JHandshake

Thanks for all the informative replies. So, I've shadowed a nurse in pediatric oncology as well as a nurse in the adult ED. After seeing what a day-in-the-life is like, I definitely want to get into the field. Two questions: 1. A number of people have told me I should get into the industry ASAP to make myself competitive when I apply to school. I've been advised to explore the CNA route and the ER Technician route. What are some of the differences + pros and cons of each? 2. I've also been encouraged to consider positions other than nurse. Multiple people have recommended Physicians Assistant and Nurse Practitioner. What are some of the differences + pros and cons of each? Some things to consider: -My long-term goal is to get into a life-saving position. As I think about CNA vs. ER Tech, I would like to gain experience that will make me an asset on a Search & Rescue Team in the long-term. -After 10 years in business and startups, I'm never going back to 80-hr weeks. As I think about RN vs. PA or NP, a schedule that provides work/life balance is important. Thanks again for all your advice!

Thanks for your thorough reply @MSKW! I just got off the phone with MSU and they said it takes 2 years to complete the pre-reqs. I was surprised to hear this. As someone with a poli-sci degree, I assume that, like me, you probably had not taken any of the pre-reqs in undergrad. How long did it take you to get through your pre-reqs?

Ha. Thanks for the reality check. GPA: I scored nothing lower than an A- in all of my business classes (I was a marketing major, so those were the only classes I cared about), so if I can apply the same focus to my pre-reqs I should be in a better position once I finish those. CNA: Great recommendation. Doing some research on this today. Language study: Interesting. Had not considered this, but after speaking with a few of my nurse friends they all agree that this would be an extremely valuable skill. (Spanish and ASL were the overwhelming recommendations for CO.) Volunteer work: Makes sense. My skills are all business-related, but I'm sure I can find a way to put those to work in a medical setting. One last question about GPA. My GPA never came up when I started applying for jobs right out of college. Not once. But, business is much different than nursing. Do employers care about GPA?

Thanks for the thoughtful reply! My roommate is a nurse practitioner and has offered to organize shadowing with a nurse there for me. I think that would be a great step in helping me be 100% sure this is the right move long-term. Sounds like where I have the most opportunity is to perform really well in those pre-reqs. Thank you!

Hello, After 12 years in the business world, I am ready for a change. Many of my good friends are nurses, and I am exploring this option. If I decide it's right for me, I am going to pull the trigger ASAP. First I have some questions, and hopefully the awesome contributors to this website can help me out. Where can I find a list of all the schools in Colorado that offer an accelerated BSN program? (Only interested in the accelerated option.) Roughly how much does this program cost? I'm learning that these programs are competitive in Colorado... I graduated from a private university in NYC in 2014 with a BA in marketing and a 3.12 GPA. Will it hurt me that my degree is in marketing? Is this GPA high enough? Since I was a marketing major, I've taken none of the pre-reqs for an ABSN. I could pay for these pre-reqs, score really well, and then still not get accepted. I would like to protect against that potential downside. Is there a way to receive conditional acceptance (assuming I score at least an X.XX GPA)? What can I do to make myself a competitive candidate? Thank you in advance for taking the time to read and answer my questions.