Ex-corporate world employees turned RN (advice please)

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 7, 2013

Sounds like you have already made up your mind about a career change & have a solid support system in place.

Just a thought, because you obviously have the academic moxie to do well no matter what direction you choose. Is nursing the only health care career you have investigated? Have you looked into any of the ancillary professions? Job opportunities for the rehab therapies (PT, OT, etc.) are expanding. Medical Lab Technology is also a great career field. These jobs are more structured with more predictable hours than nursing and do not suffer from the same wage compression that we have.

Best of luck to you. Keep us posted on your progress.

FSUNurse2b · Mar 7, 2013

I have not explored many other options. I have my mind set on becoming an NP. I do realize that the schooling requirement is changing on this, so unfortunately, it may require more. I'll have to wait and see.

I am fortunate to also live in an area that is home to one of the best hospital systems in the U.S. I think this is very important with regards to job morale.

Julia77063 · Mar 7, 2013

I worked in the corporate arena @ AIG prior and during nursing school. I thought that was what u wanted and even took some accounting courses. I have always loved medicine and healthcare ( I even went to DeBakey HS for health professions), I was just side tracked and I came back when I applied to ADN program because it was short and I wanted to make decent money. I had no idea I would learn so much about myself, compassion, and patience. This profession has allowed me to travel and switch specialties that I felt I learned enough about. I have now applied for the NP program to see another side of nursing. Don't rush anything because school can't take the place of experience. With my 11 years experience I feel comfortable becoming a NP but if I only had 1-2( that's required) not so much. I have intuition about situations that are almost always right, can't learn that in class. Good Luck

theantichick · Mar 7, 2013

Well, I start my first nursing job on Monday, so I'm not sure I meet your criteria to already be working as a nurse... however, I'll chime in anyway, ignore if you want. :)

I've been in corporate I.T. for almost 20 years. I'm good at it, but I don't like it anymore. About 5 years ago I started thinking what I want to do for the rest of my life, and it wasn't I.T. I was a paramedic for a couple of years before going into I.T. (long story) so I already had some exposure to the medical field.

The biggest advice I would give career changers is:

** Find a way to get some exposure to the real world of nursing. Too many people go into it thinking it's going to be something that it's not. After you've already completed several years of schooling and are ready to enter the profession is NOT the time to figure out you can't stand it.

** If you can swing it in any way shape or form, get your BSN now. If for financial/scheduling reasons you have to go ADN, plan to bridge as soon as humanly possible.

** Take a hard, clear-eyed look at your home situation and your financial situation and be realistic about what you can and cannot juggle. I had no choice but to work a 40-50 hour a week job (but they were very flexible with my schedule) AND go to school, but luckily my kiddo was already a teenager and I'd ditched the ex-husband. I also am lucky that I grasp concepts quickly and so didn't have to spend *as much* time reading as some of my co-horts. It was still a living hell, and I wouldn't suggest it to anyone. If you can quit your job or work part time, it will be easier.

After all that, the ultimate bottom line is to find a way to follow your heart. I firmly believe that we shouldn't let ourselves be trapped by a paycheck in a job we hate.

Good luck!!

FSUNurse2b · Mar 7, 2013

Julia77063,

Thank you for the insight. Sounds like you really love what you do. I will take your advice.

f1j1nurse23 · Mar 7, 2013

Hi there, as a former Electrical Engineer with a BS & MS in the field I can tell you that I do not regret leaving all that behind to become an RN!! I love my job, I look forward to it everyday I hv to work unlike back in the day where I had a constant knot in my stomach just with the thought of going to work.

Good luck in your journey. Just remember nursing is such a broad field you can pretty much go anywhere n do anything with it:)

FSUNurse2b · Mar 8, 2013

theantichick,

I'll be shadowing my wife and sister over the coming year while taking pre-reqs. I will start pre-reqs this summer and apply to an accelerated BSN program in Jan. 2014. May take a couple years to get in, but I'll just be working my current job. Since I work in the world of finance, I've already done the math on our budget. I think what will help me tremendously during the program or my pre-reqs for that matter is that my wife is an RN. I may have a slight advantage, at least when it comes to the very basics of the RN world. Thank you for your encouragement! That's exactly what I have now....a job with a paycheck that I hate. Well said.

FSUNurse2b · Mar 8, 2013

f1j1nurse23,

VERY nice to hear from someone coming from an industry that gave them knots and now in an industry that doesn't. I bet nursing is a great career for many ex- former industry types. How long have you been an RN? Which area (of nursing) are you in now?

TBS0412 · Mar 21, 2013

After all that, the ultimate bottom line is to find a way to follow your heart. I firmly believe that we shouldn't let ourselves be trapped by a paycheck in a job we hate.
Good luck!!

Wow, Aint' That the truth! FSU Thank you for this feed, I'm so glad I stumbled upon it...

I too was in banking for a long time as a ChFC and recently left my AVP position to go to nursing school. Although I do have the support of my family I think most of them think I've lost my mind and are being "nice". I feel they (along with former colleagues) think I'm suffering from a mental break!

I've always wanted to be a nurse but missed my chance in college the 1st time around. I graduated and stumbled into banking and again stumbled my way up very quickly. I was good at what I did, in all accounts pretty successful but I couldn't help feeling... like I didn't belong there. As natural as the job came to me, it just never felt natural (if that even makes sense). After 4 years of "almost" leaving to go back to school and one time even going in with my resignation and being talked out of it, I recently, finally, made the jump. I left my position and am now applying to nursing schools.

I've heard that there are people out there that decide to change careers, but in this economy I know its becoming less and less. I'm just glad that I found someone else who has the courage to do it!! Good luck to you!!

mcgocara31 · Mar 26, 2013

FSUNurse2b -

Just wanted to thank you for this thread and also for your PM - I can't answer PMs yet as I have not been around on allnurses long enough. But thanks for the encouragement and I wish you all the best.

theantichick · Mar 26, 2013

Just wanted to say - I've been working as a nurse for 2 weeks now, and it's night and day compared to the corporate grind. I come home from every shift tired and sore (I've let my physical condition go to pot while driving a desk for the last decade and a half) but feeling like a million bucks. I'm not pollyanna enough to think I'll always love every minute of my job, but it is completely different to come home feeling like you made a difference in people's lives as opposed to pushing bits and bytes around all day.

Good luck to everyone who's changing careers. It's not easy, but I firmly believe it's worth it.