2nd Career - Are you happy with your decision to become a nurse?

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Hi - For those of you who went into nursing as a second career, are you happy you did or do you feel you made a huge mistake?

Check out the community colleges....

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NCC (here in CT) has a part-time evening program. That's what I'm aiming for. Yes, with completing pre and co-reqs first and then doing the clinicals it will take me a whopping 4 years to finish but at least I will be able to keep my current job while in school. I know Norwalk is a hike from where you are but if you're looking for an ADN program, look into the other connecticut community colleges. I'm sure their programs are all very similar. Good luck!

I am concerned about the 2 year practicum, where I will have to give up my full time salary. How do people do it financially? Is it possible to do the clinical work on a part time basis?

I really want to pursue nursing, but am concerned about the loss of income and being able to survive financially during this time. I look forward to hearing from experienced voices!!!

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I wish I could say, "yes - my life is so much more fulfilling now that I help people instead of pushing paper." But, I'm leaning towards regretting it - I go back and forth. I used to do PR/Marketing. I made more money and got more respect.

Now I have student loans that I won't pay off until my mid-60s. I took a big pay cut and can barely pay my bills. My back hurts constantly. I'm disrespected on a daily basis by at least one or two people, be it bosses, other co-workers, patients and especially family members. I have been eaten by older nurses, and still after 18 months as an RN, I have other nurses scrutinizing everything I do. I've been pinched, scratched, sworn at, accused of various things I didn't do, and threatened. I've had my confidence as a nurse ripped away, then started to regain it and now it's being whittled down again.

Good parts - some patients are very appreciative and sweet. Working 3 days a week makes it easy to squeeze in mini-vacations (although I don't have money to go anywhere significant). I'm proud when I tell others I'm a nurse - a lot of people say, "Wow, I could never do that." I think it's a huge accomplishment.

Bottom line - I don't think it was a mistake necessarily, but it's not the Florence Nightengale thing I envisioned. I wish my finances didn't take such a hit, and I'm concerned about my financial future (I'm single). And I don't think I can do clinical nursing for that long - I'm shooting for 5 years at least. My body can't take much more! At least with nursing you can get other jobs too.

I don't know what advice to give - it's different for everybody, and you really don't know until you're working as a nurse. Nursing school is nothing like real life. I guess I wish I was better informed about what it's really like. Even with my mother being an RN, it's changed a lot since her days.

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Specializes in Dialysis, Home Care, Hospice.

I have experienced extreme highs and lows over the course of my career and I wish I was one of those people that could leave work at work, but I don't. So...there are days when I wish I would have become an accountant. Then there are the days like last week when I am holding the hand of a dying patient and she kisses my hand and tells me I'm an "angel". Those days I never question my decision. I know that what I do is important and it can and does change someones life, or death in this case. It can be soooo rewarding. I don't have.....right now.....as many of those days as I wish I did, but one horrible week can be erased when I CAN go home with complete satsifaction that my job was done and done well.

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