Second Career Nursing - How do I know if it's for me?

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Hello all you wonderful nurses out there! This is my first post and I'm turning to the experts to help me out. I am a 26yo SAHM to 2 beautiful children. My daughter is 2 and my son is 7 months. I (before children) was a public school teacher. I decided to come home full-time when my daughter was born prematurely. Just recently, though, I've been feeling a void in my life where I know work used to be. I miss being around adults and being intellectually stimulated. However, I don't want to go back into teaching as I feel it did not satisfy me intellectually - my position was more glorified babysitting most days! LOL I also would want to work more part-time - which is almost impossible with teaching. I have always had a passion for medicine. I started college as pre-med and then switched to education because I felt going to med school would not mesh with my desire to have a family. I am now considering nursing as a great second career option. I don't need to work financially, but extra money would be nice. I think it would satisfy me intellectually, let me be around people, allow me to help others, and work part-time.

My question is this: How do I know if nursing is right for me?? Where would you suggest I go to learn more? Any good books? Talk to local nurses (I know a few at the hospital where I gave birth)? My interest at this point is in OB. I had some GREAT nurses get me through my labors with my children and I'd love to provide that same care to other women.

If you've read all this and still want to respond, God bless you! Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated! :)

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First, to answer your original question, how to know if nursing is for you, see if you can find some nurses to interview, see if you can shadow some nurses at work, perhaps volunteer at a place where nurses work.

Consider looking for part-time work as a unit secretary or a nursing assistant. Some places are willing to train. Some communities offer short training courses for this kind of work. This might be a good way to get a closer look at the front line of nursing and direct patient care.

I'm wondering if perhaps before deciding to embark on a training program for nursing or something else, you might want to see what kind of work you might be qualified for and interested in without going back to school. Your teaching qualifications should qualify you for positions that would be intellectually stimulating.

Also, in case you haven't looked into it, you may want to check out the demand for nursing schools in your area. Many nursing programs are impacted and it can take several years to complete a "2-yr" degree.

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Thank you for your reply!

Are there any other "Second Career" nurses out there who can share their experiences with me??

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Oh, I've also considered being a school nurse - to combine my interest in medicine with working in a school. I think I'd be great at that - experience with teachers, parents, principals, etc.

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Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.

I am a second-career nurse, having been outsourced out of IT after 17 years.

Is it for you? No way to know without doing some first-hand research; you have already been given good advice in that regard.

Nursing school can be a stressful, time-consuming PITA: before you invest considerable time, effort, and $$$$ in a nursing education, be sure it is what you REALLY want to do.

Nursing can provide that which you say you are seeking.

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Specializes in Nurses who are mentally sicked.
Hello all you wonderful nurses out there! This is my first post and I'm turning to the experts to help me out. I am a 26yo SAHM to 2 beautiful children. My daughter is 2 and my son is 7 months. I (before children) was a public school teacher. I decided to come home full-time when my daughter was born prematurely. Just recently, though, I've been feeling a void in my life where I know work used to be. I miss being around adults and being intellectually stimulated. However, I don't want to go back into teaching as I feel it did not satisfy me intellectually - my position was more glorified babysitting most days! LOL I also would want to work more part-time - which is almost impossible with teaching. I have always had a passion for medicine. I started college as pre-med and then switched to education because I felt going to med school would not mesh with my desire to have a family. I am now considering nursing as a great second career option. I don't need to work financially, but extra money would be nice. I think it would satisfy me intellectually, let me be around people, allow me to help others, and work part-time.

My question is this: How do I know if nursing is right for me?? Where would you suggest I go to learn more? Any good books? Talk to local nurses (I know a few at the hospital where I gave birth)? My interest at this point is in OB. I had some GREAT nurses get me through my labors with my children and I'd love to provide that same care to other women.

If you've read all this and still want to respond, God bless you! Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated! :)

It is very easy to find out!!!

J

Good luck! And maybe you should try to be a volunteer in a local hospital!!!

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Specializes in Nurses who are mentally sicked.
Hello all you wonderful nurses out there! This is my first post and I'm turning to the experts to help me out. I am a 26yo SAHM to 2 beautiful children. My daughter is 2 and my son is 7 months. I (before children) was a public school teacher. I decided to come home full-time when my daughter was born prematurely. Just recently, though, I've been feeling a void in my life where I know work used to be. I miss being around adults and being intellectually stimulated. However, I don't want to go back into teaching as I feel it did not satisfy me intellectually - my position was more glorified babysitting most days! LOL I also would want to work more part-time - which is almost impossible with teaching. I have always had a passion for medicine. I started college as pre-med and then switched to education because I felt going to med school would not mesh with my desire to have a family. I am now considering nursing as a great second career option. I don't need to work financially, but extra money would be nice. I think it would satisfy me intellectually, let me be around people, allow me to help others, and work part-time.

My question is this: How do I know if nursing is right for me?? Where would you suggest I go to learn more? Any good books? Talk to local nurses (I know a few at the hospital where I gave birth)? My interest at this point is in OB. I had some GREAT nurses get me through my labors with my children and I'd love to provide that same care to other women.

If you've read all this and still want to respond, God bless you! Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated! :)[/quot

Good luck! And maybe you should try to be a volunteer in a local hospital!!!

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Specializes in Nurses who are mentally sicked.

(I still don't know how to use the system!)

It is hard to know until you go out there to experience it

Try to be a volunteer for a local hospital...

Good luck!!!!

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