[jbjorn2b]

I just decided to attend become a nurse after graduating in 2005 with a B.S. in Business Marketing. I just started my pre-reqs last week, and I have a long way to go before I complete an accelerated BSN program, but I know it will be worth it in the end. Good Luck.

[contaveras]

I too work in the IT field and am fed up with the corporate world and feeling unfulfilled with my career. I ask myself almost everyday if I'm making the right decision... if in the end the sacrifice will be worth it. I find it easy to believe that I'm making the right decision by reading alot of the messages put on these forums.

I think the fact that nursing provides alot of opportunities and variety is awesome, and that's something I thought I'd have with IT.

I'm on my second semester of prereq's I have 2 more to go, then I plan on becoming an EMT while I wait to be accepted to the nursing program and all thru nursing school. I hope those 2 years of EMT experience come in handy when I start applying for nursing jobs.

Peace out everyone.

[Lola89]

Hello everyone,
sorry to barge into your territory although this thread is old I had the need to reply because I identify with most of what you guys wrote here.
I feel as if you guys are in my head and writing my thoughts!
I'm contemplating a career switch into nursing as well after 8 years in the technology field. Like another member here I knew that I didn't enjoy my major (CS) but I went ahead anyways because back then I didn't know what my passion was and I needed to make money straight out of school.
My 1st job was in tech support, I hated every minute of it.
I know that nursing is extremely difficult and alot hard work but I think that there's a good chance that I might go for it. I too, I'm excited about the change!!
Good luck to everyone.

[Suesquatch]

PhilaGuy, I switched after a long career as a mainframe programmer when my job was outsourced.

I would have done this the same. And with your IT background, get your year or so in med/surg and look to get into informatics - I fell into a really sweet spot because I had a license and could recognize the keyboard.

Seriously, nurses with systems backgrounds are rare and valuable.

Good luck!

[Ammonurse]

I just retired from the Air Force as a 2W2 (munitions, very big munitions, get it?) I went from being in charge of everything to knowing nothing at all! What a shock to the system I'm in my second week of orientation on the toughest med/surge floor in the hospital. We get everything from bariatrics to ortho, and even a few psych pt. I'm not that crazy about changing diapers on a 300lb woman. I did my first wound vac the other day. That was amazing! I'm learning something new every day. I love it! I'll be ready for the ER next year.

[richo_006]

I graduated BS major in banking and finance last 2003 and wasn't able to work and study right away. Bewildred at first for a different spectra of profession from numbers to science, but eventually I love it. BSN graduated 2006. Its my calling

[snuffy19608]

I'm about 5 1/2 months away from finishing PN school P/T, I've been a paramedic for 8 years and love it but there's no real future in it. I wanted my RN right off but with my work schedule this just fell in my lap. I'm going to try to get hired at a facility where they'll pay for my RN if I give them a few years.

[Derek1975]

I too wanted to be an EMT, but the hours are crazy, the jobs are scarce in this area - the jobs that are there don't pay that great - and I kind of fell into a CNA program locally that was only 4 weeks, I'm now working in a nursing home, hopefully will be in a hospital by this time next year after 1 year of CNA experience. I am also working on getting the prerequisites out of the way for the RN-BSN at Regis University in Denver. It's nice because Regis doesn't do waiting lists, they just select people competitively from a pool of applications.

[OldITgeek]

OldPhat,

I totally know what you mean about the IT attitude of "you're either with us or against us"...

A few years back I took a "break" from IT desktop support/telecom analyst to work in Human Resources (wanted to expand my skillset). It was the BEST career move I could make. I stayed with the same company (an insurance company) and even in the same location. I worked for one of the finest managers I had ever met, learned much (probably too much) about human nature, and seriously developed my people/speaking/facilitating skills with the number of staff we have and all the training we did.

My IT collegues were HORRIFIED at my decision to leave.

Evidently IT is the "end all" for all careers humans are capable of. My co-workers could not fathom why I would EVER want to do anything other than IT!! I got some support, but mostly shock and dismay. "You're leaving IT...?" Yep...and learned more in a year in HR than 6 years in Systems.

Of course the Outsource train rolled through our building, and we sourced all our HR. But what a good year it was, so back to IT (but in a different department).

After 4 Reductions in Force, dodging the bullet each time, our company has finally been purchased by another ins company. Don't think I'll be dodging this time, and I DON'T WANT TO.

I want to be a nurse, and do something meaningful with the rest of my life. 10 years of corporate have shown me enough greed/politics/backstabbing to last a lifetime. I am taking pre-reqs in the Spring, then hopefully CNA in the summer, then LPN at the local CC in the fall. My wife has been wonderful in her support, and thankfully the kids love Top Ramen, since that's probably what we'll be eating for 3 years...

Cheers!