Career Switch at 30? Looking for advice/dos & don'ts/anything for someone considering nursing as a second career

[BellB]

Hi all, I'm in my early 30s and strongly considering going back for a nursing ADN through my community college with end goal of maybe pursuing FNP or another specialty MS degree further down the road. I also like the idea of travel nursing, but would want at least a few years of experience before looking into that further. I know I'm youngish in the grand scheme of things but feel so late pursuing a new career in my 30s. I wouldn't start the program until I was 31 and would be 33ish upon graduation. I would likely also be taking a pay cut at least starting out. I'd likely be taking a pay cut, I make about 90k salary here and hourly for new grad nurses in my area is somewhere around $35/hr.

I have an undergrad in business, masters in data analytics and am about to finish my MBA and work as a project manager but feel like something is missing. I also work in a healthcare adjacent field, so could likely come back to a corporate role where an RN would be beneficial if I end up not enjoying my role. I wanted to pursue nursing in undergrad but struggled with Chemistry and got discouraged and switched majors. I feel more than ready to try again, but have a mental block about my age. Really just wanted to hear from anyone else who made a career jump later in life and isn't a 19 year old student.

If I pursue this, I'd be working full time (day job is relatively cushy, lots of downtime/remote) and taking classes 2 nights a week and a lecture on the weekends. I do not have kids, only 2 dogs who will be home with me most of the day/not worried about balancing timing. Mostly, I can't see myself sitting behind a desk 5 days a week for another 25 years and the ADN would only take 16 months. 

 

[HiddenAngels]

I say go for it right now while you have the time.  It seems you have set yourself up nicely with a lot of flexibility for this opportunity and, judging by your career trajectory you can mentally handle this.  This should be a drop in the bucket for ya.   Who knows what may come down the road?

It'll probably take less than 30 minutes.  See what I did there...😊

Good luck! 

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I was a cosmetologist in my former life, life before nursing that is. I wasn't quite 30, I was 27. Nursing was also a bump in pay for me coming from a close to minimum wage job where I relied on inconsistent tips for the majority of my income.

With your background utilizing a nursing degree within a non-nursing role is a great backup plan if you decide direct patient care is not for you.