Career changer with many questions

atrex · Jan 27, 2009

Hello

I'm 33 just changed careers, and finished nursing school. Take the boards last week of February/First week of march. I can not speak to much from experience as I have yet to work an hour as a professional, but hope to offer a little insight, and leave better answers to the forum.

1. Is there really the nurse shortage that everyone says there is? I was told there was a teacher shortage 13 years ago when I was looking into college majors and after I graduated, I spent 5 years banging my head against a wall searching for it. Please, tell it like it is.

There have been several hospitals that have closed in Northern New Jersey which have flooded the job market with people with a lot of experience. If you go to school now, by the time you graduate the economy will turn around and there will be opportunities for you.

Personally I have put my resume on Monster.com and other healthcare recruiting sites and have found that once they find out that I have no experience or have yet to take the boards it’s the same story, sorry we'll keep your resume on file. call us once you pass the boards and when you have experience.

But I'm a firm believer in that you're only as stuck in the situation as your limited by your own actions. You make a lot of your own destiny and with the ability to search further outside of your living area i.e. New York City or comfort yourself in the interim with work at a hospice, long term care, or nursing home facility, there has to be options out here.

Because of your past background, in the future I would focus on pediatrics and possible post rn work as legal consultant. Yes this is far in the future, but it's something to consider. From all that I've read there is more to nursing than hospital med surg work, however without a good base and years of experience as an RN in a hospital other roles may be harder to find. Again this is all from what I read and what teachers at my school have related to me.

2. How important is academic pedigree for nurses? Is it worth it to go into debt for a more prestigious private school education or not? I've already got a bachelor's degree, so going for a second bachelors in nursing would be the road I choose. Right or wrong, I know from speaking with the attorneys I work with that those who graduate from Ivy League law schools almost always earn more than equally qualified attorneys who graduate from less prestigious schools. Does the same hold true for nursing?

I went to a county school, CCM, and paid for it myself 3years, 1 year prereqs 2 years nursing classes.

All said and done, in county tuition rate under 18k maybe 2400 a semester.

I don't owe a single cent.

Would a hospital hire you over me, yes it's possible. But is the debt worth it? Is the time you will spend there worth it? If your grades are good enough, I would look into a UMDNJ's ABSN program.

It's a degree program for people who have a degree already, it's 18 months full time. 8a to 5pm. They get about 500 applicants for 30 seats. This according to the recruiter who I spoke to. I did not get in. Too low GPA. 3.0 minimum. I believe that Seaton Hall has a program as well for ABSN, and maybe Rutgers too. But Google is a much better reliable source than I am.

http://www.nj.gov/oag/ca/medical/nursing.htm

poke around on the State's webiste of the board. It has a lot of good info.

3. To work or not to work? This time, education is on my dime, so I've got to consider the very practical end of things. On the upside, I'm a little older, more mature than I was at 22 and have nearly 10 years of professional life experience. However, I've also got a mortgage to pay, so quitting my job and not working at all is just not realistic for me. Right now I'm very attracted to FDU's program because they offer evening classes, allowing me to keep my current job while I learn, even if it takes 2+ years. However, the prospect of biting the bullet and going to school full time to be finished sooner (and presumably able to begin working as a nurse sooner) is also equally attractive. Has anyone out there successfully gone to school full time and worked part time?

Nursing school is the hardest thing I've ever had to learn in my life. It will suck your free time far away. I'm married and my wife really missed me as I missed out on a lot of 'fun' things to sacrifice time to pass these exams.

I work a 7.am to 4.30pm job Monday through Friday to pay bills. In hind sight, I almost wish I had quit to be come a certified nursing assistant or a tech at a local hospital for two reasons.

1. the people who are techs now are having easier times/networking and finding job leads.

2 They learned so much more on the job, they had already seen the things in text books, that I would see for the first time in my clinical rotations, they also were more comfortable speaking with patients than most of our other classmates as they had been in the environment already.

It's possible, just be prepared to sacrifice. There is no easy way of learning this material. Our class started with 150, and just graduated 48. A lot of people just can dedicate the time commitment that's necessary to pass.

Oh and if you do get in, start practicing NCLEX questions immmmmeediatellyyyy. Again another hindsight is 20/20. I wish I had bought my Saunders book long ago and had been doing this long before now.

4. Gotta love NJ and it's financial dramas. I know there have been a number of hospital closings in recent years here. Does anyone here live in Jersey and commute to NY to work? What's the job scene like there? Pay differential? Do you feel it's worth it for the extra commuting time?

I'm unable to comment with personal experience, just what I hear. Pay in NYC is a little better. I've commuted there before. Train rides are awesome, but can wear on you if you don't distract yourself with something to read.

Good luck in your change. I know I've done the right thing, as the first patient I ever cared for was the most fulfilling experience I've had.

If you're wondering if it's right, you can always volunteer at a local hospital. What county do you live in>?

-atrex

angelofmusic219 · Jan 27, 2009

Thank you so much for your detailed answers. I will definitely take these things into consideration!

Happy2bLPN · Jan 29, 2009

Hi there,

Wonderful thread - very informative :) Quick question for atrex, I am in a similar situation to angelofmusic219 and was wondering what positions you were referring to when you said "techs" - thanks, I am just starting to learn the lingo!

atrex · Jan 29, 2009

hello ness,

welcome to the site. people here have a lot of info. i'm very new as well. so use the search function and read up as much as you can. know that if you decide to do this it's a long trip, but from where i'm standing it is worth the sacrifice.

Tech/Aid/CNA every hospital has a different name some with different types levels of skill sets.

Basically some one who has BLSC (basic life support certification) systems training. Think CPR training but more extensive, and AED training. Lots of acrnyms i know haha. if you're going to nursing school, get used to it ;-)

So if you have a Highschool diploma, and a BLCS trainging(can usually get at any hospital) you can apply for the position.

http://www.evh.org/dyn/detailedopp.aspx?id=41

however, looking at a few open positions like the above, they ask for experience too. never understood how you can you're supposed to start if you need to have experience?! ha-ha.

http://education-portal.com/emergency_room_technician.html

just off of a google search.

the tech's at the hospital i did my Emergency Room rotation attached EKG leads, took vitals, and assisted in the care with the RN/MD/Phys Assitant who were on that night.

the nursing assistants or cna's or how ever they were called, on the floors took Glucose readings, changed linen, took vital signs, performed some pm care, and did some ADL feedings as needed.

Good luck in your quest.!.

Happy2bLPN · Jan 30, 2009

Thanks atrex - I appreciate the kind feedback - thanks again :)

airozen · Dec 10, 2009

angelofmusic: I'm curious what you decided, and how it's going for you? I am also thinking of getting into this field, with a B.A., and I'm considering which route to take--accelerated or traditional B.S.N.? Which school--I'm thinking Rutgers, UMDNJ, maybe William Paterson? Any advice? Thanks!

JerseyGirl73 · Dec 13, 2009

I am a second career nurse, and here it what I have discovered:

1. There is NO nursing shortage. That is a bunch of BS. It is especially hard for new nurses to find employment in New Jersey at this time. In 2007, it took me 8 months to land my first hospital job, and I was damn lucky to get that. I left engineering at age 50 to become a nurse because I felt it was my calling, and I have not looked back (very often!).

2. Don't waste your money on a name school. It makes NO difference salary-wise in New Jersey. I cannot speak for other states. In fact, Seton Hall University, at $30000/ year, had the lowest nclex pass rate in New Jersey the last time I looked. I went to a community college at night, for pennies compared to private schools, got my A.S. in nursing, and my license, which is what REALLY counts. You can always continue for a BSN at Rutgers, for example, after you start working.

3. It would be a GOOD IDEA to work as a CNA, or "tech", whatever they call them, as others have said. You make connections, and the hospital you work at might hire you after you graduate, since they know you. Plus you learn valuable skills. Some hospitals will pay your tuition in fact. I did not go that route, and it was only through sheer luck that I got picked up by a small community hospital in med/surg.

4. Let me also state that I only lasted one year in a hospital, largely due to the stressful working conditions, and a few mean nurses who picked on me. Women can be ******* to work with; men are often more professional IMHO. I have sinced found my niche in home care as a visiting nurse and am very happy. You are much younger than I was, so the transition may not be so difficult for you.

I forgot what else you wrote, but hope this helps.

dragn2623 · Dec 15, 2009

1. Is there really the nurse shortage that everyone says there is? I was told there was a teacher shortage 13 years ago when I was looking into college majors and after I graduated, I spent 5 years banging my head against a wall searching for it. :banghead: Please, tell it like it is.

Not sure if there is truly a nursing shortage since I am still a student and going to FDU in their 2 yr ABSN program. I currently have a BSN in genetic engineering and a master's in public health. I am a second career individual as well. However, read the posts on this website. I have found that the personal insight here has been extremely useful. I hope by the time that I graduate the market will have opened up a bit, but time will tell.

2. How important is academic pedigree for nurses? Is it worth it to go into debt for a more prestigious private school education or not? I've already got a bachelor's degree, so going for a second bachelors in nursing would be the road I choose. Right or wrong, I know from speaking with the attorneys I work with that those who graduate from Ivy League law schools almost always earn more than equally qualified attorneys who graduate from less prestigious schools. Does the same hold true for nursing?

In my limited knowledge of the field I don't think an academic pedigree is all that important.

3. To work or not to work? This time, education is on my dime, so I've got to consider the very practical end of things. On the upside, I'm a little older, more mature than I was at 22 and have nearly 10 years of professional life experience. However, I've also got a mortgage to pay, so quitting my job and not working at all is just not realistic for me. Right now I'm very attracted to FDU's program because they offer evening classes, allowing me to keep my current job while I learn, even if it takes 2+ years. However, the prospect of biting the bullet and going to school full time to be finished sooner (and presumably able to begin working as a nurse sooner) is also equally attractive. Has anyone out there successfully gone to school full time and worked part time?

I currently work FT and go to school. It can be done, however, be prepared to make alot of sacrifices. It also depends on how quickly you pick up the material. If you are a good learner and prioritize well you can go to school and work and still maintain somewhat of a life. I want to point out the FDU's 2 yr ABSN program PRIMARILY offers night classes. However not all classes are at night. This coming spring semester I have a class from 830 AM to 330 PM. I had to make special arrangements with my employer, so that I could take this class. I just wanted you to be aware of that fact. Many students were taken by suprise. Some students also had to take a economics course this semester during the afternoon. I did not have to take the economics course, since I transfered one in. Another point about FDU... make sure you complete all your pre-reqs before starting to avoid taking day classes. Once you start the program you must take courses at FDU - the nursing program will not allow you to transfer in additional classes from other schools.

4. Gotta love NJ and it's financial dramas. I know there have been a number of hospital closings in recent years here. Does anyone here live in Jersey and commute to NY to work? What's the job scene like there? Pay differential? Do you feel it's worth it for the extra commuting time?

I can't answer this question.

I wish you luck.. even though it seems finding a job will be tough, I still think I am making the right decision. If I can't get a job right away, i will just apply to Grad school for my NP. Everything will work out, it just depends on what goals are truly important to you.