by stephanie93

I've been silently reading for a couple months now and am finally registering so I can have my say...

I have two things:

First, my sister and her husband are in the process of adopting a little girl who was a micro-preemie. She was born at a couple days over 24 weeks. She had a bunch of health problems while she was in the hospital, but since being release, has been a perfectly normal child. She's almost two, and while she's tiny, she's perfectly healthy - she's never been re-hospitalized and she's meeting all her milestones at the appropriate chronological age (not adjusted, chronological). We didn't know her when she was in the hospital and her birth parents had basically abandoned her, so her success is due fully to the NICU nurses and doctors. So I want to say "Thank You" to all the NICU nurses out there. You already know this, but the service you provide is invaluable.

Now, onto my question - I am 34 years old, I have two kids, and I currently work as a computer programmer (I have a bachelor's degree in computer science). For the past couple years, I have been considering a career change. No matter what I look at, I always circle back to the healthcare field. Preemies have always fascinated me, even more so since meeting my niece. The strength of the little babies, the technology available to save them, it's all so amazing.

Here are what I consider my strengths: I'm good with technology - I understand it, I pick it up fast, I'm not intimidated by it. I'm detail oriented. I'm a quick learner. I'm smarter than the average bear. I have good communication skills, both written and verbal. I don't get flustered easily and when I am flustered, it doesn't show. I am very logical and able to take emotion out of the equation when necessary.

Here are my weaknesses: I get bored easily - I like constant action and constant challenges. I get frustrated by dumb people (but I usually don't show my frustration). If I don't respect or like someone, I have problems taking orders from them. I have a hard time showing emotion which I think makes me come off as cold and uncaring (which I'm not - I just don't show it very well).

Are these the types of things that would make me a good fit for a NICU nurse? Or would I be a complete disaster? How hard would it be to go through nursing school with two kids? My oldest will start school next year and my youngest is 6 months old. College was fairly easy for me the first time around, but I was younger and single, so it'll probably be harder this time.

Any thoughts? Anyone else do this as a second career?

(Sorry for the novel.)

Thanks,
- Stephanie

Re: Thank you and Am I Crazy?

Stephanie, if you keep coming back, you may be hearing your Calling! Do the math and if you can afford it, go for it! I have known a number of nurses who became a nurse after a life changing experience. Who knows?

I do know that you will never be bored. There will be a number of equally intelligent co workers. And emotional control is a good thing.