Career Change to Nursing...

[AustinTJC]

Hi,

i joined this site since it seems like it has a lot of helpful advice for the nursing field. So, about me, I got my BA in Economics and since then have worked in real estate billing and education (yeeehaw!). However, I'm ready for a change since I really dislike monotonous desk jobs and had enough of teaching. I am now looking into starting out by getting my LVN degree (I live in Texas) and changing careers into health care. I understand that nursing isn't an easy job, but I like helping people (preferably in a collegial atmosphere). I want to go into a job with security and satisfaction.

Is getting my LVN degree and later working towards becoming a RN a good move? I'm 31, which isn't too old, but I'm not 22 either.

Any other advice? I admit I'm a newbie and any help on getting into nursing would be helpful. Are there any reputable online degree programs? Or is a brick and mortar degree program best?

Thanks! :-)

[leighaRNBSN]

Already having a bachelor's degree puts you in a great position. I had my bachelors in psych and then did whats known as an accelerated bachelor in nursing program. Basically they take your entire first degree as transfer credits and then you take the nursing classes in a back to back format. I had two semesters worth of prereqs to do before i could start the program. So I started school again in sep '14 and earned a second bachelor by may '16. I would highly recommend it.

[djh123]

I'd recommend a 'real' school more than online, for several reasons. Without making it a long explanation, I took an important 'foundation' class online, didn't learn enough, which then made 2 other important nursing school classes harder. Also, to me, the more hands-on stuff you get in nursing school, the better, whether it's simulation labs, a good teacher telling you stuff, clinicals -- all of it.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Just wanted to provide OP with some clarification.

In TX metro areas, hospitals are moving toward (or already have) only hiring BSNs. And LVN practice is pretty much limited to non-acute settings.... primarily in LTC because clinics & doc offices seem to prefer MAs these days. Since there aren't any media representations of LT care settings (not exciting enough to interest the public?), you'll need to do a bit of exploration to access this information from an insider. Smaller cities and rural areas are still more wide-open due to a much lower nursing supply.

Since you already have a degree - If you can hammer out your pre-reqs with a decent GPA & do well on entrance tests, I strongly urge you to consider an ABSN program. They are more expensive, but it may be offset by stepping in to an RN job more rapidly.

In Texas, about 80% of our working nurses are employed in 6 (of 254) counties! Harris County (Houston) is the biggie. Salaries are driven by supply & demand. So Houston salaries are highest at the moment, followed by DFW. Austin is pretty low because everyone and their great aunt Fanny is moving there - so they apparently have an abundant supply of nurses at the moment.

Wishing you the best of luck on your nursing education journey.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Also, if I eschewed the LVN route and went to a RN as suggested, would an Associate degree be ok to start with, then finish the BSN later? Or is a BSN the best way to go? Thx for the help! :-)

The "best" route depends upon your circumstances. If you can afford the time and money, perhaps the "best" way is to go straight for a BSN. Then there's the choice of accelerated vs. traditional route. Again, that depends upon your personal circumstances.

You can certainly go the ADN route -- it's a quicker way to get working, there are plenty of RN to BSN bridge programs and sometimes your employer will pay the tuition. I've worked with some truly excellent nurses who have gone either way. There's also an entry level MSN program which I don't recommend. Graduate tuition is more expensive and many of the graduates I've seen locally have been book smart but lacking in common sense and aren't my favorite colleagues. But perhaps that is just the local program.

Consider the cost in time and money when you make your decision. Evaluate the school's NCLEX pass rates and reputation. Good luck with your studies, whatever you decide.

[AustinTJC]

Already having a bachelor's degree puts you in a great position. I had my bachelors in psych and then did whats known as an accelerated bachelor in nursing program. Basically they take your entire first degree as transfer credits and then you take the nursing classes in a back to back format. I had two semesters worth of prereqs to do before i could start the program. So I started school again in sep '14 and earned a second bachelor by may '16. I would highly recommend it.

I think that would be a great route to go! At first I was nervous that I'd have to start from scratch and go through the whole undergrad degree experience again; I will most likely do as you suggested. I think that undergrad credits would be less expensive than Masters credit hours.

I will look for accelerated BSN programs in Texas; Did you do the online version or the university setting? Many people have said you will need to go to a brick-and-mortar university/college to do the clinicals and coursework, which is okay with me. I also assume that the 18 month program won't be as expensive as getting a four year Bachelors, since a lot of prior coursework is transferred in.

Also, when I am in school should I expect to work at max part-time? I understand my schedule will be busy with school, so the FT work and school may be too much.

Not to be a downer, but various folks on the internet are saying that despite what people think, nursing jobs are getting harder to come by; Is that all paranoia, or is there some truth to it? Should I also consider being a PT? I understand that it's different than a RN, but I want to get into a field where I know there'll be job opportunities.

Thanks! :-)

[AustinTJC]

Just wanted to provide OP with some clarification.

In TX metro areas, hospitals are moving toward (or already have) only hiring BSNs. And LVN practice is pretty much limited to non-acute settings.... primarily in LTC because clinics & doc offices seem to prefer MAs these days. Since there aren't any media representations of LT care settings (not exciting enough to interest the public?), you'll need to do a bit of exploration to access this information from an insider. Smaller cities and rural areas are still more wide-open due to a much lower nursing supply.

Since you already have a degree - If you can hammer out your pre-reqs with a decent GPA & do well on entrance tests, I strongly urge you to consider an ABSN program. They are more expensive, but it may be offset by stepping in to an RN job more rapidly.

In Texas, about 80% of our working nurses are employed in 6 (of 254) counties! Harris County (Houston) is the biggie. Salaries are driven by supply & demand. So Houston salaries are highest at the moment, followed by DFW. Austin is pretty low because everyone and their great aunt Fanny is moving there - so they apparently have an abundant supply of nurses at the moment.

Wishing you the best of luck on your nursing education journey.

Thanks! :-) The wife and I plan on moving to DFW or Houston this January, for better job prospects. That is definitely true about Austin, the city is really growing a lot now.

[kes0317]

Hello there I am in your shoes as well! I am 32, wanting to go to nursing I have a BA in journalism(never really used it besides a few years working in radio) Ive been working in Vision Care as a tech for about 8 years and there is not much higher I can go as far as furthering myself...I make 14.50 per hour and the top pay at my current job will tap out at 17 per hour. I also only work 35 hours a week, I have a level 1 certification in my position. Anyways I too am going to go the LPN route to start bc at a local community college its 1 year in length and 10k total inclusing costs for the final licensing. I cant get accepted into any RN programs until 2018(if i even get accepted) due to not having sciences pre reqs completed and the competition into nursing schools here in upstate NY is fierce! I am thinking LPN will be a good place to start get myself going as a nurse, learn the basics and hopefully get into an ophthalmology practice or eye surgical center specialty. I def suggest doing a hands on program bc that is the best way to learn!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I think that would be a great route to go! At first I was nervous that I'd have to start from scratch and go through the whole undergrad degree experience again; I will most likely do as you suggested. I think that undergrad credits would be less expensive than Masters credit hours.

I will look for accelerated BSN programs in Texas; Did you do the online version or the university setting? Many people have said you will need to go to a brick-and-mortar university/college to do the clinicals and coursework, which is okay with me. I also assume that the 18 month program won't be as expensive as getting a four year Bachelors, since a lot of prior coursework is transferred in.

Also, when I am in school should I expect to work at max part-time? I understand my schedule will be busy with school, so the FT work and school may be too much.

Not to be a downer, but various folks on the internet are saying that despite what people think, nursing jobs are getting harder to come by; Is that all paranoia, or is there some truth to it? Should I also consider being a PT? I understand that it's different than a RN, but I want to get into a field where I know there'll be job opportunities.

Thanks! :-)

There are job opportunities, but they may not be where and what your "dream job" is. You may have to start in Med/Surg or long term care rather than the specialty of your choice. You will have to work nights, weekends and holidays, especially when you're new.

Don't even consider not going to a brick and mortar school. You'll need clinical hours, and you want to choose an accredited school with a high NCLEX pass rate.

How much you work will depend upon your individual aptitude, study habits, income needs and program. I worked more than 40 hours per week through most of my BSN program. Others don't seem to be able to manage even part time. If you do work, your job will have to be flexible enough to allow for your classes, clinicals and group study projects.

Physical Therapy requires a Master's or a Doctrate these days. I don't know about the job market, but the PT I've been seeing tells me that while she makes more than her RN husband, jobs are harder to find and she wouldn't have her job in a freestanding PT clinic without her Doctrate.

[AustinTJC]

Thanks for the additional replies! :)

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Also, if I eschewed the LVN route and went to a RN as suggested, would an Associate degree be ok to start with, then finish the BSN later? Or is a BSN the best way to go? Thx for the help! :-)

Tons of people go this route!

I did a BSN program...then kicked myself when I found out there were ADN and ADN-to-BSN programs (long time ago...pre-internet lol) in part because some of the content had no context for pre-licensure nurses with no experience.

Now I teach in an ADN program and firmly believe the same thing.

[supakimchee]

Skip the LVN, get your RN if at all possible.

[JerseyTomatoMDCrab, BSN]

Not to be a downer, but various folks on the internet are saying that despite what people think, nursing jobs are getting harder to come by; Is that all paranoia, or is there some truth to it? Should I also consider being a PT? I understand that it's different than a RN, but I want to get into a field where I know there'll be job opportunities.

The availability of jobs depends heavily on where in the country you are interested in working. Large cities across the country usually have an over saturation of new grad RNs and thus jobs are much harder to come by. Rural areas, places with much lower populations and lots of space between big cities are typically the locations where it's easier to find work. Some even offer sign-on bonuses, from what I am told. Would you be willing to relocate?

Also, there are no accelerated PT programs and nowadays you are required to get a doctorate so if you are looking for a fast degree, that's not one of them.