Career Change - Advise please

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I've been an Office Manager, Customer Service Manager, Contract & Sales Administrator, Marketing Manager and now...now I've decided I want to be nurse. More specifically a NP, but I know there's steps to take so my crossroads is this and I'm looking for your expert opinions.

I'm ANXIOUS to get into the nursing field, so anxious I'm considering taking a CNA course to get to work quickly and work as a 2nd part-time job while I wait for school to start. Also let's be honest, to have some help with the 45-60K it's going to cost me to become an NP.

That being said, would you advise me to go the CNA route? Or should I just stick with my day job and school?

I have no problem learning from the bottom up and I could use the 2nd income, even if it's just part time. I've looked and I've seen a few course but they seem to vary in length from 3-10 weeks. Any advice?

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Fwiw, in this economy, I think anything that gets your foot in the door with health care is a step in the right direction. I graduated in May and the I would say all but a couple of people I graduated with who have found jobs were affiliated with a health care employer while in school.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

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Specializes in Case Mgmt, Anesthesia, ICU, ER, Dialysis.

Being a CNA is hard physical work, but you will learn good basic physical care skills that will serve you well your entire career. If your physical body can take pounding a hard floor for 10-12 hours at at time, then go for it. Feel free to send me a message any time - I did the long road: CNA to LPN to ADN-RN to BSN-RN and am now getting a master's...partially, because my body can't take the hard physical work anymore after 15 years.

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Lots of opportunity to make money as a CNA but its difficult work. Lots of employee turnover and personal injury. Make sure you get healthcare coverage and disability insurance. Even then, it would be a bummer to get a chronic injury and then be physically unable to be an RN.

NP's have good job security, a bit more money than an RN but the downsides are working in the over-flowing patient appt factory line as well as a salary that may not be commensurate with liabilities.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Absolutely I would recomend you be a CNA. It's nursing right down to it's basics, and you will incorporate it into your daily practice both as a RN and NP.

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Thank you for the advice all - question though. How realistic is it to think that I could work 20-30 hours a week on a schedule I need to work? I have a full time job and a very big involvment/commitment with my church that takes up my thurs, friday and saturday nights from 5-10pm.

Do you think there would be many employers willing to take someone who can only work Mon-Wed?

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I don't believe anyone would be successful with that kind of time commitment load for a sustainable period of time.

I also have reservations whether a clinical manager would hire you if they knew you had that much on your plate, let alone if you could only work a few hours mon-wed.

A cna job isn't worth burning yourself out for; especially if you already have gainful employment.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I worked 24-36 hrs a week throughout nursing school. It's doable.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele/Acute Rehab.

Hey, if you have the desire, give it a shot...the CNA training is inexpensive & easily achieved with most any schedule. There are CNA jobs out there to fit any schedule as well. After you get your cert and a job, you can decide if you want to continue...there is no rule that says you must keep at it. Doing the whole CNA thing may be just what you need to solidify your committment to nursing...or to steer you away. Best of luck!

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