Questions about Nursing as a Second Career (for a 37 yr old male w/ an IT backgrd)...

Works2xs · Jul 15, 2005

I'm in a similar situation - 44 yo male, IT Eng/Corporate Manager w/25 years exp in computer/IT world - starting school this fall. From the various articles and boards I've visited, the avg age for nurses appears to be somewhere in the mid 40's - so no, by no means are you too old. Regarding the "male" issue, don't know for sure. Seems there are some areas (L&D for example) where some folks have encountered rigid ideas regarding gender and care. All I can say for sure is that I'll be darned if I'm going to let someone else dictate what I can/can't pursue.

As far as the route to go, I'd investigate your local colleges/universities to see if they have any programs for folks that already have an undergrad degree (typically referred to as accelerated or 2nd degree programs). That would give you a BSN (threads abound regarding the pro's/con's of BSN vs. ADN, etc..). Otherwise, it seems to come down to what time you can afford to spend pursuing the necessary education to get into the field. As mentioned in the "prospects" discussion below, financial aid and such runs a fairly wide range of possibilities. I've seen everything from heavy signing bonuses or full scholarships to "you're on your own."

Prospects in the field seems to be heavily contingent upon what region you plan on conducting your search. Some areas are critically short - others don't seem to have those issues. Similarly, pay scales appear to follow the market drivers you'd expect to see in that sort of environment. Whatever the case, if your IT experience vs pay is anything like where I'm at, you should be prepared to take a substantial cut in salary, at least to start with.

From my understanding of licensing issues, the NCLEX exam is common to all states, but each state will probably have some requirements particular to the state. Check the Board of Nursing for the state of interest to see what the particulars are. There are also "travel nurses" that move from state to state, so I'd check that forum to see how interstate hurdles are handled.

As a note of encouragement, you've been in a demanding career field for some time. I'm sure you've learned a lot regarding how to get a job done, how to work in cooperative (and the often not-so-cooperative) environments, how to communicate with a range of customer mentalities, adapting to coworker styles, etc, etc. For me, this has translated into not being so deer-in-the-headlights when considering challenges regarding navigating organizational red tape, interpersonal communication, team dynamics, state regulatory concerns, etc. There's no substitute for this sort of experience and the school of hard knocks can be a great teacher. So, enjoy your well-earned experience and know that it should be a good facilitator in getting you past all the administrivia and letting you concentrate on the "craft." (At least, that's what I'm hoping it translates to. I'll let you know in about 18 months whether that holds true or not, lol).

Last but not least, there's the "informatics" specialty in nursing. If you get your nursing quals and find that you are looking back at your old career with fond memories, I suggest checking out this marriage of nursing and IT.

Good luck with your research!

lpnadmin · Jul 15, 2005

From someone who's "been there & done that" in switching from IT to nursing: glad I did it:)

I am an LPN with an AAS in IT, as well as a Certified Novell Administrator. Hence the 'admin' part of my name here. I got my license at 40 years old.

Your prior education and experience will serve you well in nursing. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are essential in both fields, but are more valued and respected in nursing. I assure you, using those skills in your studies and career will carry you a long, long way.

As far as being male goes... for me, it's not been a major factor. Personally, I'd feel uncomfortable working in L&D. Those who can handle it, God bless them. You can get a grasp on what you'd feel comfortable doing as a specialty as you go along in your studies.

On job prospects, this is where networking with others comes in. More often than not, the best jobs aren't going to be found in the classifieds. My present job wasn't advertised, and I found out about it because I had a connection with someone already there. As a result, I found a job I'm not likely or willing to leave anytime soon.

There are those who offer full scholarships and heavy signing bonuses to prospective employees. Personally, I would be leery of them because you put yourself under contract to work for a specific period of time. So, if you get a job that reeks but you get a big bonus, you have to pay it back if you leave.

NCLEX: exam same in all states (different exams for LPN's and RN's) but actual licensing requirements vary. Example: some require CEU's (continuing education units) while some don't. The test environment is similar to that of an IT certification exam. (BTW: when I prepared for the CNA exam, I got a whiff of the multiple answer/drag & drop/fill in the blank exam questions now part of the NCLEX. It helped immensely.)

Sheri257 · Jul 15, 2005

1. Is it going to be a problem for me being 37 (not to mention male...)? I know the saying goes it's never to late to do anything, but what's the reality of the situation in this field?

I'm working on nursing as a second career and I'm 44 so no ... I wouldn't say it's too old. I haven't had any problems getting hired even as a student extern and a friend of mine, who's 48 got hired as an extern too where the hospital is actually paying and training us as student nurses. The shortage is only expected to get worse so I don't think employers can afford to discriminate on any level, even if they wanted to.

2. What's the best route to go? Should I start as a LPN or as a RN? I'm going to be limited in funding to whatever financial aid I can get, so I'm assuming that will limit my options.

There are good job opportunities as an LPN but, the RN job opportunities and pay is much better. Every LPN I know wants to become an RN because of this, so I would go ahead and get your RN.

3. What are the real world prospects for a job as a new nursing graduate? I know there's supposed to be a shortage - but when I looked in the papers and online, most seemed to require some specialty (ER, ICU, etc.) and everything required at least 1 year of experience. This is probably my biggest concern.?

I don't know what it's like in Texas but, in California they're hiring like crazy. New grads are being placed in ICU right away because hospitals are so short. I seriously doubt you'll have any problems.

4. How do you relocate as a RN if each state has its own licensing? Can you get licensed in another state before moving there?

As long as you go with a reputable program, your license should transfer just about anywhere. The only programs that don't transfer are online or distance learning programs which have been controversial with some state boards of nursing.

On a side note: You should be aware that nursing is a lot different than IT. You might want to consider working in hospital and see what it's really like before you get into it. Between pre-reqs and waiting lists, becoming an RN can take a long time and you might want to make sure it will work for you before you invest a lot of time and money into it.

Lou R. · Jul 15, 2005

Thanks guys, I appreciate the responses. Good to know my greying hair shouldn't be a factor... :)

I think the job thing is still going to be my biggest fear. Without the funding, I'm hardly going to be able to attend a school with a high enough prestige level to get by with the training alone. And without knowing anyone else in the field, networking is going to be a problem. I don't care much about the salary, but I really don't want to end up jobless after the training...

Of course, if I can't get FA, it all becomes moot anyway. I'd gladly take a scholarship or signing bonus, but doubt I'd be offered one without any existing background. I could deal with the contract knowing I would be getting experience and can move on later.

Works2xs - I can pretty well guarantee you I won't be looking back on my old career with fond memories. :) IT is just not where I want to be anymore. It got more depressing every year.

lpnadmin - Any reason you went the LPN route instead of RN?

lizz - Are you in a big city (like LA)? I'm hoping the bigger cities will give me better options. Houston is the largest city in Texas, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Right now I'm in Denver (moving in a month or so). Big for Colorado, but small in comparison to other major cities - and it's the job listings here which all seem to want experience. BTW, how can I get a hospital job without at least becoming a nursing student first?

Thanks again!

Jo Dirt · Jul 16, 2005

I lived in Missouri City in the early 90's (was just a wee teen then). I'm an LPN and have never wanted for a job.

Still, there are many more opportunities for RN's (I'm about to complete an RN program) so if you want to earn a little more money and have a smorgasboard of choices in your nursing career I would go on with the RN up front. I would have done the RN at first if there had been an RN school near me (in the sticks I would either have to drive 2 hrs each way to RN school or 45 minutes each way for the LPN program....didn't have a lot of choices where I lived) However, being in Houston, you should have plenty of opportunity to find several RN programs close to you.

If you are looking to get out fairly soon and get to work I would go for the associate degree RN.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jul 16, 2005

I just want to wish you the best of luck in everything you do. :)

WhitDogg19 · Jul 16, 2005

I agree - Good luck with everything! Be sure to check into all your local colleges and universities - there are a ton of Advanced Practice Programs for folks who already have an undergraduate degree! It might take some digging, but ask around - these programs seem to be getting more and more popular, and are a pretty well kept secret in nursing schools! Good luck!

sgent · Jul 16, 2005

I'm just thinking aloud here, but you should really check out the following if your interested in health care....

1) A BSN or Direct Entry MSN program will take the same time as a standard ASN, but since you have your bachelors already you get either a BSN or MSN, or both.

2) You might want to look at the Physician Assistant programs... It may not be but a year longer for your (or even less), depending on what undergrad work you did. The pay would be much better, but its a different job.

3) You also might want to look at the X-Ray Tech, Ultrasound, etc. With your engineering background you may not have many classes to complete to finish them. Specialized people (MRI Techs, etc.) make similar amounts to nurses.

4) You *might* want to investigate an RHIT program, if you'd like to be around healthcare but still in technology. An RHIT won't be doing customer support, but usually is in charge of policy making, medical records, etc. RHIT's are in every bit if not more demand as nurses right now.

Sheri257 · Jul 16, 2005

lizz - Are you in a big city (like LA)? I'm hoping the bigger cities will give me better options. Houston is the largest city in Texas, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Right now I'm in Denver (moving in a month or so). Big for Colorado, but small in comparison to other major cities - and it's the job listings here which all seem to want experience. BTW, how can I get a hospital job without at least becoming a nursing student first?

I'm two hours out of LA but, California has a ratio law where the hospitals can only assign RN's five patients tops. While there was a shortage before the ratio law, it dramatically increased the demand for RN's here, although there's still a shortage nationwide as well. Generally there are always better job opportunities in big cities, and that applies to nursing as well.

I'd recommend working as a nurse's aide. While it's a tough, difficult, exhausting job, it does give you great experience and you learn first hand whether nursing is for you. I personally needed to know whether I could handle things like body fluids, excrement, blood, vomit, etc. Some people go all the way through pre-reqs, get to nursing school and discover they can't handle it. Being a nurse's aide helps you figure that out ahead of time.

And you see first hand what RN's do because you're working under them. Even though you usually don't do much nurse's aide stuff as an RN, you're still responsible for those duties if the aide screws up, so it's also valuable experience in that regard. Not all RN jobs involve direct patient care but, the vast majority of jobs are at the bedside, so you see first hand how the whole system works.

:coollook:

utahliz · Jul 16, 2005

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earthlovers123 · Jul 18, 2005

I'm a chemical engineer and project manager by first career, now 44 yrs old and finishing up a 12-month Second Career BSN program. It is absolutely the right decision for me. I was home for several years with my kids and realized I didn't want to go back to what I was doing. I too struggled with my decision. I spent a year taking prereqs for the BSN program. Depending on what you need, you could gather work and/or volunteer experiences during that period to help you decide if this is the career for you. Have lunch with a nurse you know or ask to shadow for a day if you're really unsure at this point. I was looking for something health-related, much more interpersonal than my previous field, and something flexible. Nursing is a wide-open field, from nurse practitioner to pharmaceutical sales to case manager, to nurse manager, and much more. I have to say that going back to school was a humbling experience. The material is not difficult, for me that's also true of the sciences and math that typically give nursing students such heartburn. The volume of material in an accelerated program is high (even more so than in traditional nursing programs), but one key is to learn to sift the important from the rest and to prioritize. What was humbling was being at the mercy of instructor's whims, but my life experience was an asset there too. Obviously no one else can say what's right for you, but certainly your critical thinking skills, life experience and proven academic ability will serve you well if you do choose nursing. I must also add that salaries vary greatly across the country, so if you have geographic flexibility, take that into account in your deliberation.
There are 24 students in our program, 3 of them men, ranging from 29 to 43.

Very good encouragement for Guys ! Good luck to all