Talented Prospective Nurse Troubled by the Times!

Nurses Activism

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Hi Everyone,

I'm been on these boards often trying to decide if a midlife career move to nursing is for me. When I get excited, I find a long thread of horror stories re: the mistreatment of nurses and my enthusiasm fades fast. You're all familiar with the issues.

I have a BA in English, an MS in Counseling Psychology and have worked with battered women and sexual assault survivors for years. I stayed home to raise my daughter, who has a learning difference -- so I'm well educated in that area and its attendant politics/strategies for getting services, etc., as well. By my lights, these qualities and an interest in life sciences make

me an excellent canditate with many layers of education and experience to bring to the field. I'm used to being an advocate and I'm used to working in a mostly female run organization (women's agencies) where women have been respected and well-paid. Organizations with a feminist slant tend to work more cooperatively than competively -- this has been my experience.

Where am I going to find this in nursing? What are the most effective

nursing advocacy groups? I have not an inch of the martyr in me, and while I count compassion, critical thinking, confidence, and perspective (I'm older)

among my strengths, I will not "stick it out," only to come and vent on these boards then go back into the fire for more suffering.

I love the idea of going into nursing, particularly becoming trained as a SANE, working L/D and, eventually, travelling to parts of the country and world to provide services and education for underserved populations.

I so appreciate all of you and welcome your advice! BTW, I'm attending an open house at this program tonight and would appreciate your impressions.

http://www.umassmed.edu/gsn/academic/master/gep/

Many thanks, Babette

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

It sounds as if you are looking for an "ideal" work environment. That's OK ... you are old enough to know what you like and what you don't like.

Will you find it within nursing? Maybe, maybe not. The real questions you should be asking yourself is: "Do I really want to be a nurse?" "Do I really want to do the work of nursing enough to make an investment in a nursing career?" "Am I willing to work to create a good working environment?" "How much am I willing to invest in order to create and/or find my ideal work environment?" "Am I willing to work for a couple of years in a less-than-ideal environment while I develop the skills, seniority, and political clout to have greater influence over my work environment?" "Am I willing to have a couple of false starts on my way to finding a satisfactory work environment?" etc. etc. etc.

One of the common challenges/problems faced by people who switch careers (to any profession, not just nursing) is that sometimes they want the best jobs right away after graduation. In their old profession, they had experience, seniority, had earned respect, etc. and they may not be willing to "start at the bottom" again in a new one in which they have yet to gain experience and earn the respect and trust of their new colleagues. I've seen that happen a lot in nursing. Many of the jobs available to new graduates may not appeal to those who only want the jobs in leadership positions, or those with better working hours ... and they are not willing to invest a couple of years in a job they don't particularly care for in order to qualify for one they would like better. The question is ... how much are you willing to invest?

Also, a great working environment is dependent on the particular people you work with ... the organizational culture, etc. It is not dependent on specialty and only partly dependent on role definition. You can find good environments and bad environments in all specialties. Again, how much are you willing to invest in finding one that suits you? Are you willing to be flexible with your patient population? Are you willing to relocate? Can you be flexible with your work hours? Are you willing to get additional education to qualify for a particular job that might appeal to you -- or you only willing to get the basic, entry-level education and no more?

I've been a nurse for almost 30 years and have worked in a variety of leadership positions in several different areas of the country. If you expect to find the ideal job waiting for you at your doorstep right after graduation, you will almost certainly be disappointed. But if you are willing to work to make a satisfying nursing career for yourself because it is something you believe in, then it is possible to find other good people within nursing to work with to create a good working environment for yourself. It's up to you.

Good luck,

llg

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Specializes in Psych.

Babette,

I agree with llg. My circumstances are similar to yours. I am in my early 30's and after a successful career in counseling (I have a BA and MS), I have finally decided to take the plunge into nursing. My first experience with nursing was when I took an entry level position as a psych tech in a hospital mental health ward. Never knowing anyone who was a nurse before, I honestly had no clue what they did. My experience led me to start applying to RN programs. However, a job opportunity came up that I could not turn down, and as I was a poor college grad barely making $10 hr I had to take it. From there I worked in Corrections for 4 years and after that again started thinking about nursing as a career. Well, wouldn't you know it, another job offer as well as acceptance into an MS program came up. I just made a big move cross country with my husband and am currently unemployed (thank goodness for our nest egg money!). With time on my hands I completed a pretty cool exercise designed to help you figure out your goals in life and the immediate and long term steps you can take to get there. To make a long story short, nursing came up yet again. Luckily my husband is very supportive of my career change and is willing to see my salary reduced and put up with odd working hours until I gain experience. I'm currently taking my prereq's and hope to start the Fall 2005 accelerated BSN at a local college. I think if this is what you really want to do, you'll find a way to make it work. Good luck!

D.:rolleyes:

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Specializes in Psych.

Babette,

I agree with llg. My circumstances are similar to yours. I am in my early 30's and after a successful career in counseling (I have a BA and MS), I have finally decided to take the plunge into nursing. My first experience with nursing was when I took an entry level position as a psych tech in a hospital mental health ward. Never knowing anyone who was a nurse before, I honestly had no clue what they did. My experience led me to start applying to RN programs. However, a job opportunity came up that I could not turn down, and as I was a poor college grad barely making $10 hr I had to take it. From there I worked in Corrections for 4 years and after that again started thinking about nursing as a career. Well, wouldn't you know it, another job offer as well as acceptance into an MS program came up. I just made a big move cross country with my husband and am currently unemployed (thank goodness for our nest egg money!). With time on my hands I completed a pretty cool exercise designed to help you figure out your goals in life and the immediate and long term steps you can take to get there. To make a long story short, nursing came up yet again. Luckily my husband is very supportive of my career change and is willing to see my salary reduced and put up with odd working hours until I gain experience. I'm currently taking my prereq's and hope to start the Fall 2005 accelerated BSN at a local college. I think if this is what you really want to do, you'll find a way to make it work. Good luck!

D.:rolleyes:

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