Second career advice

conal6 · Apr 20, 2012

Wow do some serious networking, read 48 HOURS TO THE WORK YOU LOVE. Keep in mind there are many jobs for nurses but sadly many of those jobs are modern day sweat shops. Another crop of nurses just graduated today. Maybe think about specializing. Yes it is a female dominated field make sure you find a balanced work place or an area of medicine where men gravitate to. You will see the gender games starting in school. good luck

Morning All,
Looking for some advice. I am 55 and considering a new career as an RN. I have done all my general education requirements including Microbiology. I am scheduled to start a 2 year program in upstate NY at S.U.N.Y Delhi in the fall.
My research shows that the RN market is soft especially with a 2 year degree. I am concerned that I will bust my ass for 2 years and not be able to get a reasonably good paying job. I don't have time to waste and would LOVE to get the real deal info from you all
Best
Joe

deftonez188 · Apr 21, 2012

There are many careers in medicine - I'd look at all of them before settling. You've been around the block in life (compliment intended), so I'm certain you know your interests and capabilities better than anyone.

Joeyfishes · Apr 21, 2012

Thanks for the response. But I am looking for some info.

What is the job market looking like for a graduate with a two year degree,starting salery etc

Thanks in advance

Morning All,
Looking for some advice. I am 55 and considering a new career as an RN. I have done all my general education requirements including Microbiology. I am scheduled to start a 2 year program in upstate NY at S.U.N.Y Delhi in the fall.
My research shows that the RN market is soft especially with a 2 year degree. I am concerned that I will bust my ass for 2 years and not be able to get a reasonably good paying job. I don't have time to waste and would LOVE to get the real deal info from you all
Best
Joe

deftonez188 · Apr 21, 2012

Well Joe,

You'll find on most of the state's forums that most new grads are having a difficult, protracted job search currently. When I graduated in 2009, I was lucky to get a job due to a nurse internship I did previous - not all of my classmates were so lucky.

Most individuals report as a new grad having a hard time finding something, so I'd expect anywhere from a few months and up for finding a job. Mind you, being a stellar student, being a CNA, etc. can significantly help your job prospects. It also really is 'who' you know.

Some states having hiring spurts here and there, Texas I believe was one recently. Others will have different input regarding this.

Joeyfishes · Apr 21, 2012

Thanks for the response......I think I am going to take the summer off (I was going to take A+P 1 and 2) and rethink this

Best

Joe

Joeyfishes · Apr 21, 2012

PS any stats on starting pay? Thanks

JD

Dave 48103 · Apr 21, 2012

I am 48 and started on this new career 2 years ago. I graduated last August. Here in Michigan (Ann Arbor) there a a ton of jobs for new grads. Every one in my class is now working. Some took a few months, but most got hired within a month or two. I landed a dream job in pediatrics. Here we make around $27/hr, plus great benefits, and lots of OT opportunity. I will say that almost all of the new hires since I've started have all had BSNs. This hospital generally prefers to have the higher degreed nurses. Not sure about other hospitals or areas.

Joeyfishes · Apr 21, 2012

Thanks for your comments...do you have BSN?

Dave 48103 · Apr 21, 2012

yes, i went back to school in the Second Career program

Joeyfishes · Apr 21, 2012

Thanks for the info.....gonna finish off this semester and reconsider my options

Best

Joe

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Apr 21, 2012

Thanks for the response. But I am looking for some info.
What is the job market looking like for a graduate with a two year degree,starting salery etc
Thanks in advance

The job market varies widely by location. In most major urban areas on both coasts, prospects are fair to poor for ADN's, poor to good for BSN's. On the other hand, if you don't mind working in the Texas panhandle or the North Dakota prairie, job prospects for either an ADN or BSN are probably good to excellent. I'm speaking here about new grads - for experienced RN's, almost regardless of degree or location, the job market is very good to excellent.

From what I can tell, overall there is a surplus of new nurses, and many institutions are refusing to expand their nursing staff, prefering instead to add to the patient load of their existing staff. I graduated a couple of years ago from a very well-respected community college program that had a nearly 100% placement rate. For my year however, the rate plummeted to 50%. My informal survey of my classmates indicates that the employment rate is probably 80% - 90% now, though far more have taken jobs in LTC than was the case in recent past. Of those who found hospital positions, nearly all were already working as techs or admins at the hospital that hired them as RN's and I'd urge you to consider doing this to maximize your chances of a nursing job.

As to getting your ADN, I think that's a decent interim strategy, especially if you do as suggested above. After becoming an RN, you can do an on-line RN-BSN program (the school you are thinking of attending has one and it's reasonably priced). In my view, you will almost certainly need the BSN in the long run, so plan for it now.

By the way, I was about the same age when I went into nursing. I'm presently nearly finished with my BSN through an on-line program and plan to continue for my MSN, so don't let the age thing get in the way.

Good luck and remember that this advice is worth every cent your paid for it.