Become a nurse at 41 from six figures???

fishcado · Aug 16, 2012

That's great advice! I'm currently in publishing and have thought about EMT before considering a nursing career. I think for many of us interested in pursuing nursing it would benefit to see if this line of career interest us before diving right in.

Stephalump · Aug 16, 2012

I, personally, would not do it. You have a job, which is more than many nurses can say right now. You have the potential for a nice retirement fund, which is more than many nurses can say right now. And you clearly wanted to be a physician, which does not translate well to nursing., IMO.

Spend some time on the site and absorb the stories of RNs here. Some love their jobs. Some feel their jobs are killing THEIR souls because they went into the field to help people but don't feel the system actually allow that. Some new nurses find a job before graduation. Most do not. Some continue hunting for the job 1yr+ after finishing school.

For me; there would be too much risk. But sometime taking a risk is what you really need, so I wouldn't completely discourage you if you're a braver soul than I. Just proceed with your eyes open wide so you won't be the next user posting a thread saying "Nobody Told Me It Would Be This Way!'

passionflower, BSN, MSN, RN · Aug 22, 2012

I have mixed feelings about this, I left the corporate world for nursing over twenty years ago. Some days I wonder why but most days I am glad I did. I doubt that I would have had the experiences and opportunities that nursing afforded me if I had stayed behind that desk.

Now I have had some incredibly bad days and suffered until I found a better place in nursing that utilized all of my skills and also allows me to feel appreciated. But i suffered through a lot first - med/surg, er, long term care, those places were not for me and I got out. Now I'm happy with my patients but getting older and tired of the 12 hour shifts. I'm currently looking to enroll in school so that I could have the opportunity to do some teaching, some consulting, and maybe prn in the hospital. This is the good part about nursing. You have the options to try and make it whatever works for you.

I think you should really consider everything said and then list exactly what it is you want to do because nursing is not the only job that helps people. If you earn six figures maybe you can find a way to start your own non-profit and really help under your own terms and in your own way. Let us know what you decide and good luck!

linnaete, ASN, BSN, MSN · Aug 30, 2012

Job shadow, volunteer at the hospital. You will be up close and personal and interact with nurses on a daily basis. Until you are on the floor working, you just don't know how green that grass really is on the other side.

levzahav9 · Sep 27, 2012

If being a doctor was your dream, why not try looking into PA programs?

MrChicagoRN, RN · Sep 28, 2012

If being a doctor was your dream, why not try looking into PA programs?

Hey, that's what I was going to say! :) Medical school is a long haul. The OP would probably be fifty before completing school and residency. PA pays relatively well, has a much shorter entry path, and is in alignment with previous goals.

levzahav9 · Sep 28, 2012

Hey, that's what I was going to say! :) Medical school is a long haul. The OP would probably be fifty before completing school and residency. PA pays relatively well, has a much shorter entry path, and is in alignment with previous goals.

Great minds! lol

PAs also make slightly more than NPs.

I went to a CVS a few weeks ago because they started a new "minute clinic" which is a walk-in clinic. (if you don't have CVS it's a drugstore like Walgreens). Basically there were no doctors, just two very capable NPs. So you could really help people out with those kinds of titles.