From Business Degrees to Nursing

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Hello everyone! I'm brand new to this forum, but I'm not a novice when it comes to getting advice from specialty forums such as this. I think they are all great resources!

I have two business degrees, B.S. Management and a M.B.A., but the desire to work in the field of medicine and healthcare that I had previously blocked out of my mind can't be ignored any longer! I will be starting nursing school in the fall going after an ADN from a very respected community college program, then continuing on for the BSN through my alma mater's RN-to-BSN program (it will take less time to achieve the BSN this way, rather than starting after the BSN from the get go). I am however, getting married in June, and my fiance will be working full time and I plan on working part time (as I have already had most of the elective courses in the program, I will only be looking at taking 1-2 classes a semester) so I think working part-time will be very doable. I just don't know what types of jobs I should look at. I know I could probably work in the business side of any Dr.'s office, or hospital, but I want something that will allow me to gain some experience with patients. Have any of you been in this situation, or have any advice for types of jobs that I could potentially look for considering my background? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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Well, for one I'd rethink the nursing thing... (see other threads). But if you are not to be deterred, I worked office and did all, including scheduling, edu, insurance, billing, collections. Lots of work, but you learn to deal with patients and doctors this way. If you can find a "friendly" doctor, and are a quick study (you will have a lot to learn, none of it is difficult, but it is specific to healthcare) you must learn fast and on your own. I worked full time during prereqs and dropped when I couldn't jive my school hours with the office.

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I would not worry about getting patient care experience at this point. You'll have loads of it in the future. I'd get a job with the best pay and most flexible hours that you won't hate.

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Why should she "rethink" the nursing thing? In reading her post she clearly is prepared to begin her journey through the program she got in to... why the discouragement toward that?

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Since you seem well prepared to embark on your goal of pursing nursing as a career I want to wish you the best of luck as we always do need more nurses to enter the profession. However, you bring a wealth of experience and just need to acquire the clinical experience. Nursing is a profession that is rewarding BUT can take a tool on you throughout the years so I beg you to think hard before beginning the journey. By the end of the year I will be removing my self from the profession but enjoy.

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Why should she "rethink" the nursing thing? In reading her post she clearly is prepared to begin her journey through the program she got in to... why the discouragement toward that?

Thank you Kateoh82, i was wondering the same thing? and btw, this "she" is actually a "he"! I probably should have described myself better in my first post, but I thank you for the support nonetheless!

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Since you seem well prepared to embark on your goal of pursing nursing as a career I want to wish you the best of luck as we always do need more nurses to enter the profession. However, you bring a wealth of experience and just need to acquire the clinical experience. Nursing is a profession that is rewarding BUT can take a tool on you throughout the years so I beg you to think hard before beginning the journey. By the end of the year I will be removing my self from the profession but enjoy.

Thank you for the encouragement! I also believe that having a business background could potential lead to other career opportunities in administration as well. As far as the nursing profession taking a toll on you through out the year, I completely agree that it can, and probably will. Thankfully I have the benefit of being in a family that is used to the work (Dad=OBGYN, Mom=RN with 30 years experience in NICU, Burn Units, Orthopedics and OGYN), Aunt=RN, 2 Cousins=CRNA's). Anyway, I do appreciate the support!

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Hi Morrie082 and welcome to the forum,

I can't provide an answer to your question, given that I am in a very similar situation as yourself (I also have a Master's degree and am mid-career, mid-level professional in a stable, financially-rewarding position, yet leaving it in September to start my BScN).

I must say that I too, was disappointed in the discouraging answers you received. I understand that people can be and are very frustrated, stressed, tired, overworked, etc. etc. in nursing, but in my experience, that can happen in practically any job field.

So as I started off by saying, that while I cannot give your advice to your job question, I can give you lots of support in having the courage to follow your nursing dream. I know exactly how it feels to try to ignore and suppress the call to be a nurse and work in the medical field.

When it is a calling that cannot be suppressed, it is the right thing to do, even though one fully realizes that it will not be a 'perfect' job. I do believe that the good, positive and rewarding aspects of nursing will outweigh the negative in our experience as 'second career nurses'.

I just know you'll love it and be a great nurse.

Best of luck!!!

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Hello Morri082,

I have a BS in technical management and human resource management. I worked in electronics for 8 years. Now I am a nursing student. I would not trade my decision for anything in the world.

I had some life altering situations occur and volunteered at my local VA Hospital, which is what brought me to where I am. I am so excited about the course work that I could ALMOST call nursing school not that bad. I absorb like a sponge because I am stoked about what I am doing.

But of course it also helps that I am mature, have real world work experience, and have been in college for 5 years. I may not have any health experience but I apply things from both my former schooling and professional life daily.

You never know where your past experiences will take you and you will have many that other nurses never had. I like to think that my HRM experience might land me an awesome recruiting position or that my electronics experience might land me an awesome biomedical position or that my management experience might advance me quicker then my peers.

Good luck on your journey and never take your past experiences for granted, they still count!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Healthcare finance and billing is quite different from traditional business practices... it may be difficult to get your foot in the door unless you have experience or training in this area. You may want to explore opportunities with Physician Management Companies in your area - they handle back-end operations for physicians & provide fill-in for vacations & absences. They are much more likely to have resources needed for newbie training programs.

Question - have you already discussed your plan for part-time classes with an advisor for the Nursing School? There may be some issues of which you are not aware, particularly when you reach the point of clinical practicum.

Best of luck to you!

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I have discussed my plan to work part-time with my adviser. She actually somewhat discouraged the idea of trying to work while in the program, but then followed that up by telling me that most of the students to still work, and do well in classes as well. With my program, thankfully I have the luxury of being full-time student, although I'll only be in 2 classes a semester (thanks to all my undergraduate and graduate coursework applying towards the program), so working part-time should be reasonably doable.

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Thank you Kateoh82, i was wondering the same thing? and btw, this "she" is actually a "he"! I probably should have described myself better in my first post, but I thank you for the support nonetheless!

My bad! Thanks for the clarification.. Good luck to you:)

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