Nursing as second career: health admin to RN?

Nurses Career Support

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Hi there, I'm a pre-nursing student, and my current job is in health administration. My job is fine, but I find myself going a little crazy sitting at a desk, staring at a computer. In my life, I've kept coming back to wanting to go to nursing school, with the eventual goal of becoming an advanced practice nurse (this was my original goal when I started working at the front desk of an urgent care seven years ago, but I was then promoted into management and stayed there because my kids were young and I didn't have time to go to school). I've done some internet searches, and it seems that most articles are about people going the other way- starting out as a nurse, and moving into public health/health admin. My question is, are there any nurses out there who have gone the opposite way, from admin to nursing? Would you do it again, given the chance?

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I'm also a pre nursing student, and currently in administration in a clinic. I have a bachelor's degree in business and graphic design which gives me he skills I need for my current position. However, I don't see myself doing this forever. I do a lot of event planning kind of stuff and I can't stand it. I too have always wanted to be a nurse and am going in the "other direction." I'll be interested to hear what kind of feedback we get here :)

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I'm so happy to hear I'm not alone! I also hope to hear from some established nurses who have gone this route. My path to nursing is going to be slow, because I have to complete the prereqs first, and then I plan to do a part-time nursing program and work at the same time. My eventual goal is to go to grad school and become an FNP. How are prereqs going for you?

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This is the kind of job I want. The grass is not greener on the other side. Rather, it is heavily littered with dog poop. You don't know what you have.

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Hi Rachel I am just now seeing your question about pre reqs. They are going well, I am doing A and P 1 right now. Intense class but over half way through. I am done with microbiology, the psych classes and generals. This summer I will take biomedical ethics and interpersonal communication. Then next fall I study for teas and take it! I plan to apply for the rn program this coming February and hopefully begin fall of 2017. That's a lot of moving parts that all need to align :) How about you?? How are pre reqs going for you?

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Wow, nice work! I'm not as far along. I have the psych prereqs, nutrition and math done. I had a year of Chem complete, but it's too old now, so I have to re-take it. I have to take Chem, Bio, A&P 1 and 2, then Microbiology. The programs I'm applying for don't require the TEAS, which is nice! My hope is to enter an accelerated NP program because I already have a BA and an MA in other fields, but it depends on whether I can get in. I'll also apply for ADN programs. I hope to enter a nursing program in the Fall of 2018.

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Sounds like a great plan! Best of luck!

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