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!

Wait until you have a tough clinical instructor. The previous posters have treated you with kid gloves compared to nursing faculty with high standards.

I'm not saying don't go for it, and I'm not eating you. I am pointing out that you will need to grow thicker skin if you want to survive in this profession.

Oh, My skin is very thick! I've worked for attorneys - in litigation - for 10 years!

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I know, right? The OP focuses on the points that SEEM to validate her position, twists the words to show that she is "right," and ignores the rest. I SO want to respond to some of the most recent comments but it would be like beating my head against a brick wall.

LOL.

I just don't let negativity, or when someone tells me something is hard, deter me from doing what I want to do.

I was really just fishing to see if and how many people have made a drastic career change in their 40's... I do not ignore anyone's response nor focus only on those that validate my position. I read and appreciate all comments, positive or negative.

This is something that I have been wanting to do for many years, not just an overnight decision. So, I've given this a lot of thought.

But what I have noticed from some of these responses, some of you don't like the nature of your job.

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I have a very good understanding what it is and not. Getting a job as a CNA will not change my goal or career path. Like I said, my father has been in a nursing home for the past year...I have had to care for him...I do more than the CNAs! I clean his room, change his bed, give him bed baths (respecting his privacy of course..) get him dressed...everything! So I have a pretty good idea on what the job would entail. I'm there 7 days a week, 2 and 3 times a day.

You do not have a pretty good idea of CNA duties. You are providing one on one care for a loved one. Far different from running non-stop trying to provide basic care for 15 + patients, being pulled in many directions that the nurses direct you , and then charting it all.

Apply to any and all programs that may accept you. An ASN degree through a community college would be the least expensive and shortest route. Discuss all programs with the school's academic advisors.

46 is certainly not to old to start a new career. Best wishes.. it's tough out here.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
LOL.

I just don't let negativity, or when someone tells me something is hard, deter me from doing what I want to do.

I was really just fishing to see if and how many people have made a drastic career change in their 40's... I do not ignore anyone's response nor focus only on those that validate my position. I read and appreciate all comments, positive or negative.

This is something that I have been wanting to do for many years, not just an overnight decision. So, I've given this a lot of thought.

But what I have noticed from some of these responses, some of you don't like the nature of your job.

Your opinion of any of us carries no weight with me, due to your repeated inability to take in any type of educational advice/suggestion, despite your request for same. Quite frankly, your brashness & gall in presuming to judge nursing profressionals is astonishing. You ostensibly came here to learn, but as always, actions speak louder than words. You are defensive and resistive to advice (that you asked for). In total, you are a poster child for a nursing student set up to fail due to your rigid, pre-conceived notions.

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

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Firstly: Roser if i could like your reply X100 I would.

Secondly: Uni requires you to be able to critically evaluate a situation. You are demonstrating you have neither the right type of intelligence or ability to do so.

Thirdly: the above statement would not be an issue if you not stubborn and !shock, I'm going to go there! In your 40s. This issue may be non redundant if you were for e.g 19. But that's my personal opinion and not a fact.

But I will bite: yes I went to university with people who were in their 40s. Very successful nurses and just truly some of the best people I have ever met. One is doing medicine and another masters another a PHD, one rehab, a couple ICU another three ED and finally one runs a Nusring home (after then going back and doing her MBA). As you can see by my reply I still keep in contact with them despite the age difference. The difference between you and them are now night and day.

Firstly the majority of them had worked in a healthcare related field. For example was a radiologist, another worked as an assistant in a nursing home.

Secondly, they were all able to critically evaluate information they were given.

Thirdly, the ones who had a personal experience (like you) that led to nursing, were able to see the whole picture (as much as they could forseeably could) without the self serving superiority complex you are demonstrating.

So no I am not ageist or NETY I just have a problem with how you are conducting yourself.

oh and just because you are a legal secretary doesn't mean you can critically evaluate a situation (incase you were going to try that)

ETA: actually there was one who was In Their 40s who was terrible! Ironically she worked in a law secretary position as well! She kept saying it was her calling, couldn't understand simple concepts (spent hours explaining) and eventually got kicked out of the group ON THE DAY (from presenting not receiving the group mark) because she didn't attend a group meeting and didn't do her assessment to standard. But it was in her view 'age discrimination' and then ended up failing her clinicals so got kicked out!

Dejavu!

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There were nurses that were on his rotation every day (morning, 2nd shift and 3rd shift) and they didn't notice a thing. Not saying all nurses are like that, but this particular nurse, words can't explain. They be so quick to just say Oh, he's old, he has dementia, he's just tired....NO! I personally feel that a GOOD nurse is going to notice someone's sleep pattern changing, alertness, etc. I say that, because they do have one nurse that is attentive like that.

That's why I strongly feel that if I wasn't able to there for my dad, he wouldn't have lasted a year in this place.

You're missing something fundamental here. None of the multiple nurses who observed your dad, or in theory should have observed your dad, noted and/or acted on his s/s of pneumonia. It took yourself, a lay person, to do so. Taking this whole story as accurate, what does that tell you about the working conditions? What is it about you and your personal career history that gives you the confidence expressed here that you could out perform all of them and succeed in this environment?

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THANK YOU YoutubeTheNP! and to NurseGirl525, when I created my screen name I, in my opinion, wasn't intentionally calling myself a NURSE!

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Your opinion of any of us carries no weight with me, due to your repeated inability to take in any type of educational advice/suggestion, despite your request for same. Quite frankly, your brashness & gall in presuming to judge nursing profressionals is astonishing. You ostensibly came here to learn, but as always, actions speak louder than words. You are defensive and resistive to advice (that you asked for). In total, you are a poster child for a nursing student set up to fail due to your rigid, pre-conceived notions.

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

My opinion is not about YOU, or any nurse on here, it was in regards to the nurses I have seen on a day to day basis. I did not come on here for educational advice or suggestions!!! Nor for someone to tell me THEIR experience as a nurse!! I was inquiring if anyone has made a career change in their 40's ...THAT'S IT!!! I wanted to hear from nurses who made a career change. Not nurses telling me you should work as a CNA, you need to shadow a nurse. Some gave me good responses RELATING TO MY POST...MOST responses went out in left-field telling me more cons than pros of becoming a nurse!

Yea maybe I am defensive.... to negative and condescending advice. I've gotten more responses that would make a person change their mind about becoming a nurse than encourage them on pursuing a challenging and rewarding career.

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You're missing something fundamental here. None of the multiple nurses who observed your dad, or in theory should have observed your dad, noted and/or acted on his s/s of pneumonia. It took yourself, a lay person, to do so. Taking this whole story as accurate, what does that tell you about the working conditions? What is it about you and your personal career history that gives you the confidence expressed here that you could out perform all of them and succeed in this environment?

REALLY!!!??????? Maybe you're missing something.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
REALLY!!!??????? Maybe you're missing something.

The online equivalent of "Nanny nanny boo-boo. Bounces off me and sticks to you."

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

ONE TOO MANY!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
My opinion is not about YOU, or any nurse on here, it was in regards to the nurses I have seen on a day to day basis. I did not come on here for educational advice or suggestions!!! Nor for someone to tell me THEIR experience as a nurse!! I was inquiring if anyone has made a career change in their 40's ...THAT'S IT!!! I wanted to hear from nurses who made a career change. Not nurses telling me you should work as a CNA, you need to shadow a nurse. Some gave me good responses RELATING TO MY POST...MOST responses went out in left-field telling me more cons than pros of becoming a nurse!

Yea maybe I am defensive.... to negative and condescending advice. I've gotten more responses that would make a person change their mind about becoming a nurse than encourage them on pursuing a challenging and rewarding career.

Au contrare:

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!

1. You most certainly asked for advice and suggestions.

2. This is the internet. You do not get to dictate who answers what or what their answers will be. You received very well-thought-out advice & responses and blew them away due to your perceived superior knowledge of nursing. Then and only then did some posters (myself included) turn snarky to some degree. But even after you disregarded & cried "mean nurses," some still stuck around to try to help you open your eyes to what you may be missing in the big picture.

I said it before and I'll say it again: I have no earthly idea why you posted these "questions" on the internet. You are not open to new ideas or even to reasonable responses. You will certainly be an .........interesting..........student.

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