From construction to nursing, has it been done?

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Hello everyone,

So let me try and make a longer story very short. I am 39 now nearing my 40th birthday and have worked in the construction field since I was about 19, give or take a year in between. I did try going to college right out of high school, however while I finished some courses I registered for, most were not. I either withdrew or received a "F" simply because I would just stop attending class halfway through a semester.

Years pass, and it wasn't until almost 4 years ago that I decided to go back to school. I was working full time and started with one class, then two, and have been going to school to attain a degree in Historic Preservation. What a difference 15 years make! I love going to class and have discovered quite a few things about myself in the process. I have taken approximately 14 courses and have received an A in each. I have raised my old gpa from a 1.something to just under a 3.3.

I am very close to finishing up my degree in Historic Preservation and am contemplating making a drastic career shift to nursing. As of right now I see nursing as a more secure job moving forward, both financially and job growth. Unfortunately, I have not seen the jobs I was hoping to apply for in the Historic Preservation/Carpentry fields. Out of the few I have seen, they generally lack the benefits and/or an salary I am looking for.

I am at a crossroads here in my life, and at my age I would like to set myself on the right path. I am apparently getting a late start in my life, but I suppose it's better late than never!

Jeremy

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Welcome to the club of figuring out later in life what you were meant to do!! I graduated nursing school last year at 34, and I would have to say that half of my class was older than me, and for many nursing was a second or third career, everybody came from a different walk of life. My advice, try to get a job in what you just received your degree in. Work on the pre requisites for nursing, if you don't have any done, and apply to nursing school. It's never to late!

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Specializes in CVICU.

Construction to Nursing has been done many times.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Be very careful. Job growth and security are not really features of nursing. Too many people buy into the nursing shortage myth and then you see them posting online dismayed because they can't find a job. You would need to be prepared to be flexible around relocating and applying for something less than your dream job.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

You may want to connect with BrandonLPN - He's very active here on AN & I believe he has a similar background.

However, if you're looking for stability - nursing may not be the optimum choice. In my corner of the world, folks with construction management degrees are a really hot commodity, but new grad nurses are scrambling to find jobs.

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Thank you for all the helpful comments guys, they are much appreciated and very helpful! I suppose I have to be more careful when I assume another field may or may not have better security then another. Lesson learned, thank you! I hit a brick wall as far as advancement goes with the company I am with almost 10 years ago. In the last 10 years I have not received a raise, nor a paid sick day, vacation day or health or dental benefits. It's a very small company with maybe only 6 employees and two owners. I am the oldest and most senior of the employees however and I just don't feel as if I can start and raise a family on my income. I probably should have left years ago when my salary stopped moving, but a combination of fear of starting somewhere new and leaving the familiar prevented it.

I will try and find something in Historic Preservation while I attend college for pre-reqs, but there will come a point where a couple of short years in nursing school will be able to offer me much more then I have now, without a doubt. I have been looking for the right construction/carpenter jobs in a couple areas pretty heavily for almost a year now and very few offer anything more then what I have now. Construction management jobs sounds okay I guess, but it also requires further schooling. Not to mention, that as of late the idea of an entire life devoted to construction bores me. I want to do something that matters to someone.

Jeremy

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You will hear plenty of people on here tell you that there is no nursing shortage and to stick to the career you are in. But if you are stuck in a dead end job (as I was and still am), then why not try for something better.

I was in a similar situation to you. I had worked at a company for about 3 years and was as high as I could go. I was denied a raise after doing a great job and I told my boss "do you really think I can work her for the next 30 years at this amount?" It was a small company too. Anyways, on my last day, he told me I was making the smart move and I should go back to school while I still could (I am a few years younger than OP).

No matter what anyone says, trust me, the nursing field is far more stable than the construction business. Anyone can tell you that.

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When I was working in the electrical trade, one of my supervisors expressed an interest in nursing so I told him everything I thought he needed to know to get started, to include the fact that I was there because at the time I could not find a job in nursing.

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Interesting comment caliotter3. Are you a nurse now or still in the building trade?

My comment was based on the fact that construction is so heavily tied to the economy and can be seasonal as well. I have no experience in construction, but I have to imagine that during a situation like what happened in 2008, your average nurse's job was far more secure than your average construction worker. I could be wrong though.

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Specializes in RN.

I was a self employed interior custom finish carpenter for 12-13 yrs. Went to college, for the first time in my life at 44, went straight through until I graduated from nursing school. Of course it can be done. There is a lot to be said for those who are older and more experienced in "life" in general, and what they bring to Nursing. If I was your age I would shoot for that goal and more! Good luck!

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Specializes in ER.

I'm not a man, but I worked in a cabinet shop as a specialty finisher before nursing. Loved working around menfolk, but decided to go for nursing for more stability, better money, creative hours, and because people are mighty interesting.

I have nooooo regrets!

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I met a RN yesterday who left residential electrician work 12 years ago. He said it got serious when he let his contractor license expire, but he also said he has never looked back. You can do this.

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