It To Nursing..??

Works2xs · Sep 9, 2005

IT vet here.. just started NS two weeks ago. Out of the 70 folks in this class, there are about 7 or 8 other IT folks. So, it seems that there may be a trend here....

2bnurseguy_2005 · Sep 9, 2005

IT vet here.. just started NS two weeks ago. Out of the 70 folks in this class, there are about 7 or 8 other IT folks. So, it seems that there may be a trend here....

Do you know why they quit the IT field? So do you like the nursing field so far? Did you have to be put on a waiting list?

rfmages · Sep 9, 2005

I was also in IT previous to nursing. MCSE, CCNA, etc and just couldnt find any job security in my area. So I graduated from nursing school in May 05, am working the overnight shift, but was offered postitions at most places on the afternoon shifts also. I tell you the change is an interesting one, but I am happy with my decision. Take the plunge, it is a rewarding job for sure.

CS_2_RN · Sep 9, 2005

Another IT guy here. I did the 3rd shift thing for a while. It really threw my body out of wack. That was in 98 and I still haven't recovered from the weight gain. I think as far as nursing, they make the new nurses take the night shift jobs. I'm not totally sure since I'm not a nurse yet. I will be starting a Master's Accelerated program this May though. I have to get out of this unstable career. I think my resume is about 6 pages long now, just from all the contract positions and all the crap they want you to know.

Kabin · Sep 9, 2005

Another IT guy here. I did the 3rd shift thing for a while. It really threw my body out of wack. That was in 98 and I still haven't recovered from the weight gain. I think as far as nursing, they make the new nurses take the night shift jobs. I'm not totally sure since I'm not a nurse yet. I will be starting a Master's Accelerated program this May though. I have to get out of this unstable career. I think my resume is about 6 pages long now, just from all the contract positions and all the crap they want you to know.

Yes! IT/computer science isn't as promising as it once was. There are quite a few folks abandoning that sinking ship.

Katnip, RN · Sep 9, 2005

Many hospitals, but not all require the new grads to work the night shifts because that's what they need. Most folks want to be on days and those, naturally go to those in a senior position.

A lot of hopitals still require rotating shifts, though around here, it's rare. But my first nursing job I was hired for days but required to work 1-2 &a-7p shifts a month.

Also, keep in mind you'll likely be required to work weekends and major and minor holidays as well.

Larry77, RN · Sep 9, 2005

In my experience 2nd shift (swing shift) is also within reach for new grads. Day shift is usually the most sought after shift sometimes taking years to breaK into.

I wouldn't worry about what shift you might have to work as a deciding factor in your decision to become a nurse. There are MANY, MANY, different places and jobs you can work as a nurse I'm sure you will be able to find one not requiring a night shift position.

Goodluck...I also started out my college in computer sciences and changed my major to nursing and have never looked back...you will find that some added knowledge in IT will help you tremendously as nursing becomes more computerized all the time.

West_Coast_Ken, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2005

I'm another former ITer. I have always enjoyed working with people (volunteering, helping friends, etc) and with outsoursing jobs overseas it was time after 15 years for me to make the change.

I am in my second month of an ADN program and I am glad I made the plunge. The specter of constantly looking for work the rest of my career is more a concern to me than the difficult things I expect to encounter in nursing, and I know there are plenty.

You might need to get the t-shirt I saw this past weekend, however:

"No, I will not fix your computer problem." :lol2:

piper_for_hire · Sep 13, 2005

I spent about 12 years as a software developer before going into nursing. I was completely burnt out! I graduated from nursing school in March and I work in a very high acuity ICU. It's really cool - especially the codes - but don't tell anyone you know anything about computers or you'll find yourself fixing everyone's computer!!

-S

Works2xs · Sep 14, 2005

Do you know why they quit the IT field? So do you like the nursing field so far? Did you have to be put on a waiting list?

Sorry I didn't get back sooner... school's been very demanding.

Most of the folks I've spoken to have made the move toward a career they always wanted to be in, versus moving to get away from one they didn't like (that make sense?).

For me, there wasn't any one single issue or tipping point. Rather, it was the alignment of opportunity to make a huge career change, a long time desire to work in the field, and a nearly equal lenth of time doing something I didn't really enjoy. I guess if I were to boil it down to something relatively simple, it would go something like this:

Entered the career as a "second best" option - mainly attracted by the possibility of a lucrative job. Which acually materialized. The money was what was hinted at, but the toll to get it was seldom mentioned in mainstream media. After more than 2 decades of sacrificing social life, family life, and general health, it struck me that something that cost me so much personal grief should at least be something that I really wanted to do. So I walked away from a nice annual income and the white-collar sweatshop environment that went with it and jumped at the chance to do something I should have done many, many moons ago. Haven't looked back since...

As far as shift work - I personally don't mind it as I'm a night owl anyways. Whichever slot I end up in, I expect that it'll be a "3 twelves" sort of work week - which is considerably less than what I was working at in my last career. So all in all.. it's a win-win for me.

MsBruiser · Sep 15, 2005

I'm currently a management consultant for a very well-known firm - six figure salary and all that - and doing my LAST TWO (!!!) pre-req courses for nursing school. I get to submit my application in October. Since my BA/MBA included no science, it has been like starting over from scratch.

My job focus is, of course, IT-related. Why am I switching and taking about a 70% paycut? Frankly, I get 0% job satisfaction working in a corporate, business environment. I have worked for over 8 years on many implementation projects at some of the largest companies in the world, and I don't think these projects ever made a positive impact - often a negative one, but never positive. Couple that with absolutely no job stability and I can't see spending another 25+ years of my life working towards nothing but a big paycheck. I'd sooner have a smaller paycheck and at least like myself for doing a job where I can try and make someone's life a little easier. As a former paramedic (college job), I am certainly not going into this career change blind - every job has problems - yet, the "problems" associated with nursing pale in comparison to those in IT.

Do the switch while you are young...