Change of Career Advice! Please help!!!

MiaNJ · Apr 23, 2007

Hi, this is going to be a long question, but any advice would be much appreciated.
I have been working on pre-reqs and applying to nursing schools since 2002. I've been waitlisted at a bunch of programs and recently got accepted to a masters entry program in nevada! yay
but in the mean time I actually progressed in my career as an Accountant. I'm at a very reputable firm making about what a nurse makes, working 9-5. the job is great. I like the people, I like the prestige, I'm a Senior Consultant now (making 80K) and its a fun job. Its not my "life's passion" but its a good job and in a pretty area in the San Francisco area. The job has good perks, like re-imbursable mileage, good hours, good pay, they will pay for your CPA, etc.
Now that i've been accepted the nursing school and a Masters entry program for nursing I'm so confused!
I worked on those pre-reqs for so long and i'm so excited to have this opportunity.
but i'm scared to leave my good job. People work for years to get to the position i'm in now.
I want to go "gung-ho' for nursing, but I'm scared of all the standing, and what it patients don't like me. What if i'm tired one day and there is an emergency and i'm not prepared?
Does any one have any advice as to what to do?
I've always wanted to work in Plastics or Derm area of nursing.
Thanks you!:monkeydance:

I think you really have to want to change your career, deep inside, and WANT to pursue nursing for the sake of it, not just because of salary it may bring.

I changed my career, as have many others who went to my second degree Accelerated BSN program, and I did it because i really felt the desire to pursue nursing. Some people may do it for the stability it can offer (the nursing shortage will create even more jobs as the population gets older), and the decent pay.

But I will end up getting paid a bit less for my starting nursing salary than my previous job. BUT I didn't see myself in that corporate job for years and felt I would be bored eventually. I really wanted to work helping people and know that nursing has MANY options and different areas to specialize or work in. Also, I felt that a corporate career wasn't a career where I can 'age' and find as many opptys as with nursing. Medical professions value experience highly and there are many nurses that I've seen over 55, whereas in corporate jobs there were very few new hires over 50. It may not be the same everywhere, but that's what I've seen.

But the main reason I changed to nursing was because I felt a great interest in it, and just thru my clinical experiences, I felt satisfaction in having made a difference in people's lives, even if it was small one. There are so many great areas in nursing and if plastics/derms interests you, that area can be very lucrative and eventually you could make even more than what you make now.

If you worked so hard to get thru the pre reqs and wait for a program, it would be a shame if you look back one day and regret not taking the oppty.

You have to look inside yourself and answer that question. Will you regret not even trying and are you TRULY happy with your current job or is it mostly that it's great pay and that it's fun for now, but do you find true passion for it?

I decided to go with my passion and know that with nursing there are many career options even if I decide that i hate/dislike hospital bedside nursing. There's even corporate nursing, occupational nursing, nursing research, nursing informatics, etc. if you ever decide to not work in a hospital/clinic/doctor office setting again.

Maybe you can go part time and see how your first few courses go, and if you want to continue?

HealthyRN · Apr 23, 2007

Hi Surfergirl,

Congratulations on your acceptance to the master's entry program and on your promotion. It sounds like you have a tough decision to make and in order to help you, I need to ask a few important questions. Why do you want to go into nursing? Do you feel like you will not be truly satisfied in life unless you pursue your dream to become a nurse? Have you ever shadowed a nurse? Do you have realistic expectations of what nursing is like as a career?

If you have never shadowed a nurse, I would suggest that you start there. Spend a couple of 12-hour shifts with a nurse on a couple of different units. Even if you have no desire to work in acute care, you will be spending lots of time in the hospital while in school. Also, the types of nursing that you want to pursue (plastics/derm) typically require a few years of acute care experience. Are you prepared to work at a nursing job that you may not really enjoy for a few years?

Nursing can be a very challenging career and I am usually very cautious in recommending it to people. Make sure that you research nursing throughly and make a list of the pros and cons. There are lots of opportunities in nursing and a variety of career paths that one can take. However, most paths involve getting some experience in acute care. This means that you would be working undesirable hours compared to your job now, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Compensation can vary throughout the country, but an entry-level nurse here in the midwest makes about $40,000-$50,000. Nursing can also be very stressful! It is a job in which you must always be "on" and prepared for the worst. Experience will make this easier. As to "what if the patients don't like me", that will be the least of your concerns. Just read some of the threads on this board.

If you can answer some of my questions, I would have a better idea of if you are prepared to make this career change. Good luck!