Switching careers to nursing. who has done it?

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I am thinking of going back to school to become an RN. My wife is an RN and like most nurses she does work hard, has her bad days, but also has some very rewarding days to go along with a decent salary and a stable job. I'm currently working as a computer programmer and have done so for about 10 years now but I feel like I'm treading water in my career and have for a few years lost some of my motiviation to keep going on my current career path. I see my wife's career and I see a lot to like in it. Like any career there are some disadvantages but she seems to enjoy it and finds it rewarding and having a decent salary and a stable job is never a bad thing. I'm wondering if others on here have made a mid-life career switch to nursing and how it has worked out.

That is exactly how I made 100,000+ for many years... was paid at a rate of 48/hr, worked 48hr/week and usually worked 44 weeks/year... (do the math) needed at least 2 months off a year to enjoy life and travel. Note: This was a position as a travel nurse, usually 3 month contracts at a time.. appartment, car, and travel to and from destination provided and paid for. I often worked more than 48/hr per week which usually brought my annual up to $115,000 to $120,000 USD. So as I said before... come aboard, we could use the help. PS. I have always worked trauma centers prior to being a flight nurse. I must not forget to mention that I always worked in California... I find this to be one of the better states to work in as a nurse.... minus the current governator

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I worked for the largest beer manufacture in the St. Louis area before deciding to quite and persue my nursing career. I want to make a difference at the end of the day. I can actually say that I have enjoyed this a great deal.

I have good days and bad days but the payoff of helping those that can't help themselves if PRICELESSS!!!!

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That is exactly how I made 100,000+ for many years... was paid at a rate of 48/hr, worked 48hr/week and usually worked 44 weeks/year... (do the math) needed at least 2 months off a year to enjoy life and travel. Note: This was a position as a travel nurse, usually 3 month contracts at a time.. appartment, car, and travel to and from destination provided and paid for. I often worked more than 48/hr per week which usually brought my annual up to $115,000 to $120,000 USD. So as I said before... come aboard, we could use the help. PS. I have always worked trauma centers prior to being a flight nurse. I must not forget to mention that I always worked in California... I find this to be one of the better states to work in as a nurse.... minus the current governator

Is there a higher demand for flight nurse as compared to a nurse working in a hospital who doesn't do travelling ?

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Specializes in SRNA.

There is demand for all kinds of nursing.

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
There is demand for all kinds of nursing.

Yes, there all kinds of demanding nurses in the profession. :p

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Dude, I can so relate. My wife is an ICU RN. I'm 42 and had 20 year career as an electronics technian. Mainly, I worked as a service tech for a couple of different companies. My wife went back to school in her late 30's and became a nurse. She would come home and she would talk about her experiences as a nurse. I became fascinated with it. Earlier in my life, I've been apart of some destructive behavior. Here, my wife was being part of a career in which helped people heal. Here was something positive in which I could help others. At the same time, you made good money. What a killer combination I thought.

So.....3 years ago I went back to school. I just completed my first semester of nursing school with 3 more to go. In this semester, we got to do our clinical rotation at the local hospital. It was awesome!! Certainly, it was a lot of work to study, etc. But, oh the connections that you make with nurses and patients is awesome. It was just awesome to take care of someone who is in need.

Noodles, do it man. It will take a little bit but I believe that you will like it. Also, if you and your wife are nurses, you can call your ticket. You can live anywhere. Nurses are in huge demand. Maybe....both of you take a travel job to Australia or some place like that. The world is your oyster. I don't like oysters but I have heard of that saying, lol.

Peace

Genhen

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Noodles, do it man. It will take a little bit but I believe that you will like it. Also, if you and your wife are nurses, you can call your ticket. You can live anywhere. Nurses are in huge demand. Maybe....both of you take a travel job to Australia or some place like that. The world is your oyster. I don't like oysters but I have heard of that saying, lol.

Peace

Genhen

Do you happen to know whether nurses are more demand in australia or USA ?

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Specializes in SRNA.

I'm not sure there is a way to really measure that, but I'm told by recruiters that the job market is pretty much the same "in the English speaking world" - she was specifically talking about the US, UK, Canada and Australia. I'd bet the pay is best in the US and the benefits are better everywhere else, but that's just a guess. Still, I might have to spend six months in Ireland just for the fun of it.

-S

Do you happen to know whether nurses are more demand in australia or USA ?
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hi there! my husband decided to switch to nursing at 33 after he got hurt at work and couldn't go back to a job with repetitive motion. we were living in colorado at the time and the waiting lists there are a joke. he would have never made it so we moved back to chicago and he is in the lpn program now. when he finishes he will take a bridge course to get the rn. this was the quickest way for us to do it.

do some research and find out what is best for your family. it will be tough as you know but nursing is a very rewarding career and a 2 rn household has many many benefits not just monetary.

good luck

can you tell me what a "bridge course" is?

after i complete my pre-req's, i have between a 3-5 semester wait to get into the nursing program at the junior college in iowa city. they have an rn program here. i cannot afford the u of i, not to mention that would be 4 years and full-time. i'm just interested in obtaining my rn.

i'm a 40 year old man, changing careers, my wife is currently finishing her pre-req's at the same college.

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I am in the same situation, computer programmer and my wife is finishing her RN this spring and lots of offer and feeling the same to switch right now like the guy who just posted. What a coincidence.

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im still young but have worked in grocery store management for 3 years. i originally went to school for dentistry and switched to nursing halfway through. i am still a student but really enjoy clinical rotations and could easily see myself doing it for a long time.

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Do you guys see working nights as a con to nursing? That is about the only thing that concerns me

I have a BBA but I am thinkign about Nursing..I am in IT now and I hate it

Corporate World is not for me

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