Career Change-confused!!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello all,

I just turned 46 and I have been working as a Legal Secretary since 1998. I just recently received my NCCP (North Carolina Certified Paralegal) Certificate. Not finding any jobs, although I have tons of legal experience, they always find a way to say you're not the right fit. But, I'm not bitter about that. I have been wanting to change my career to the medical field since 2008! Lately, not sure if it's an age thing or my calling is calling me! I have spent the last year at a LTC facility visiting my father who has dementia. I have really grown, my desire to be a nurse has grown being there everyday. My question is do you think it's crazy to jump out there and quit my job, take out student loans so that I can attend the RN program....alllll programs are day only classes. I've talked to two nurses that did that and they are fine! I was all geared up to do it, but I let fear enter my thoughts :-(. All I know is 20+ years is a long time to sit at a desk (although I make decent money) and do nothing all day! I'm in commercial real estate and right now, it's slow! well it's always a little slow for me!

Next question, do you think attending a hospital that offers RN classes or a community college is best? I'm leaning towards the hospital..fingers crossed that I get accepted.

Thank you!

*too old

*then

If the mods don't shoot this thread... I may be forced to take a BB gun to my monitor.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
*too old

*then

If the mods don't shoot this thread... I may be forced to take a BB gun to my monitor.

Please, mods! Take us away!

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Specializes in ER, PCU, UCC, Observation medicine.
In total, you are a poster child for a nursing student set up to fail

I would like like to wish you the best, but I do so with fundamental doubts as to your ultimate ability to succeed.

Strong words to live by!!

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OP - I am with the nurses who suggested that you shadow a nurse. Not necessarily 12 hours but at least four or so.

The reason is that it seems there is a somewhat romantic perception of nursing and the "calling to care" that is not rooted in reality. That is not age specific in my opinion as I hear that from high school students when I go in to talk about nursing as a career but also from people who are looking into a second career because they feel "unfulfilled" or cannot get a job they want with the economy being different now.

When people say to "just live your dream" they often seem to think that living the dream will make anything negative more bearable or "better". Perhaps that was the case when Florence Nightingale was working and women did not have many options and the general idea was to "suck it up" (which is still very evident with the baby boomer generation IMO - admittedly I might be overgeneralizing here).

The thing is that our dreams do not always turn out to be that good.

Nowadays it takes more and different skills than the willingness to "care" plus the reality of working as a nurse is that nurses push away from the bedside after few years because of the work conditions.

You are still young enough to start another career but it probably means to take out loans for you and will you be able to manage paying them back as you will be approaching retirement age. And if you are thinking of becoming an NP long-term it means a lot of school if you do not have a bachelor's degree already.

I love being a nurse - it has been a great career for me and allowed me to love a good life but even with a positive attitude I can not imagine bedside nursing in a hospital or facility anymore in my mid fourties. And I do not like to work night shifts anymore or weekends. If I had to I would but point is that I am not as energetic as I was in my 20s or 30s. That is reality too when you choose a second career that is demanding physically and emotionally. I think it would be good to shadow a nurse to get a realistic picture of the work flow and work itself. Just looking at CNAs and nurses take care of your father gives you an incomplete picture.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Okay guys!

Closing this for review.

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