Hi OP
Some really good points raised here, I'll add a couple:
Uni is horrific. Most of my placements treated me as an HCA. I understand that in perhaps your first year, but not afterwards, after all, you're training to be a nurse and not an HCA. I got to my third year having never done a drug round - and I was persistent about requesting this. I remember crying in the sluice because I was so scared that I was going to qualify but be unskilled and incompetent. The sister found me and told me I was ridiculous and to go to X ward and help them out as their HCA had gone off sick. I complained to uni and I didn't even get acknowledged.
The press and SM love painting nurses as "too posh to wash". Comments like "Where is Matron, she ruled the ward with a rod of iron" yadda yadda unoriginal rubbish.
Matron didn't live in a world with a vastly expanded population, an older, a sicker population. She didn't deal with highly complex technology, with a post Covid era; back then patients who were well enough pottered around filling up flower vases etc. Can you imagine keeping someone in that long today?
I've found a very niche and non clinical role that works brilliantly for me, whilst allowing me to keep my registration. And I'm paid well. I love my job and couldn't do it without my background.
Would I choose nursing again? Yes and no. Yes if I could guarantee my current job at the end of it. Otherwise, absolutely not.
One thing that slightly bothered me about your post is that your said you felt you had "a calling ". What does that mean? It sounded a little starry eyed, so please do unpack it now, I'm interested!
As PP said, another reason not to do it is the fact you will acrue more debt than you'll earn. I'm old school and we were lucky enough to get a (totally inadequate) bursary. Not so the case now.
And don't even think about applying without working as an HCA first!