Career switch - from 6 figure salary

marys · Jun 3, 2004

Hi Melly06;

My name is Mary Sheldon. I know exactly how you feel!! I was laid off from a very high paying job as a PM in IT in Oct 2002. The IT market has been flooded for awhile. After 3 mths of looking to no avail, I decided to go back to school in Nursing - something that I had wanted to do since I was 16. But I was a single mom raising 3 kids at the time and IT paid much better...

I have just completed my first semester of Nursing school. I absolutely LOVE IT.

It does take some getting used to being a student again - with little income. But as I was once told by a very dear friend.. - This too will Pass. I think that your background in IT will help you tremendously! I am seeing that there is becoming a big demand for the field of 'Nursing Infromatics'.

The nursing shortage is not going to end anytime soon. Advantages are that they are paying top dollar for nurses, you can almost name your price. Also, there is more opportunity to work anywhere that you want. You are not limited to hospitals anymore..

Even though it is hard, I know that for me, it has been the right decision. I hope that helps..

mar

Just wanted to share my situation for those of you who are thinking of changing careers -- you are not alone!
I currently work in the IT field and make 108k a year (in NJ). I have a 5 month old baby girl, who I only see for 1.5-2 hrs at night during the week, then on Sat and Sunday. That just isn't enough for me. I have decided to switch careers and become a nurse. I am going back to school in Fall. It should take me 2 1/2 years. If all goes according to plan I will take the boards Dec '06.
I have been mulling over being a nurse for some time. The IT job just doesn't satisfy me. Though the $$ is great, I feel that if I have to be away from my daughter I should be doing something more rewarding and fulfilling. I must admit, the flexible hours are a huge draw as well. As a nurse I would work 2-3 nights a week, and be able to spend my days with my daughter -- no daycare necessary! Plus, NJ has lots of opportunities for nurses.
I would like another child, but want to make sure I am at least done with my final class before giving birth. They would end up 3 yrs apart, but I don't want to risk not being able to finish school - especially with the investment we will be making (savings runs out after a year - so we are in for loans and any part time work I can get at night to try to make up some of the difference).
We have a lot to work out, but I am taking it one semester at a time. I think going back to school to be a nurse takes 100% committment - but the good news is at least in the beginning I'll see more of my daughter going to school (taking Chem and Bio first semester) than I do right now working fulltime and commuting 1.5 hours each way!.
Anyone who is in the same boat and would like support or has any questions, feel free to contact me!
Melly06

kathy_79 · Jun 3, 2004

go for it. you see how rewarding is time which you will give to your baby later. i have 18 months , i am nursing student and i wait to finish school to start work and have another one because of flexibilities the job carries on. i can work 3-4 days or nights and give rest of time to my family, it is just great. do not terrify, you will do fine at school. it is hard with baby, but think how many other women do this and if they can you can too.

good luck, kathy:)

Sheri257 · Jun 3, 2004

You may be romanticizing nursing. It's very difficult work -- physically exhausting & thankless most of the time. You should think VERY deeply about your decision before leaving IT. Try shadowing a nurse for a while.
Why not try to create an IT job at home somehow? I know there are companies that are into the telecommuting thing. THAT would be ideal!

You are definitely romanticizing IT. :chuckle

IT jobs are being exported overseas in droves. This has been widely reported in the news. There are no IT jobs in America (or, if there are some jobs, it's very few and decreasing by the day.)

But hey, maybe they can move to India or China, and work for less than $10 an hour, if they can get that much.

I love it when nurses tell IT people to remain in the field, when there is no IT to speak of ... :lol2:

We all know that nursing is a tough, demanding and thankless job.

But life is much tougher when you have NO job.

realmean1 · Jun 4, 2004

Just have to post on this thread :chuckle I personally think work of any type suxxes. Am an RN supervisor, have worked in just about every part of a hospital there is. Been a hopital corpsman, a CNA, LPN etc. Have worked every type of frigging shift there is to work. My personal record is 1 and 1/2 mos of 7p-7a straight, NO time off. Yep, that was fun. Anyhow, take a good hard look at nursing. It is pretty good, pays the bills. But, if you get sick easily, can't stand the sight of a pt throwing up, usually all over you, someone bleeding out, constant diarrhea, etc etc. Then, you may want to try something else. Usually, the problems you will encounter is not the pts, but, the staff. We are our own worse enemies. Getting fired as an "at will" employee is not an everyday thing. Getting really p.o.ed and quitting is another. Nsg. jobs are easy to come by, but, you want to avoid job hopping every 3-4 months unless you are per deim. People will talk about ya. :) And yes, I have done lots of other things besides nursing. Good luck inwhatever you decide.

angel337, MSN, RN · Jun 4, 2004

You are definitely romanticizing IT. :chuckle
IT jobs are being exported overseas in droves. This has been widely reported in the news. There are no IT jobs in America (or, if there are some jobs, it's very few and decreasing by the day.)
But hey, maybe they can move to India or China, and work for less than $10 an hour, if they can get that much.
I love it when nurses tell IT people to remain in the field, when there is no IT to speak of ...
We all know that nursing is a tough, demanding and thankless job.
But life is much tougher when you have NO job.

well said. from an administrative/management point of view, nursing can be thankless. but i don't feel that way because everyday i go to work i can't count the many patients that say "thank you so much nurse, i appreciate it". hearing patients say that definitely makes nursing worthwhile in my opinion. and yes, life is 100x's harder with no job at all.

nekhismom · Jun 4, 2004

Talk to nurses in your area and see how "flexible" thier schedules REALLY are. And I mean talk to NURSES. Not recruiters, managers, etc. Talk to people who are at the bedside each and every day and see how they feel.

I know I was promised loads of flexibility, the ability to continue my education and arrange my schedule around it, the ability to be able to travel half way across the country to see my family if I needed to, etc. i was promised self-scheduling. However, that was a huge lie. My schedule is set in stone. I can't switch days without getting approval, and that doesn't happen, because the people that are in charge always say, "well, if so-and-so can work ___ day to cover, then that mean's she's available. I'd rather have her come in so we wouldn't be short, so I'll offer her OT and incentive pay to come in extra rather than as a replacement for you." :angryfire Flexible scheduling is a lie here.

As for per-diem, you must have experience first. You WILL NOT be hired right out of school to work whenever you want to work. You have to get experience, then MAYBE you can get a per-diem job. Lots of hospitals are not offering that option anymore. Agency is an option, but hospitals are trying to reduce the use of agency nurses too. Plus you need experience.

As for the comment that nursing is paying top $$, I'd sure like to see that here. I make NOTHING. On paper, it looks like I make out ok, but in real life, I saw more of my $$ when I made $10/hr in customer service.

Melly, if you really want to be a nurse because you want to be a NURSE, not because of the alleged "benefits" of nursing, then go for it. Otherwise, you may want to reconsider and perhaps look into another career. Best of wishes to you, whatever you decide.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Jun 4, 2004

ALL jobs on the planet have negatives - there is no perfect job and it is wrong to think that any job ever will be.

We tend to forget this- the grass is always greener on someone else's lawn. I'm not saying it's easy, but imagine doing what you do 5 or 6 days a week (if you work 12 hrs). My best friends husband is in the Mortgage business. I recently learned how much $$ he's been making (I wanted to choke!!). The down side, he's not home until 10pm most nights, and does weekends when he needs to (you have to accomodate your clients schedules if you want to make the deals!!). The other down side of his job- he doesn't have a salary. He has actually gone weeks without a check.

I don't think people who are entering the nursing profession think it's the "easy way out", as we nnurses make sure we prepare them for the reality.

ltcdon · Jun 5, 2004

Who says nurses cant make 6 figures??? I guess it all depends on what field you are in and how many opportunities have come your way. I have been a nurse for 14 years now and i am in the 6 figure range and there are a number of areas of nursing that one can explore to reach this figure.

nekhismom · Jun 5, 2004

Yes, ltcdon, it IS possible. But you said yourself that you've been in the field for 16 years. Some new nurses may have less time than that until retirement!!! :eek:

Toby's mum · Jun 5, 2004

Just wanted to share my situation for those of you who are thinking of changing careers -- you are not alone!
I currently work in the IT field and make 108k a year (in NJ). I have a 5 month old baby girl, who I only see for 1.5-2 hrs at night during the week, then on Sat and Sunday. That just isn't enough for me. I have decided to switch careers and become a nurse. I am going back to school in Fall. It should take me 2 1/2 years. If all goes according to plan I will take the boards Dec '06.
I have been mulling over being a nurse for some time. The IT job just doesn't satisfy me. Though the $$ is great, I feel that if I have to be away from my daughter I should be doing something more rewarding and fulfilling. I must admit, the flexible hours are a huge draw as well. As a nurse I would work 2-3 nights a week, and be able to spend my days with my daughter -- no daycare necessary! Plus, NJ has lots of opportunities for nurses.
I would like another child, but want to make sure I am at least done with my final class before giving birth. They would end up 3 yrs apart, but I don't want to risk not being able to finish school - especially with the investment we will be making (savings runs out after a year - so we are in for loans and any part time work I can get at night to try to make up some of the difference).
We have a lot to work out, but I am taking it one semester at a time. I think going back to school to be a nurse takes 100% committment - but the good news is at least in the beginning I'll see more of my daughter going to school (taking Chem and Bio first semester) than I do right now working fulltime and commuting 1.5 hours each way!.
Anyone who is in the same boat and would like support or has any questions, feel free to contact me!
Melly06

Dear Melly06,

I commend your decision. Money is no match, and never will be, for spending precious time with your baby girl. There is no doubt there will be times you will miss that income and all that goes along with it. However, you will never miss the time away from your daughter and you will reap the wonderful rewards from watching her grow and develop.

As for all the comments about nursing--and think before you jump type of thing-- I agree. Nursing certainly has its challenges that will be significantly different than your previous job--that doesn't mean you shouldn't or couldn't deal with them. They just test different muscles--and will force you to grow and develop. Plus the beauty about nursing is it can lead you in so many directions. You will be able to find a specialty that is just right for you--one you love. It may take a while, but it can happen. There is flexibility, mobility, good community, and look at this network, lots of continuing educational opportunities--basically it's up to you to fulfill your own goals.

You obviously were very successful in IT. You can apply those same skills and smarts to nursing and the field will benefit from your contributions. This is one of the most challenging times in the healthcare field. Your knowledge and business instincts will be highly valued--you will just need to find the right place within the healthcare field to express them--and you will.

Any new job/career will have its ups and downs. Don't get discouraged. Your decision is a good one that seems to feel right to you. Follow that instinct and trust it. You can do it and it will be worth it to see your little girl grow. Upon graduation, try and look at Magnet hospitals--these are the ones that are supposedly more nurse friendly with regard to scheduling etc.

Good luck to you! Steph

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Jun 5, 2004

Who says nurses cant make 6 figures??? I guess it all depends on what field you are in and how many opportunities have come your way. I have been a nurse for 14 years now and i am in the 6 figure range and there are a number of areas of nursing that one can explore to reach this figure.

What do you do??

ltcdon · Jun 5, 2004

I am a Director of Nursing in Long Term Care. Long term care salary has gone up tremendously in the past few years for not only RNs but LPN and CNAs.