Career Change-confused!!

Aspiring_RN_ · Aug 10, 2016

Just a question, if you are currently interviewing and they are telling you that you are not the right fit, is it the paralegal job market, or your interviewing skills? And how will you change those interviewing skills when you apply for nursing positions.
Nurse does not equal, a job automatically falls in your lap no matter what.

What made you want to become an RN?

Aspiring_RN_ · Aug 10, 2016

There are very, very few hospital based RN programs left in this country. I would advise you to investigate the degree pathways available in your area AND shadow a nurse for a full 12 hour shift. If they don't sit down /eat/ pee- then neither do you. THEN decide if nursing is something you want to pursue.

What made you want to become an RN?

Aspiring_RN_ · Aug 10, 2016

But have you had to provide this care for up to 20 patients...? I know a lot of people who can take care of their parents and don't mind it but what about taking care of someone else's parent? Can you do that with the same amount of gusto?

Don't you do it? :-)

GM2RN · Aug 10, 2016

I graduated NS at 49 YOA after spending 21 years with General Motors. As you can surmise, I was making really good money already but desiring to get out of the GM environment. I needed to match or exceed my then current salary so I would be able to pay my bills and support my son since I was not married. I had always desired a career in healthcare and had several close family members in the field, so nursing seemed like a natural fit for me.

I've now been an RN for almost 10 years and WISH someone had given me the advice that you have gotten here. If I had discovered back then how hard nursing really is I would have made a different career choice. And I don't mean hard in the physical sense, although it certainly is that, but hard mentally for all of the reasons already mentioned and many more.

Now that I'm in the field I don't have a choice except to be content with the choices I made. I still have a disabled son and a granddaughter to help care for so I'm not in a position to do otherwise. I also had aspirations of advancing my career but that came to complete halt when my granddaughter came along and my son's disability developed.

Having said all that, I love many of the aspects of what I do as an ER nurse. But having been where you are and knowing where you are headed, I can appreciate what the nurses here are trying to do for you. I think you deserve support and encouragement, but you also deserve the truthful, insightful advice that you have gotten that is only meant to help and not discourage you.

I always say that I can deal with reality and live with my choices as long as I know what I'm getting into. These nurses are only trying to give you as much information as possible so you can make an informed decision, but you do seem to be hard-headed relative to some of that advice. In the end it IS your decision and you seem to have had your mind made up prior to posting. I just hope you don't someday have to say "I wish I would have..."

GM2RN · Aug 10, 2016

Don't you do it? :-)

Many nurses do it. The point is that some regret having to do it and wouldn't do it if they had known the reality of nursing ahead of time.

GM2RN · Aug 10, 2016

Oh, and about nursing being a calling... This is largely BS in my opinion. Yes, there are nurses that feel "called" to the profession and I respect that, but you will find that there are many more who are in it for other reasons. There are multiple threads here that discuss this controversial topic and I would suggest that you read some of them to get an understanding of both sides so that you don't unintentionally offend someone.

Aspiring_RN_ · Aug 10, 2016

I graduated NS at 49 YOA after spending 21 years with General Motors. As you can surmise, I was making really good money already but desiring to get out of the GM environment. I needed to match or exceed my then current salary so I would be able to pay my bills and support my son since I was not married. I had always desired a career in healthcare and had several close family members in the field, so nursing seemed like a natural fit for me.
I've now been an RN for almost 10 years and WISH someone had given me the advice that you have gotten here. If I had discovered back then how hard nursing really is I would have made a different career choice. And I don't mean hard in the physical sense, although it certainly is that, but hard mentally for all of the reasons already mentioned and many more.
Now that I'm in the field I don't have a choice except to be content with the choices I made. I still have a disabled son and a granddaughter to help care for so I'm not in a position to do otherwise. I also had aspirations of advancing my career but that came to complete halt when my granddaughter came along and my son's disability developed.
Having said all that, I love many of the aspects of what I do as an ER nurse. But having been where you are and knowing where you are headed, I can appreciate what the nurses here are trying to do for you. I think you deserve support and encouragement, but you also deserve the truthful, insightful advice that you have gotten that is only meant to help and not discourage you.
I always say that I can deal with reality and live with my choices as long as I know what I'm getting into. These nurses are only trying to give you as much information as possible so you can make an informed decision, but you do seem to be hard-headed relative to some of that advice. In the end it IS your decision and you seem to have had your mind made up prior to posting. I just hope you don't someday have to say "I wish I would have..."

Thank you for your input.

I'm not being hard-headed. But unlike you, I will not regret going into this field. It takes a special kind of person to be able to do this. I'm not doing this because I need to match my salary and I have no other choice. I'm doing it because it's what's in my heart! I've waited a long time before making this decision. I have wanted to do this for many years. Had I tried maybe 10 - 15 years ago, I might not have succeeded. But with growth and maturity and being more grounded as an adult, I feel I will be an excellent RN.

Some of these opinions really sound like people who are frustrated with the field and don't truly have it in their hearts to do. I've seen that attitude with some of the staff. There are some RNs who I can tell really love doing what they are doing and there are some who you can see that they are fed up, but have to do it.

I truly appreciate everyone's advice. I guess I was just wanting support for "jumping out the window" on this one and to see if anyone has made a career change at this stage of life. I have gotten some really good responses on people changing their career and that is very motivating to me. I wasn't looking for advice on whether or not the job is glorious, the glory I will find in it, is taking care of people. If I choose a nursing home, being that loved face they see everyday for those who don't have anyone coming to see them.

Aspiring_RN_ · Aug 10, 2016

Many nurses do it. The point is that some regret having to do it and wouldn't do it if they had known the reality of nursing ahead of time.

My point exactly! In reading these responses, I'm getting advice, but from people, who just like what you just said, are doing it because the HAVE to and not because they WANT to! Huge difference :-)

Aspiring_RN_ · Aug 10, 2016

Oh, and about nursing being a calling... This is largely BS in my opinion. Yes, there are nurses that feel "called" to the profession and I respect that, but you will find that there are many more who are in it for other reasons. There are multiple threads here that discuss this controversial topic and I would suggest that you read some of them to get an understanding of both sides so that you don't unintentionally offend someone.

EXACTLY!!!! and I feel that I'm getting opinions from people who are doing this and are NOT happy. There is a difference in doing it because you love the nature of it and doing it because you need to or like you said, thought it was going to be one thing, turned out to be something else. And their attitudes show it! EVERYDAY, I see it!

roser13, ASN, RN · Aug 10, 2016

Thank you for your input.
I'm not being hard-headed. But unlike you, I will not regret going into this field. It takes a special kind of person to be able to do this. I'm not doing this because I need to match my salary and I have no other choice. I'm doing it because it's what's in my heart! I've waited a long time before making this decision. I have wanted to do this for many years. Had I tried maybe 10 - 15 years ago, I might not have succeeded. But with growth and maturity and being more grounded as an adult, I feel I will be an excellent RN.
Some of these opinions really sound like people who are frustrated with the field and don't truly have it in their hearts to do. I've seen that attitude with some of the staff. There are some RNs who I can tell really love doing what they are doing and there are some who you can see that they are fed up, but have to do it.
I truly appreciate everyone's advice. I guess I was just wanting support for "jumping out the window" on this one and to see if anyone has made a career change at this stage of life. I have gotten some really good responses on people changing their career and that is very motivating to me. I wasn't looking for advice on whether or not the job is glorious, the glory I will find in it, is taking care of people. If I choose a nursing home, being that loved face they see everyday for those who don't have anyone coming to see them.

Sigh.

Nature_walker, ASN, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2016

I made a career change to nursing after spending several years as a teacher. I also spent a lot of time researching what being a nurse really is before I jumped in. I'm glad I did.

The first thing is getting through the pre-reqs. It took me a year to do this as I needed all the science and math courses. I had the other stuff, but I took my time so that I could get the best grades I could. If no one has told you yet, getting in nursing school is very competitive. You need a a solid GPA just to get looked at for schools.

Then nursing school. I had heard this would be the hardest thing I had ever done, and those who give me this advice were right. Lots and lots of hours put into my studies. I took advantage of the student section here on AN. It is a great resource to use. I also took advantage of my school's resources like tutors, peer mentors and facility lead tutoring sessions. I swear my classmates saw more of me than my husband did while I was in school ( now my coworkers see me more :whistling: ) Finally, after all that, I took the NCLEX and became a nurse. It is very rewarding, however, I warn you that the road to get there is a hard one. You will need to dig deep and put in the time and effort to earn those two letters of RN.

I'm glad I did it and I couldn't be happier now. I just wanted you to be aware and really go in with your eyes open about what this career is really like. I wish you the best of luck.

Aspiring_RN_ · Aug 10, 2016

Sigh.

ha ha!