dew8192

@Meldep, I'm currently doing a lot of research before I make my decision to leave my career of 20 years to become a nurse. Could you elaborate on what you hate? I'm very curious! However, I'm sorry that you feel this way when you are just months away from graduating. Take care...

I originally posted this in the pre-nursing students forum and got several excellent responses. It just dawned on me that maybe I should seek advice from those that are already nurses and have been in my shoes! As the subject line reads, I'm considering a midlife career change to nursing and I'm scared to death. I've been doing IT work for 20 years now, the past 11 in a management position. I have a wonderful husband and two young children, ages 8 and 6. I'm absolutely miserable in corporate world and I just don't feel like it's not for me. I long for the day when I can make a difference in someone's life or try and make them feel better. I wonder what nursing will be like after being in corporate world for so long?? I'm used to working M-F, 8:30 - 5 and having ever holiday off. I know that things will change based on what shift I'm on but, in your opinion, will I still be able to spend time with my family? (I'm not sure if that's a rational fear or not.) If you have been where I am, please tell me about it. I want to make the right decision and, most important, the right decision for my family. I love my children more than life and they are only going to be young once. If it means putting my dream of being a nurse on hold for a while, that's what I will have to do. Thanks for taking the time to read my long drawn out story and I look forward to reading your advice...:heartbeat

As the subject line reads, I'm considering a midlife career change to nursing and I'm scared to death. I'm hoping that I can get some support, suggestions or just make friends with people online who may find themselves in the same position as me. After high school, I started at a local community college attending prerequisite classes. Along the way, I ended up with a fantastic boss who empowered me to become the best I could be working with computers. At 24, I was running the department's IT division and doing really well for myself, especially at such a young age. For a good while, it filled the void. Now though, 20 years later, I'm having serious regrets. I have a wonderful husband and two young children, ages 8 and 6 respectively. I'm absolutely miserable in corporate world, it's not for me. I long for the day when I can make a difference in someone's life, smile and try and make someone feel better - touch someone and tell them it's going to be alright. Now though, I don't even want to get up in the morning and go to work. It's getting really bad... Unfortunately, I don't have a Bachelor's degree. I'm 32 credits away from my BBA and I'm not sure which direction to go. I'm also in a position to where I will have to work while going to school, there is no way I can quit my job, at least way into nursing school when clinicals start. I also find myself wondering what nursing will be like after being in corporate world for so long. I'm used to being off after 5:00 every afternoon, having ever holiday off and being off every weekend. While I realize that healthcare is a 24/7 job, will I still be able to spend time with my family? If you are where I am, please tell me about it. Tell me what you like, what you dislike - be brutally honest. I want to make the right decision and, most important, the right decision for my family. I love my children more than life itself and if it means putting my dream of being a nurse on hold for a while, that's what I will have to do. Thanks for taking the time to read my long drawn out story...:heartbeat