anyone else changing careers to go into nursing?

nursetopray · Apr 20, 2004

:rotfl:

I have been a corporate paralegal for 3 years and an admin assistant for 3yrs. I have a bachelors is Pre/law and the next logical step was law school. But after working with those crude, evil, money hungry, non-negotiating, back stabbing white collars, I swore to never return. Lucky for me my group was laid off due to cut backs. I liked what I did, but had mastered it in 3 months, and training my other co-workers after 6 months (all who had been there for atleast 20 years). I had always wanted to be a nurse, just didnt have the nerve, I just didnt think I could do it. I am now 32, married mother of 3 little girls. Not only am I doing this for me, but for my family. My girls are very impressionable and I want to be something that they would be proud to say. "My mommy is a nurse, she helps sick people".

It is easy for my husband, what does daddy do? some ask, the girls proudly answer " my daddy makes paper!"

toilet paper, paper towel, books, newspapers......

They kinda sound like Bubba from Forest Gump.

I pray you succeed in your goals!!

Lee, mom of 3.

rellco40 · Apr 20, 2004

Hi !

I am changing careers and late in life I might add. I am 4 months into an accelerated nursing program and loving every minute of it.

Be encouraged and stay with your dream. You won't regret it! :nurse: :balloons:

nursetopray · Apr 20, 2004

Mom2kids,

I am in the same boat, what we ( as a family) decided to do, is to go to CNA school. According to how much time you have you can obtain it is 3 months. I am enrolled in a class that meets T-Th from 6-10 pm. The class itself it pretty cheap, $150 with books. The pay for CNA's is peanuts, but every little bit helps and I can make sure this is what I want to do. I will begin my pre reqs in the fall and I plan to work weekend nignts, with shift/diff and weekend pay, I might get about $10-14/hr.

I have no idea how hard it will be, but it looks like a good plan.

Be blessed!!

Lee, mom of 3

HI Mom2kids! I've been a corporate secretary for about the same amount of years as you. I hate it! I'm looking for something fullfilling and challenging too.
Wow! It's great to see that there are so many of us with the same idea in mind...get out of the corporate world and in to the human world. I'm hoping to start with prerequisites in the fall but I'm not sure how our family can afford to lose my income once the nursing program starts. Are any of you facing this situation? How are you supplementing your income when you begin nursing school?

Teena Louise · Apr 20, 2004

:nurse: I worked as an administrative assistant for 25 years, at the age of 43 I decided it was time to do something more with my life. I am now at the end of my first year in nursing school, and I love it. Don't get me wrong it hasn't been easy, there have been plenty of days I asked myself why I left my cushy 9-5 desk job. But you only need one good clinical day where you left the hospital feeling like you really did something worthwhile, or the day when one of your patients tells you that you are going to be a really good nurse then all of the sleepless nights up studying and the agonizing over tests is not so bad after all.

I wish you luck in your endeavor. Say goodbye to the cold corporate world where nobody appreciates your skills and and hello to nursing where your patients will appreciate you more than you can ever know. Just remember one thing, always treat your patients the way you would want someone to treat you.

KarenAR · Apr 20, 2004

We who have chosen to become nurses from other careers were meant to be nurses from the start. We took a different path to get there and we are now here:) .

I dunno - for ME personally, nursing is most likely another "step" toward something different. May combine it with my editorial background to be a health writer (with a magazine, or a health foundation/organization, or some other avenue).

But I am glad for YOU that you have arrived (are arriving?) where you are meant to be! :)

piper_for_hire · Apr 20, 2004

I'm already leaning towards a career in Nursing Informatics - in my previous life I was a software developer. I think all of us career changers will fit in nicely to nursing - what with all of the different things that we can do.

-S

chiliwings · Apr 21, 2004

Hi!!! Are you in the process of getting your Masters in Informatics? I too am currently working in IT, but will be switching to nursing as soon as I get my pre-reqs done. Just curious, what made you switch and how is informatics? I am planning to take this route eventually too. Anyway, I hope you can share your experiences since I have not found a lot of information about this field in nursing.

Thanks!

Oh by the way, please check out this thread too. https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61843

I'm already leaning towards a career in Nursing Informatics - in my previous life I was a software developer. I think all of us career changers will fit in nicely to nursing - what with all of the different things that we can do.
-S

nurseem · Jun 1, 2004

I am also changing careers. you know its time when you take a vacation and come back and feel like you never left. :rolleyes: i can't stand sitting at a desk all day and love helping people. I work for criminal attorneys for about 6 years and it gets rather old after a while.I will graduate in December of 2005 with my LPN and will go on for my RN. I am really excited i always wanted to be a nurse but was always scared that i would be grossed out with the blood and all. then about 6 months ago i decided that i really hated my job and said GET OVER IT! i called the local college and didn't hesitate in registering!!!!

victoriac · Jun 2, 2004

Hi, Amy--

You are not alone. I'm thinking seriously of making the career switch from education. I'm really interested in this field and am taking this summer to explore options. Sometimes it feels strange and frightening to imagine shifting to such a different kind of work as nursing. I'm struggling with fears that come with realizing the awesome responsibility of having people's lives in my hands. And yet, I have that now, as a teacher (in a different way) and certainly as a parent. I also think that I could handle that responsibility with more competence now than when I was younger. What's more, I think that I can use skills I've developed in my present work. You probably have many skills that you developed in your present work, including coping with ther stress of deadlines, problem-solving, communications, attention to details, teamwork. Those will probably be assets in nursing, in ways that will emerge as you go along. We need to think positively about all that we have learned, and see the growth that comes with career change as an asset. Good luck! :)

Hopegirl · Jun 2, 2004

Hi, Amy--
You are not alone. I'm thinking seriously of making the career switch from education. I'm really interested in this field and am taking this summer to explore options. Sometimes it feels strange and frightening to imagine shifting to such a different kind of work as nursing. I'm struggling with fears that come with realizing the awesome responsibility of having people's lives in my hands. And yet, I have that now, as a teacher (in a different way) and certainly as a parent. I also think that I could handle that responsibility with more competence now than when I was younger. What's more, I think that I can use skills I've developed in my present work. You probably have many skills that you developed in your present work, including coping with ther stress of deadlines, problem-solving, communications, attention to details, teamwork. Those will probably be assets in nursing, in ways that will emerge as you go along. We need to think positively about all that we have learned, and see the growth that comes with career change as an asset. Good luck! :)

May I ask where you teach and why you are thinking of switching careers? What part of the country are you in?

TexasPoodleMix · Jun 3, 2004

I worked for a year in lending then worked on a M.A. in Counseling. After a blah internship I realized counseling is not for me. I don't believe i am effective I frankly find the sessions boring (I'm being honest) It's the same thing everyday, angry kids, adhd, angry kids, adhd. I like a bit of variety ! I also like to help people and be a busy bee ! :)

terrapinstation · Jun 4, 2004

I am a 42 year old male,after 21 years of being an accountant in the financial

services industry I need a career change. I went to a career counselor and

nursing was one of the careers among others that came through that I should

consider. My wife is a CCU nurse and she says I have the right personality

and temperament for nursing. I have been accepted to a community college

in New Jersey for pre nursing program to get a A.S in Nursing. The school

requires you take the pre reqs (Anamoty & Phyis I& II) etc and take a test

before you can take nursing courses. I am aware of the pros and cons of the

nursing profession. After 21 years from graduating from college, I have some

apprehension of going back to school full time and also juggling family respons-

ibilties (I have a 10 yr old son) . If anyone can share a simlar experience I

would greatly appreciate the feed back.