anyone else changing careers to go into nursing?

LuLuinNC · Jul 26, 2004

Hi,

I'm 26 (going on 27 this september)

I too, have a previous degree in Comp Sci and worked for defense contractor for almost 4 years and have struggled with this career choice since college. I've discussed changing careers in college with my parents and was discouraged, because at the time CS was a promising career. I did very well financially, but hated every minute of it.. After about 7 years, I finally decided to take the leap, jump, plunge.. however you want to call it.. into nursing. I wanted to get into it, because I REALLY REALLY want to connect with people and touch people in some of the most intimate moments of their lives..

I have moved across the country and back in with the parents. Whoa.. what an adjustment.

You know.. I am SO GLAD that I am NOT the only one that has wigged out about changing careers into nursing..

LuLuinNC · Jul 26, 2004

I love what you posted: Your lifetime is going to tick by anyway, you might as well live your dreams!
I'm really struggling with my decision. I'm in a boring but very secure, very easy (usually only 40 hrs a wk) and lucrative I.T. job. I would take a 60% pay cut to become a nurse. I am really wrestling with the money thing. I don't want to be the kind of person who puts money before personal fufillment but we're talking about a lot of bucks. We have been careful with our money but right now, my primary worry is affecting my kids. My kids go to an expensive private school and the tuition went up to over $20k for both of them this year ($1800 rise). I am willing to make lots of sacrifices for nursing but I don't want my kids to sacrifice. So here I am, trying to figure this out with my husband. He is supportive but it's hard not to worry. Part of me says just take the bucks and squirrel it away, retire at 55 (my co. has early retirement) and THEN do what I want. Problem is I'm only 42, that's a long time. I wish they would fire me!!! (god, did I just type that?) I just read Po Bronson's book - What Should I Do with My Life - great book, it's helped me think of what the important questions are.
Anyone else out there wrestle with this?

Meredith,

Hi.. I can completely relate. I just quit my job with defense contractor (I have B.S in Computer Science). I've been wigging out about the future pay cut, and am not working right now.. but I keep reminding myself that I was very unhappy as SW Engineer.. and working with people will be much more rewarding.

Girl... I can completely relate...

danu3 · Jul 26, 2004

Me too, I am from the computer field. In my case, it was burn out. Took 2 years off and went I am no way going back. Glad to see so many people with so different background going into nursing.

-Dan

nurscee · Jul 26, 2004

Hello Amy!

I just turned 52 yrs old. I graduate from RN school in Dec of this year.

I was a stay at home mom for many years. About 8 yrs ago I started my own wedding photography business and was pretty successful. I always dreamed of being a nurse. When my husband had cancer and went thru horrendous treatments he said I would make a great nurse. I said, "Well it's now or never!"

So, I dropped my successful business and dove right in.

It's never too late! Doleta from Oklahoma

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Jul 26, 2004

... I just turned 52 yrs old. I graduate from RN school in Dec of this year...

Congrats in advance, D!

MichaelSSSS · Jul 26, 2004

i was a journalist and college teacher for 10 years before leaving to go to nursing school! i have no regrets. i think nursing is an honorable and noble profession. not that journalism and teaching aren't, but i find helping people feel better more attractive. and while i enjoyed my other "life", as i like to call it, i find the medical/health field to be far more rewarding. i'm not sure why, i just do. so, yeah, go for it - the nursing field needs you!

lencialoo · Jul 26, 2004

I too have been in the IT industry (technical writer) for 17 years. My 1st degree was Biology/Chemistry but when I couldnt find a job in my community in that field I went to work at a local computer company....17 years I'm still here but made the decision that at 50 I wanted/needed a career change. I finished all the prereqs. and have been on the waiting list for my ADN program for a year. I will finally start my clinicals next month...I'm so psyched up for this !! I will continue to work (thank God !! we are allowed flex-hours here) and expect to be caught up in a lay-off sometime in the next 2 years (we have been warned our jobs are going away). I choose Nursing because I wanted to do something that would make a difference. I have the very best feeling about my choice and I look forward to working with many other good health professionals and also most of all helping patients.

Good Luck to all others who are making this change !! :) :)

November · Jul 28, 2004

I am also a lawyer and have been for the past 17 years. I am currently working on my pre-reqs so I can begin a BSN program in May. I am scared to death. I noticed your post was awhile ago and I am wondering how you feel about your decision to change careers. Are you happy? Was it the right move?

AZ_RN_2B · Jul 31, 2004

I'm not making as drastic a career change as some. I'm an exercise physiologist for an outpatient physical therapy company. After leaving the MPT program I was in a couple of years ago, I decided to pursue nursing. I've had a lot of people tell me that already having a BS in biology and exercise science will really help. Let's hope so. Good luck to all of you!

SoulShine75 · Aug 1, 2004

Hi Amy, I am just now starting my pre-req's and have decided to go into nursing as well. I use to be a med. secretary and am now a stay at home mom. I wanted to go beyond the girl everyone see's when they enter the building to the person they see before they leave. I think a career in nursing is a great way to go, despite negative remarks, which you'll see from time to time. Try not to let it discourage you. The great thing about nursing is...YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE. It doesn't just have to be in a hospital setting. Good luck on all that you do and keep us posted as to how it's going! :)

Toby's mum · Aug 1, 2004

After 13 years in the investment banking business (helping entrepreneurs sell their beloved businesses or buy additional companies, especially those in the educational publishing and consumer catalog fields), I decided to leave and pursue a nursing career. I find I question this decision with more regularity than I thought I would. I left because I've got 20-25 years plus work life left in me and I wanted to do something more meaningful with those years. Perhaps 'meaning' is self-defined and it can be gotten any where in any job/career. I feel a bit like I'm on the fence--it's still close enough that I probably could go back, but then on the other hand, I know I chose to leave for good reasons. It remains to be seen what the outcome will be. I wish I felt stronger one way or the other, but that certainty evades me as of now.

claire2000 · Aug 3, 2004

I am writing to tell you that I think that you should go for it!!! I'm in a similar boat. I haven't always wanted to go into Nursing until about 3 years ago. I am 31 and at a desk job for a construction company and I don't want to do it anymore. I have my BA in Psyc and I just graduated from the University of Phoenix online with an MBA in Healthcare. Next? Nursing school. My dilema? How do I go to Nursing school during the day and make rounds and quit my job when I can't. I am not sure what I can do right now. I need to find a night job and I won't waitress. I'm getting anxious. Soooo for now I say we try to help each other out! :) I say go for it. It will make you a much happier person and I can sympathize with what you are saying. Best wishes! Claire

Hi everyone!
Is anyone else here totally changing careers to go to nursing school? I guess I'm looking for a little encouragement that it's OK for me to want to get out of the corporate/business world that I HATE and go into nursing!
What are your thoughts and reasons? Here's a little about me -- I have a degree in Advertising and I've been in the business world for almost 5 years now. I just have no interest in business-related things, and I have no desire to climb the proverbial corporate ladder. To me, nursing seems like something totally different from that. I can't say I've had a passion for it my whole life, like some people can. It only just occurred to me about 6 months ago. But I just want something different -- I HATE sitting at a computer and being bored out of my mind for 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week!!
Anyone else in a similar situation?
amy :)