PhilaGuy

Well what fun would it be if there wasn't anything new...

That's a really good point. I'm the one that made the grass comment... And here I am getting ready to take my pre-req classes for nursing this fall

HAHAHA, don't worry -- Family taught me the lesson on that one. Thanks for the response all. I haven't had science classes since high school (back in the late 80s / early 90s), but I was good at them. And with IT... I've gone through several calculus / diff eq classes, so I'm OK on the math end of things. Its going to be a challenge, no doubt - But D**N am I excited!

P.P.S. I just re-read your post, and I think you have some anger issues. I only stated that I have an eventual goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner or getting into management. Since when did having goals equate to demeaning others (in this case, LPNs) and not wanting to do work? You have zero knowledge of how I would be as a co-worker or as a manager. And I don't care if I'm cleaning poo, I don't consider any part of nursing a menial job. Maybe that's idealistic, but I damn well prefer having a positive attitude whatever I'm doing. I'm still sorry you took my thread as meaning something it didn't. But to take my goals and assume I'm some sort of DON (as you put it)... C'mon now, way off base.

Was this to me?? I have ZERO plans of being in management right away - or even 10years down the road at all!! I completely agree, I need to know the job and do it for a while (and well). I'm starting from the beginner level, and understand that completely; If its anything like any other job I've had, 10% of the education is formal, the other 90% is learned on the job from others. In my early 30s, I have a lot of working years left, and was simply stating a long-term goal! Sorry if you thought I was saying I would jump right into nursing management (although I do expect to take Nurse Practitioner classes part-time once I graduate and get a nurse job) - I thought I was clear and I apologize if I wasn't. And if this wasn't for me... Well, sorry for being neurotic. P.S. With two kids and a dog, yes I've seen poo - In many forms.

Yep, totally agree -- And the pay gets better as you go (and my eventual goal is to be a nurse practioner or possibly a manager of some sort - y'know, actually put my MBA to use ), but I want to have a few years under my belt first of actually doing the job and helping people. I appreciate this thread (and forum) though, because just as I know there are good points to the job, there are bound to be areas of concern and things to watch for. At least I can go into the profession with my eyes wide open. To the OP, I hope things look up, or you are able to find a better career. Just as a suggestion, most (all?) insurance companies have large numbers of nurses they hire for case management. Its an office job, but they are paid well and might give you a change of pace (while still using the skills and knowledge from your profession). That's the nice thing I'm finding about nursing - There are tons of career paths once you have that RN.

Whew, thank you -- And yeah, I'm fine celebrating on different days. I figure possibly (since you don't necessarily have to work them all - somebody's off!) losing the three major holidays a year is worth all of the extra time you suggest. Plus, as was stated, I just love the idea that I'll be coming home for work everyday knowing I directly helped someone (even if they were crabby about it!). Funny off-topic thing though - My wife and I were at the college's information night on their program: 60 people, only two of us were male; A VERY different experience then software development, let me tell you! Certainly not a problem, just really interesting!

Sounds like me, and the reasons I want to get into it. However, I expect most of my family to think I'm nuts since I'll take a 50% pay cut to do so (at least at first) I'm not expecting low stress (and that's OK), but what's unnerving is the loss of hours with family I'm hearing about on this board. My goal was to actually try and INCREASE hours with family. I work now 10-12 hour days 5 days a week, then follow that up with off hours stuff and email on nights and weekends, etc. Am I making a mistake here thinking I will get more time with family in nursing?

I'm not a nurse yet -- Just looking to get into the career -- And I don't doubt what you're saying is true. However, I can say with 13 years in software systems development that the grass isn't always greener. Arrogant doctors: Replace that with arrogant managers / co-workers / business team members. Since I'm in a group that technically provides a "service" for the business teams, sometimes they can be completely rude in how they act. Politics: Office politics are alive and well outside of nursing, trust me on that. Unfortunately it seems more human nature than occupational nature. The bigger the place you work, the more likely the politics are mean. Time off: Believe it or not, this is one of the reasons I'm coming INTO nursing (although its far down the list). While I know there is on-call and weekend / night / holiday work, at least nurses are paid for it. I regularly work 60-75 hours (in several companies, so its not just a single workplace), plus additional hours from home as needed. Often I'm checking email daily from home -- And all of this time is unpaid beyond my salary. Its a good salary, and I don't think I'm under-compensated, but I believe I'd actually have MORE hours at home with family as a nurse. At least when I'm home, that's my time with family, not the check email on pop online for the latest "crisis". Again, this is most definitely NOT to dismiss your concerns. I just wanted to make sure you understood though that those concerns are not just nursing in general. The way I see it, at least you are providing people a true healing service (whereas I just make my company money).

I can try to explain it more from the insurance side of things (looking to become a nurse eventually). Managed care or HMOs (Health Management Organizations) are structured health insurance programs. The way they work is requiring you as a patient to see your primary doctor for all non-emergency care as a first step (rather than letting you go to a more expensive specialist, or requesting a test). This reduces costs as many issues can be treated via this primary level of care. In addition, costs down to the smallest minutiae are figured out for most procedures and dx's. These are negotiated with the various doctors, hospitals, etc. so that actuaries can make determinations on costs for the member groups (and thereby charge back via premiums). The concept is to reduce costs for the members by controlling and optimizing care. Many times it works, but many times it also can be abused and bring a reduction in care (such as if your primary doctor doesn't ask for a test that they should due to costs, etc. or if a patient doesnt receive follow up because the steps / procedures were too cumbersome).

Thanks all. Its not going to be a short process (going to school part time, and need pre-reqs), but lining stuff up. There's an open house for a community college program I want to get in on Wednesday; They are full for fall 08, but since I have pre-reqs anyway fall 09 is fine. Im looking at a Associates program purely for cost; It will let me get my RN faster or at the same speed, at a reduced cost. I'll go back and get the Masters, but once I'm at a hospital that will pay for it. I'm not against the Associates personally - In fact, the Community College I'm looking at has a higher 1st time NCLEX pass rate than the University of Pennsylvania! I can't wait. I'm probably 2 1/2 years out, but it will happen soon enough!

Well, after taking a look around it looks like I'm going to be stuck waiting for next fall - Widener would be too expensive, and the other local schools have waiting lists. May not be a bad thing actually. I'm going to an info session for DCCC, and if I apply for 2009 it will let me get my pre-requisites out of the way beforehand. Its one thing to walk in with a > 3.0 GPA in business, but if I have 4-6 science classes with As on the list as well, that looks even better!

The good news is I get what you mean - I work for an insurance company, so I know all about the codes... Dx codes, Proc codes... So many codes... Ugh

While I haven't worked there (not in the field yet), I can tell you it has a good reputation, although it gets dwarfed by CHOP. Horrible neighborhood though.

It looks like DCCC already has a waiting list for this fall, ugh. Any other ideas on schools in the Chester County area (willing to go in a decent radius around there though!). We live really close to West Chester U, but not sure how difficult it is to get into their programs (and if they even have a night / weekend thing).

I'm thinking oncology because I know how much the nurses did for me - Since my chemo was slow push, we hung out alot I know that my particular disease has a usually favorable outcome and not all do, but knowing how much benefit the nurses can give means alot as a possible choice. Your idea about bypassing the BSN is fantastic, and I didn't even think of that!! I have a BS and MBA, so really what I'm missing is the science and nursing classes I would get from the ASN. I'll definitely look into that, thank you!

That's a true statement. I did bug the nurses in the family for the negatives I should be aware of, but many of those apply to many industries, like the "office" politics, administrative policies that sometimes make zero sense, and patients with crappy attitudes. I'm going to be on my feet alot, and its not easy work. But you know what (idealism incoming ), I also get to physically help, associate, and communicate with patients every day, knowing I'm helping make them better, easing their pain, even just giving them someone to talk to while sitting in a hospital. Idealistic or not, that sounds a hell of a lot better than sitting in a cubicle writing code that does nothing but improve my company's bottom line. I like coding, but there's nothing keeping me from doing that on my own outside of work once schooling is done.

I stand corrected, I do have a question already! While this is probably a stupid question... How are male nurses treated day-to-day? Not really concerned with my peers - I get along with people pretty well. I'm thinking more along the lines of patients!

Waiting for exposure to the clinicals makes perfect sense. My only real exposure to any is oncology (a set of nurses who I have an obvious love for! ). As for my previous degrees, I have a BS in Finance, and a MBA. Unfortunately, I doubt there will be much that can trasfer (although I did take a psychology 101 class!). I've been in touch with a couple schools nearby, and they hopefully will be able to look at my transcripts in a few weeks. I'm sure I'll have tons of questions as I get started, its just very early on in the process. Since I'm a planner, I wanted to make sure the path I lined up makes sense to people actually doing the job! Thanks for the quick reply!

Hi all! Here's hoping some of you experienced nurses can help me figure out if my plan below makes sense! Anyway, I'm a 34 year male that's been in software engineering for 13 years. I'm good at my job, but to be honest its become stale. Still, money is money, and it's very lucrative. Last October, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma (stage 2AX). Talk about a wake up call to what's important. Without getting into the gory details, I'm fully in remission, and my onc puts my likelihood of being cured at 95% (woohoo!). This little bump in my road of life really got me to thinking about what I want. While my current job pays well, I also work 60-70 hours a week, including some nights and weekends. That takes away from my family time. I'm not doing something that helps people, and I think my experience really brought that into focus for me. I took a look at salaries, type of work -- Heck, I even interviewed two family members who are nurses (both of whom said point-blank they think I'd make an awesome nurse). While I'm sure this decision has a little "life-changing cancer event" in them, I've made sure there are logical reasons behind it as well and weighed pros-cons. The only real con for me is salary - I'll be taking a 50% pay cut to start (ouch). However, as our son is going to school next year, with my wife rejoining the workforce that makes up that loss. Anyway, I've decided (with my wife and family's blessing) to become a nurse at 34. My plan right now is to get through an Associate's Program at a local (but very reputable) community college and get my RN. My wife (who has a Bachelor's in Cell and Molecular bio) is going to do the same, actually. My eventual goal is to get to work in a few years, complete a RN to BSN program while working, then potentially go for a NP and/or MSN (I'm a schooling junkie). Specialties I'm going to try for are Surg/Trauma or Oncology. The pay is still decent as I move along, there's flexibility with hours it seems, I'll be helping people each and every day, and I'll probably get to wear scrubs I haven't been this excited about work in a very long time! A couple questions for you all: 1) Do you think my plan above makes sense (i.e. getting the RN/ASN first, then going back for the BSN)? Given there isn't a massive salary difference, would let me start working several years sooner, and get my pre-requisites away for any bachelor's program, it makes sense to me. Never mind that the hospital I work for would likely pay for the continuing education! 2) How would a newbie go about getting into Surg/Trauma or Oncology? Where would a new nurse get put first? 3) Is there anything any of you would recommend modifying in my plan above? I'm walking into this knowing only the work experiences of several nurses, nothing on the path to getting there. Thanks in advance!

Hello all! After 13 years as a programmer, I'm about to start classes to become a nurse. There's just too many good reasons as to why this is what I want to do (more time with family, getting to help people on a daily basis...). Only negative is salary (my pay will get cut about 50% at the beginning), but my wife plans to join me in this, so that covers that. My decision's made up, so don't mind answering, but let me ask you a question: For anyone who made a career change like this, was it worth it to you? Is there anything you would have done differently? Looking forward to getting started - I haven't had drive like this in a long time.

Yeah, only tough part about this is getting through my head 1) I'm switching careers at 34, 2) I'm cutting my pay (initially) about 50%, and 3) Its scary Now, the pros: 1) Both my wife and I want to do this, after thinking about it the last several months 2) With both of us working, pay cut isn't a problem 3) When we want more kids, nursing is a unique profession where she wouldn't necessarily have to stop to raise our child, but could work P/T with me home during those periods. 4) You get to wear scrubs. I'm sorry, that's just comfortable. My wife was already thinking about this, but I'll give ya a neat story as to where my motivation comes from. I'm good at my current job as a Solutions Architect (lead programmer / designer), but I work *LONG* hours (upwards of 60-70 a week, including some weekend time and evenings at home). I don't actually get to help people - That always bothered me a little, but hey - I have my career, can't switch, right? In October, I was disagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma (Stage 2). Scariest thing I think you can be told in your early 30s is you have cancer. Lucky for me, its one of the more curable ones, and I went into remission halfway through chemo (onc puts my chances of being cured at 95% at this point). It made me do a lot of soul searching, and I decided (correctly - It just took me a while to think of it) that money was not as important as satisfaction, or time with family. I've always been facinated with the medical arts, and I just think Nursing offers the best upward advancement while allowing me to realistically do this (I know I couldn't work while going to med school, for example, as I'd NEVER see my kids). My goal is to get my MSN and NP, and I have an excitement and drive I haven't had in a while. I'm telling you, I'm excited! All of you adults who have gone are done this following previous careers, my hat's off to you. Its scary starting over. But when I'm done, having the ability to help people every day (and get paid for it) sounds absolutely wonderful. And its nice that if my wife and I find the same hospital to work at, we can have nice weekly mini-dates in the cafeteria

Thanks! Another thing we're looking at (my wife is considering this as well -- Our last youngster is about to start school next year) is going to a Community College for the Associates (RN), then going into an accelerated RN to BSN program. Figure a year with summer classes (1 1/2 yrs maybe) to do the Associate's degree, and another year for the RN to BSN program. Nice thing about this method is if I found the program wasn't for me, I'd know about it before paying for expensive classes (a 3 credit course at the local community colleges cost $650, compared to my $2000 MBA classes that's a steal

That MIGHT be an option. Problem for me is that I completely my undergrad back in 1997 (and my MBA in 2001). Its been a while - Not sure if they will accept those credits. On the other hand, I'm hoping a compromise (i.e. take the 5-6 science classes that I never took, and do well in them to earn a spot) might be an option. At least I hope so!

Hi all! I saw a few things about accelerated degree programs in PA, but I'm looking to see if there are any part-time / weekend programs that would allow me to continue working while getting my BSN. I'm starting from scratch with a science major (my current degrees are in Finance and an MBA), so I'm not expecting quick. If anyone knows of any in the Philadelphia area (or west out to Lancaster), I'd appreciate it!