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!

The lady came for advice from nurses and some responses are to be a CNA first, which is an entire program on its own, someone said to change her username which is irrelevant to this forum, and suggested she didn't even know the role of an RN, other people are saying how hard it is to find a job; that's not very supportive from future colleagues.

Thanks!!!!!!

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I disagree reed with you yelling NETY here. Do you ever read these boards? People all the time come in and say even during nursing school, it isn't what I thought, I'm depressed because I thought nurses didn't do this or that. I can't believe I'm involved in.........

I personally always try to caution people, especially in what I guess is mid-life, to try a new career because of they don't understand what a nurse really does and then end up with huge debt, and they quit a good job.

Hey, I was 37 when I started and am now a newbie nurse at 40. I love it. But I also don't ever let my job define me. That is what many people do. I just try to caution before sinking a lot of money and losing your current career for something you may not like.

I guess I care to make people understand and not ruin themselves financially. It's not NETY and I have seen none of that in this thread. I see people giving insightful advice to get people to think.

Well, thanks.

But the "advice" I've gotten has sounded like my mother x10! Condescending. Discouraging. No positive. Do you regret your job or choice of profession? There are SO many opportunities in the nursing field and healthcare.

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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.

Thank you.

I am aware of the competiveness of the school and getting into the school. I've given this a lot of thought....this just wasn't a fly-by-night decision.

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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.

so do you like what you are doing?

what made you become an RN, something drew you to it

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Hey there mid-life I'm almost in the same boat as you. I'm currently applying to galen college after 7 years as a Federal Agent. I make a fantastic salary an have a guaranteed retirement after 25 years. But I'm looking for more. Those are about the only plus sides.

It's hard and crazy for my family to think I want to leave but after 7 years I've become disenchanted with this agency an since having several members of my family in the medical field nursing would be a good jump. Similar in sorts as a first responder seeing accidents to being there on someone's worse day of their life.

Changing careers is a difficult decision but it's one that only we can make for ourselves.i come one here to read posts of people who have made the change because it reminds me that it is possible. I finally joined and so far I have passed my pax an waiting for galen to review my fafsa to see if I qualify for federal student loans(which i hope I do). I'll be leaving a job to go to school full time for 30 months total while working a full time job to help pay bills an such. It's scary but it is doable. I've walked into impossible situations at work an emerged victorious so no matter how difficult this may seem now 1 or 2 years from now when people like us pass the nclex, then that will show you and other like you that it is possible. I'm in the boat with you, now it's time to jump overboard and see if we sink or swim,l, of course I know we will swim.

Good luck to you!

C317

Thank you!!! I wish you the best of luck!!

How are you going to work full-time!! :-) Please take care of yourself, don't over exhaust yourself :-)

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PS to all who have responded,

Please tell me how can a nurse who works with a patient for 12 hours not notice when one of theirs is getting sick or sleeping too much!!

TWICE my father had pneumonia, who notice it???? ME. The only thing his nurses did was pop pills in his mouth and didn't care if he was alert or not. As long as he opened his mouth is all they cared about. Both time he almost died had he not gotten medical attention. I told them over and over something isn't right. He's not waking up. Do you know what their response was??? SMH. Needless to say, those nurses are no longer working there! YES I complained!!! to every ear that would listen and every supervisor in the building!

Just my venting....It takes more than passing the books and passing the NCLEX, it also take some common sense knowledge and compassion for that patient you are responsible for

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Specializes in ER, Med-surg.

Yes, I did shadow a nurse before applying to nursing school, in addition to having serious conversations with several practicing nurses (and people in other allied health fields, as I considered those) about their experiences. Conversations in which I actually listened.

Good luck in your career.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
PS to all who have responded,

Please tell me how can a nurse who works with a patient for 12 hours not notice when one of theirs is getting sick or sleeping too much!!

TWICE my father had pneumonia, who notice it???? ME. The only thing his nurses did was pop pills in his mouth and didn't care if he was alert or not. As long as he opened his mouth is all they cared about. Both time he almost died had he not gotten medical attention. I told them over and over something isn't right. He's not waking up. Do you know what their response was??? SMH. Needless to say, those nurses are no longer working there! YES I complained!!! to every ear that would listen and every supervisor in the building!

Just my venting....It takes more than passing the books and passing the NCLEX, it also take some common sense knowledge and compassion for that patient you are responsible for

Thanks for teaching all us nurses "what it takes to be a nurse."

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Well coming from law enforcement I saw a few hospitals which are are literally next to the campus are hiring for security officers so I'll probably try an work 2 12 hour shifts on the weekend and 2 6 hour shifts some time during the week. I work 50 hours a week currently so it'll be a nice break, and scheduling wise I've worked 12/ 10 hour shifts in a row so it'll be strange not to work as much or as hard.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

You may have also heard that it is often over used and even MORE often MISUSED. Like in this instance. OP isn't a "young" even though she's using nurse in her user name.

You may have heard the term, nurses eat their young. Don't let some of these other comments discourage you. Nursing is a very rewarding career, it takes a lot of sacrifice to get there. I truly wish you good luck.
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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

All of those things told to her are TRUE...

The lady came for advice from nurses and some responses are to be a CNA first, which is an entire program on its own, someone said to change her username which is irrelevant to this forum, and suggested she didn't even know the role of an RN, other people are saying how hard it is to find a job; that's not very supportive from future colleagues.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
PS to all who have responded,

Please tell me how can a nurse who works with a patient for 12 hours not notice when one of theirs is getting sick or sleeping too much!!

TWICE my father had pneumonia, who notice it???? ME. The only thing his nurses did was pop pills in his mouth and didn't care if he was alert or not. As long as he opened his mouth is all they cared about. Both time he almost died had he not gotten medical attention. I told them over and over something isn't right. He's not waking up. Do you know what their response was??? SMH. Needless to say, those nurses are no longer working there! YES I complained!!! to every ear that would listen and every supervisor in the building!

Just my venting....It takes more than passing the books and passing the NCLEX, it also take some common sense knowledge and compassion for that patient you are responsible for

Two episodes of pneumonia? How many nurses treated him during this time and missed his symptoms? Only 2?

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