should i leave nursing for a computer career?

[ontarionurze]

im an rpn here in ontario and if i want to become RN i need to go to school another 2-3 years,, but ever since i was younger im always into computers,, now im thinking if i should just get a 3 year associate degree in computer or just continue becoming a nurse,, i told myself before if ever i go back to school maybe it should be for another career. im really confused,, i had 5 years of o.r. nurse experience in the philippines and i never liked working on the floor,, any career advice? i can spend the whole day in front of the computer thats why im thinking maybe a computer career is what i should have chosen a long time ago,, even my fellow RPN in the clinic i work for right now noticed that i dont look too happy about my job,, i think it shows that im not 100% dedicated about my job,, any advice? p.s. im 30 years old

[Fiona59]

I can think of three RNs that I know who did the second degree RN course because they couldn't find work with their computer sciences degrees.

Only you can decide what you want to do.

[caliotter3]

I went from computers to nursing, partly for employment. I have found that being an unemployed nurse is far more depressing than being an unemployed IT professional would have been. Do what makes you happy. If you go into computers, keep your nursing license in an inactive status then you can always fall back on nursing if necessary.

[vumblevee]

What about nursing informatics?

[Fiona59]

What about nursing informatics?

Not a demand for Iit here in Canada

[ontarionurze]

is it difficult to land an IT job here in Ontario? and would an associate degree in IT be the same as with an RN salary wise?

[ontarionurze]

and how will you compare IT career to nursing by the way? stress levels? :) growth opportunities?

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

and how will you compare IT career to nursing by the way? stress levels? :) growth opportunities?

I usually find the answers to these questions on the occupational outlook website. Very helpful

[relaxingbath]

I have a post graduate in IT from the UK and originally did freelance work when I moved here 5 years ago, I can honestly say that work became more competitive to get and the amount of work I had to do for the decreasing pay forced me out of the industry. I don't know how easy it is to get into companies over here I just know from my experience I didn't succeed.

Sitting in front of a computer for hours doesn't make it a good way to make it into a career, computing comes in many shapes and sizes do you use your spare time to write computer programs? do you run online blogs and social media for profit? do you tinker with hardware/ networking? Can you stare at spreadsheets and love statistics? If you answered yes to any of those questions then a computer career would be worth considering. I know many people that took their passion for computers and made a career out of it some love it others feel that it destroyed their hobby.