Not All Wine and Roses?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Nurse Beth,

I am currently a Public Health Professional with 12 years of experience and 3 additional asa Army Public Health Professional. I am now in a position to return to school. I have been considering nursing off and on for a few years now.

I have always liked the idea of being able to help people in need and my time working alongside military nurses along with some other significant life experiences has only strengthened that feeling. Could someone with my background be successful in the nursing field? I am realistic of the fact that it's not all wine and roses, however, the pay seems good and work is stable. And the work seems fulfilling. Your thoughts?

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Dear Not All Wine and Roses,

Nursing is an amazing profession in so many ways. I've been a nurse for over 30 years and while you're right, it's not all wine and roses, it's real, and it's rewarding. Some days you'll cheer on your patient who is making progress, and some days you'll cry because you lost a patient or you're just exhausted.

You'll laugh and bond with other nurses who get your humor. You'll fall in love with some of your patients. The sweet elderly man grieving silently at his dying wife's bedside. A perky, bald 5 year old who should never have gotten leukemia. Nursing will challenge you and change you.

You get to make a difference every day.

You have life experience and you say you like to help people. People like yourself who come into nursing as a second career bring maturity and can be very successful.

You're realistic. You have been coming back to this idea for awhile, and now you have an opportunity.

It sounds to me like nursing is in your future.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

Author, "Your Last Nursing Class: How to Land Your First Nursing Job"...and your next!

To read more advice from Nurse Beth, go to Ask Nurse Beth: Career Advice