Career change to Nursing

Peachpit · Jul 19

Burnout all depends on the person and outlying factors. Healthcare is demanding (as are many other fields) and nurses have a lot more responsibilities/expectations placed on them now.

There is a LOT of options/opportunties in nursing, many opportunities for advancement, certifications in various speciality areas, etc. which is good.

Many new grads think they will come out, land in their dream job/specialty and/or never have to work nights/weekends/holidays. Often times that doesn't happen but then again, nursing is in such desperate need now that new grads have more choices.

My only advice would be to get your BSN vs LPN (I'm not sure there are associate degree RN programs or diploma programs much anymore).

If you know you can't continue w/what you are doing (I personally couldn't handle what you do either) nursing school would be a good change for you.

Keep in mind that radiology tech, MRI's tech, ultrasound techs and dialysis techs are in high demand as well. Those programs are shorter in duration but get your foot in the door to many healthcare facilities - not just hospitals. Lab techs and phlebomist are also high demand.

Benjiron23 · Jul 24

@Peachpit

thanks for the feedback Peach. If I go this route, I would probably lean towards the ABSN program and knock it out.

As far as burnout goes, have you personally experienced a high turn over rate in the areas you've worked in throughout your career?

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jul 28

Hey man it isn't a bad idea just be aware nursing "burnout" is super high as well. I was an Army RN for 20 years and retired in 2022. I work part time now ICU (16-24 hours a week) and even that is difficult as I get older. You will more than likely be working 12 hour shifts a lot of time on your feet. Nights, weekends, holidays.etc. Also if next shift doesn't show up you aren't leaving until relieved. "Burnout" is everywhere and is up to you to manage. The good part is if you can't stand nursing you could go back to your current career. Nursing has good parts. Pay has gone way up (especially post covid), you can work pretty much anywhere if you want to move. Lots of career opportunities out there. Good luck.

Benjiron23 · Jul 31

windsurfer8 said:

Hey man it isn't a bad idea just be aware nursing "burnout" is super high as well. I was an Army RN for 20 years and retired in 2022. I work part time now ICU (16-24 hours a week) and even that is difficult as I get older. You will more than likely be working 12 hour shifts a lot of time on your feet. Nights, weekends, holidays.etc. Also if next shift doesn't show up you aren't leaving until relieved. "Burnout" is everywhere and is up to you to manage. The good part is if you can't stand nursing you could go back to your current career. Nursing has good parts. Pay has gone way up (especially post covid), you can work pretty much anywhere if you want to move. Lots of career opportunities out there. Good luck.

Was Nursing your first career choice in the Army? Also, how would you describe the gender dynamics of being a male in this career field compared to that of a female?

Thanks for sharing your experience and insights. I really appreciate the honest perspective on the challenges of nursing, especially the burnout and demanding shifts. It's helpful to hear about both the pros and cons. I'll definitely take this into account as I consider my career options. Thanks again for your advice and good luck with your part-time work in the ICU!

GunnyNurse, BSN, RN · Sep 3

Hello, just wanted to throw in my perspective of a nurse of about 8 years. I am a man as well. You stated you have some family in nursing and potentially maybe some friends or acquaintances who may be as well. My advice would be to not get caught up with everyone talking about the "burnout" or the "stress" of working in healthcare. Please know there are so many opportunities for you to pursue. I have experience in ICU and would agree high acuity areas such as ICU and ER can be high stress and may contribute to burnout for some nurses. However, there are nurses who love this level of care and it really fills their cup coming into work everyday. This may or may not be you. As others have stated there are so many settings and specialties you can pursue that can provide you a high level of career satisfaction that may not be stressful or burn you out at all. As a man, I will tell you many of your colleagues in nursing will be women. This is something you'll get over quickly while in school To be fair, numbers of men in nursing have been increasing drastically in recent years. There were many guys in my nursing courses and I see more and more male nursing students nowadays. In my perspective, there's nothing "feminine" about this profession. It's a good field for men and women alike. You'll learn a ton of skills and knowledge that'll make you proud. I hope this is beneficial while you consider your options. I'd be happy to answer any further questions if any arise.