Considering BSN as 2nd Career - Help!

U.S.A. New Jersey

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Hi everyone. I have been following these threads for about five months now and have found them very helpful. Thank you.

I can use some advice -- I had a 23 year career in publishing, have an MBA from a great school, etc. My industry is kind of dieing, not kind of, is, and I'm scrapping by on freelance projects while taking the nursing prereqs at my local cc. I hadn't taken a science class since 9th grade and was scared of it, but am halfway through API am happy to report I have 95. It will take me a minimum of another 9 months for me to complete all the prereques to get into an accelerated BSN program...hopefully William Paterson.

I've read a lot on here about their being no jobs out there and lots.backbiting in the profession, etc.. I might be getting cold feet. I am trying to get a volunteer gig at a hospice because I think I'd like to do end of life care or psychiatric nursing, but even that is a process. Are there jobs in those fields? I could move out of nnj, but prefer not to.

Thanks.

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i live down the street from edgewater.. jobs are almost impossible in the area (im also licensed in ny).. ONE hospital in manhattan called me, took interest in my 4+ experience, but needed for me to be in a bsn program. ive applied to over 100 places. of all sorts of facilities. after the 4th adn 5th round of applying, i was more and more open to EVERYTHING. not too long ago, i went on foot applying, and every door that closed on me brought me back to my car crying. wiped the tears off and drove to the next place only to repeat the process.. several times.. i was initially motivated to get my bsn, but that quickly died. maybe ive just hit a temporary slump.. but just dont EXPECT an awesome career/lap to fall into your lap after all those HARD PAINFUL years invested into nursing school (i did lpn and asn - its never easy).. the market is poop right now. you may get a job, but it may not be what you want. the bsn may give you more leverage.. but u are also competing with those with experience.. these boards have been really helpful in getting in tune with other peoples' experiences.. honestly.. im shooting for moving out of the country to teach english abroad while im still single and still have some of my youth left.. being stressed out all the time is no way to live..

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There are no jobs in the tri state area unless you have a boatload of experience in nursing. It doesn't even matter who you know anymore.

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i mean.. if nursing is what you really really want to do with your life.. go ahead.. be ready for hard work, high stress.. and just dont have high expectations.. something may work out for you..

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Boy oh boy you sound just like me two years ago.

After much soul seaching and research I decided on a nursing career as my last career. I was 55 when I enter nursing school and also came from an industry that had died a slow and painful death. School was difficult, but my reasoning was that it was only a year and after I could work as an LPN, get some experience and do a bridge to RN. At the time I was advised by many not to bother with an LPN and get into an RN program right away. Well it seems I did the right thing, becasue I found an LPN job, albeit not a great job, after a few months. It was tough to get but from what I hear getting that first RN job in this area is almost impossible.

I agree with the previous poster, hard work - yes, high stress- check, oh and as a new grad, crappy pay- without a doubt. But if you enjoy working with people and like the idea of going home at the end of a shift and knowing you made a difference, maybe nursing is for you.

I would strongly advise you to volunteer, for two reasons. First it will give you a feel for the environment and second for the contacts. I would not have found my job without my volunteer experince. Anything you can do to gain access and insight into the industry at this point is of value. Volunteer, talk to nurses, visit schools, try and shadow a nurse, read posts and blogs like this one, so by the time you decide to commit to nursing you will have a understaning of the indusry and realistic expectations.

I know how difficult a decision this is, given my age it was especailly hard for me, but once I made it I didn't look back.Life for me now aint' easy, but one of the exciting things about nursing that keeps me grounded when I'm discouraged is that it is such a big world, there are so many possibites, always something new to learn, endless new experinces and challanges. I love what I do and am excited about my future.

Good luck with your decision and I hope you have the support and encouragement that I did when I was at the point you are now.

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Hi I am also a second career nursing student. There are a lot of programs where you can obtain your nursing degree accelerated if you already hold a degree in a non nursing field. our school just had graduation (BSN) and out of 106 graduates 55 of them had jobs in places like CHOP, Cooper and University of Penn...... So there are jobs out there it may be a matter of right place right time, but then that is how all job markets are right now not just nursing. If it is something that you want go for it and don't let the age thing hold you back. Although the majority of students are in their 20's, as older students we bring valuable life experience that they have not acquired yet and it helps.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Go for a cna/pct job instead of volunteer. You will have virtually no pt interaction as a volunteer but you can learn a lot as a tech. You will also get to know staff and management. That can turn out to be the key to a job after graduation. Plus, you might as well get paid for your time.

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Specializes in Making people feel better.

Most job-markets seem to be awful right now...and when family members tell me how great it is that I'm pursuing nursing because of the "nursing shortage"...I pretty much laugh. -- I too come from the land of reality.

I do believe that if something is very well-suited for you and that you see it as a possible future for you-- shoot for the moon! I mean, a 95 is a great thing in your studies, and something that you should be proud of!--Just keep in mind that most of us have grades like that..partly because we have too, and secondly because most of us are genuinely interested in the material. The competition is ridiculous out there as you see, and if it's something that you really want to do, you'll endure all of the politics, B.S., backstabbing...but gain from all of the amazing people out there, strive for excellence, and find a fulfilling nursing career ahead.

I also am pursuing this as a second career, after years of expertise as a NYC business owner... I'm back completing a Ba at a major university, and trying my hardest to matriculate into a BSN program..

As far as volunteering..I agree that it's a great idea. Puts you in a position where dealing with patients is real--and not just case-studied in books.

I am volunteering as an EMS worker right now..haven't started going on calls yet, but I do know that once I begin emergency calls in a week or two, I will have perhaps a better feel for aiding patients, and helping the crew and others in need... I feel that this will prepare us for the world that we are studying so hard for to be a part of. I mean, I know that clinicals are at least a year away for me..

Keep going for it...and keep reminding yourself of why you've made this decision.

Good luck :)

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Not to discourage you at all because I am in the same boat... I'm taking my pre-reqs and plan to apply to an accelerated nursing program for May or September of 2012. I just wanted to let you know that WPU will NOT be having an accelerated BSN program until 2013. Information about that can be found here:

http://www.wpunj.edu/cosh/departments/nursing/undergraduate-programs/acceleratedfast-track-program/

I live extremely close to the school and was really disappointed when they decided to discontinue the ABSN. UMDNJ and NJCU have NLN accredited programs. This can be important depending on where you want to work. For instance, Hackensack University Medical Center, which I hear pays very well, will only accept NLN accredited schools.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

I'm currently a UMDNJ student. During my clinical rotations the nurses who find out we are BSN students start sharing that having a BSN will help you as their hospitals are only hiring BSNs. Yes the tri-state area is hard on new grads finding a job, but I'm ready to leave the area. Some of us are actualy looking to go to Texas because of the many hospital jobs down there. I'll see what my options are after graduation.

If nursing is really what you want to do, then go for it. The job situation hasn't stopped me. With my years of experience in business, I'm use to working long hours for little pay and recognition and use to the back stabbing, so I should fit right in.

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Try and get a job as a PCA or PCT (nurse's aides) in a hospital while you're going to school. You will get great experience and they assist in tuition cost. Also, it will be much easier to get a job when you graduate because you will already be "in-house." HR loves students planning on going to nursing school for these positions. Good luck!

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