I know it is extremely common for women to change careers later on and choose nursing as their new career choice. But I honestly feel totally overwhelmed at the thought of how I will achieve this. I don't even have a date in site for when I could even apply to a program. I am a full-time graphic designer in the Dallas area. I make a decent salary but despise my career choice. All I want is to be able to start over and choose Nursing as my career. I have a few prereqs out of the way, and plan to take as many classes as I can before applying. But how in the world will I be able to go to nursing school and take care of financial obligations (home & auto loans, bills, raising a 2-year old with daycare expenses, etc - you get it).
I would love to attend El Centro in Dallas. If anyone has been or is in my same situation please share your insights with me. I guess I just need someone to say "Yes, it's possible".
I am a 40 year old guy/pre-nursing student who has been an electronic engineering technician for the last 17 years and due to all the outsourcing, have decided to change careers. I have had some of the same concerns about age/time (I will probably be 43/44 when I finish) . I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and wonder "what the hell am I doing!!!" ....but what always helps me most is to remember that I can either be 43 and be an RN or be 43 and not be an RN (and spend the rest of my life wondering why I never tried).
I am 31 years old and going back to school to get my second bachelor's degree. Starting to think that I am becoming a career college student! So we're not alone, there are a lot of us who are later in life decide to go into nursing. Before we avoided it because of whatever reason, mine was because of my disability. My disabilty is hearing impaired and kidney transplant.
a) women change careers. hmmm guess I'm off on that one, being a dude and all changing careers like I am, and choosing nursing. :)
b) twenty NINE? oh please. well good for you, I guess :) cuz you could be like me, and be FORTY when you're doing it. Believe me, doing it at 29 will be infinately easier than at 40. And then when you're 40, you'll have just that much more experience under your belt.
c) yeah, the money thing is tough, isn't it? do your homework, I say. Lots of scholarships and loan forgiveness programs out there. Don't give up before you need to give up!
d) Oh it's possible. It better be or I'm sunk!!!
Hang in there, you ain't the only one! We're all bozos on this bus!
uh huh... I look around the room in Bio 102 and wonder... "how many of these children really understand what the term "grading on a curve" really means? and do they have any idea how much they should really hate me?"
I am thinking the same thing as you are! I've always wanted to be a nurse and was in pre-nursing my first year of college. Then I was introduced to the profession of Chiropractic and felt that was my calling. After 6 1/2 years of school and 3 1/2 years practicing, I'm feeling that nursing was my calling. I am 28, married with no kids, but alot of student loan dept! It's alot to think about and very stressful, so I understand what you are going through. Good Luck!
I am 37 years young and I, too, have always felt a calling to be a nurse, but I was terrified of math and needles! After 10+ years as a medical transcriptionist, I have made up my mind that the minute our local college brings their RN program up to our town, I am in. I found my calling about 6 years ago when my dad was enrolled in Hospice. I remember sitting next to his bed watching the nurses and thinking, "This is what I want to do." It was just so clear. I swear if I could have started right then and there, I would have. I never felt so positive about anything (even more positive than when I gave birth to my son!!! I'm way more confident in becoming a nurse than I was when I became a new mommy!). I spoke with a friend who works for home health and hospice agengy as an occupational therapist. She said if this is truly what I want to do I could shadow a nurse and then if I am still convinced, they would help pay for my school (up to all of it) and I would sign a contract with them for approximately one to two years. I last heard our college was bringing the RN program this fall (2006). Hurry up!!!!:rotfl: :rotfl: Good luck and remember it is never to late for anything!
No, you are not crazy! I'm just a few years younger than you (26) and I'm changing my career again! I didn't begin to seriously think about nursing until a couple of years ago. So I decided to go to law school instead. LOL That didn't work out and now I wish I hadn't wasted my time or my money. But I feel good about nursing, very good, actually.
I'm glad that I saw this thread, because I was beginning to wonder the same thing about myself!I'm 30. Not married, no kids. I have a BS degree in Marketing, and have worked most of my career in automotive quality. The automotive market being highly unstable (I live in Michigan, Ford is cutting some 30,000 jobs this morning) besides, I just can't seem to get passionate about spending 50+ hours a week in a manufacturing environment. I've always liked the hospital setting, I enjoy science and did pretty good at all my science electives in college. (even took gross anatomy - I was the ONLY marketing person in gross anatomy and med micro). A woman who works in my department has made the decision to go back for nursing. And she inspired me. I've always thought it was too late. I feel too old to be changing careers, and I want to be a parent (by the time I graduate from nursing I'll be 34-35), but I know I'll regret it if I don't take the plunge and go back.My boyfriend tells me that he's excited for me that I've found something that I'm passionate about and excited to move forward with. I suppose the panic and fear are just a part of the package. Deep down, I know this is what I want, so I need to figure out how to get there! (and still work full time to keep my medical benifits- hee hee hee)
i too changed careers and became a nurse at age 40 and that was after 2 open heart surgies, a 4 year old at home and one income, but hey it payed off and i am so happy i did it and so is my family.
and even more rewarding is that my house supervisor of an 190 hospital told me that she hopes when she gets old that i will be her nurse because i spoil my pt's.
So we're not alone, there are a lot of us who are later in life decide to go into nursing. Before we avoided it because of whatever reason, mine was because of my disability. My disabilty is hearing impaired and kidney transplant.
mmz
1 Post
I am a 40 year old guy/pre-nursing student who has been an electronic engineering technician for the last 17 years and due to all the outsourcing, have decided to change careers. I have had some of the same concerns about age/time (I will probably be 43/44 when I finish) . I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and wonder "what the hell am I doing!!!" ....but what always helps me most is to remember that I can either be 43 and be an RN or be 43 and not be an RN (and spend the rest of my life wondering why I never tried).