Career change wuestions

[Runningchic]

I am hoping to get some thoughts from nurses on a potential career change From athletic training to nursing. I have 3 nieces that love nursing and always encourage me to make the change but they are also in different phases of their life. I have been an athletic trainer for about 18 years. I have worked with a college program for almost 14 of those years. We have approximately 280 athletes and I am currently responsible for about 100 athletes healthcare. My college is continuing to add sports and athletes but no additional help for us. On any given day I have between 20-50 people I give medical care to. My highest that I’ve had come through is 65. In addition to providing medical care I also cover every practice and game for those teams that are mine.

I know it’s time for me to make a change as this particular job environment continues to worsen every year. I am in a rural area so another athletic training job isn’t an option and personally I want to get out of this field. I feel like nursing is a logical step for me, I think I’d like it and also be a good nurse. I regret not going into nursing out of high school.

My only concern is that I would be making a switch from one high stress chaotic job to another one and end up in a worse situation. I think at least with nursing if one particular job wasn’t good that there are at least lots of other options in lots of other specialties/types of work environments all around the country. Is this a logical thought? I have no problem working hard and under stress. What I do have a problem with is working 50+ hours a week, holidays, weekends etc with no additional pay, no consideration to activities in my life etc. (pretty much if a coach decides they want to have a practice I have to be there regardless of date/time and how much notice I’m given)

I’m looking for anybody’s thoughts on switching from my current job to nursing. Am I rationalizing the switch because I am so ready to be out of this job? Or does this seem like a reasonable switch?

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Hello there and welcome ?

I read your post and I think you are well situated to make the change to nursing. You demonstrate a clear understanding that on the whole, nursing is stressful, but that there are avenues and options with nursing unlike most any other profession out there. You WILL have to work weekends and holidays, potentially nights too, at least at first, but all of these come with extra pay and sometimes other perks. I loved working Thanksgiving and Christmas when I was a floor nurse. Most acute care nursing jobs are 36 hours per week. Granted, those are rough hours though.

I think you should continue looking into it. You have every reason from what you said above to feel optimistic about making this change. Good luck!