Career change

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I am a 43 y/o male who is pursuing my RN in Florida. I have been a firefighter/paramedic for 14 years but am unable to continue in the field because of a medical issue that prohibits me from being around the trucks. I am working on pre reqs and will be jumping into a paramedic to RN bridge program as soon as I am eligible. I just wanted to get some feedback on how he market really is out there for new nurses. Thanks in advance for any input/ advice.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Hopefully, your program will result in a BSN - because your background and skills are well suited to acute care & without a BSN, you may not be able to get an acute care job.

Glad to have you aboard! There is an enduring bond between nurses & firefighters/police officers. We all share the same 'service' professional DNA.

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.

I'm still a BSN student, but most people of my previous class were able to find jobs. I think with your experience, you'd definitely have no issues. Lots of Fl hospitals are pushing for BSN trained nurses, so I'd go that route. While doing your prereqs (or after you get in the RN program) try to get a hospital job as a paramedic/ER tech I know it will be a pay cut, but it will give you some better insider information on RN's and possibly make it easier to get an RN job later on. I was a former EMT - one of the toughest things for me was learning to "think like a nurse" you'll understand what I mean when you get in a program. Good luck with the career change.

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.
I'm still a BSN student, but most people of my previous class were able to find jobs. I think with your experience, you'd definitely have no issues. Lots of Fl hospitals are pushing for BSN trained nurses, so I'd go that route. While doing your prereqs (or after you get in the RN program) try to get a hospital job as a paramedic/ER tech I know it will be a pay cut, but it will give you some better insider information on RN's and possibly make it easier to get an RN job later on. I was a former EMT - one of the toughest things for me was learning to "think like a nurse" you'll understand what I mean when you get in a program. Good luck with the career change.

Independence is hard to shake. I became an EMT 13 years ago, never did anything with it, later became a paramedic, and worked part-time for a few months until the glamour of doing it as a side job got old. I haven't worked as a medic in eight years and have absolutely no desire to. That being said, I still carried (carry) a paramedic ideology to the point that I tried to have as little to do with the code team (which I was on in the hospital) as possible because a group working a code can be a huge cluster.

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I am currently a 47 Y/O male seeking a RN/BSN as a second career. I have been selling both disposables as well as Medical devices to all areas of medicine for the past 22 years and I am motivated to be a Pulmonary Nurse. To all who seek a dream, stay focused, positive and get excited about making a difference in a persons life.

Best of luck to all who care about making a difference in human life!

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Specializes in Hospice, Telemetry.

The market in Florida is strong. I am a male nurse who graduated last May and got my license in June. Things were a bit slow at first, but then I had four interviews and three offers in the span of two weeks and started my job in August. I ended up at the place I did my preceptorship and in their new-nurse program. That is the best way in -- someplace you know and that knows you and that has a novice or new nurse program.

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Specializes in Inpatient Surgery.

Get a BSN. I am in an ADN program and have to look for RN-->BSN as I get closer to graduation.

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I am 47 now and am a point in my life where I am able to pursue a Nursing degree. It has been a goal of mine since I was young but I got married, had kids, needed insurance so I did what I could to keep all our heads above water. I started going back to school in Sept of 2012 and chipped away.

Currently, I have finished all of my pre req's and have been accepted into the ADN program here for September. I also took, while waiting to get into the RN program, all the classes that will count towards a BSN at Umass which is affiliated with my school. If by some miracle I make it through RN school I will only need a year of classes after that to get my BSN.

My advice is to get whatever you can get done as far as pre req's and other classes towards a BSN out of the way early, or before starting RN school. That will give you an idea early if this is for you and also open your eyes to what your in for and what you like and dislike. I found out by taken gen ed classes that I really enjoy history and psychology. My original goal was to become a travel nurse but Psychology really interests me so maybe ( if I pass RN school mind you) I'll look into being a Psych nurse. Who knows. It is never to late to do what you like and believe in. If I help one person it will all have been worth it to me. It sound soupy I know, but I do mean it.. Go for it!! Start and do not look back. It will be a fun but difficult ride, but I am hoping worth it..

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