, or a bachelor's in any other field, you don't have to get another bachelor's. you only need a Masters degree in Education. Elementary level jobs are hard to come by on Long Island... many people get stuck doing leave replacements or subbing. There is a great demand ofr EI services. you would work for an agency that contracts through a district. you're paid by the agency, not the district. you can work for several agencies at once or do private work. many parents also will hire you privately. EI is nice because it gives you flexibility with hours and you get paid good money for working with toddlers. Working in early childhood in other ways does not pay. negative to agences and not a public job is that you don't get a pension and probably have to worry about health insurance unless you're working for one agency full time.

Re: please help .. i need opinions..

Just so you know, there are opportunities in EI for Nurses, depending on the child's need. To do EI, you have to get your masters in early childhood special education (I think thats what they call it now- I have a N-12 license so I am not sure). In addition, you have to get approved by the state as an approved early intervention provider(surprisingly enough this is free). Then, like a pp said, you can work for one or many agencies. For EI it is not hard to find a job, especially if you are willing to work with children diagnosed with autism!

Re: please help .. i need opinions..

thank you all for your help!! Nursing is also a thankless, low paying job so i'm ok with that. I just love my sons EI special ed teacher and would love to do what she does!!!

Re: please help .. i need opinions..

Kristi!

Ive been looking into this myself, as another option to keep in mind since I hear that there are so few jobs in teaching.

I just need a few more classes to get my Special Ed (got my masters already.)

I wonder if there's any way you'd be able to start sooner or anything you would qualify for in the interim....

I wasnt aware that there's a demand in this field. then im DEFINATELY looking further into it. The flexibility of hours is a HUGE plus too.

I can help ask around for you.

Re: please help .. i need opinions..

Anna,
its perfect for us with the kids! You'd be great at it!