Career Change Advice Needed

karen230 · Mar 4, 2008

Hello-
Thank you for clicking on my post. I am so glad I found this site. Here's a little about myself. I am 31 years old married + 3kids. I currently work in accounting and pursuing my degree at the UOP for Buisness. I chose that because I was already in the business of accounting. But recently I've really had to think of that is what I really wanted to do..work in cubicles, stare at a computer, and climb the corporate ladder. And, really that did not interest me:yawn:. So now I have considered nursing RN:nurse:. Since I'm already enrolled at the UOP I just changed my program to Health Administarion and will be taking my Pre-Req's at a CC.
My question is if anyone has experienced swithching your career path in the middle of a school program. I am excited about starting my new career but I am literally starting something new. I am very excited though. Any advise or similiar experiences would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Marlene

I am switching in the middle of my program (actually I am 1 full-time semester away from graduating my current program :rolleyes: ) A few of my courses are transferring to the nursing program but most of them will just be lost. I work in an office too and after 20 years of office work, I just don't see myself doing this the rest of my life. So I went back to school to finish the AAS degree that I started, only to change my mind and look into nursing again. This is the third time in my life I have considered it and the only time that I have actually done something that will help me to obtain my RN, so I guess the third time really is a charm . Anyway, it is very scary and exciting and I worry about lots of things but so far I am still on track to begin actual nursing classes in Fall of 09. Just know that you are not alone, many of us are making a career change and can relate to lots of what you are feeling. I find alot of inspiration on these boards on days that I begin to wonder if changing careers at this point in my life is the right thing to do.

PNCC2001 · Mar 4, 2008

I am switching in the middle of my program (
I find alot of inspiration on these boards on days that I begin to wonder if changing careers at this point in my life is the right thing to do.

There are apparently a lot of us doing it. Are you old enough to remember

"if it feels right, do it"? I am very anxious to get back into the medical field

and I am currently looking for a job; and studying, while waiting to get back into my RN Program :nurse:

3rdgenRN2B · Mar 5, 2008

I'm glad I found this post too...

A couple of years ago I decided that I wanted to pursue a nursing degree. I was mid-20's then. I finished one semester of pre reqs and got preggers...

A year and a half later I'm back at the community college registering for classes. But instead of registering for more pre-reqs I took whatever I could online because my counselor talked me into graduating this May. OK, so now I'm taking 12 credits, none of which apply to the nursing program, I work full time and I have a one year old. 3 of my classes are great and I could very possibly get an A in all three but my 4th class was the problem...statistics...in danger of failing. So today I got a wake up call. My stats professor emailed me pretty much telling me that I had no idea what I was doing and that was my cue to drop the course. OK, so this means I won't be graduating in May but who cares? I didn't want to take this route to begin with but got swayed. Plus, stats took up so much time that I was not only in danger of failing that class but my other classes would also suffer. So I cut my losses, dropped stats, will do my absolute best in the other classes and return to pre-reqs in the fall. I should have followed my heart to begin with..

The moral of all this? You are not alone. I've worked in retail (at the same shop) for the past 12 years and I'm switching careers...

NurseBanana · Mar 5, 2008

wooo! Go career-changers!! I got into the worst field ever- education...haven't been able to get out for 8 years now, because it's so time-consuming when can you take classes to switch to something else?? Well, I've got myself into a home-based business now (helping kids with reading) and now I have the time to take classes. Except, I am hoping to get pregnant by September. :uhoh3: tell me how that's going to work??

My Husband and I both are going to start our pre-reqs this summer. He has been in sales for 15 yrs. We don't have many to go before we can apply to the RN program. Hopefully having a baby won't restrict me from taking classes.

I have been taking classes for about the last 5 years, jumping from program to program (and job to job), because I could not decide what I wanted to be. Then I started learning things about myself - i.e. I need structure, but I can't sit in a cubicle all day because I get bored/tired/fall asleep, i have more energy and use more brain power when I am on my feet going from task to task, I was interested in nursing when I was younger, I want a job that is "recession proof" where i don't have to worry about the economy effecting my pay check...etc... :rolleyes: so there ya go- you are not alone, in fact you are way ahead of me- i'm 31 with no kids yet!!

gardiner59 · Mar 5, 2008

I'm really enjoying reading the posts on career change. I am a 48 year old mother of six. My youngest is four years olds and I've been home pretty much all of my six children's lives (my oldest is 26). During that time I've gotten a BA in English and nearly a MEd in Early childhood Education. I've taught a few of those years and realized that although I enjoy teaching, public education is just way too frustrating (bad discipline issues and high student/pupil ratios). I've decided to return to nursing, my first career choice, the one I graduated from high school with. I'm currently enrolled in a community college and taking A&P I. This is so different from the conceptual learning of the social sciences and humanities. There are no papers, no idealistic discussions, just a lot of memorizing. I researched the nursing profession to determine how well an older (I'll be 52 when I graduate) person would be accepted. It seems to be an age forgiving profession. Maybe that is due to the shortage of RNs. I have to admit that the A&P class is challenging, but only in so far as it takes dedicating a large amount of my time to studying. I work full-time running a small child development center, so I have little time for anything else but work and studying for my two college courses (the other is an intro computer class which is a required pre-req at my community college), and of course attempting to maintain some family balance. I'm going to finish A&P II and micro one class at a time while my youngest is still preschool age and begin nursing school when she enters Kindergarten. I'm wondering how nursing school will be. At my college, nursing courses are four semesters at 12 hours a semester. I'm a little scared of that.

cherryfirecracker · Mar 6, 2008

I too am considering a career change. I am a dental hygienist practicing for 9 years, 35 years old, and ready for a different challenge. I have already completed most of the pre-requisites as they are nearly identical for dental hygiene. I like healthcare, I like impacting peoples lives, I like challenge...I am sick of cleaning teeth and every day the same as the next. I feel like I am no longer engaging my brain. I am sick of working without benefits. I am sick of having no other career options within my field.

Can someone likes what they do list the pros and cons of nursing? And maybe someone who doesn't like their job list the pros and cons?

Thanks!

MemphisTiger · Mar 6, 2008

Hi! I'm also a career changer. Graduated undergrad in 2004 with a degree in History with an intention to teach. I taught high school for one semester and realized it wasn't for me, so I went to work as a company as a administrative assistant. Six months later I was promoted to the clinical ops department and started working on my master's (adult training) which they paid for. I'm graduated with my master's (finally) this semester and I still do clinical training but I've realized I want to be more on the front lines. So I'm starting to take prereqs this summer and I'll be applying for an accelerated BSN and an direct-entry MSN program for next year.

Good luck to everyone!

NAM210 · Mar 6, 2008

Hello. I am also a career changer and have decided to pursue a carrer in nursing. Its going to be hard. I have to start from the beginning, I have no college credits at all that a transferable so I have to start there then I can apply to nursing school. I also work a full time job and have 2 children. I am going to stay focused and reach my goal. Good luck to all of you. We can do it. And age does not matter!! LOL!!! We are all choosing a better, meaningfull and rewarding career. :yeah:

karen230 · Mar 8, 2008

There are apparently a lot of us doing it. Are you old enough to remember
"if it feels right, do it"? I am very anxious to get back into the medical field
and I am currently looking for a job; and studying, while waiting to get back into my RN Program

No, not familiar with that saying. I worked in a medical office briefly before getting the job I have now. I was never so sick in my life (until I had kids, LOL). I am not trying to get in to a medical office only b/c for me at least, I want to be a school nurse. I know they don't pay very well, but my kids are little and that will enable me to be home when they are home (hopefully). Once they get older, I will most likely get a job in a hospital so I can make some "real" money before retiring.

karen230 · Mar 8, 2008

I'm going to finish A&P II and micro one class at a time while my youngest is still preschool age and begin nursing school when she enters Kindergarten. I'm wondering how nursing school will be. At my college, nursing courses are four semesters at 12 hours a semester. I'm a little scared of that.

I'm taking A&P I&II next fall and spring when my oldest is in Kindergarten and then will start the nursing program in Fall of 09. I would so love to start the program Fall 08 but we cannot afford for me to quit working right now. Besides, if A&P is as much work as I hear it is, that will be plenty of studying for me.

My school is also 4 semesters and the actual nursing courses that we have to take are 8, 7, 10, 10 (with another 2 credit course) respectively. I'm thinking Nursing I alone at 8 credit will be plenty for me. I too am very curious as to how nursing school will be but have heard that at my school, the "older" students seem to fair better with the profs but the students that stay under the radar do the best. I am very excited about starting in the fall of 09 but am scared to death of failing and getting booted. Best of luck to you.

Lizard3 · Mar 10, 2008

Hi, Thanks for the encouraging note. I read yours after reading all the burn out threads. :) I am 52 as well but am just now taking pre-reqs, but I love taking a & p even though I find it very challenging. I am not sure if I will pursue nursing or a Ph D program in education. I do like to help people but I am leaving education because I got tired of the helicopter parents. When I read all the criticism leveled at nurses, and all the stress, I am wondering if I am getting out of the frying pan into the fire. All advice welcome.

skyblue77 · Mar 10, 2008

I completely understand how you feel! I'm 30 married with two daughters of my own and two step children. I started out as an English major but I had to drop out when I became a single mother with my first daughter. I've been in the corporate world and worked my way up very quickly to my current position. I continued to go to school at night and realized I wanted to become a L&D RN so I just finished up all the pre req' last semester. I'm waiting to hear back if I was accepted into the program. It's a hard but exciting long road but I'm enjoying every minute of it. I know that I am good at what I do right now but I did too good in school my whole life to settle for a job inside a cubicle. Good luck to you!