Question for Career Changers

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · May 6, 2011

You'll get a lot more responses if this is in the general nursing forum. In the pre-nursing student forum, there are a lot more few second-career nurses here. Maybe staff will move it for you?

Raven Sierra, BSN, RN · May 6, 2011

I was/am a journalist. 10+ years in the business and a bachelor's degree. I was working night weekend option as a CNA at an ER for benefits, and I fell in love with healthcare - nursing in particular.

Ultimate goal: NP in the Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care dual role. I'd like to work ER; it fits my personality. I have worked other places, but ER is still my first love. Plus, I'm a military wife, so that specialty would be easy to move from place to place, or to use on active duty in the Army (another possibility I'm considering).

leenak · May 6, 2011

I'm in IT, basically computer geek. I've been sitting in a cube for quite a few years with side interests in medicine. I'm ready for a new chapter in my life. Ultimate goal is NP although I'm not sure which area I'd like. I do have an interest in working in underserved areas so most likely FNP or PNP.

lollila · May 6, 2011

I worked in Telecom for 12 years, and it was a great job, with great benefits, but I was BORED! I had always said that if I ever got laid off, I would go back to school for nursing. I have taken courses over the years, but life always got in the way. I am a 42 yo mother of 4, and now that my youngest is 10, it's time to do this. I am so excited, I cannot even tell you, but nervous as well. I have a lot of medical issues, but this makes me want to do this even more, to be the nurse that the patient will love, as I have loved many of my healthcare professionals!

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · May 6, 2011

You'll get a lot more responses if this is in the general nursing forum. In the pre-nursing student forum, there are a lot more few second-career nurses here. Maybe staff will move it for you?

I debated where to post this.. but I've been seeing a lot of people saying they are going 'back' to school so I thought I'd ask here. :)

Maseca · May 6, 2011

I'm currently a paralegal. It pays well, but I hate how boring it is. No intellectual challenge at all!

2ndyearstudent, CNA · May 6, 2011

I've noticed a LOT of people choosing nursing as a second career- I'm curious- what was your previous career?

Engineering. In the 90's it was great - lots of work, lots of bonuses, promotions, stock options and comp time. I worked my butt off, but I saw rewards, both intrinsically in doing the job well and extrinsically in the aforementioned goodies.

Then the internet boom subsided and I watched as my company was bought and sold a few times and each new owner laid off more of my friends and coworkers and shut down domestic manufacturing in favor of overseas production. The promotions, bonuses and raises stopped even as they asked for more and more hours. Since I was salary, I ended up working 20 or so hours overtime a week for free.

So I changed employers. (My first engineering job is now being done in Shanghai). More of the same. Do more for less. Your reward for busting your tail was that you get to show up and do it again tomorrow. If tomorrow is Saturday or Sunday, you are busting your tail for free. Not to mention the corporate BS you have to navigate.

I knew I needed to change something. I considered getting an MBA or advanced engineering degree, but then I looked at my boss and his boss, saw what miserable screws they were and said, "I don't want to be either of those guys." I was still paid OK, but I hated my job and my superiors.

So one day, I thought about what I liked about my job and what I wanted to change. I decided to become a nurse. The best day of my entire career as an engineer was the day my boss called me into his office to review the umpteen "High Priority" projects heaped on my plate and said, "I'm outta here in 30 days man." I ended up doing some contract work for them during school for $35 an hour. No more working for free.

Yesterday at the end of my shift as a NA on a Med Surg/Trauma floor, I held a very nice lady's hand and talked to her as she lay dying and afraid, waiting to be transferred to a palliative care unit.

I know there will always be corporate BS in any job, but as long as I like the work I am doing (and they keep paying me for it), I can handle it.

Good luck!

FLhusker · May 6, 2011

I was in IT (Information Technology) for 12 years, primaily upper level desktop and network support. I quit 8 years ago to become a stay-at-home mom and when I felt the need to get back into the workforce I wanted to do something completely different so I drew on my childhood dream to become a nurse. Plus, leaving the IT world for 8 years is like going back to square one so I would have had to start from the bottom there!

I'll bet there will be times in nursing school when I long for the days of IT :-0

Saysfaa · May 6, 2011

I've been a full time mom for 20-something years. My kids are getting close to grown so being mom has become a part time job. I've been going to school part time for the past two years (doing all of the prereqs) and plan to go full time in another a year or two. I expect to graduate a year or two after my youngest graduates from high school.

iPink, BSN, RN · May 7, 2011

I was working at a fortune 500 company when I was in college. After graduating, they offered me a nice title and salary. Fastforward a couple of years, I knew it wasn't for me. So, I'm on my journey to becoming an NP.

Wish all the career changers the best on their journey!

Al.ginger · May 7, 2011

My husband was/is a chiropractor.

He loves chiro but this time it just not working so well. So he decided to go back to school for nursing even though he has a doctorate degree.

So, there will be two nurses in our house