Question re: nursing as a second career - what to do in the meantime?

[WDW4ever]

I have applied to a community college / local hospital nursing program. My career is in law - I have three children and work part-time in law. I am 39.

So, I'm wondering what the best course is re: work while I am taking my pre-reqs. I am unhappy in my current career. I'm wondering will be career prospects in nursing be better if I get some type of job in a health care setting now (which would be a clerical or admin position if I can get one) while I am doing my pre-reqs rather than staying in a totally unrelated career.

I would be taking a pay cut, but I would consider it if this would put me in a better position down the line. Also, I would love to have some experience in healthcare though it wouldn't be clinical at this point. I'm anticipating prospective employers saying something like, "you've been in law so long - why would we hire you as a nurse?" I know there are a lot of nurses on the boards who successfully changed careers from something entirely different. Would love to hear feedback from you, as well as others who are looking to change careers to nursing and what you plan to do re: work while you are waiting to take nursing courses. Do employers not mind of you have no background in healthcare as long as you did well in nursing school and got your RN?

Thanks for listening :)

[caffeineRx]

It beats me as to why any lawyer would want to go in to nursing..but happy dust to ya!

[WDW4ever]

Ladybug, sorry, I mixed up the message with someone else on the boards who is a lawyer Good luck with micro over the summer - I guess we will have our work cut out for us this summer! I agree with the thought of not working more than 8-10 hours a week once starting the nursing program - I doubt I could handle more than this, especially with taking care of the kids too!

CaffineRx, I think many non-lawyers would agree with you. I guess you have to be a lawyer, or one very familiar with the lifestyle, to understand. Also, being in litigation is different than many other less-stressful areas of law. But thanks for the encouragement.

[krimicrat]

It beats me as to why any lawyer would want to go in to nursing..but happy dust to ya!

There are so many amazing things a nurse attorney can do. One of them is - be a nurse! I can't think of a greater honor than to care for another human when they are in need. Many attorneys who go into nursing became lawyers for the same reason they want to be a nurse: to help people. I, for one, am honored to have been given the chance to be in nursing school. Did I HAVE to go? No. Did I need to go? No. Did I feel compelled to go in order to better help others? You bet.

Nurse attorneys can get involved in nursing advocacy, there are vast numbers of health care issues with which nurse attorneys can get involved, hospital administration (general counsel, human resources, etc). What I am looking forward to is (hopefully) working 3 12's per week in a hospital, then having some time to pursue my pro bono health-related advocacy interests. Working full time as a lawyer, I didn't have time to pursue those pro bono activities as much as I'd like. Also, I found that I lacked the education needed to truly commit myself to those causes (they are health care related).

I also want to say that my professors immediately know why this is an amazing combination of education.

[WDW4ever]

itsirkmr, very well said!!

Best of luck to you - you really have the right attitude - I'm sure you will be very successful in your endeavors :)

[caffeineRx]

Good for you then! :) I never thought of it that way. I just thought you wanted to be an RN...now a Nurse Attorney..that's a step up. Now I see .

[WDW4ever]

I do want to be an RN! itsirkmr was just pointing out that you can use a legal background in nursing too, depending on what you go into down the line.

At this point, I think being an RN IS a step up from being an atty! But I guess I'm jaded from years practicing law. It really depends on one's personality and how someone chooses to contribute to society - I want something more hands-on . . .

[caffeineRx]

If the law field has jaded you, I can only guess that the nursing field will too. I guess you will find out once you're a nurse. Good Luck

[WDW4ever]

What specifically about your experience in practicing law makes you say so? I'm only asking, since you seem to be making a broad generalization. Every job has its stresses - different jobs have different kinds of stress, which different people handle differently. I have no doubt that nursing has its own stresses, and I admire all the experienced nurses out there with a positive attitude - I hope to be among those one day :)