Career change advice, help please!

[Chonmanee]

Hi everyone!

I have been a fan of this website for quite a while and I love it here! I would like to get your idea/suggestion what I should do with my career. Here is a short description about my situation:

- I am 23 year old, female, currently living in Thailand and yeah I am Thai.

- Graduated B.A. in accounting and currently working in one of the big 4 in IT advisory (IT audit) for 1 and a half year

Althought I have only worked for 1 1/2 year, I found out that working in the office is not really for me. I feel shocked to find out that the reality after school is even worse than life in school. I lost all my motivation and enthusias to work in the office and can't imagine my life doing this for the rest of my life.

So here I am thinking about going back to nursing school in the US. Honestly, I have no idea about science since I have never taken any. But all I know is that I love servicing and helping people( I always dream of working for social work and volunteer but again I have to make money for my living too !) I would feel great to make a difference in someone's life and know that I am NEEDED, not just an "employee" in a firm.

I wonder if i am making the right decision. I really want to study and find a nursing job right after grad from nursing school. The tuition fee for LVN and RN (the course is 3 years) is about $55,000 but I can do the OPT year after i finish LVN and then make some money to pay for RN course. The thing I am worried is the employment rate of nurses especially international nurse (but educated in USA). With this huge recession, will it still be possible for me to find a hospital or employer to hire me and sponsor me for work visa and eventually Greencard? I heard that nurses are having a hard time finding a job right now especially for new grads and i believe the situation is even worse with INTERNATIONAL NEW GRAD!! I dont want to invest that much of money and get dumped after I finish my school . I hope the economy will pick up after a few years, til then I will be less worried.

Oh well! Anyone is welcome to share your idea. I have been totally confused with what to do with my life and need some guidance. Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much and have a great day to all.

One more thing: I am planning to study at Shepherd University in Los Angeles. Any idea about this school? Thank you!

[Danika]

You are correct in your assessment of the current job outlook for LPN's in the U.S. There might be a demand for them in some areas, but based on personal and anecdotal evidence I think it is unwise to think that you'd be given a job as a LPN....especially when you consider that your potential employer will have to jump through some hoops with Visa's/permits.

I completely understand that you don't want to work in an office and just feel like a warm body shuffling papers. You mentioned that you have not had any science classes but that you want to help others. Before you consider nursing, take a few science classes (biology 1 and 2, anatomy and physiology 1 and 2, and microbiology). If these classes are too challenging or you don't have an interest in them, I would absolutely encourage you to take a look at social work. The pay is less and the job demand is lower, but you'd be doing something you would feel good about. I promise you that nursing is NOT all about "caring"....if you don't understand or like the science side of nursing (which is a huge part of it)....you are NOT going to be happy with nursing.

I hope this helps. I am not familiar with the program you mentioned...these are just my biased opinions.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

You will be affected by retrogression although no one knows what it will be like at the end of your training. Retrogression has been ongoing since Oct 06 and there are many many nurses stuck waiting regardless on where they trained. So even if you trained in the US it is generally understood that you will be returning home so be aware that may be what happens after you use OPT.

[tdo1]

Hi,

I used to be and auditor for a big company, so I can understand. Since you already have a job, just take a few courses that pertain to the prereqs to a nursing Accelerated program. If you can, try to volunteer at a local hospital or clinic just to see if you like it. Have you even considering working at a different firm? Your work environment may be very different in another different company.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

With your BA you could get a MSN in nursing, after year one you can sit for the RN NCLEX. Could you practice in your home country? I bet getting an education would be cheaper. There is a large medical tourism in your country, I bet they need nurses especially those who speak English.

[abimathew]

hi

may i ask u a doubt?

i think i am over anxious

a bsc nsg male student, what should be his best option according to you?

(a nsg asst:lecturer or to work in bed side)

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

hi

may i ask u a doubt?

i think i am over anxious

a bsc nsg male student, what should be his best option according to you?

(a nsg asst:lecturer or to work in bed side)

I would say do something you would enjoy. Do you have bedside nursing experience as a nursing assist lecturer i would think experience would be essential?