Nursing as a Second Career

[Delaware-Guy]

So here's my story. I'm 33 and have been working as a sales rep for over 10 years now. Hate it. Sales does not provide me with a sense of satisfaction at all for a number of reasons. I want to do something that is important and can have a positive impact on people. I have a bachelor's degree in business administration and there are a few colleges nearby that offer an accelerated BSN program for people in my situation. Here is the problem that I have and I'm wondering if any of you have gone through something similar. My wife and I have three small children. My oldest is 2 and my twins are 4 months. The income that I earn now allows my wife to stay home with the kids which has been great because the daycare costs would be very high. I can take classes at night to fulfill the prerequisites but the accelerated program would require me to go to school full time which would mean that I would have to quit my job. If you have done something like this how did you support yourself while in school? Also, I've heard that there is a nursing shortage but I've also heard that new grads are having a very hard time getting jobs with some people not even getting interviews. Is there really a shortage? Any advice you guys have would also be appreciated.

-Thanks

[ItsTheDude]

there's NO national nursing shortage now, hasn't been for awhile.

several years back, if you were a newbie rn you didn't really have to find a job, they found you (some employers were like stalkers) and even paid signing bonuses, moving expenses, etc.

now days, many newbie rn's have to actively seek employment for months! bonuses and all the other goodies are tough to find these days for newbs and experienced nurses. many newbs are having to settle for pt work or work in areas of nursing they don't like when they finally get a job offer.

the future, things are getting better, but i don't know if we'll get back to the crazy days anytime soon (nursing shortage). the economy has to pick up a lot and stay that way for a yr or more. i think obama care will increase demand for nurses too.

[Anoetos, BSN, RN]

One idea is that the healthcare reform plan will cause more people to access regular healthcare. This should drive the need for health care professionals of every variety. Or so the thinking goes.

[dcgant]

Nurses are always needed and you can work in a variety of different fields..if you want to pursue nursing you should go for it...you will not have a problem finding work.!! Good Luck!!

[marshpit23]

I was in sales as well. I was laid off a couple of years ago. Instead of jumping back into the thankless, unrewarding sales field, I decided to follow my passion, nursing. I have finished my prereq's and was just accepted into an ADN program. I'm super excited about taking the next step to becoming a RN (I hope to follow up with my BSN degree immediatley after graduating the ADN program). I was also the 'bread-winner' in my family. So, getting laid off and following my nursing dream was initially very difficult. While I was receiving my unemployment insurance, my girlfriend and I decided to start a daycare with our savings (luckily she had a large network in the childcare field already established). We have had our ups and downs with the daycare business; however, we manged to keep our heads above water. I'm not sure if this an option for you, but I thought I would share.

Good luck!

[Anoetos, BSN, RN]

I did too. I was in material handling aftermarket parts and service calling on Ford and Chrysler for ten years before the economy tanked and I got laid off. So I decided to go back to school.

I got my GED in the Army. In High School I was not very, erm, engaged. I cannot tell you how happy I am to be learning something that is both challenging and really useful.

Sales is not for everyone. It's not for me either. My dad was a great salesman. I didn't get the gene that made me really enjoy manipulating people, however good my intentions were. That sounds like a snipe, but it's not; some people (not all) need to be pushed into buying decisions and good salespeople are essential for making that happen. The old saying is true, nothing happens in an economy until someone buys something and there need to be people there to sell things in order to make that happen. Salespeople are absolutely essential to a working economy.

But, like you, I don't want to sell things either, I want to join science together with compassion and use it to help sick people get better. I was just accepted into a BSN program so it looks like I am going to get the opportunity.

I am not concerned about jobs, there will be something when I graduate.