I'm considering a career change to nursing and would ideally like to get experience in the field as a CNA (or PCA/PCT, etc) before committing to the expense, time and energy of a BSN or RN program (and the required pre-reqs). I've never worked in healthcare before so this field is entirely new to me. How many of you got hands-on experience in the field before deciding to become a nurse? How important/helpful/relevant was that experience towards your decision to become a nurse? For those of you who didn't get experience first, in retrospect would you have done anything differently?
Of course, nursing school is do-able if you've never even seen a bandaid. I just hate seeing people get dashed by their first real world exposure.
This happens in every profession. People change their mind.
My son got his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and History with the idea that he would become a teacher. When he graduated, he changed his mind about teaching.
And I'm on a second career - the first being Social Work.
I'll bet the vast majority of folks in their 30's have had more than one career path.
Be careful about tying yourself to a hospital just to get nursing school paid for - you may end up hating the place you work and are stuck.
If you want to do it though - then go for it. I wish you the best!
I worked as a medical assistant, and it was very beneficial! I learned a lot about the medical field and the role of a nurse, and it also helped me to feel more comfortable working with patients once I started nursing school.
I didn't, but I wish I had. There was so much I had to learn that many of my classmates already knew. It's just a whole different way of thinking, and the sheer volume of information can feel overwhelming. If I had done some kind of work (even volunteering) in a medical setting before, some of those things would have already been in my brain. Even the smallest edge can be helpful.
I was a candy striper in high school. I worked as a nursing assistant for a summer while I was in nursing school. That job almost made me quit nursing, I hated it so much. But I was over halfway through and I wasn't about to have wasted all that time. So I became a nurse. 95% of the time I :redbeathe it. Occasionally I :angryfire it. But I have never regretted it. If you want to work in the medical field before you commit to nursing school, go for it. But it's not the same.
Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN
11,305 Posts
This happens in every profession. People change their mind.
My son got his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and History with the idea that he would become a teacher. When he graduated, he changed his mind about teaching.
And I'm on a second career - the first being Social Work.
I'll bet the vast majority of folks in their 30's have had more than one career path.
Be careful about tying yourself to a hospital just to get nursing school paid for - you may end up hating the place you work and are stuck.
If you want to do it though - then go for it. I wish you the best!
steph