From Computer Science to Nursing.. need help!

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hi, like most of you here, ive been considering going back to school to pursue a nursing degree. i graduated with a degree in bs management of information systems. it has been almost 4 years since my graduation and i must say that i never really quite achieved that dream job of mine yet. with the way the current economy is right now, with companies laying off it people left and right, it is hard for a recent grad to find a decent job because not only are we competing with recent graduates but we are also competing against people who had years and years of experience but unfortunately got laid off. well needless to say, i am considering different possibilities right now and as most of you are well aware of, healthcare is the number one most stable industry to be in right now. anyway, i honestly love working in the it industry. but not to sound materialistic or anything, it is just not worth it anymore compared 5 years ago when the dot-com industry was at its peak. almost 3 years of web and graphic design with about a year of software support and occasional database design, i am still making entry level salary which is definitely not good. with my salary, i cant even move out of my parents house because obviously i cant afford rent. and with my employer cutting off employee medical benefits in order to cut costs, well that's just the last straw for me!

i originally didnt consider nursing because all i knew about nursing is that they are the ones who pretty much put up with the doctor's crap. (sorry if i sounded harsh, but you get the idea.) they are overworked, yet not at all appreciated. however, after about a month of "researching" into the field, i found out that there are actually other areas of nursing that one can specialize in other then the traditional bed side nursing. anyway.. my point is, is there basically an area in nursing where i can also, even in the smallest of ways, be able to apply what i learned in computers and technology? because i would really hate it if i abandon it all together, although i am open to venturing into a different field.

if any of you are having the same experience, i'd really appreciate it if you would share them. how did it feel leaving a field you've been in for years and move one to something entirely different? thanks a lot and good luck to everyone!

:imbar

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Specializes in Psych.

Yes, there is exactly the thing you're thinking of, it's calling nursing informatics. Do a search on it and read those threads.

I must share that I work in IT right now (I'm planning to quit and start school full-time in August) and have for 20 years and I've been very successful (I'm a global project manager) BUT the last 2 years have been awful. I work for a fortune 500 company and it is outsourcing IT to Bangkok and Curitiba, Brazil. The management jobs have been consolidated to Houston and I want to stay here. The other thing (more important, actually) is that I've always wanted to be in healthcare. I am very active in the wellness committee at work and teach aerobics. I finally figured out that the bucks didn't matter and I wanted to do what I love. I am not sure that sharing this helps you at all...I'm a bit concerned that you didn't mention your interest level in healthcare. I finally figured out that no job is worth not being interested in what you're doing. Just MHO, you'll have to make your own decision. Nursing is not a bed of roses, hang around this board and read and you'll see that.

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Specializes in Junior Year of BSN.

I understand exactly what your saying, but luckily changed my major before graduation. There are many possibilites for nursing. If your not really a "people-person" then there are other avenues of nursing besides bedside nursing. You have to take into account that you STILL need to be a quality care person, so thinking that you will not be with patients is not the way to go. You can go into OR nursing, they don't deal as much with patients as a contact sort of way like bedside nursing. Or you can do legal nursing. How about not doing nursing at all but Healthcare Administration/Management. Your still in the healthcare field but deal with computers not really patients. Just another option you may have not have thought about:)

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Hi everyone!

Thanks so much for all your responses. I did take a look into Nursing Informatics and it really does sound interesting. Now I am having quite a bit of hope. Honestly, recently Ive been interested in nursing. Maybe it must be because of the influence of my mom and friends. Most of my high school friends are nurses and most of my cousins too. So needless to say, I come from a family of nurses. But I must admit that I'm not like most of the people here who wanted to be a nurse every since they were a kid. To be honest, this is something that just "clicked" to me a few months ago. Kinda like an epiphany :) But I must admit too that I am a bit intimidated with the physical demands of the job. It will be really a big change for me if I do decide to pursue this field.From sitting all day, for 8 hours to standing and running around. But at least, being a nurse I think is a very rewarding job. I guess I just feel little bit sad. Ever since a kid I always wanted to work with computers. But sadly, no matter how hard I tried, it is just so hard to find a decent job. :(

I will be taking my first pre-req this week. I just actually signed up today. (Talk about last minute!) My class will be Human Anatomy and Physiology. I am hoping this will somehow serve as a testing board to see if I am really interested in pursuing the field.

MereditT, I'm just wondering, with 20 years of working in IT and finally deciding to leave it, how do feel about it? Are you having second thoughts? From experience, do you think there is still a chance for the IT industry to rebound?

Thank you all so much for your replies! And I can't wait to hear more from you guys!

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Oh by the way, from my research, I think I can deal with the other stuff such as cleaning up the patient (bathing, etc). Ive given it some thought and I realized that I guess the hardest part I have to deal with the job will be dealing with the death of a patient. I am a very emotional person and I easily get attached to things and people. I don't know how to deal if a patient of mine passes away. Is this a normal fear or hesitation for most of the nurses that are just starting out with the field?

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Hi,

I've been in the IT industry for the past 5 years. I am finishing my Master's in Computer Science. I always wanted to be a nurse, but got frustrated with all the waiting list and I wanted to hurry up and get a degree. I feel like I have wasted so much time. I have to retake my prerequisites, so I will be doing that this summer. I am hoping to get into the ADN program next fall. I am doing the lpn this fall, its only 10 months. I want to get my foot in the door, so I can work nights and go to school during the day. I have been thinking about an accelerated program to complete the BSN in 15 months. Eventually I would like teach at the college level, but I'll think about that later.

I'm not sure what area I would like to go into. I will check out the informatics. I love typing and being on the computer, but I don't want to be confined to a desk or cubicle all day. I think nursing is very rewarding.

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Hi... just curious.. what made you decide to take up nursing considering you already have a master's in Computer science? Do you think you will miss the IT World?

Hi,

I've been in the IT industry for the past 5 years. I am finishing my Master's in Computer Science. I always wanted to be a nurse, but got frustrated with all the waiting list and I wanted to hurry up and get a degree. I feel like I have wasted so much time. I have to retake my prerequisites, so I will be doing that this summer. I am hoping to get into the ADN program next fall. I am doing the lpn this fall, its only 10 months. I want to get my foot in the door, so I can work nights and go to school during the day. I have been thinking about an accelerated program to complete the BSN in 15 months. Eventually I would like teach at the college level, but I'll think about that later.

I'm not sure what area I would like to go into. I will check out the informatics. I love typing and being on the computer, but I don't want to be confined to a desk or cubicle all day. I think nursing is very rewarding.

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I have 20 years in the IT profession. My first love was biology and the healthcare. Started very young in it. As a matter of fact, attended nursing asst. night school when I was in the 8th. (Shh! I was an overachiever!) I went to undergrad and finished a biology degree back in the early 80's. Went back to school to do 2nd major in computer science when the 80's economy were similar to now. Starting working in the IT arena. Had nice salaries. Applied to nursing school in 1995 because I still had a passion for healthcare. Did not follow through with the application. Work in hospital as IT project manager, tech support. Then almost 3 yrs ago, the economy started it downward spiral. Salary decreased by 60-70%! Was doing IT for Carnival Cruise Lines on the ships. Left last summer and decided to come full circle and apply to nursing school. Taking pre-reqs and working as network admin. Will enter accelerated nursing program in Sept. 2004 for 12 months. Could do the nursing informatics afterwards, especially since I have IT healthcare experience, however, I don't know if I want to be that much in depth with computers. Very interested in becoming a CRNA!! URGH, more schooling and I am not getting any younger!

Diva

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Hello all,

I'm so pleased to have come across allnurses.com and this particular thread whose focus appears to be helping us IT people make the transition into the healthcare field. I've already learned much and hope to be able to make my own significant contribution as well.

It seems we're all early in the transition stage into healthcare, even more so myself.

Maybe just a few words of encouragment for Chiliwings and any others who have been feeling the pain with respect to the tightness in the IT job market.

I've been working for a construction software company that for the most part has managed to escape the accounting hatchet that much of the software industry has experienced over the past few years. I have a good salary (~60K in Arizona where the cost of living is not our of control) and this past 6 months or so of business has been superb.

The problem I have is that I recently realized that I pursued my CS degree and got into software development mainly because of its better financial rewards compared to other careers. The process of self assessment has been one of the most difficult things I've had to do. But I now realized that what really motivates me is seeing others' conditions improve, whether these be emotional, intellectual or physical conditions. Although I've always known it, I've been a stronger right brain thinker in a left brain world these past 6 years or so. Although I spend a good part of the day designing and evaluating optimal data structures and algorithms to run our business software, for the most part I've been able to leverage my creativity and interpersonal skills in this math and logics based world in which I work.

We've all got bills to pay, and it sounds like most of us have family obligations as well, so I don't think any of us are looking to live a monastic life. I realize a move into nursing would mean a significant decrease in salary. However, it's a sacrifice that I think I am prepared to make so that I may have the more important gain of feeling truely satisfied with my work.

Well, that was a bit long winded. I look forward to hearing from you all soon.

Neil

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Hello NeilC,

Thanks for the insight. Just curious, do you think you will miss working in the IT world? And what makes you so sure that nursing is what you really wanted even after considering a signifcant decrease in salary? As for me, like in my previous posts, I still like working in IT, but as everyone knows, due to the economy right now it is hard to look for better jobs especially in the IT industry where there are a lot of unemployed, but skilled people looking for jobs. So I guess my motivation in pursuing nursing is to have a chance to get somewhere in my career and in life in general. With nursing I know what I will do matters. Not like in IT where all my hard work can get scrapped with a snap of a finger. I hope I am making sense. I guess in general I am just frustrated with all the outsourcing issues going on and I just want to be in a profession where I do not have to worry if I still have a job tomorrow.

I began my first pre-req which is Anatomy and suprisingly, I am enjoying it a lot. :)

Anyway, any stories where you can share your transition from IT to nursing will be greatly appreciated.

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Specializes in Psych.

Hi Chiliwings,

You said: "MereditT, I'm just wondering, with 20 years of working in IT and finally deciding to leave it, how do feel about it? Are you having second thoughts? From experience, do you think there is still a chance for the IT industry to rebound?"

Well, I've worked 20 years for the same fortune 500 company (oil & gas) so I am highly specialized and don't keep up with the industry as a whole. No, I will not miss this. My job has evolved into just being on the telephone and on e-mail all day long. When you work your way up to managing other people, and all the technical people doing the coding are outsourced over seas, then all you do is communicate remotely. It's awful for someone who wants real interaction (me). If I could do the in-person work again, that would be great but they are not going to pay me to go back to a skill level that I had 20 years ago! Also, I've seen a relentless focus on cost-cutting at the expense of good service and a total disregard of people over the last 5 years or so. I am aware that healthcare has some similar issues, but I am convinced that I will find a company and area of nursing where I have more respect for management. Maybe something local, pays less, but hey I can dig that. I've already made the huge mental shift of a 60% pay cut for a starting RN salary.

Good luck to you. If you like A&P, I bet you are on your way. I am giving notice August 9 and that's only 4 months. Counting the days.

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I am so happy for you. I cant wait for my turn to give my two weeks notice. Right now I'm at work but all I can think about is *looks at clock "Is it 5pm yet?".

I just hate slow days at work. I think I like it better if the job is more fast paced. Call me crazy, but I like being pressured. I guess that's another attractive reason why I am considering nursing. Things here at work used be much better. But now things have changed. Every morning I have a fear of seeing a pink slip on my table. The uncertainty of my job security is the worst!

Oh well.. I still have 4 more pre-reqs to go after Im done with AP. Microbio, Organic Chem, Nutrition and Psychology: Development. I can't wait for everything to be done so I can finally enroll in Nursing school. I just hope I get accepted. I am hoping that the fact that all my experience had nothing to do with nursing wont hurt my application to get into nursing school. :rolleyes: If everything goes as planned, I intend to stay here in my job until the end of the year. By that time I shouldve finished all my pre-reqs. I am aiming at Spring term to apply. We'll see how it goes.

Anyway, are there any techies out there considering to jump ship?

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