Questions For Those Who Switched Careers In Their 30's And Up To Become A Nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi,

My name is Julie. I am 35 years old, (soon to be 36) and a full time, married, working mom in Sunny South Florida.

After 15 years in the sales/customer service/management industry, I have finally decided to fulill my dream of becoming a nurse.

It's just that at 35, I am at a crossroads and it's either NOW or never. Plus with the critical nursing shortage in south Florida, it is so important to get nurses to work here too.

My questions are:

How did/do you manage working full-time and going back to school? Has it been worth it? Do you feel you did the right thing? Is nursing what you thought it would be or not?

Any advise, comments, etc are appreciated :)

Thanks so much!

"GREAT THINGS HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO GET OFF THEIR B##S AND GO FOR IT!!!"

Julie

isn't it interesting to hear that no matter where you live, u.s., britain, australia, no matter whether male or female, married, divorced or single, 25 or 55 the stuggles of nursing school and the ultimate rewards are the same?

Specializes in Critical Care.

I too worked full time, raised 2 kids and was going through a divorce during nursing school. How did I do it you ask, well the satisfaction that my ex could not stop my dream of becoming a nurse, being able to support my children and myself without him, buy my own house, new car and pay all my bills on time which I could not do when I was married to him. The exhaustion was unbelievable but I would do it all over again. By the way I was 35 when I graduated. Yes it is worth it, Good luck.

I graduated nursing school at the age of thirty. I had a loving wife who supported me through all the hard times. Now it's ten years later and I just left the nursing profession a month ago. The diffuculties of nursing school were nothing compared to what the nursing profession has become. Yes, there is a shotage of working nurses, but take a look at why. Healthcare has become a bottom line business which places the nurses in the expendible column. Talk to nurses at your local hospital and ask them about the changes that have happened in the last five years. Ask them, "Would you still become a nurse if you had it to do all over again." You may be surprised by the answers. If you do decide you still want to become a nurse, I wish you all the best. As for me, I'm the happiest I've been in years, after walking away.

I am a RN ,new graduate,it takes forever to find a job?how can i find a job (NY) i like surgery,any ideas?Thank you and have a great day all of you!

I can only answer to part of your question. I went back to school and became an RN at age 52. I was the oldest graduate nurse in my class. I worked full-time while in school And I made Phi Theta Kappa, tho I didn't have any time to go to the induction (no surprise). I didn't have any time for ANYTHING. The part I can't help you with - I don't have kids; my stepdaughters were already grown up, but I had no time to see my grandchildren or anyone else.

I talked to my partner beforehand, and told him this would be a tremendous alteration in our daily life, and he poo-pooed it, having no idea how intense my involvement was going to be, but he was very supportive. I had to work fulltime to qualify for tuition assistance, which I needed, and I in fact worked over-time nearly every week, in a very demanding job, but my boss did let me come in a little late or early to accommodate my schedule, and I went thru an evening nursing program.

I would have liked to be able to work as an NA to get some hands-on experience but that was not possible. I did work in health care prior to nursing, but in clerical and adminustration, not any clinical capacity.

If you have the support of those around you, and you have the desire, you can do it. If you don't have the support, but you have the desire, you can still do it, but it will demand even more determination from you. Believe me, if you carry this off, you can do ANYTHING!

Good Luck!

Savvy

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