Career switching advice

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello all:

I am currently working full-time and taking nursing prereqs in the hopes of applying to an accelerated program this fall for admission in January 2008. I have a prior degree and after getting internship experience in my field (engineering) I decided that I did not like the office environment and needed something more fufilling and hands-on. I've been doing quite a bit of research, volunteering, shadowing and talking to as many people as I can to learn as much as I can about this field. I feel like I don't want to make the same mistake twice (getting back into school and getting a degree that I don't want to use) so my question to anyone out here who can give me some advice, wisdom, or tips is this:

Do you ever really know for sure if you want to do something until you actually get into the field? I feel like in order to really go for something sometimes you just have to jump in and get your feet wet (basically nothing will substitute for your experience) but what else can I do to figure out if this is right for me?

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Specializes in CCU/CVICU, Hemodialysis, ER, PALS Inst..

I've always been a nurse with only that education but when I was in high school, I planned on attending engineering school (electrical.) Circumstances changed and I didn't go to college right after high school but when I finally did start to college, I was thinking criminal justice. At any rate, I eventually decided I wanted to be a nurse and here I am.

The field is WIDE open. Some people decide right away that's what they want to do (or any career) and stick to it their whole working time. Other's change several times. Just depends on the person. I figure I will stick with nursing although I do not plan to be at bedside my whole career. Not sure what I want to do but I'll figure it out. There's a nurse who works with me now who has a degree in some kind of computer management and did not like it--went onto nursing school and loves it. My husband, also for another example has done all of his business degree classes and hated every second. He's in the Army (infantry) and getting ready to start RN school in the Fall. Big change! You'll figure it out. Some people even get into nursing school, graduate, start working and hate it. Good luck!

I know an engineer who decided he wanted to go to D.O. school. He made it. Quite a few Orthopedic surgeons had engineering degrees. They even use their engineering experience to design instruments or devices for patient care.

I think you should pursue it. There are a lot of things that you can do in nursing. Maybe you could be a consultant and help design devices. I was in a different field and I realized that I had never thought of nursing, but only medicine.

When I researched nursing, I realized that I could become a Forensic Nurse or even, a nurse coroner. I have a 4 year degree and an MBA but I am getting an ADN. After that, I will pursue the RN/MSN. Maybe someday a PhD in nursing. I talked to nurses as part of my research. Some were encouraging and some thought I was crazy for going a route that will involve a paycut. If you really want it, you believe that the rewards will make up for any loss in earnings.

Vixen007:

I'm not really worried about the paycut I might take for going into nursing, I guess I feel like I'll make more money long-term if I do something I like as opposed to something that is good money.

bump for the evening crowd.

Vixen007:

I'm not really worried about the paycut I might take for going into nursing, I guess I feel like I'll make more money long-term if I do something I like as opposed to something that is good money.

Spartan,

I am kind of in the same boat that you are in. I totally hate my current employment and although I make a decent salary, it is not fulfilling. So, I did the soul search and decided on the medical field and thus found this site. Life is not about the money but rather being happy. :)

Anyway, I am going to be keeping an eye on this thread. :)

Spartan,

I am kind of in the same boat that you are in. I totally hate my current employment and although I make a decent salary, it is not fulfilling. So, I did the soul search and decided on the medical field and thus found this site. Life is not about the money but rather being happy. :)

Anyway, I am going to be keeping an eye on this thread. :)

What field are you currently employed in right now?

What field are you currently employed in right now?

Currently working in the computer industry. What about you?

Currently working in the computer industry. What about you?

I work on a government grant dealing with Math & Science Research for the college of education at a university.

For me this is a second career and the possible variety of things to do is what attracts me to this next career. I like learning and becoming and nursing seems to offer opportunity for both. I start a BSN program in Jan.

Have you considered other health care careerslike Physical Therapy or occupational therapy? I have a masters in Nutrition and I am thinking about switching too. I am thinking that Physical Therapy may be les stressful than nursing and more money of course.

Have you considered other health care careerslike Physical Therapy or occupational therapy? I have a masters in Nutrition and I am thinking about switching too. I am thinking that Physical Therapy may be les stressful than nursing and more money of course.

I have not considered therapy yet however I am pretty open to anything in health care. I'm not really sure how the therapy field stacks up to nursing? Is there such a huge demand, potential to move to different areas, and also I really fell in love with surgery as a result of my volunteer experience.

I am also in a similar situtation, but w/a more personal problem. I was accepted into a ADN program in my mom's home state. I would have FREE tuition and books in this state only. However, I had previously applied to a Occupational Therapy M.S. program. At this point I could really go either way.

However, I did just move back to my home town, and would have to turn right around and do it all over again :(

The personal issue, my mom has Stage IV Ovarian Cancer. She is currently in remission, but has been through chemo and various surgeries for almost 3 years. I really want to spend as much time w/her as I can and still make the right choice for my future career. Going to school in Alabama, her home state, would seem like the best choice (free school, living near her, etc.) . But I don't want to get into another program and not use it/like it....

Any advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated!

P.S. cost of grad school = 15,000/yr. for 2.5 years !

I am also in a similar situtation, but w/a more personal problem. I was accepted into a ADN program in my mom's home state. I would have FREE tuition and books in this state only. However, I had previously applied to a Occupational Therapy M.S. program. At this point I could really go either way.

However, I did just move back to my home town, and would have to turn right around and do it all over again :(

The personal issue, my mom has Stage IV Ovarian Cancer. She is currently in remission, but has been through chemo and various surgeries for almost 3 years. I really want to spend as much time w/her as I can and still make the right choice for my future career. Going to school in Alabama, her home state, would seem like the best choice (free school, living near her, etc.) . But I don't want to get into another program and not use it/like it....

Any advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated!

P.S. cost of grad school = 15,000/yr. for 2.5 years !

I think that one big question you have to answer is, are you leaning more towards nursing or occupational therapy? Obviously free tuition would be a huge bonus to your ADN program and you can't really put a price on being able to spend time with your mom after all that you have been through as a family. With that being said, if your heart really lies with the master's program than I say go for it, I think that everyone will understand that you are following your dream and I'm sure that your mom would rather have you be happy with your career and goals than settle for something (if you think that is what you are doing by going the ADN route). What area of nursing are you interested in? Try shadowing that unit or specialty one last time and also doing the same for occupational therapy before you have to make a final decision. I think that deep down though you are leaning towards one more than the other and you know what you want it might just be that it is hard to fully commit to it and say you are going to do it.

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