Nursing Career Change - Is it worth it?

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2008

For anyone outside of health care who is looking to change to nursing, I would just caution them to consider all of the downsides. These include having to work nights, weekends, and holidays, difficulties getting requested vacations, potential for back injuries, and working conditions that are VERY physically demanding to anyone not used to being on their feet all day with few to no breaks. Working shifts means that it is not possible to "duck out of work" at lunchtime to go to an MD appt, check on a child in daycare, etc. Working with stressed patients and their families all day can be very mentally and emotionally draining.

The upside is that you can truly make a positive impact in someone's life, and that can be worth all of downsides and more. Words cannot describe the feeling that you have when you advocate for a patient and find out that you may have saved their life. When a mother gives you a hug and tells you that she doesn't know how she would have gotten through that particularly difficult day without you, it is a wonderful feeling.

I suggest that you spend some time shadowing and/or volunteering in a health care setting before you make the switch. Going in with your eyes wide open will make it less likely that you will regret your decision later on.

For what it's worth, I was a career-changer myself. I worked in the lab for 5 years before going into nursing. Since I already worked in healthcare, I thought that I knew what it was all about. Boy, was I wrong! I do not regret my decision now, after getting through that difficult first year. However, in retrospect I should not have jumped in feet first with no life preserver either, which is what I did.

carachel2 · Jun 4, 2008

I'm currently an accountant who is in the process of trying to go to school for nursing. I have a one year old and I'm hoping that nursing will give me the flexibility and fulfillment that Corporate America doesn't give me. I'm trying to see if a career change like this is worth it.
I've always wanted to be a nurse and I feel like now is a perfect time to transition before he's in school full-time.
Please help me by giving me your opinion and any information that will be helpful.

I've always found nursing to be a wonderfully flexible career. At any point in my career and life I have pretty much announced when and how much I am going to work and POOF the job fairy makes it happen. I know that sounds funny, but I'm really pretty serious. I worked full-time in CCU as a new grad with no kids. I switched to full-time in cardiac rehab when I was looking at starting a family (did not want weekends or holidays) and then after my daughter was born, I made it happen so that I only worked 20 hours or less per week (again, no weekends or holidays). We had on site, excellent quality childcare, so she came to work with me. It was great.

When she started school, I realized I wanted to be home with her during the summer. So i switched to another department and worked one 12 hour shift on the weekends. Perfect.

I am not the primary breadwinner so that helps a lot. But my income does supplement my husbands and we enjoy the extra $$. The beauty of nursing is that there is an abundance of employers who need RN's and they will take what you can give them..full-time, part-time, PRN. Whatever you can give and whatever you want to give will be accepted.

With all of that said, you can't just pop out the demand and make it happen. You will need to prove yourself as a valuable employee who busts butt when you are there and are willing to help out in tough and busy times. An employer will be much more willing to accomodate you if you have an established work history.

SoundofMusic · Jun 4, 2008

I always caution everyone like yourself to seriously shadow as an aide/CNA for about three months. Just do it, even if it takes valuable time and you have to take a pay cut or whatever. You NEED to see this profession before you start it.

I also switched careers and left a profession that didn't offer the flexibility and also seemed fraught with problems. Didn't get paid much either -- but the catch was -- I loved what i did -- just couldn't get paid as well.

Well, now I'm ever so slightly disappointed in nursing, although it could just be these first year blues. I miss my old career where I felt competent in what I was doing and where there were not so many, many challenges, difficult patients, famlies, etc. Nursing is very, very tough. Just be sure to try it on for size before you jump in.

armymatt · Jun 4, 2008

To be honest i wouldn't recommend it unless you are sure that its what you wanna do. I'll be honest i am a nurse and i have come to really hate it, which is sad to say. I am tired of being everyones glorified waiter and can't wait till my contract is done with the army, so i can go over to the infantry. Just be sure its what you truely want before you get yourself into it. Matt

RNperdiem, RN · Jun 4, 2008

Nursing is a wonderful career, and I have not regretted it. Nursing has allowed my to be at home with my kids and work weekends per diem. Of course I had to work full time for a few years until I had the experience and confidence to go per diem.

One line of your post stood out for me- that you were looking for the fulfilment and flexibility that Corporate America doesn't give you. Healthcare these days is Corporate America. Hospitals are not a mom-and -pop operation. The same corporate fads pass through our doors. There are the levels of management, the politics and the occasional layoffs/restructuring.

Fulfillment is an elusive goal, but do some job shadowing. Maybe a career change is what you need.

Trauma Columnist · Jun 4, 2008

I became a nurse at the age of 34 after 10 years in public affairs (both military and civilian). I like the flexibility nursing has given me. After 16 years being a nurse, I still like the flexibility. I have worked in several areas and different shifts as well. I would recommend it.

Another aspect (and one I think about frequently) is that I have a job, I can get a job and I can work as much or as little as I need to. In this economic climate that is priceless.

SoundofMusic · Jun 4, 2008

Yes, but, a new nurse has to pay his/her dues and it's not always work where you want and when you want for the first year or two. In my case, I owe a huge amount to the hospital I'm working at since they paid for my schooling and oriented me, also putting me through a critical care course. I have a lot to pay back and have to devote a good 18 months before I can or am supposed to make a switch to another type of nursing.

I mean -- I could probabaly put up a fuss and switch out of the unit I'm in now, but at this point, I'm almost too lazy to do it because I don't want to start all over at a new unit. At least I know this one and what's going on at this point.

I think after a year or two, you can then start to have the flexibility you need, do traveling or whatever. Got to put in some dues first, unless you go public health or into a doc's office.

Pay your own way through school and don't sign any contracts if you can avoid it. That way you can find where you want to go and leave something you don't care for. I'm not sure that they're not all signing contracts now for orientation periods.

If I wanted to leave my current unit, I have to pay back at least $2500 to do so. Not much, but who wants to pay that back.

Just look before you leap.

mom and nurse · Jun 4, 2008

I became a nurse at 45. This after originally having a bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders, being a government secretary, data entry clerk at a law firm, fulltime housewife and mom (my most stressful job).

At 42 with kids in middle school... I decided to go back to school and become a nurse...I graduated with a BSN, obtained the RN, and worked as a rehabilitation nurse and had anywhere from 6 -9 patients. Loved the patient contact (usually) . Hated the stress level. Loved the flexibility nursing gives. Loved seeing people at their best ... (though as a nurse you also see them at their worst). Learned to deal with ... to put it mildly... bodily fluids in all shapes, sizes, colors and smells....

I had days on the floor when I hated my life as a nurse (such as when I had to work 16 hours when a nurse who was supposed to come in did not and there was no one to replace her. I worked 3pm - 6am...)

I had days when I loved nursing. Such as when a patient was teary eyed on leaving our facility and said to me "What will I ever do without you..." or when I was able to precept a brand new RN ....

After realizing I would only be able to lift, pull, and bend for a certain amount of years...I went back to school and just graduated at 49 with my Masters as an NP....and am now trying to determine my next great adventure. I still love the flexibility that nursing gives. There's so much out there to choose from (especially if you are an RN ..OB/GYN, pediatrics, geriatrics, psychiatric, community health... etc.) and at least in our area , nurses are in high demand.... no matter how old you are... (well... ok I guess there may be a limit but I've known nurses working up into their 60s and early 70s....)

I agree... call up a hospital, find a nurse who has not been totally burned out yet and shadow them for the day. It'll let you see what nurses really do... :)

Best wishes in your search...

dt335263 · Jun 4, 2008

The flexibility you seek definitely exists in the profession of nursing - but not in the beginning.

Those hiring a nurse will make a clear distinction between new graduates and experienced nurses, so you will need to plan on 2 years in the hospital setting to make yourself eligible for some of the more attractive positions, then you will need to consider that many nurses are competing for those more attractive situations, so you will possibly not be the first choice.

Nursing is difficult for so many reasons (none of which relate to the book-learning involved which is fun) and I have not yet heard of a nursing school that did not make it difficult to get in and difficult to stay in. Do your homework before you make any decisions.

Check out the school you want to go to and find out how competitive it is. Ask about what will happen if your child is sick and you cannot come to school. You can determine ahead of time that the school part could be worked out.

Then go to the local hospital (wherever you think you would work) and ask about positions for new graduates. Get the details so you will be prepared for the actual schedule. Realize that in a staff nursing job, you will not have a minute to do anything but your job while you are at work - no phone calls, no personal emergencies, etc. So make sure you can get someone 100% reliable to take care of your child while you are there.

Once you have determined that all works for you, ask your local hospital if you may sign up as a volunteer so you can see what a patient unit is really like when you are there for more than just a few minutes. Often you can get permission to shadow a nurse for the day which is very helpful to get the real feel of the job.

If you can do it, it is worth it but it is not easy.

love38 · Jun 5, 2008

Thank you for your insight. I will definitely consider all that you have said in making my decision.