Considering Midlife Career Change to Nursing, Seeking Advice from Current Nurses

gcupid · Mar 10, 2011

do not pass go, do not collect $200.00 unless u are extremely miserable with your work life right now is what i would have said years ago...

However, everyone who responds will be outsiders looking in..

Will u be sacrificing? Down grading to a nurse's salary or will it improve your income? Do you like helping others? Or u interested in physiology?

too many variables..

Im at a point where I could care less about the bottom line....do whatever you think will make you happy because life is too short...& its hard to truely enjoy material possessions when u r miserable the majority of time b/c your at work the majority of time..

Remember u can accomplish anything u think u can...If your heart is telling u to do so...follow it! You may actually love nursing...

Despareux · Mar 10, 2011

Hi there! I have a "corporate world" background. I made very excellent wages with flex hours, blah, blah, blah. I hated my line of work and hated that I was wasting precious time doing something I will never enjoy. Long story short: had my son, quit my job, stayed home for a couple of years with my kids, decided to make use of the love I have for science, the need I have for human contact, and the desire to contribute to something much bigger than my little world and return to school to become a damn good nurse.

I say go for it. Change is fun. If it doesn't work out, you'll always have your corporate experience along with nursing school/job experience to fall back on.

FlyingScot, RN · Mar 10, 2011

However, in this economy the job prospects for new graduates are pretty grim. Unless you are able to uproot your family you may have a great deal of difficulty finding one. Nobody knows how long it will be this way. It could change tomorrow or it could last for years. Can your family take the financial hit of you being unemployed?

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Mar 11, 2011

dew8192 --

if you are asking is such a change feasible, the answer is "yes". i'm probably a bit older than you and became an rn only last year. i knew that i liked patient care since i was (actually still am) a volunteer firefighter/emt and nursing was a logical next step. i liked nursing school but it was a bit difficult to juggle work and school since i'm in the office upwards of 60 hrs per week and also have to travel somewhat. my plan has always been to work part-time in nursing after becoming an rn then return for my msn on the way to becoming an fnp. unfortunately, i did an associates program (i didn't need the bsn to apply to an msn program since i already had a couple of degrees) and there is a big push in my part of world to only hire bsn-rns. flying scot is not engaging in hyperbole in the post about the difficulty of the job market (which is only a bit better for bsns than adns) and i'd encourage you to consider what's said there carefully.

thankfully, i do not have to worry about a job and for now, can simply continue in my present position. like you, i've been in the corporate world for several decades and just don't get much job satisfaction. since i have not been able to find a nursing postion, i'm returning to school for a bsn via an on-line program. the hope is that after earning that degree, i'll finally be able to find a nursing position, work for a year or so, then get my msn. at that point, i'd take an early retirement from my corporate job and work as an fnp - which still will involve a fairly substantial cut in pay i might add.

so the bottom line is be sure this is what you want to do, then go for it but be prepared to have to change your plan to adapt to changing conditions. you may want to think about getting your emt-b cert and volunteering with your local fireco for a while before entering nursing school. alternatively, consider volunteering as an aide at a local hospital, nursing home or hospice. either will allow you to see if you like patient care.

good luck.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 11, 2011

are you aware you can combine the IT with Nursing? It is called nursing informatics.

ponytailman · Mar 11, 2011

The field always needs more nurses but allow me to play devils advocate. obviously your family is very important to you, are you prepared to sacrifice quality time with them to pass your nursing program because that will initially be a issue. If you take the plunge and pursue a nursing career it is not always as glamorous or rewarding as once it was. However nursing is a extremely broad and diverse field with all sorts of oppurtunities, the challenge is too figure where your comfort is when you balance career and family.

futureRN_Anastasia · Mar 11, 2011

are you aware you can combine the IT with Nursing? It is called nursing informatics.

Wow, I never heard of it. Sounds interesting.

dew8192, yes, I know what you mean so well!!! I am from the IT world as well. I worked in it for 8 years, got to an user experience architect level, tried a few different areas, and felt absolutely and completely miserable. I knew that I want to just get out of there and feel that I am helping someone here and now. I felt that at the end of the day my achievement is just paper and lines of code, nothing that would make anyone feel better.

It took me a year to do all sorts of volunteering to know what I want to do. I volunteered in distress center, physical therapy clinic, hospital to find out that I want to go into nursing. I too have a family, my son is 3 months old right now, and he will be 9 months old when I start school. It took me so much time to finally decide on a change in my life, and I hope that it is well worth it, and that I will make a good nurse. Life is short, so I think there is no need to stay misserable. Good luck with whatever you decide! :heartbeat

futureRN_Anastasia · Mar 11, 2011

Classicdame, I read about it now, and WOW!!! Thank you so much. It is an amazing area.

dew8192, maybe it will be of interest to you as well. Here is a presentation about it:

Career#24me · Mar 11, 2011

Hello,

I am working as a nurse as a second career. I worked in the corporate world and public health for years before making the change. My advise is to do nursing school part time and keep your full time job until you have to do your clinicals which may prohibit you from working full time. Then I suggest that you see if you can work part time on your job during that time. That way, you won't be frantic if you can't find work as a nurse right away. Studying to become a nurse will take a lot of your free time, but it is possible to do with children, as many people have done it. If you want to do it, go for it. I worked full time until my last year when I had to do clinicals. I worked part time for the last Summer and Fall semesters, then did not work at all the last semester. I continued to work at my part time job after that semester in a hospital, then was picked up as a nurse. Anything is possible. If you won't be happy until you do it, then do it. Good Luck.

aurora155 · Mar 11, 2011

I am in nursing school now, and it is a second career for me. So far, I'm doing OK! At my clinicals in hospital settings, just about all the nurses work 12 hour shifts except the ones with most seniority who were employed before the change in policy to only hire new nurses for 12 hour shifts. Just wanted to let you know that, in case that was important. It does appeal to some people to work three 12 hour shifts a week.

itsmejuli · Mar 11, 2011

I'm also a career changer from a cubicle in the corporate world. I got my LPN in 2009 and started RN transition last fall.

But.....here in FL there are very few jobs for LPNs and new grad RNs. I got a part time job with no benefits so I was earning less than my previous job.

Take your time going to school, there's no rush to be a nurse in this economy. And who really knows when things will turn around for new grad RNs. Its also more than likely that as a new grad RN you'll be making less $$ than you are in IT.