This is my first post on here, so forgive me if I posted in the wrong area. Currently I am a flight attendant and have been for about two years, while I enjoy traveling I don't necessarily enjoy it for work. I prefer to be home and travel on my off days to places I enjoy. After talking to a few friends and family that are nurses I decides to persue this as my career. I was appected into the NYU school of nursing and start the accelerated program in fall 2016.
My question is for anyone who is working as a nurse as their second career. Did you find it was hard to adapt to a completely different career or was it a seamless transition? Did you find nursing school difficult coming from a non science background? Do you feel great job satisfaction as a nurse? Also for people that have always been nurses, are you still happy with your original decision to become a nurse?
This is a big change for me and some days I feel I am way over my head. Any and all advice is welcome.
It does not matter if nursing your first career or not. It's a tough gig.
Nursing school is also a tough gig. I have a genius IQ, good at math and science and it still required my maximum effort.
I am not hearing why you want to become a nurse.. other than you talked to some "friends" and the schedule might allow more time to be home with family. ( far from the reality)
The decision to become a nurse requires much more introspection than you have given it.
This is my first post on here, so forgive me if I posted in the wrong area. Currently I am a flight attendant and have been for about two years, while I enjoy traveling I don't necessarily enjoy it for work. I prefer to be home and travel on my off days to places I enjoy. After talking to a few friends and family that are nurses I decides to persue this as my career. I was appected into the NYU school of nursing and start the accelerated program in fall 2016.
My question is for anyone who is working as a nurse as their second career. Did you find it was hard to adapt to a completely different career or was it a seamless transition? Did you find nursing school difficult coming from a non science background? Do you feel great job satisfaction as a nurse? Also for people that have always been nurses, are you still happy with your original decision to become a nurse?
This is a big change for me and some days I feel I am way over my head. Any and all advice is welcome.
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I have been a nurse over 35 years. I quit twice (drove a semi and sold residential real estate) but came back to nursing because it is really satisfying. I'm mentally stimulated by the sciency part and don't mind the personal interactions. I get to be nice to people and, in general, they are nice to me. I like being trusted and having responsibility for my own actions. I enjoy a middle class income and working in a safe, climate-controlled environment.
The public perception of nursing is so messed up. TV is such a fantasy. Talk to real nurses, work as a CNA for a chance at making your own rational decision as to whether nursing is something you would like.
My knowledge of flight attendants is limited but I would think your customer service, interactions with the public, working odd hours and remaining calm under pressure will be familiar territory in nursing.
I am a second career nurse; I was a computer programmer for 12 years before returning to school to become an RN. I felt my job making rich people richer was not very meaningful to me. Becoming a nurse made my work days a lot more stressful and a lot more physically demanding. However, making this career change has also made my work life MUCH more meaningful. I love helping patients and families and being part of the healthcare team!
Being a second career nurse has definitely helped me in some ways. I've always been a good student, and I know how to behave in a professional manner. Being a programmer, I know how to solve complex problems and I pick up on small details well, also.
Nursing is not an easy job. The hours can be flexible, but not always - once you have committed to a shift, it is yours, often enough :) But if you want to make a tremendous difference in people's lives and are prepared to shoulder the risks and responsibilities that go with that? Nursing might just be the job for you!
I found nursing school much easier than my first degree, because nursing school was more memorization while my previous degree made me think more and used more high-level educational materials, but was less work. Nursing school was difficult because of the overwhelming amount of material, not because of the content. I remember many of my nursing classmates flipping out over having to read a few journal articles for their classes, for example.
It's hard to say whether it will be easy or difficult for you. It really depends on what sort of education you've had already.
I would image that experiences would vary depending on the type of nurse you become. There are so many opportunities and this is what attracts me to it. I am not yet a nurse but I believe that it is such a generous field when it comes to movement. Of course, what the current nurses say trumps me. I am speaking from working in a hospital and a family member nurse who went from oncology, peds, to travel nurse. So exciting. Good luck in your first year!
Did you find it was hard to adapt to a completely different career or was it a seamless transition?
Starting out as the bottom of the totem pole was the worst part for me, because it can be an ego blow. The learning curve for nursing is very steep and the first year out of nursing school was rough. It is true when they say that it takes years to become truly proficient as a nurse, sometimes more, sometimes less depending on where you specialize. But you really are learning something new every day, regardless. The feeling of perpetual learning for some is energizing and for others is unsettling.
Did you find nursing school difficult coming from a non science background?
I did not come from a medical science background, but did have some training in the sciences waaaaay back in my career before my career before nursing. But as others have said, nursing school is difficult if not for the concepts but for the volume of learning required. I graduated with my BSN in 1 year because I have a Bachelor's Degree in something else and did all my prereqs first. The ABSN program is one of the hardest things physically I have ever done. It was exhausting.
Do you feel great job satisfaction as a nurse?
I feel a great amount of pride in the fact that I worked my tail off to become a Registered Nurse. I also was fulfilling a dream I had since high school. I love helping people. I love my patients (most of the time). But being a nurse is also very physically and mentally draining. I give 100% at work then sometimes come home and feel all used up. I love my job, that is true. I get paid very well and I work with some nurses that just astound me with their skills and ability. Every so often I will pick my head up during a shift and feel very privileged to be doing what I do. However, I work night shift, which abuses my body. I work every other weekend, every other Christmas/New Years, and any holidays that fall on my regularly scheduled shift day so I miss a lot. It is a give and take. I feel like it is worth it. Some don't.
adapting: Yes it was hard to adapt. I was established and knowledgeable in my oil and gas career. I was used to low stress and a nice office. I didn't even know what normal Blood pressure was when I started. It was rough. Even after nursing school it was tough getting started on my first job. I really underestimated the role and responsibilities of the nurse. It's a lot!
School: I did an accelerated 2nd degree so yes it was EXTREMELY hard. I had a science background but it didn't help.
satisfaction: Yes I'm satisfied. I make good money working 3 days a week. Grocery shopping on a Tuesday while the rest of the world works is awesome! Plus you have time for cleaning, cooking...etc. But don't get me wrong 12 hours is LONG and hard. lastly I love my pedi patients!
Been there,done that, ASN, RN
7,241 Posts
It does not matter if nursing your first career or not. It's a tough gig.
Nursing school is also a tough gig. I have a genius IQ, good at math and science and it still required my maximum effort.
I am not hearing why you want to become a nurse.. other than you talked to some "friends" and the schedule might allow more time to be home with family. ( far from the reality)
The decision to become a nurse requires much more introspection than you have given it.