anyone else changing careers to go into nursing?

purple_marge · Aug 8, 2004

Hi, Im Marge A Registered Pharmacist.

Im Trying My Way To Take The State Board To Be Registered In The Us And Be A Nurse At The Same Time.

Im Just Having Problems Formulating My Nursing Care Plans.

I Hope You Could Help Me.

I Get Low Grades Because Of These.

Thanks.

nancynurse05 · Aug 9, 2004

I am also a career changer. I am 38 and was in corporate sales for 15 years and I was laid off 3 times in 1 year. After amonth or so of playing in my garden I realized I kept coming back to the same idea, I want to be a nurse. I have always been called "Nancy Nurse" even as a little girl I was bandaging etc... I took the plunge and began working for the Visiting Nurse Association working at an apartment building for residents who have severe physical disabilities. I wanted to make sure this is the field I want to go into. Talk about tough physical and emotional work! Nurses Aides get paid nothing and do an incredible job. Even after being at the bottom of the food chain I know it is still something I want to do. I hurt my back twice (wrong equipment, slings that weren't the right size) and was assigned to work at an adult day center. I absolutely loved it, working with seniors comes very easy for me. I have found my passion and am now taking prerequisites and weighing the differences between an AAS Program and take my RN exam or to apply for an accelerated BSN Program. It's a tough call, I want my BSN but these accelerated programs are so darn expensive. Getting financial aid when you already have a bachelor's is next to impossible. If anyone has any advice, please let me know.

claire2000 · Aug 9, 2004

Nancy, I went to the University of Phoenix online and am finishing up my last class. I am graduating with an MBA in Healthcare. Did you already receive a Bachelor's in something else because then I would suggest going for your Masters in Nursing. I have a BA in Psychology and had no difficulties getting financial aid. Though it is an expensive school it was a great experience and in just over 2 years I am almost done! Claire

I am also a career changer. I am 38 and was in corporate sales for 15 years and I was laid off 3 times in 1 year. After amonth or so of playing in my garden I realized I kept coming back to the same idea, I want to be a nurse. I have always been called "Nancy Nurse" even as a little girl I was bandaging etc... I took the plunge and began working for the Visiting Nurse Association working at an apartment building for residents who have severe physical disabilities. I wanted to make sure this is the field I want to go into. Talk about tough physical and emotional work! Nurses Aides get paid nothing and do an incredible job. Even after being at the bottom of the food chain I know it is still something I want to do. I hurt my back twice (wrong equipment, slings that weren't the right size) and was assigned to work at an adult day center. I absolutely loved it, working with seniors comes very easy for me. I have found my passion and am now taking prerequisites and weighing the differences between an AAS Program and take my RN exam or to apply for an accelerated BSN Program. It's a tough call, I want my BSN but these accelerated programs are so darn expensive. Getting financial aid when you already have a bachelor's is next to impossible. If anyone has any advice, please let me know.

STUDITIME · Aug 31, 2004

Hi, Amyrae,

I Am Changing Careers Also. I Just Quit My Job, Friday Was My Last Day I'm Starting School Sept 28th. I'm Taking A Month Off To Get Everything At Home Organized And The Kids In School Before I Start My Classes. I Was A Medical Billing Specialist/coder. I Hated Sitting All Day At A Desk And Have Been Doing That For 10 Years. My Children Are Older Now 10 &14 And I Need The Change. Nursing Was Always A Career I Wanted To Be In. I Care About People And What Happens To Them, And I Enjoy Helping Them. I Am A People Person And I Am Giving This New Career My Best Shot. Good Luck And I Hope You Are Able To Make Your Decision About What Career You Want, Nursing For Me Seems To Be The Right Choice. We Need Good Caring :wink2: Nurses... Good Luck!

janzie0448 · Aug 31, 2004

Hi Amy,

My name is Jan,I too am getting out of the corporate world to become a nurse.This has not been easy for me because my husband and parents think it is a mistake.I just keep telling myself I an doing this to help the lives of other people who need people like us who really want to be ther to help them.So to answer your question YES it is ok to be doing this, it is a great thing that you want to make a difference in the world.Go for it.

By the way now I do not feel like I am the only one asking that same question.

nancynurse05 · Aug 31, 2004

Hi Amy,
My name is Jan,I too am getting out of the corporate world to become a nurse.This has not been easy for me because my husband and parents think it is a mistake.I just keep telling myself I an doing this to help the lives of other people who need people like us who really want to be ther to help them.So to answer your question YES it is ok to be doing this, it is a great thing that you want to make a difference in the world.Go for it.
By the way now I do not feel like I am the only one asking that same question.

The more I hear about others changing career paths I know this country is going to come out of the nursing shortage just fine. The one thing I keep hearing from most everyone is about helping others. Of course it's one of the main requirements of being a good nurse, I just want everyone to keep in mind that it is very easy to give too much of yourself. Setting boundaries is one of the most difficult challenges of my life, I had to learn how to do that very quickly when I was working for the VNA. We had 2 to 3 staff members working with 9 residents in most every aspect of their lives. It is next to impossible not to fall in love with the residents and to care very much about their lives and health care. I cried my first day and thought about how they lived their lives as quads, wheelchair bound etc... I knew if I didn't get control over myself it would consume me. I am so lucky to have acquired the skills now, than find out after school that I just can't handle it. It doesn't do the patients any good to have a nurse who is burned out and unfeeling, I can see very easily how that can happen. I have great empathy with the patients I work with, however I have learned and realized that I can't take all their problems away from them. Life can be very cruel and my job will be to make it safer, healthier and happier while I maintain my own equilibrium.

STUDITIME · Sep 1, 2004

Yes you can give too much of yourself, I know I can get that way already sometimes and I have to take a step back and realize there is only so much you can give. I now try to enjoy what I can give and know that it makes a difference in someone's life just giving what we can. God Blesses us for giving what we can to make that difference in patients lives.

Mekare4u · Sep 4, 2004

Sometimes I wonder if I've made the right decision. Maybe I'm just doubting myself. I'm in my 2nd year of nursing school after being a registered dietitian for 5 years. I guess I just wanted MORE out of the medical field but never thought I had the brains or stomach for nursing. Turns out, I managed 4 years of chemistry and I love nursing so far! I guess all of us have something different to bring to nursing from our former lives. I'm starting to see already the gratitude from some of my patients during clinicals which makes all the hard work worth it.

BETSRN · Sep 5, 2004

I am one of those "late in life" nurses. I went back to nursing school after being a teacher (which I loved too). becoming a nurse is the BEST thing I ever did. I absolutly love it. There is never a day that I regret that decision or I don't want to go to work. I feel very sorry for those who do not like their nursing career. Nurses are in a great place now as far as jobs ios concerned. Go for it!

koolkoolkitty · Sep 8, 2004

Another career changer here. I have a BA in criminal justice and worked in a secure juvenile detention facility for over six years. I realized it was soul-sucking work, but it wasn't until the birth of my son I realized I just couldn't keep it up any more. I contemplated teaching, but that actually sounded worse than than the babysitter/prison guard gig (ha ha). It took me a while to pick nursing, but I think it is a good fit for me. I have been a nursing assistant for several months now and I really enjoy it.

I saw someone is able to get their second bachelor's in two years, that is great! I am looking at about three years once I finish my science prerequisites.

Life is too short to hate your career.

Nicole

RahRah · Sep 8, 2004

This post has made me feel much better:) I have a BS in Management (Information Systems) and you would think I would have a super job by now. Well with my degree you have to have computer certifications or a lot of work experience to land a great job, especially here in New Orleans. Well I decided to go to school to get my MBA and focus on healthcare management. Most nurse managers I worked with as a staffing clerk (low pay, bad job) have the same MBA that I am earning, but the difference is that they are RNs. So going to nursing school will fit in with my current plan to manage other nurses (after getting some job experience).

This is not going to be an easy journey, but I believe that the rewards outweigh any pain we will have to face!! :wink2:

BETSRN · Sep 8, 2004

Go back to an accelerated program (like as associates), get the nursing and then start working. That way, the hospital you work for will more than likely pay for your coursework for your BSN. Good luck.

Betsy RNC

CT