Doubts about Second Career in Nursing

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Hi everyone,

This is my first although I've been "lurking" here on allnurses for a while and enjoying all the questions and articles. It's helped me get to this point on my pre-nursing journey. I am having some doubts about my plans however, so I wanted to post about where I'm at and see what advice you may be able to offer me.

I'm 31 years old and I've been working full-time for an engineering company for 5 years. (I'm not an engineer though - I do GIS mapping and project management.) The company I work for is in the energy industry which has been suffering a major downturn and while my job is a good one now, I don't expect it will be around in 5 years. I have a BA is in Sociology (completely unrelated to my current job!), and before I got this job, I spent the 4 years after college doing volunteer work overseas doing linguistic research, mapping and management.

Over the last few months I've been thinking about going back to school for nursing and there were a number of things that led to that. My husband is disabled (serious mental illness), so we decided not to have kids and it's likely that he'll never work. I was always hoping to quit my job at the engineering company once we had kids and stay home with them. Now that's not happening, so if I am going to be working another 30+ years, I want to do something meaningful for my work.

Now my tentative plan is to do my pre-reqs in the next year and a half (while still working full-time) and then do a 12-month accelerated BSN program. My husband does not work at all, so we'd be living off of savings and loans during the 12-months+ I'm out of work. I currently make about $30/hr and live in NE Pennsylvania. My nurse friends in the area make about that same amount with about 3 years of experience.

It looks like my pre-reqs will be about $12K (which we can pay cash for) and then my BSN program will be about $42K (minus some scholarships hopefully) which will mostly be loans, plus we will need money to live on that year.

So, if you made it through reading all that - I'd love to hear your opinions and advice. Am I making a foolish decision financially or otherwise to become a nurse? I want to become a nurse, but I don't want to jeopardize our future. Thanks!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Do yourself a huge favor and spend an entire 12 hour shift shadowing a nurse. Take every step they take and consider every decision they make. If they don't eat, pee, or take a break, then neither do you.THEN make your decision.

PS. 12k for prerequisites is crazy. Do more homework into this whole process before you go forward. Please

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Thanks for your reply. I will see if I can shadow a nurse for a whole shift. I'd been thinking about doing that anyway and I think it will help me make my decision. Good idea.

I'm not sure how I can do my pre-reqs any cheaper. I have to take 26 credits since my science classes are over 10 years old, so that's only $352/credit hour at a community college plus books, fees, etc. Does that still sound like a lot?

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

Can you take your prereqs at a community college and transfer? These days, many courses are offered online. Is there a possibility that you can continue working while taking prereqs? Would your employer allow you to step down to part-time? I took my prereqs at a community college and transferred them to the university where I completed my ABSN. I don't know if 12K is too much for prereqs because I do not know the number of credit hours you need. I am one who lived on loans and savings while completing my ABSN. I have no regrets. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

The community college is still less expensive.

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Thanks for your reply Parker. I am planning to do all of my pre-requisites at a community college while working full-time (next 3 semesters) and then only quit my job once I start the full time accelerated BSN program.

The price may seem high for a community college but we're right at the border of NY and PA and although I live in PA, the closest college (by far) is in NY, so I'm paying out-of-state tuition. I'm doing 26 credits so maybe that's why it also seems high.

I am one who lived on loans and savings while completing my ABSN. I have no regrets. Good luck to you.

Thanks for this! It's reassuring to know that you went down that road and have no regrets!

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Specializes in ICU, Adventures in school nursing.

I agree that you should shadow a nurse if possible. Twelve hours following a med-surg nurse will give you an idea of what one aspect of nursing may be like. Med-Surg is a great specialty for new nurses to learn. However, keep in mind that there are many, many, many specialties in nursing, some of which don't include direct patient care. That's one of the greatest things about nursing, the field is so vast and there are always options. Best of luck to you!!

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I am going to make some calls and see if I can set up a day or two shadowing.

However, keep in mind that there are many, many, many specialties in nursing, some of which don't include direct patient care. That's one of the greatest things about nursing, the field is so vast and there are always options. Best of luck to you!!

Thanks for the encouragement! In my career now, I don't really see any different paths I can take, so I love that nursing has so many varied opportunities!

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Also, check the market demand for nurses in your area (threads on your choice of state to practice board), not job postings (many of those go unfilled or want x amount of years of experience before you can apply). The 'nursing is in high demand' is only true in a limited amount of small areas. High unemployment rate for new grads as well as some experienced nurses. Research before you spend the money. As I've posted to more than one thread this morning, I'm not trying to dissuade anyone, I'm encouraging you to research before you spend $$ with possibly no return, or not the expected return. Good luck

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Specializes in Dialysis.
I am going to make some calls and see if I can set up a day or two shadowing.

Thanks for the encouragement! In my career now, I don't really see any different paths I can take, so I love that nursing has so many varied opportunities!

To get one of those jobs anymore, you usually have to have some years of bedside experience under your belt (this was in response to Gatezrn, somehow picked up this quote instead)

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The 'nursing is in high demand' is only true in a limited amount of small areas. High unemployment rate for new grads as well as some experienced nurses. Research before you spend the money. As I've posted to more than one thread this morning, I'm not trying to dissuade anyone, I'm encouraging you to research before you spend $$ with possibly no return, or not the expected return. Good luck

Thanks for the reality check. I appreciate that! I have talked to the hiring/recruiting departments at two local hospitals and both said they are hiring new grads. I'll look at the other boards you suggest too. I certainly don't want to spend SO much money and not be able to find a job!

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Thanks for your reply Parker. I am planning to do all of my pre-requisites at a community college while working full-time (next 3 semesters) and then only quit my job once I start the full time accelerated BSN program.

The price may seem high for a community college but we're right at the border of NY and PA and although I live in PA, the closest college (by far) is in NY, so I'm paying out-of-state tuition. I'm doing 26 credits so maybe that's why it also seems high.

Thanks for this! It's reassuring to know that you went down that road and have no regrets!

I too am a second-career nurse and when I did my prereqs (I majored in graphic design for my first career, so no science classes to be had!), the community classes were so impacted physically that I ended up fulfilling several of my prereqs online ... at CCs that were hours away (but in the same state). I imagine you could do that same in PA.

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