Considering career change to nursing...

[PeaceKeepr]

A brief intro: 24 yrs old. I live in rural South GA. When I graduated high school I had thoughts of Anesthesiologist, but decided I didn't want to go to school for another 12 years. So I chose computers.

I've been working in IT for a few years and don't really like it anymore, plus there isn't enough advancement opportunities in this area for IT.

I'm going back to school currently for Early Childhood Education. After doing a few observations, I'm not sure that is for me either.

The other day I talked w/ a fellow that was going for CRNA and it got me thinking about medicine again (I have often thought about EMT and CRNA previously). I have researched the RN program and the path all of the way up to CRNA, and I'm generally excited about the possibility of starting in nursing. My wife supports me, and may follow me into the medical field when I make RN and start working. Nothing is final yet, but I'll have to make some radical changes to my current job before starting the nursing classes; I'll need to at least work part time and I guess take some loans out...

Well I just wanted to drop a few lines and introduce myself to the herd.

[nurselizk]

Welcome to the herd, I'm a female lurker from time to time. I suggest you shadow a CRNA. It's a long haul and you want to be sure it's the right career before committing to it. The money may be good, but that won't be enough motivation to get you through CRNA school--not when you have long stretches of getting 4 hrs of sleep a night or getting up at 3 am to get to clinical. And making a lot of money in a job you don't like just makes you reluctant to leave a job you hate, it doesn't make up for hating it. Saw it happen many a time. If you do decide it's for you, I'd recommend a Second Degree Bachelor's program. I don't know what it is, but there seems to be a significant number of former-IT people going into nursing. The friend of mine that did it said he did so because he found IT to be "soul-less". He's much happier, but it's not for everyone. And he doesn't have CRNA aspirations.