Career Change? - Communications world to Nursing

FSUNurse2b · Aug 9, 2013

I am 33, with an MBA in finance. I currently work full-time and am taking pre-reqs at a local community college to full-fill requirements to be able to apply to an accelerated BSN program. My wife and I are expecting our first.

I hear ya on the "completely bored and not fullfilled" thing. Also, just remember that there are many disgruntled nurses out there, for whatever reason. Many of the nurses who actually like their jobs, are not on this forum. Just keep this in mind when making your decision.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Aug 14, 2013

OK - reality check. Let's say you are successful and get licensed as an RN. You may struggle for some time to actually land a job nursing job, particularly if you don't have a BSN, which is becoming the norm for hospital jobs. You will start out in the least desirable shifts and departments... working nights, weekends & holidays. You will probably be required to work 12 hour shifts which are physically grueling due to high patient loads.

Your salary will probably 'top out' at 5 years unless you can obtain a promotion to a higher level (higher stress, longer hours) job. If you stay in your current career field, where will you be in 8 years? (3 years of school + 5 years work) Chances are, that job would be better paying & more compatible with child care than nursing.

Raising babies/small children is do-able IF you have a fully engaged spouse... not one who says he is "babysitting" when it's he's the only parent at home or says he is "helping you" when he does housework. Every family & relation is unique - Only you can analyze your own situation and determine whether this will work for you.

FSUNurse2b · Aug 14, 2013

OK - reality check. Let's say you are successful and get licensed as an RN. You may struggle for some time to actually land a job nursing job, particularly if you don't have a BSN, which is becoming the norm for hospital jobs. You will start out in the least desirable shifts and departments... working nights, weekends & holidays. You will probably be required to work 12 hour shifts which are physically grueling due to high patient loads.
Your salary will probably 'top out' at 5 years unless you can obtain a promotion to a higher level (higher stress, longer hours) job. If you stay in your current career field, where will you be in 8 years? (3 years of school + 5 years work) Chances are, that job would be better paying & more compatible with child care than nursing.
Raising babies/small children is do-able IF you have a fully engaged spouse... not one who says he is "babysitting" when it's he's the only parent at home or says he is "helping you" when he does housework. Every family & relation is unique - Only you can analyze your own situation and determine whether this will work for you.

Very, very good points. I have been making this decision for the past 2 years and even currently (while taking pre-reqs) have minor doubts. It is a MAJOR, MAJOR decision. First and foremost, your spouse has to be on board (100%). And you must have a detailed plan...whatever that my entail. Day care, schedules, cost of going back to school, etc.

I actually wanted to proceed with this change over a year ago and ultimately decided against it, for various reason, namely, pay. But how I feel about my job crept back into my life (was difficult to ignore) and so I finally decided to proceed. I contemplated other avenues, but came to the sobering conclusion that, if I'm going to make a change, it's going to be in the direction of nursing.

Also, I agree on the BSN thing. At least my wife (a nurse) and sisters (nurses) can attest to that. Like I said, it is a difficult decsion, but I would recommend sitting down with your husband and creating a detailed, concrete plan. For example, we are expecting our first very soon. My wife was able to get a set schedule to work around day-care and my pre-req classes.

And I could very well still change my mind. I may have 3 years potentially until I get accepted into an accelerated program, but at the end of the day, I must take this path and apply. I don't want to look back and say, "I wish I would have made the change earlier".

recoolidge · Aug 14, 2013

Thanks for your responses. It is a very difficult decision. I definitely think that a BSN is the best way to go. My current job doesn't pay well and I'm not looking to change careers for the pay. My motivation to make this career change is my experience in hospitals and seeing some major communications breakdowns. My hope is that I will get my BSN and hopefully combine my other degrees and get into a position where I could help hospital communications.

Right now, I think going back to school is going to make me the happiest. My husband and I have discussed it and we don't plan on starting a family while I'm pursuing school.

Sessa RN · Aug 15, 2013

Thanks for your responses. It is a very difficult decision. I definitely think that a BSN is the best way to go. My current job doesn't pay well and I'm not looking to change careers for the pay. My motivation to make this career change is my experience in hospitals and seeing some major communications breakdowns. My hope is that I will get my BSN and hopefully combine my other degrees and get into a position where I could help hospital communications.
Right now, I think going back to school is going to make me the happiest. My husband and I have discussed it and we don't plan on starting a family while I'm pursuing school.

I also have a communications degree, and I obtained my BSN through an accelerated program.

Before I committed I shadowed nurses for several hours in order to get a sense of what it is they actually do. Like you I come from a medical family, however it was a real learning experience to spend that time in the hospital.

I have also considered using my previous degree to enter into healthcare communications. However I have found that the hospital-based departments are more interested in those with marketing degrees to fundraise, plan events and write for facility publications. Trade publications - however - may be an option. If you do decide to go that route it will likely be difficult in the future to obtain a "bedside" position - I have been told.

I am a new grad, and job opportunities are slim here in the Midwest. I don't want to deter you, but you need to realize you may not be able to easily find much less be considered for the position you are describing.

Good luck with your classes!

Belle2013 · Aug 15, 2013

A 3 year nursing program seems crazy to me. I wet through a BSN 15 month program. Are there any shorter programs around you? A lot of time the BSN programs are shorter than ADN for some reason, especially when you already have all the pre-reqs for nursing. I went back to nursing school as a second career. I couldn't be happier. I absolutely love nursing. Yes it's 12-hour shifts but you have more days off. I'm in the houston med center. money is great and jobs are not difficult to find. I had three offers as a new grad. Good luck with your decision. I had a spouse and child going through school. It makes things harder but in the end it's all worth it!

recoolidge · Aug 15, 2013

I did find a 12 month accelerated BSN program at Binghamton University, which is about an hour away. It begins in May 2014, so I should have time to complete the last of my prerequisites and apply by the deadline in November. They do have clinicals in my local area which is a plus. I've heard good things about this program! It does seem strange that BSN programs are shorter than ADN. I do plan on doing some volunteering at one of the hospitals close by as soon as I can to make sure that I would be happy in this career.

Shadielady123 · Apr 21, 2014

I actually just dropped in my second semester there at CCC and I have two degrees already . I was shocked at how unprofessional and inconsistent the class and instructors were. Learning skills from a video only ! I was also bothered by the drop rate of this school . And the conduct of some clinical instructors complaining about getting the "trash" out of the program. Or those the instructors thought were to stupid. Class averages on all exams ran about 75-79 . Its a bad program and I guess its taught integrated style vs. block style . Just some FYI