Is nursing your second career?

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I graduated a few years back with a BS in biology and have finally figured out that nursing is my calling:) If you already had a degree prior to entering nursing school, did you enter the accelerated program, or the upper level admission program? I've heard the accelerated program is really intense...let me know your thoughts or opinions. Thanks!!

I started out in the Army out of high school. Wasn't a medic but my unit needed combat lifesavers so they sent me to the course. Was kinda like a crash course on treating for shock basically first aid that started IV's. I enjoyed it but never really thought of going into the medical field. After the army I drove a forklift in a factory for a few years and hated it. Started school for computer science after two years decided I didn't want to do that either. Then took a 20 week course to become a truck driver. Decided after about 3 week that truck driving wasn't for me either but finished the course and got my license. During my truck drivers training my mother-in-law was wanting to go to school for something so I tried to talk her into nursing school. At the time my wife and I had our third child who was born with a heart problem. Between me speech to my mother-in-law and all the time I spent in the hospital with my daughter I decided that I wanted to be a nurse. Stayed at the crapy forklift job (pay was good but hated the people and the job) until my last year of nursing school. My wife thought I wanted to be a career student. The good thing was the Army paid for all the school.

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Specializes in LTC.

I graduated from college with a double major in psychology and philosophy in May 2004, but never really thought about what I was going to do when I was done with school. After graduation, I took what was suppose to be a temporary job waiting tables, but I acutally made more moeny doing that than anything else I was qualified for. I had looked into getting a MPH after college at the suggestion of one of my psych professors, but I never applied to the program, but it made me think that maybe nursing was something I would like to do. Around this same time, I was talking with my mom about what I should do for the rest of my life and she said "Have you ever thought about going into nursing? I think you'd be good at it and enjoy it." I told her that I in fact had and was thinking about applying to the post-baccularate program at the same college I got my first degree from and now here I am. The program I'm in isn't accelerated per say, but it's condensed a little because it's designed for working adults, so classes meet evenings and weekends.

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i graduated 4 yrs ago with BS Biology and here i am now 2nd year student taking up nursing, i just realized that nursing is really the right path for me... :smiley_ab

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I am just starting back to school now working on my pre-req's. When I complete those I plan on going into an accelerated program. My first degree was a BA in Anthropology/Sociology. I have been working for the last 7 years in an engineering dept troubleshooting and found out that I am great at that but I really like working with something that is more focused on helping people. (I can not wait too go back to school full-time!)

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Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.

I have a degree in Psych and thought that is what I wanted to do. I still enjoy it but not the same passion if that makes sense. Somehow I got turned on to nursing (even though my mom tried to get me to do it when I graduated high school and I didn't).

I am in a diploma program b/c it was the only night/weekend program in my area and at the time I had a full tiem day job working in human resources. I am now a stay at home mom and full time student still.

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My first, and my last, hopefully!

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Specializes in Maternity, quality.
I already have a ba in psychology, but i'm just going the adn route. I'll spend about two years (skipping one semester where my last class isn't offered) and then perhaps move on to get an msn. I haven't heard of this direct-entry MSN program. Can you really get an MSN w/o getting your RN first, or am I misunderstanding this?

Yes, direct-entry programs are intended for people who do not have the RN yet. The pre-licensure courses are included as part of the curriculum and the RN is earned along the way.

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/APLIST.PDF

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Kmarie - yours sounds famiiar! I graduated with a BS in 2001, double major in psych and history with a minor in business. I wasn't sure what I really wanted to do - contemplated law school, among other things - but I had bartended through college and made good money, so I thought I'd "bartend for a year while I figured it out." Almost 6 years later...I'm still a bartender, but should finally start an accelerated second degree program in May of 2007 and graduate August 2008. Then maybe MSN someday, but will work for a few years first and hopefully have some babies...

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Specializes in Peds ER.
Hi.

I actually have a degree in Fine Arts. That didn't work, so I slipped into I/T, and I've been doing that for the past 12 years. I'm planning on attending a direct-entry MSN program.

Unfortunately the accelerated BSN's around here require so many pre-reqs that I don't have, I would essentially spend 4 years getting another BSN anyway. So I'm skipping all that and going MSN.

Hey heyyyyy here's to another Artist-turned-Nurse :D Me too. Been a graphic designer for the last seventeen years. And knew I needed a change and considered something I'd always been drawn to. So far, one year into prerequisites, it's killing me, and I'm LOVING it! :D

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
Stayed at the crapy forklift job (pay was good but hated the people and the job) until my last year of nursing school.

How did you do that? Was the factory job a night shift?

I ask because I don't know how to do the traditional nursing school program when I have to support my family (dh is currently unemployed and has never made much money -- what I get for marrying an artist)

The traditional course will mean THREE YEARS of nursing school ... being able only to work at night. I'm looking at accelerated second degree programs, but don't know if that will happen or not.

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I have a BS in chemistry and worked in quality control at Miller Brewing for almost 2 years. Then I worked on getting my masters' in secondary education then I changed my mind and now i'm going to nursing school in January!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I graduated with a BS in Health & Sport Sciences and have been working as a fitness instructor and trainer for the past five years. Not bad getting paid to workout as well as help others in health and fitness, but as fun as that is I am ready to be a nurse! I will begin an accelerated program in Aug'07 for a BSN that will take one year to complete. It is full time with clinicals and class so there won't be much time for anything else. First I have to make it through Organic Chemistry, which is a huge challenge, and Microbiology. It will all be here before I know and can't wait to START!

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