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.
Wow, you sound just like me. I was a Web Developer up until September 2007. I started my new life as an RN in the PACU October 1st. It has been just under 8 months now and my reaction is...mixed.
I too took a pay cut, though not as drastic as yours. While that's bad enough I'm also working 500% harder than I did as a Web Developer, so I have this nagging feeling that I'm backsliding.
I work three 12's, and while 4 days off IS nice, since most people (including my partner) work 9-5, I spend a lot of time alone, especially if one of my shifts is on the weekend. If you have children you probably won't have that problem. ;-)
The PACU at my hospital is very fast-paced and the acuity level is high. We routinely receive patients on ventilators and it is our job to wean them. It is a great experience but it was an intimidating place to start fresh from school. It IS nice to know you've helped someone, absolutely. But those moments can sometimes feel like a small fraction of my day in comparison to the amount of time I spend filling out paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork.
You know all the benefits of nursing so I won't go over them here. I guess my bottom line to you is this: know that it's a real lifestyle change from the M-F, 9-5 corporate world. I'm still adjusting to that. You won't have an office of your own, or a phone or computer at your fingertips either. Taking care of any personal matters such as calling your wife or making a doctor's appointment of your own is very difficult. And forget about coffee breaks.
BTW, I'm 39 and they may be why I'm finding the change a little drastic.
A lot of defection from IT careers. I too worked 10 years in various technology rolls from help desk to project management. After being laid off, outsourced and disenchanted with the field I wanted to do something which helped others, and provided the financial stability to start a family someday. I'm still a couple of months off from starting school, but luckily starting with a clean slate.
I'm looking forward to learning a lot from the folks here.
Specializes in inpatient rehab (general, sci, tbi, cva).
I switched from IT after eight years in the trenches doing everything from PC support to web work to application support and technical writing for some Fortune 500s here in town. (I worked the previous seven years in international sales and marketing).
I wanted (and still do) want to make a difference and have a stable job. It gets really old with people threatening to outsource your job all the time, and with nursing, they can't offshore your job and send the patients to India (or pick your favorite offshore location)!
The pluses--I took my fifteen years of experience in the business and IT world and believe it or not, if your MCSE certified, you'll probably get the testing methods for NCLEX really quickly, since it's application-based, too. I've worked with lots of people, so this helps when dealing with docs and all the other assorted hospital characters. Having a business degree and arguing with a bottom-line picture is also helpful. All hospitals are really businesses.
The minuses--I hate working weekends, but I love the actual work because usually weekends in our place are quiet and relaxed. I lost weight (about 30 lbs--hence the minus) because I am way more active (lots of walking, moving stuff, repositioning people--no lifting, though!) There's also lots of BS paperwork and politics, but you have that wherever you go.
I look at every shift as a new opportunity to learn. I've been a nurse now for almost one year. I love the fact that I'm still learning, just like in IT, and building on what I already learned. That's what really keeps me going.
I taught school for 4 years, then went to nursing school. I was able to step into critical care as a new grad and have never looked back. I have been working in critical care for 28 years now, and I still enjoy what I do! I currently work with another guy who was originally a mining engineer before becoming an RN in his early 40's. He is very happy for the change.
I just decided to attend become a nurse after graduating in 2005 with a B.S. in Business Marketing. I just started my pre-reqs last week, and I have a long way to go before I complete an Accelerated BSN program, but I know it will be worth it in the end. Good Luck.
I too work in the IT field and am fed up with the corporate world and feeling unfulfilled with my career. I ask myself almost everyday if I'm making the right decision... if in the end the sacrifice will be worth it. I find it easy to believe that I'm making the right decision by reading alot of the messages put on these forums.
I think the fact that nursing provides alot of opportunities and variety is awesome, and that's something I thought I'd have with IT.
I'm on my second semester of prereq's I have 2 more to go, then I plan on becoming an EMT while I wait to be accepted to the nursing program and all thru nursing school. I hope those 2 years of EMT experience come in handy when I start applying for nursing jobs.
sorry to barge into your territory :) although this thread is old I had the need to reply because I identify with most of what you guys wrote here.
I feel as if you guys are in my head and writing my thoughts!
I'm contemplating a career switch into nursing as well after 8 years in the technology field. Like another member here I knew that I didn't enjoy my major (CS) but I went ahead anyways because back then I didn't know what my passion was and I needed to make money straight out of school.
My 1st job was in tech support, I hated every minute of it.
I know that nursing is extremely difficult and alot hard work but I think that there's a good chance that I might go for it. I too, I'm excited about the change!!
PhilaGuy, I switched after a long career as a mainframe programmer when my job was outsourced.
I would have done this the same. And with your IT background, get your year or so in med/surg and look to get into informatics - I fell into a really sweet spot because I had a license and could recognize the keyboard.
Seriously, nurses with systems backgrounds are rare and valuable.
I just retired from the Air Force as a 2W2 (munitions, very big munitions, get it?) I went from being in charge of everything to knowing nothing at all! What a shock to the system I'm in my second week of orientation on the toughest med/surge floor in the hospital. We get everything from bariatrics to ortho, and even a few psych pt. I'm not that crazy about changing diapers on a 300lb woman. I did my first wound vac the other day. That was amazing! I'm learning something new every day. I love it! I'll be ready for the ER next year.
I graduated BS major in banking and finance last 2003 and wasn't able to work and study right away. Bewildred at first for a different spectra of profession from numbers to science, but eventually I love it. BSN graduated 2006. Its my calling:nurse:
I'm about 5 1/2 months away from finishing PN school P/T, I've been a paramedic for 8 years and love it but there's no real future in it. I wanted my RN right off but with my work schedule this just fell in my lap. I'm going to try to get hired at a facility where they'll pay for my RN if I give them a few years.
chachi69
20 Posts
Wow, you sound just like me. I was a Web Developer up until September 2007. I started my new life as an RN in the PACU October 1st. It has been just under 8 months now and my reaction is...mixed.
I too took a pay cut, though not as drastic as yours. While that's bad enough I'm also working 500% harder than I did as a Web Developer, so I have this nagging feeling that I'm backsliding.
I work three 12's, and while 4 days off IS nice, since most people (including my partner) work 9-5, I spend a lot of time alone, especially if one of my shifts is on the weekend. If you have children you probably won't have that problem. ;-)
The PACU at my hospital is very fast-paced and the acuity level is high. We routinely receive patients on ventilators and it is our job to wean them. It is a great experience but it was an intimidating place to start fresh from school. It IS nice to know you've helped someone, absolutely. But those moments can sometimes feel like a small fraction of my day in comparison to the amount of time I spend filling out paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork.
You know all the benefits of nursing so I won't go over them here. I guess my bottom line to you is this: know that it's a real lifestyle change from the M-F, 9-5 corporate world. I'm still adjusting to that. You won't have an office of your own, or a phone or computer at your fingertips either. Taking care of any personal matters such as calling your wife or making a doctor's appointment of your own is very difficult. And forget about coffee breaks.
BTW, I'm 39 and they may be why I'm finding the change a little drastic.