Questions about Nursing as a Second Degree/Career...

[hennesm81]

Hi there! I just wanted to introduce myself and ask for some advice...

I'm a 3rd year law student (nearly an attorney) specializing in health law. I'm taking some time off from law school and looking into the possibility of getting a degree/certificate/diploma in nursing during my time off. I was pre-med in college and wound up in law school because I became frustrated with the healthcare crisis. Since being in law school, I've sort of come full circle in that I've found that some of the best minds working on solutions to the healthcare crisis have degrees in both law and medicine/nursing... I'm also interested in serving the community by practicing nursing, perhaps evenings or weekends.

I guess I'm looking for some advice on where to start... For example, is it a good idea to start as a CNA and work my way up from there? Should I be looking into an LPN program? What would my options be if I were only able to go to school at night?

Any help/advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

[Logos]

Hi- my thoughts would be to go right for the RN- I would not do CNA or LPN- I used to want to go into Law- I have the bachelors in Philosphy to prove it. :)

You should already have your science classes if you were pre med- but don't make the mistake of thinking that nursing school will be easy. It won't be- and nursing instructors from what I have heard do not teach like any of the professors I have taken in other college courses.

Good Luck- If you ave one year of Law left- I would stick with that for now. After you have the Law degree see where it takes you- there is no rush; Nursing school will still be there.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Another consideration would be your work hours. The transition from nursing student to practicing professional is often a tough one -- even for mature adults with previous careers. There is a lot to learn that can't be taught in the basic introductory nursing programs and a lot of learning occurs on the job during that first year or two of practice. Partly because of that, many employers require a full time committment from new grads as they make that transition -- and won't even consider hiring a new grad "part time on the weekends."

In short, in order to successfully launch a nursing career, you might have to make more of a committment to it (at least temporarily) than you are anitcipating. You might want to wait until you have established yourself as an attorney before you tackle the task of becoming an RN.

But perhaps ... you might be able to get your feet wet as a CNA ... or in a volunteer role ... or as an EMT ... etc. ... something that would require less additional education and a role in which new grads more commonly work part time.

[fleur-de-lis, BSN, RN]

Have you looked into any accelerated BSN programs for 2nd degree students? That is what I did, and while I doubted the decision at times while going through it, now that I am almost done (next month!!!) I do not regret it for an instant!

BTW, I was all set to go to law school, was enrolled, had a $30,000 scholarship, then my hubby got sick and ended up in the hospital, so I had to put LS off. It was in that time that I found my true calling as a nurse! I have several friends that debated between law and nursing, so I agree that it is a common thing. Good luck!

[hennesm81]

Thanks so much for all the advice and info!