New Career

code3rnval, ASN, RN · Apr 11, 2007

Any advice on being an paramedic/fireman now interested in becoming an RN.

hlfpnt, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2007

First of all you need to decide which degree you want...ASN/ADN or BSN. You can get an ASN/ADN though a community college, it takes less time & costs less. To get BSN you'll have to go the university route, which takes longer & costs more. It also depends on whether or not you care to go back to school. My meaning, some folks go straight for the higher degree & get it over with. Myself, I couldn't afford to go that way. I had to settle for ASN & am now going back for BSN. Once you decide what you want you need to choose a college, find out what their requirements are & go from there. Hope this helps some...good luck to you!

nurseangel47 · Apr 16, 2007

I highly recommend shadowing a nurse for at least one shift if this is possible for you or doing volunteer work in a nursing home or hospital before obtaining a certified nursing assistant I certification before becoming a nurse. Then you can decide with a more informative thought process whether or not this is truly what you want to do for a second career. It isn't what it seems most days, that's for sure! Sometimes nursing school doesn't even prepare you for the on your own career afterwards. Not trying to scare anyone off from the field of nursing, just being very honest, not sugar coating the truth. Can be very rewarding, the work is steady. Just very hard right now everywhere what with the paperwork and / or computer documentation, strict HIPAA regs., the ceo's and presidents of the corporations out just for the bottom line being money and profit rather than the health and wellbeing of it's patients/residents and the staff who bend over backwards to take proper care of them....Good luck in whatever you decide.