[officer]

Hello everyone! I am a 36 year old male looking into having a career change from law enforcement to the nursing field. I have been in law enforcement for the last 14 years and am seriously looking into the nursing field. I have decided to change my career to nursing. I got tired of dealing with all the politics and ediot administrators in the field that think they are God , and the corruption around me . The solution to my problem is a career change into nursing and not going to a different police department. I know this because I have friends working in different departments through out the county and they all have the same story on how miserable they are in the field . We can be your night and shining armour or we can be a nightmare to people in general because we are constantly giving tickets or arresting somebody's family member.

I am looking into getting my LPN first and then looking for my RN. The reason I am going for the LPN is because I can obtain it within a year and that way I can leave the law enforcement career forever. It's my understanding that there are hospitals in the area that would sponcer for an RN and would defenately look into it when I get into that stage. I would like to be working in the ER or in ICU. I know that there are issues and problems in all different careers. However, what I like about the nursing career is that you can pick up all your things and have a job anywhere in the country the next day if you wanted to....please correct me if I am wrong making this statement. My question is... Is nursing really all that great and rewarding ? I think it is and I am not in the field but I can be wrong

[Acosmo27]

Follow your heart. If you truly feel like this is your calling, then I say go for it.

To your question about nursing being great and rewarding.. Well that is a completely subjective answer. Most will say yes, but others that are burnt out and perhaps not in their area of interest will probably lean towards a 'no'. People are all different just like in any other career.

Im still in nursing school, but so far I love it. Its what I was meant to do in life.

Good luck to you and your possible future in nursing!

[las2009]

You definitely sound 'done' with your first career. I'm a career changer too, leaving behind a long career in IT that can no longer hold my interest now that the carrot of financial compensation and job security isn't what it used to be. Without that, I decided to do what I've always wanted to do...AND enjoy the security of knowing that I'll always be able to find a job.

I think you put together a great plan. By continung in law enforcement while you study to be an LPN, you'll be getting a sense of whether or not nursing is 'right' for you before giving the heave-ho to the first career. Then you'll be able to support yourself as you advance in the new career.

There are other police officers who've switched to nursing. You certainly wouldn't be the first!

Good luck to you.

[officer]

It is funny that you mentioned IT work. We have an officer that got out of IT and became an officer because he said he always wanted to be one...lol I told him that he was nuts for picking law enforcement for a career change. He has been out on the road for one month now and he is already asking me how did I survive for the last 14 years..lol I told him that he needs to go back to IT or pick something else.

The reason that I am staying in my law enforcement career during LPN classes is because I have a mortgage/bills ...lol If not I would of left it all by now...lol I know that I want to defenately do nursing and have set it as my goal.

Thanks for your input

[Tweety]

Don't set yourself up for a lot of disappointment. Nursing has it's own politics and idiot administrators, trust me. Nurses can be your Angel of Mercy or your Nurse Ratchet. (Of course there isn't a lot bribery or corruption, it's a pretty honest profession.)

Also note that many hospitals don't use LPNs in their ICU's and ERs and you'll have to wait until you get your RN. Also in some parts of the country LPN jobs in hospitals are hard to come by, so you might have to bide your time in a nursing home or other facility first.

I say all of this not to discourage you, but that you go in with a clear understanding of what it will be like.

RNs are needed all over the country and once you have experience often it is indeed easy to get a job, especially if you're flexible in what shifts and units you can work.

Good luck to you!!

[Daytonite]

My mother was an LPN, I am an RN, and she told me that as a nurse I would always be able to find work and she was right. I've picked up and moved to several different states and never had difficulty finding a job. My mother always worked ICU and CCU. I have to tell you, however, that as an LPN and depending on where you live you may have difficulty finding a job working in a hospital. Many LPNs have no trouble getting work in nursing homes as charge nurses. Can you see yourself doing that kind of work? With your background in law enforcement you will be more inclined to to fit into the role of an RN. More and more hospitals are hiring RNs exclusively rather than LPNs. Some are even more picky and only hiring BSNs.

For information on nursing read what is on this website:
http://www.discovernursing.com/

[officer]

You are absolutely correct about me been enclined more to be a RN. That is exactly what I want and will become. However, right now I am just dying to get out of law enforcement and I figured LPN is the quickesk ticket out of it and I will defenately persue the RN..that is where my heart is taking me without any doubts. So worse case scenario I dont get to work in a hospital as an LPN at least I am out of where I was at and on the road to been a RN

[Daytonite]

Gotcha. I worked with an LVN who was dying to get into law enforcement. It wasn't that we disliked nursing. He just wanted to be a police officer. Either way, both jobs are working with people, often when when they are having bad days, wouldn't you say?

[officer]

I agree

[rbezemek]

officer,

My family is chockablock with police officers - so I can understand where you are coming from. Your posts did not indicate that you have a high level of familiarity with nursing. If I am wrong, I apologize.

I LOVE nursing . However, nurses don't run hospitals or healthcare - Bean counters and administrators do. Sooooo - we frequently have an even more frustating situation. The people at the top aren't 'used-to-be' nurses, they are the 'don't-have-a-clue-about-nursing' crowd. You'll find that it makes for an "interesting" environment.

Just a thought - did you consider moving into a first responder (EMT, Paramedic) position as a first-level career change? I know of some other ex-cops who did, and they were happy they did. Training is shorter than LPN, and they can work a flex schedule to get through RN school.

At any rate, I'll bet you end up as an EDnurse! Your (nurse+cop) final skill mix will be perfect in that environment.