anyone else changing careers to go into nursing?

Tilleycs · Jan 29, 2003

Wow, am I glad I found this thread! I'm in the same boat as a lot of you. I have a BS in English with a minor in Electrical Engineering (don't ask; it's what I thought I wanted to be and endured it for 3 years before switching). I've been a contractor in the computer field (technical writing - I help write all the computer manuals that no one reads but everyone complains about - LOL!) for 8 years, and I absolutely hate it. It's good money, but it's not challenging OR rewarding.

To quote Robin Williams, "it's as boring as whale s**t." I get paid to be here for when they DO need me, so needless to say, I feel ridiculously important (NOT!). Most of the time, I have nothing to do, and have learned how to keep myself occupied all day (if it weren't for the internet, I'd go batty!). Not exactly what I dreamed about for a career, you know?

I'd rather have something that is challenging, rewarding, that makes a difference and helps people. My girlfriend is a former OR nurse who is now a head nurse at a local hospital, and she has encouraged me to look into nursing. Interestingly enough, when I took a personality test when I changed my major in college, one of the fields that fit my personality was nursing.

So, I've started taking continuing education courses through a local community college to head in that direction. I've got to get some of the prerequisites out of the way first, so it will be a while before I am ready to go to nursing school.

I am nervous, though, especially about leaving a field I've been in for 8 years. I've wondered the same things - "What if I put in all that time and get there, and I'm not cut out for it, or I hate it? What if I don't like the money I'll make?" I wish you could test drive a career instead of having to do everything to GET there before you find out if it's a good fit or not.

It's one thing to change your major when you're 20; it's another thing to jump ship to another career in your 30's (yes, I know people who are older have done it). Is becoming a CNA first a good way to test the waters?

It concerns me sometimes when I read some of the more bitter posts on this site (I've come here for a while, but just decided to start posting). I don't want to end up like that. But there are bitter people in EVERY field who feel completely justified in grinding whatever ax they have.

ELAINES · Jan 30, 2003

Tillyecs,

You bring up some excellant points - the one that sticks in my mind is "is there some way to test drive a career." I'll bet if you were determined you might be able to shadow a nurse. Examine your personal network of friends, family and contacts (ie: family doctor) and start asking. CNA's in this part of the country have quite different responsibities than RN's do. Personally, I prefer to skip that experience. Maybe someone on these boards can facilitate a "test drive". Also, you could get the text lists from the school you are interested in and cruise the curriculum. I am attracted to nursing because of the range of opportunities. I hope to become a Legal Nurse Consultant. If all else fails, remember some things we end up doing on faith and instinct - MARRIAGE AND HAVING KIDS!

metatronblue · Feb 2, 2003

I have a BS in Business/Marketing and have been working in the business world for the last 10-12 years and am considering jumping ship for nursing. My mother is a retired RN and her advice was go for it, but don't work for the government sector!

I have a few science and math courses in my past, but know I need to take several before I enter a graduate nursing program.

My question is this..would it be better to start with a local community college, get an Associates and take the NCLEX-RN then go onto grad school or should I take my pre-req's asap and apply to a Masters Entry program?

I live in New England and am lucky enough to have a variety of programs to choose from.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated..

bodine · Feb 3, 2003

Sorry no advice - just a question. What is the NCLEX-RN? Some type of RN certification test? I am thinking of changing careers too and have very little experience in the area.

also, i am considering enrolling in an accelerated BSN program which will allow me to get my BSN in one year. Has anyone done this type of program? Are there any downsides? Do people feel they are missing out on things b/c of the accelerated pace?

Thx.

geekymomma · Feb 3, 2003

When I decided to pursue nursing (sept '01), I thought I was the only person in the world changing careers. WOW! I was totally wrong. We are not alone. There are so many of us "oldtimers" out there. Nursing is something I've thought about for many years, and only now did it strike me to go for it. I'm waiting for my acceptance letter for the LPN program to start fall '03. I'm going that route because presently I'm unemployed and need to get out there in the job market by fall of 04, that's when my daughter starts college! From there, I will go on to BSN.

Good luck to you Amyrae!

amyrae76 · Feb 3, 2003

Hello!

To metatronblue:

Even though you already have a bachelor's degree, when you go back to school for nursing you'll be getting another bachelor's degree, not a master's degree. Unless I'm misunderstanding your question, it seems like you may be a bit confused -- going to nursing school is not the same thing as going to graduate school. You can either get an Associate Degree and then take the licensure exam, or take a full BSN program at a 4-year college or university and then take the licensure exam. The difference will be whether you have just an AD or a BSN, but with each program, you're still an equally licensed RN. And from my research, people have told me there is no difference between AD RN's and BSN RN's -- pay is about the same, and you're licensed to do the same things. About the only difference is that if you ever want to be in nursing management, you'll need your BSN.

As for which program to go for -- if you already have a Bachelor's degree (like I do), I would go for an Associate's Degree as this is the quickest route to becoming an RN. A BSN program would incorporate all the pre-reqs that you already have from your other degree. For example, I'm starting an AD nursing program in the fall, but before that I have to take Chemistry and Anatomy & Physiology 1 and 2 because I didn't have those from my other degree. So I'd get those pre-reqs out of the way as soon as you can!

I hope I answered your question! I've been right in the middle of researching this same stuff for several months now! :)

amyrae76 · Feb 3, 2003

To bodine:

The NCLEX is the licensure exam that you have to take once you graduate from a nursing program. This is how you become a licensed RN. Everyone has to take this exam once they finish nursing school.

I've also looked into those one-year accelerated nursing programs that you asked about. What I've found out from talking to people is that you absolutely dedicate your LIFE to that school for the entire year. So basically, count on no time to yourself, and definitely no time to work -- it's a full-time program and then some. And I don't know what your previous bachelor's degree is in, but mine is in journalism so I don't have a strong science background, so I wanted a program with a little slower of a pace. I think a lot of the people who do those 1-year accelerated programs are people who already have some type of health background. Also, they're very expensive -- at one of the schools in my town that offers this program, the cost is $28,000 for one year. Ouch!

Hope this helps! :)

bodine · Feb 3, 2003

Amyrae -

Thanks for your response. i actually just sent you a private message which you can ignore. yes, my understanding too is that they require full dedication for an entire year and can be very intense. the two i am looing at are expensive (around 20K) but i have also heard that many employers will offer to pay back loans (almost in full) as employment incentives so I havent been to o worried about the money issue. i am attracted to it because it is so quick (once my prereqs) are done and i cant see working and going to school at night for several years. i think that would drain me even more than i already am at this point. thanks for your response.

metatronblue · Feb 3, 2003

To Amyrae76

Thanks for you post..you are a wealth of knowledge!! I have been doing a lot of research and there are a few programs that will allow folks with Bachelors degrees in fields other than nursing and who are not currently nurses to obtain a Masters in nursing. Boston College, Simmons College and Mass General Institute of Health Sciences all offer Masters of Nursing programs for the non-nurse. These are all three year full-time programs that require you to pass the NCLEX-RN upon completion of the first year of the program. You do have to complete several pre-requisites before entering, such as microbiology, anatomy and statistics before you officially begin, but all three of these schools offer summer sessions prior to beginning the program that offers all the pre-req's.

So, basically, my question is, does it make sense to enter one of these programs or to get and AD and sit for the RN exam right away then apply to grad school?

bodine · Feb 3, 2003

Metatronblue -

you might want to start a new post with your question. i think alot of people reading this thread are fairly new in the field or havent even begun. you would probably be able to get a much more experienced perspective if you posted as a new post to the whole board.

amyrae76 · Feb 3, 2003

Hmm, that's interesting. I don't know if any schools in my area of the country offer a master's degree in nursing for a non-nurse -- I've never heard of that before.

I don't know if I'm a wealth of knowledge! :) I hope I'm giving you correct info. I've been researching this for months, trying to decide if it's what I want to do, so I can share with you the info that I've found out!

Well, it's hard to know which way to go in terms of school. If you go the AD route, it will probably take you 2 years (not including pre-reqs), and if you go the master's program, you'll be a licensed RN after the first year. I guess you should ask yourself this: what is your reason for wanting a master's degree in nursing, rather than just a regular BSN or AD? Master's level nursing allows you to teach and administrate, but is that what you want to do? I guess if your goals are more toward the teaching or business end rather than the hands-on end, the master's route would seem like the way to go. For me, a big reason I'm doing this is to get out of the "business" world and get into something hands-on, so I know I'm not going to want to teach or manage. So I'm going the AD route. If you get just a basic AD, you always have the option of going back for your BSN or eventually master's, if you decide you want to. There are lots of options available to us! :)

metatronblue · Feb 3, 2003

Thanks...all this dialogue is really great!

I eventually want to be a Nurse Practioner with a specialization, and that requires a Masters....and since I have been in the business/management world it would be nice to transfer some of what I have learned to the healthcare profession, but ultimately, patient care is the most important factor in my decision...