Career Dilemma

bsyrn, ASN, RN · Feb 13, 2014

The first thing you could do would be contact your local college and see what credits would be transferrable. That way you would have a better idea of what route to take. LPN, RN, ADN, BSN.... If Nursing is your passion, I would go for it, you don't want to live your life with regrets. Don't worry about what other people think, you need to do what makes you happy and what will work for your family. Nursing is a great profession, I highly recommend it. Good luck :)

lmm76 · Feb 13, 2014

Thank you so much for your inspiring words of advice and encouragement. You have definitely helped me to confirm my feelings that it really doesn't matter what other people think. Thanks again so much!

sharpeimom · Feb 13, 2014

I was where you are now several years ago. I had a totally unrelated MA and BA and wanted to switch to nursing. A good first step is having your transcripts evaluated. More of my credits that I would have thought possible transferred. I had already taken organic and inorganic chem, genetics I and II, a Bio sequence, but needed more, plus I was totally deficient in math. I got through math courses with some great tutors. That was a miserable summer!

You'll have to take A&P I and II plus some other prereqs , but you can do it! Good childcare will be vital for this to work. But it can and will work. You can do this. I'd suggest a BSN program, maybe. I wish my husband were home right now because he's a college professor and advises some programs. I'm not sure the accelerated program that I did would work for you since you have a little bitty,

because it takes virtually ALL of your time. You have absolutely no life but school. When you graduate, you will have a better idea in what area you would like to work. I ended up getting a MSN and working psych. You can add that down the road. I was researching NP programs when I very suddenly and unexpectedly became disabled. You just never know what field of nursing will call you!

When you have enough posts to use the PM feature, PM me and we'll gab more. In the meantime, Welcome to Allnurses!

secondlifenurse, MSN, RN · Feb 13, 2014

Hi IMM76: Having been a teacher for nearly 13 years and wishing instead to be a nurse all the while, I truly sympathize. As a side note, I too earned a Masters degree and then even a PhD. Now, having completed all of my pre-req's and getting accepted into my top-choice school, I am heading into a direct-entry MSN program in just a few short months. And I couldn't be happier! Having degrees in a field that you are only luke warm about is little consolation for having a career you really want. If your spouse is on board and going back to school will work for your family (you, your spouse, and your young son), then those are the only people you need to answer to. Oftentimes, people give feedback that reflects how they would feel in your shoes ("you're going to be in school forever" = "I would dislike being in school as much as you have been"). But they don't know your heart or your mind. Do what is right for you and your immediate family. Everyone else will get on board when they see how happy, fulfilled, and energized you are by being in a field that is a good fit for you!

lmm76 · Feb 14, 2014

Sounds great! It's funny you mentioned getting your MSN and working in psych because my undergraduate degree is in Clinical Psychology, lol! I have to day I'm tempted to do the accelerated program, but like you said, I wonder how that would work right now. I"m just so sick and feeling stuck and feeling that all that work was for nothing. I truly feel like all of those loooong 7 years it took me to get my Masters all the while working full time was a waste.......I guess I'm just tired of being in an unfulfilled rut and I know the only person who can change my situation is me. Thank you so much for your help! I will definitely PM you when I have enough posts!

lmm76 · Feb 14, 2014

You absolutely read my mind.....I talked it over with my husband and he's not happy with me going back to school again, but I"m trying soooo hard to convince him that if we've made it this far struggling financially, we can make it again.....He was very honest and told me, "I know you're frustrated because you can't find a job but you going back to school is going to kill us financially. But, if you really think this is going to make you happy, I guess I have no choice but to go with it." I understand his feelings and others' feelings, but like you said, people doubt that they themselves can do it, not me. Lord knows I'm no stranger to hard work, so I"m ready to do what I must do in order to fulfill my first dream of becoming a nurse. At 37 years old, I am at the point where I have to do this for several good reasons: to make me happy in a career I know I will love, to provide for my family and finally have us at a good financial standing, give my son what he needs and never having to depend on someone else to get him things he needs. My mom said to me, "I wouldn't rush into this nursing thing now...You can't handle it, I know you can't. I know you and you can't handle it! Plus, you'll be waiting forever to get into clinicals and THEN what will you do?!" I"m the kind of person who, if you tell me I can't do something, will make me want to conquer obstacles twice as hard. Did you ever have anyone give you any negative comments when you entered into the nursing program after being a teacher?