Nursing as a 2nd Career

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I am currently in a professional career with a BA in Business Administration but have realized over the past year that I want to go into nursing. Anyone on here been through this? I don't even know where to start. Clearly I need to work but how do you even go about doing the clinical portion of a nursing program if you have a full-time day job? At what point do you move into the clinical phase? Any help would be appreciated.

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i am in the same boat as you. I started by taking my prereqs by taking night and online classes at a CC college and then applying to their nursing program. Some people are able to work full time while they are in school depending what they are doing for a job, if you can get a position at a hospital that would be flexible.

Another option would be an accelerate BSN program that would take maybe 10 months after the prereqs (at least the one here does) Since you already have a degree that could be an option.

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I finished college with a degree in Business Administration 7 years ago and up until last October had a successful career even though I was not happy doing it. I knew what I really wanted to do, Nursing, about 5 years ago but could not afford to leave my career. Then, last October I was laid off and after 6 months of not being able to find a job I knew this was my opportunity to go back to school. I have taken all of my pre-nursing courses and will start my full-time program in September. I have also read about a lot more people just like us on these message boards. You are not alone!:redpinkhe

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You have no idea how helpful your answers have been...it's so confusing. I haven't been in school for a long time but know this is what I want to do. I no longer feel fulfilled in my career and want to make a change. My fear is that I can't work and go to school...and I don't qualify for financial aid. I wish there were evening programs for nursing like there are for business.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
Clearly I need to work but how do you even go about doing the clinical portion of a nursing program if you have a full-time day job? At what point do you move into the clinical phase? Any help would be appreciated.
None of the programs around here are structured such that you could keep a full-time day job. Clinicals are typically 2-3 days per week and generally on a day shift 0700-1500 but some are on an evening shift 1500-2300 so you might be able to swing that and tweak your work hours some.

Given the current bleak outlook for getting hired as a new-grad nurse, I would strongly DISCOURAGE anybody from quitting a good professional job to go to nursing school.

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Given the current bleak outlook for getting hired as a new-grad nurse I would strongly DISCOURAGE anybody from quitting a good professional job to go to nursing school.[/quote']

Are you sure about this? I live in Georgia and Nursing is a "high-demand" field and I am not only qualified to draw unemployment while in school but also qualify for other programs because the need is so high. I have several friends who have completed the program within the last 2 years or so and have had a job lined up before ever finishing school.

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Are you sure about this? I live in Georgia and Nursing is a "high-demand" field and I am not only qualified to draw unemployment while in school but also qualify for other programs because the need is so high. I have several friends who have completed the program within the last 2 years or so and have had a job lined up before ever finishing school.

That's pretty much the same in Florida. Check with the resource your Unemployment office gives you for work placement. The Federal government programs that you may qualify for are the Federal Stimulus Job Training Program (1-year training ie LPN, MA, CNA, etc.) and there is the Workforce Innovation Act that covers 2-year programs (RN). Note these are not just for nursing, but other fields as well...but nursing applies here. You have to meet their criteria, be accepted into the school, etc. but it's not a difficult process, just the usual paperwork r/t the government. There may be other programs as well. I know some of our hospitals offer assistance once you're accepted into a nursing program and in return, you work for them after graduation for a set amount of time.

To the original poster...clinicals typically begin after your first 8 weeks, but check with your school, it may be different. Also some schools offer a night time track as well. The one ours has goes to class from 3pm - 5 or 6 pm/2 nights a week (M-TH) and has clinicals 3p-11pm/2 nights a week (TW) as well. The night track also continues through the summer session, so they finish up 1 semester early. Depending on how flexible your current job is, it may be do-able. Remember though, you'll need lots of study time as well. Perhaps you could go part-time? I know it's do-able, but you pretty much need to ignore everything else in life for awhile! Good luck!

Sharon

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
Are you sure about this? I live in Georgia and Nursing is a "high-demand" field and I am not only qualified to draw unemployment while in school but also qualify for other programs because the need is so high. I have several friends who have completed the program within the last 2 years or so and have had a job lined up before ever finishing school.
Yes, I am quite sure about it.

I understand that they're calling it a high-demand field and that the refrain of "nursing shortage" continues to resound but the reality is that very few hospitals are hiring new-graduate nurses and many new-grads are unable to find jobs.

The climate today is very different than it was even 18 months ago (though the writing was clearly on the wall).

Talk to new graduates from the local nursing schools and see how many are actually getting hired. You might be surprised.

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There is truth in what you're saying...but I think it really varies from state to state. Everyone's being affected...though it still seems like the Nursing/Medical field is less affected, hence 300-400 candidates for 75-100 seats available in each nursing class. It is very different now, for sure!

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Yes, I am quite sure about it.

I understand that they're calling it a high-demand field and that the refrain of "nursing shortage" continues to resound but the reality is that very few hospitals are hiring new-graduate nurses and many new-grads are unable to find jobs.

The climate today is very different than it was even 18 months ago (though the writing was clearly on the wall).

Talk to new graduates from the local nursing schools and see how many are actually getting hired. You might be surprised.

Two friends of mine graduated in March from the Technical School I am attending right now and each of them landed a job before finishing school and 1 of them turned down 2 offers. They said that everyone in their class was hired within a couple weeks of graduation. It obviously varies by state...

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Specializes in GYN/GON/Med-Surg/Oncology/Tele.

I too am pursuing nursing as a second career. I'll start an ADN program August 17th.

So far, I've learned that we will have clinicals on either Thursday or a Friday this first semester. As far as my class schedule is concerned, I'm in class and labs Monday - Wednesday, during the day since I'm in the "Day Nursing Program" I HAVE to work at least 30 hrs (considered full time for benefits purposes for my current employer). Most importantly, I'm working because I can no longer receive loans for school (maxed out from my previous degree and my pre req's) so I have to pay my tuition out of pocket until I'm eligible for scholarships (usually requiring you to be at least a second semester nursing student)

I've read posts in a forum on here about people who have graduated from nursing school in Dec. 08 and are still unabled to find a job. I've even worked with a few NA's who have graduated and passed the NCLEX and are unable to land a job. The economy has affected even the nursing profession but there are still places out there that are hiring. Most hospitals are on a hiring freeze but seriously, you can't compromise pt's care and I can't help but believe that instead of them keeping a much needed position open for months for an experienced nurse to snatch up that they would in fact offer that position to a new grad nurse. So there is hope! I'm optimistically expecting the economy to have a turn around by the time I graduate.

BTW...a friend of mine was hired as a new grad ADN nurse at a small local hospital in the ER with a base pay of more than what the BSN nurses are getting paid at the HUGE hospital I'm currently employed.

So don't be discouraged if you decide to go the ADN route instead of the BSN route because "companies are hiring BSN nurses over ADN nurses" That's just not true...another myth is that you can't get a managerial position if you don't have your BSN...just about every AUM (Assistant Unit Manger) I've come across has an ADN. You can't get a managerial position w/o nursing experience anyway. So really having your BSN doesn't give you an upper hand. Especially considering they have RN-BSN or RN-MSN degree programs out there...just my opinion, I'm sure some will disagree!

I would try taking as many of your pre-requisite classes as you can online. Apply to ADN, traditional BSN, ABSN and Alternate Entry MSN programs. Have a back up plan don't just apply to only one school and hope for the best!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

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