career change to nursing the right choice?

CRNA2BKY · Jul 12, 2007

I'm in the same boat as you...almost. I've been an airline pilot for some time now, and decided to go back to school with my goals of becoming a CRNA. I took my prerequisites, got accepted to an ABSN program, and intend on going into an ICU upon graduation. Then after a couple of years, applying to nurse anesthetist programs in hopes of getting accepted. I've made the huge committment by quitting my job and starting this program, and I've also heard all the horror stories. The nursing industry seems to be about 180 degrees opposite from my previous profession, as far as professionalism goes. So, I'm getting out of an industry where we all treat each other with respect, no one asks questions or gives us a hard time if we have to call in sick, and there are NO superiors or managers who talk down to the pilots. We are the true epitome of professionalism. Now I will have to go into an industry that is infected with such things as petty bickering, nurse managers talking down to the staff, nurse managers barking orders and threatening the staff....everything that I dread having to deal with. However, I look at two things. Not every place is going to be a bad place to work. I know there are hospitals out there that have good reputations for staff that get along well with each other. I also have to keep my long term goals in mind, and that is what really keeps me motivated. I did a surgical observation recently, and stayed with a nurse anesthetist all day. Boy was I impressed with her, and know this is really what I want to do. So, my recommendation is to set goals, and follow your dreams. That's what I'm doing. Good luck.

LovesGreyhounds · Jul 12, 2007

I'm with you! I'm an executive asst right now, one & a half years ago I started my pre-reqs for nursing while still working as an assistant. I really think I will like being a nurse, but talking & hearing alot of stories makes me wonder. So, now I'm scared about continuing on the nursing path. Wish we had definite answers, or we could see the future, huh? Would make it lots easier! :uhoh21:

caliotter3 · Jul 12, 2007

The reason you encounter so much of the negative on this board is because people come on here to vent their frustrations. On rare occasions, you will see a thread about the good. Many times, however, in individual posts you can find the positive, but you have to look for it. So don't be too influenced by what you read here.

A good way to find out how you feel about the work is to get a CNA license and do some work as a CNA. You will get exposure to the nursing field and then will be in a better position to decide upon nursing school. Even then, after graduating, many people don't find out that they are not cut out for nursing until they have been on a job(s) for some time. I tell people that while I have found out that nursing isn't a bed of roses, my satisfaction comes from interaction with my patients. Good luck and I hope you make the right decisions for you.

Joe NightingMale, MSN, RN · Jul 16, 2007

Nursing is a demanding field; how you deal with those demands will determine whether or not you will experience burnout.

And there is a shortage of nurses, and it's due to more than nurses leaving the field. But don't take my word for it, check out the stats at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

You seem to have good qualifications for nursing---I say go for it!:w00t:

rigmedic · Jul 17, 2007

I'm in the same boat as you...almost. I've been an airline pilot for some time now, and decided to go back to school with my goals of becoming a CRNA. I took my prerequisites, got accepted to an ABSN program, and intend on going into an ICU upon graduation. Then after a couple of years, applying to nurse anesthetist programs in hopes of getting accepted. I've made the huge committment by quitting my job and starting this program, and I've also heard all the horror stories. The nursing industry seems to be about 180 degrees opposite from my previous profession, as far as professionalism goes. So, I'm getting out of an industry where we all treat each other with respect, no one asks questions or gives us a hard time if we have to call in sick, and there are NO superiors or managers who talk down to the pilots. We are the true epitome of professionalism. Now I will have to go into an industry that is infected with such things as petty bickering, nurse managers talking down to the staff, nurse managers barking orders and threatening the staff....everything that I dread having to deal with. However, I look at two things. Not every place is going to be a bad place to work. I know there are hospitals out there that have good reputations for staff that get along well with each other. I also have to keep my long term goals in mind, and that is what really keeps me motivated. I did a surgical observation recently, and stayed with a nurse anesthetist all day. Boy was I impressed with her, and know this is really what I want to do. So, my recommendation is to set goals, and follow your dreams. That's what I'm doing. Good luck.

ROFLMAO. I thought I was the only ex-pilot going down this road! I wouldn't worry about all the bad stories too much. It is what you make of it. Besides, they don't furlough in the ICU too often.

CRNA2BKY · Jul 18, 2007

ROFLMAO. I thought I was the only ex-pilot going down this road! I wouldn't worry about all the bad stories too much. It is what you make of it. Besides, they don't furlough in the ICU too often.

OMG....that is awesome. I was lucky...I only got furloughed once after 911. So, what's your story? Are you in nursing school now? Do you want to be a CRNA also? Just curious...hope I'm not being too nosey.

rigmedic · Jul 18, 2007

I flew in the military, then corporate for about 7 years. After seeing the total lack of stability in aviation and the obvious business plan the airlines were moving toward (aka 20-Somethings in Embraers), I bailed. I would love to do CRNA, but am taking it one thing at a time. I have been a paramedic for several years and am comfortable with patient care and the paramedic skills. I am much less comfortable with the hospital environment and want to take my time and learn things at a reasonable pace.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2007

ROFLMAO. I thought I was the only ex-pilot going down this road! I wouldn't worry about all the bad stories too much. It is what you make of it. Besides, they don't furlough in the ICU too often.

I hate it when people who are not nurses say "It's not that bad, it's what you make of it." I know nothing about being a pilot, so, should I say being furloughed is not that bad- it's what you make of it.?

Yes, nursing really is that hard.

rigmedic · Jul 18, 2007

I hate it when people who are not nurses say "It's not that bad, it's what you make of it." I know nothing about being a pilot, so, should I say being furloughed is not that bad- it's what you make of it.?
Yes, nursing really is that hard.

I never said nursing wasn't hard, just that it (like any other job) is what you make of it. I have been a medic for a long time and my RN friends think we are grossly overworked and underpaid for what we do. If you work a code in the hospital, you do it as part of a team. If you work a code on the street, it is all on you. You do IV, the tube, interpret the rhythms, push the meds, etc. There are many tough jobs in the world. Nursing is only one of many tough jobs.

The thing we were discussing as pilots is the much greater job security in nursing compared to aviation.

Spartan05 · Jul 18, 2007

Hi, I figured I would ask the guys on here about being a nurse and making a career change. I was anticipating going to a 2nd degree BSN program this fall, and hoping down the road to go anesthesia. But every time I go allnurses forums all I read is how miserable, overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated nurses are. I realize don't go by everything you read, but alot of people on here just have nothing good to say about the profession. Is it really this hard being a nurse?? My goal was to get the nursing degree and work in ICU, then after a couple of years apply to anesthesia program, if I don't get in then get nurse practitioner as back up. Currently, I work in pharm sales and earn a nice living, however, job security is very unstable in this profession, I have a biology degree and some grad courses in biological/medical sciences, and every time I think ok, this is the right choice, I read horrific stories on here about the nightmare on all levels of being a nurse. I have met RN's who became drug reps, and even they have said, there is no nursing shortage, there is just a shortage of nurses who want to continue to work in the field. Can any of you help out with some good advice??

I also want to become a CRNA and I haven't heard horror stories about that profession being underpaid, underappreciated or miserable. In my experience, a lot of the horror stories come from bedside nursing and to be honest those positions may not be everyone and many people can get burned out within a few years in some of the more stressful units.

But, I wouldn't tell you to stay out of nursing simply because of that.

I think that you will find your niche once you get into nursing school and once you have some experience in the hospital. For instance, I volunteered in the OR and could definately see myself working in that environment and I am sure there are other areas that I couldn't see myself in it all but I'm not going to let that stop me from going into nursing school. Just remember that there are parts of school that you'll go through that you may not like as much as others but you do them all to get where you want to go and also to get the basic background you need to be a good nurse.

This is the analogy I will make. There are a lot of people working in education because they want to help children out. However everyone decides what level they want to be at (teacher, if so what subject is interesting to that teacher to teach, administrator, advisor, principal, superintendent, professor at a college doing education research). Would you tell someone not to go into education because they don't want to be a classroom teacher?

One lady I talked to recently said that nursing careers in the hospital only make up about 50% of the total nursing jobs available. IT IS A BROAD FIELD AND YOU JUST LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN EDUCATION WHO AREN'T TEACHING IN CLASSROOMS THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NURSING WHO AREN'T WORKING IN THE TRADITIONAL ROLE OF A BEDSIDE NURSE...THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS ONCE YOU BECOME AN RN!

Back to becoming a CRNA for a moment. I have heard that it takes a lot of time, energy and money to get there but honestly what profession doesn't require you to sacrifice something (time, energy, money) to get to a respected, fufilling, professional position and the biggest thing is that it is worth the time energy and money you put in. I guess the way that I look at it is this. I don't consider myself entirely selfish (money-motivated) or self-less and that is one reason why I want to get into anesthesia...I figure it is a good way to balance doing something that requires a lot of responsibility that is fufilling (to me personally, knowing that I am doing someone a service by watching over them as they go through a procedure) with a good paying, good benefits job.

I would stay out of nursing if you are only doing it to become a CRNA and only because its a high paying job. There are easier ways to make six figures. I would say that if you care about people and can handle seeing them sick, vulnerable, dying and at their worst and you are compassionate then go for it. After all, nursing is a broad area and I don't think you necessarily have to be a bedside nurse to make a difference or to be successful in this field, I think the common denominator is simply wanting to be involved in a field that you know you are making a difference. If you can say yes to that question than you will find your niche whether it be a specific unit in the hospital (ER, OR, etc.) an advanced specialty, or nursing outside of the hospital.

Sorry if I got a little fired up in this message, hope I helped out a little with your decision and please feel free to PM me if you want.

GOOD LUCK!

Spartan05

Beggar♂ · Jul 22, 2007

I'm coming out of almost 20 years as an engineer (various facets of mechanical design, controls, manufacturing, and project management). I'm sick of the instability of my original profession, the unpaid OT, the travel, the sometimes lousy pay/no benefits (small companies), the often insignificance of the work, and the solitary nature of the work.

Nursing suits me on a variety of levels. Certainly the ROI on the education is very high and the stability and diversity of the field is attractive. It's also appealing to have a chance to do something truly meaningful.

I'm also considering CRNA or some other form of APN but could be content as a NICU nurse (my hope for my first job).

Glad to see I'm not the only "old guy" looking to make the change.