anyone else changing careers to go into nursing?

Nurses Career Support

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Hi everyone!

Is anyone else here totally changing careers to go to nursing school? I guess I'm looking for a little encouragement that it's OK for me to want to get out of the corporate/business world that I HATE and go into nursing!

What are your thoughts and reasons? Here's a little about me -- I have a degree in Advertising and I've been in the business world for almost 5 years now. I just have no interest in business-related things, and I have no desire to climb the proverbial corporate ladder. To me, nursing seems like something totally different from that. I can't say I've had a passion for it my whole life, like some people can. It only just occurred to me about 6 months ago. But I just want something different -- I HATE sitting at a computer and being bored out of my mind for 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week!!

Anyone else in a similar situation?

amy :)

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Good luck to all 2nd, 3rd or more career people. There are MANY of us who are "older entry" nurses who dont' regret our choice at all. I wish all of you well in your pursuits and the decisions you make regarding a career in nursing.

i have worked in Corp. America ever since I came to the US in 97' I went to school for my BS in Bus. Admin. although I was not able to finish because of personal reasons. I have once again decided to go back to college at 25...i have worked as a jr credit analyst for about 5 yrs and one day i had a epiphany ..." I really really hate my job" And believe it or not most of my family & frenz are in nursing or the medical field one way or another...so i guess i was going to be in healthcare too:rolleyes: ...i have done my research and i have heard the negative aspects of the job from my family..but in the end no one regretted nursing and they encourage me to stick with it. So i'm going in with no rose coloured glasses on... i know i am in for a hell of a ride...and believe it or not i look for to the challenge:) Right now I am doing a course to be a CNA that way I can work full-time (bills gotta get paid) & go to school full-time lucky for me i have no kids ...so for me its all about time management!! :p

for the the +'s about going to school to be a nurse now is

1. i actually care about people

2. FLEXIBLITY of being a nurse

3. various fields in nursing

4. 2yr degree will = more money in less time for me

5. travel aspect if i so chose to do it

6. no more boring 9-5 for me!!

7. i know what i want & more serious about it

To go INTO nursing - no, BTDT

To get out of nursing - yes.

To go INTO nursing - no, BTDT

To get out of nursing - yes.

I'm 48, male, and have practiced law for 22 years. I've been accepted into Johns Hopkins' accelerated BSN program, which starts in June 2005. I will be 50 when I finish.

For me, I came to the realization some time ago that I wasn't making a significant societal contribution anymore. I had very tough cases... civil rights plaintiff's work, and death-penalty defense... and the attitude of most jurors is anything but considered and just. Let's not even discuss other lawyers, or our right-wing federal bench. I am burned out and cynical.

I am excited about changing careers... and am not in the least anxious about my age vis-a-vis my fellow students. It's going to be an exciting ride...

I'm 48, male, and have practiced law for 22 years. I've been accepted into Johns Hopkins' accelerated BSN program, which starts in June 2005. I will be 50 when I finish.

For me, I came to the realization some time ago that I wasn't making a significant societal contribution anymore. I had very tough cases... civil rights plaintiff's work, and death-penalty defense... and the attitude of most jurors is anything but considered and just. Let's not even discuss other lawyers, or our right-wing federal bench. I am burned out and cynical.

I am excited about changing careers... and am not in the least anxious about my age vis-a-vis my fellow students. It's going to be an exciting ride...

4 words....JUST KEEP PLUGGING ALONG!!!! I was laid off from a factory in circleville, OH and I was accepted into nursing school 1 month after my layoff. The factory was shut down due to foreign competition(China) so the mighty govt. paid for every dime. I have already started working in an area hospital and I do not intend to stop my education until I am a Certified Nurse Anesthetist. Go for it and don't look back...I did.:rotfl:

4 words....JUST KEEP PLUGGING ALONG!!!! I was laid off from a factory in circleville, OH and I was accepted into nursing school 1 month after my layoff. The factory was shut down due to foreign competition(China) so the mighty govt. paid for every dime. I have already started working in an area hospital and I do not intend to stop my education until I am a Certified Nurse Anesthetist. Go for it and don't look back...I did.:rotfl:

Five years ago, I left my desk job as an accounting technician to become an LPN. After years of working on busy med-surg units, I can honestly say that I wish I had my desk job back. I left because I wished to make more money, and had always had the desire to do something "medical" since I was a little girl. I chose nursing because nurses were needed, made what I thought was good money, and I figured I'd always have a job. Not worth it anymore to me. I'd gladly take back my less paying desk job, but now I have too many bills. Too many years of caring for too many patients, too many unsafe situations, too much blame for what happens or doesn't happen on the nurse. If something isn't done right for your patient by dietary, pharmacy, laboratory, respiratory, housekeeping, maintenance or even the doctors, the nurse can and most likely will be considered at fault. Making sure everyone in the hospital does their job, including you doing your job, is the nurse's job. Now multiply this times your seven or possibly more patients. And don't get me started with the problem family members. And when I say problem, I'm talking about the family members that are rude and threatening when all you're trying to do is the best you can to help their loved one. All of this plus the paperwork that must be done before you can go home adds up to an impossible situation. You want to spend time with your patients and you end up not having enough time for them. Is that bass ackwards or what?

If you're changing a career to go into nursing because you TRULY know it's something you want to do, you would love to do, and it's the only other career you would ever consider; by all means go for it. BUT if you're tired of your career and you just want a change, and you thought, "nursing, why not?", I highly suggest you consider ALL of your options.

Nursing is not the old image of the bedside nurse anymore. It is tough. Think it through carefully. Rotating shifts, working holidays and weekends, double shifts, inadequate pay, a society ready to sue...

Five years ago, I left my desk job as an accounting technician to become an LPN. After years of working on busy med-surg units, I can honestly say that I wish I had my desk job back. I left because I wished to make more money, and had always had the desire to do something "medical" since I was a little girl. I chose nursing because nurses were needed, made what I thought was good money, and I figured I'd always have a job. Not worth it anymore to me. I'd gladly take back my less paying desk job, but now I have too many bills. Too many years of caring for too many patients, too many unsafe situations, too much blame for what happens or doesn't happen on the nurse. If something isn't done right for your patient by dietary, pharmacy, laboratory, respiratory, housekeeping, maintenance or even the doctors, the nurse can and most likely will be considered at fault. Making sure everyone in the hospital does their job, including you doing your job, is the nurse's job. Now multiply this times your seven or possibly more patients. And don't get me started with the problem family members. And when I say problem, I'm talking about the family members that are rude and threatening when all you're trying to do is the best you can to help their loved one. All of this plus the paperwork that must be done before you can go home adds up to an impossible situation. You want to spend time with your patients and you end up not having enough time for them. Is that bass ackwards or what?

If you're changing a career to go into nursing because you TRULY know it's something you want to do, you would love to do, and it's the only other career you would ever consider; by all means go for it. BUT if you're tired of your career and you just want a change, and you thought, "nursing, why not?", I highly suggest you consider ALL of your options.

Nursing is not the old image of the bedside nurse anymore. It is tough. Think it through carefully. Rotating shifts, working holidays and weekends, double shifts, inadequate pay, a society ready to sue...

Specializes in ICU, Cardiac Cath/EPS Labs.

Welcome to all new and prospective career changers--the men may want to also check out the "Guys' Club" Thread--just enter that phrase in the site's search engine...it's where I posted my career-change story. Good luck to all--I'm anxiously awaiting word on whether I'll be accepted into an accelerated program here in NYC...

I'm 48, male, and have practiced law for 22 years. I've been accepted into Johns Hopkins' accelerated BSN program, which starts in June 2005. I will be 50 when I finish.

For me, I came to the realization some time ago that I wasn't making a significant societal contribution anymore. I had very tough cases... civil rights plaintiff's work, and death-penalty defense... and the attitude of most jurors is anything but considered and just. Let's not even discuss other lawyers, or our right-wing federal bench. I am burned out and cynical.

I am excited about changing careers... and am not in the least anxious about my age vis-a-vis my fellow students. It's going to be an exciting ride...

I will finish my ASN in August. I've worked in sales/marketing for 7 years. I love this. I can't image why I did not become a nurse 10 years ago. I recently started working as an aid to build experience in the field. I even love being an aid.

I will give anyone considering changing careers one caution. I am an intellegent woman. I was at one time good at my job (as frustrated I was). Now I don't really know how to be a nurse. I have the luxury of knowing a degree does not mean you know you job. I miss knowing what I am doing and feeling confident in my skills. I know the day will come, but the process is long. Also, currently, I wipe butts for a living. In many nurses eyes, I add little value outside of that. I know these are not the good nurses that see me that way, but I find I need to bit my tongue a lot.

I wish you all luck. I think all of us career changers are going to bring some needed new discussions into nursing. We are going to make a great difference for our patients and our field.

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