career change to nursing the right choice?

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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??

Specializes in CNS, PMHNP, EMS, ER, Instructor.

There certainly seems to be allot of us "oldies" out there becoming RNs as a second career.

Like several others, I have spent about 25 years in another field (physics), but decided the lack of job stability, and more importantly the lack of job satisfaction, led me down another path (CNA to LPN to RN). I still work as a physicist to pay for school (I am trying to get my MSN in education), but I also work part-time as a RN in a local rural hospital (3 bed ER and 9 bed or so acute care).

Although the hours are long (12 hour shifts get to me a little now) and sometimes it seems like you just can't win - I still look forward to the next day as an RN, and would recommend it.

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Specializes in NICU Someday, I Hope.
I still look forward to the next day as an RN, and would recommend it.

Nice to hear that vkubiak. Thanks.

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Specializes in MICU/SICU.

Hey Dino, first, of course most of the stories on this forum are the horror stories, a lot of people come on here to vent and ask for help. Anyway, I haven't read the other posts, but your background is somewhat similar to mine, so I'll share my thoughts.

I have a BS in Biology, was pre-med, took the MCAT, applied to med schools nationwide, even went to an interview in San Francisco before I decided that medicine just wasn't what I was looking for. Graduated, took some time off, started working as an EMT & ICU Tech, and found in nursing what I had been looking for in medicine (the all-too-cliche "wanting to help people" profession.)

Went through a 1-year accelerated program to get my BSN (btw, nursing school is absolute hell. Especially with a biology degree, you'll feel like you're wasting your time. It's not hard... just... lame.) I just started working in MICU/SICU and every week at church when people ask how my new job is I tell them "I love it." I don't know too many people who look forward to going to work, have a good time at work, and come home from work feeling satisfied. It is tiring, it is challenging, you're learning a million new things every day... but I guess that's why I love it. Not only that, I've talked quite a few of my church brothers to go back to school and become RN's as well. I don't think you'll be making as much money as a pharm rep, but personally, nursing is rewarding in many ways beyond the finances.

Good luck to you.

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Man, I am a pilot too lol!

The general public has no idea all the b.s. pilots deal with. The training and schooling we go thru all to make peanuts and not even a stable source of peanuts. I always wanted to help people, but I don't think I want to go thru med school, so I am loking into nursing. I just don't know if I can clean up vomit and poop every shift. Do you guys know how often RNs have to clean up bodily fluids?

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What do you mean nursing school isn't hard, just lame? I majored in aviation science and am a commercial pilot; but from what I hear, I am scared of nursing school. All the girls I've talked to say it is extremely difficult and challenging. Is that true?

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

I'm a guy, and a nurse since '86. Do I hate nursing - many days, but not all. You need to be aware that when entering nursing you will be treated as an employee, a drone, a piece of equipment to be abused or discarded at will. Even in the best of circumstances nursing has never garnered professional respect and indiviual autonomy that is practiced in other careers. Most days the maintenence staff are accorded more professional courtesy than the nurses. It can be satisfying, engaging, challanging and financialy stable, but rarely respected. If you can put up with that, nursing is an OK choice- you've been warned.

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Man, I am a pilot too lol!

The general public has no idea all the b.s. pilots deal with. The training and schooling we go thru all to make peanuts and not even a stable source of peanuts. I always wanted to help people, but I don't think I want to go thru med school, so I am loking into nursing. I just don't know if I can clean up vomit and poop every shift. Do you guys know how often RNs have to clean up bodily fluids?

When I got out of aviation (I was in corporate), it amazed me the number of people that are just dumbfounded that anyone would give up "such a good job". LOL

They have no idea!

As for the bodily fluids thing, yes you have to learn to deal with it. I started out in medicine as an EMT, then a Paramedic, then an RN. Last year, I made $115,000 (FO pay at a major). So, I am quite happy to wipe the occasional butt.

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How is it you make that? How long have you been an RN? And, how often do moat nurses have wipe patients butts and clean up vomit and feces?

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Wow, more pilots making the change:icon_roll. I was an airline pilot for the last 5 years before deciding to switch. There were so many times up in the air that I thought "hmmm....why don't we just make a turn and fly to the Bahamas"...so I would program it into the FMS just for kicks to see if we could make it there on our fuel load. So, I decided I would rather fly where I want and when I want, so I decided that I just need to go to nurse anesthetist school, then buy my own plane. So....that's pretty much my story!

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I'm on furlough from one of the majors and am currently completing prerequesites for an ABSN program. I used to think memorizing limitations was hard until I started trying to memorize the skeletal system. In response to an earlier post, I don't know too many FOs making 115,000/yr. anymore unless they are flying for FedEx or UPS. I am having my doubts about this whole nursing thing as well. I'm not doing it for the money or security, but rather for some form of internal satisfaction from helping others. What worries me, is that I'm looking at it from the outside and am not familiar with the realities of the job. I don't really want to go back to flying because of the lifestyle involved (ie living on the road, crappy sleeping and eating habits, etc.) but do miss having a decent steady paycheck and working towards retirement.

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How old are you and what are you worried about nursing? I am a FO for a regional and hate the lifestyle. I lost touch with most of my non pilot friends, lost my girl and I'm out of shape and always tired and depressed. Plus the pay sucks. I got a Bachelors and invested 70K in flight training all to end up at this point. All I wanted to do was fly and travel..wish I would have taken into account all the other aspects of having a fulfilling life. I want to be a nurse because I want to help people, interact with others and they make good pay and I like the work hours. But I am worried I am not cut out for cleaning up the patients such as wiping their butts and that such..Any info or feedback from anyone??

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hey viable, what city r u based out of? i was based out of cincinnati for years. when i decided to get into nursing, i went and did an ABSN program near me, and so I got a 2nd bachelors degree in 16 months. it was very tough, but well worth it. i love helping the patients, and unlike the airlines, you can pretty much get a job anywhere you want. i don't think many people really enjoy wiping butts, but you take the good with the bad. i got use to it quickly, so it doesn't really bother me at all. i do want to get my masters in nurse anesthetist, but i have to get my ICU experience first. i know a CRNA here, and he has his own airplane, and flies around the country for his work. he has a regular job at a hospital here, but then we he has several weeks off, he travels around the US and fills in for other nurse anesthetists. it seems like a pretty cool lifestyle, decent money, helping people, and being able to fly too.

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