Should I go to nursing school!

[mctavishcat]

Hello All,

I have been considering a career change for the past few years. My background is in teaching. I have a BA in humanities and elementary education, and I've spent the past 4 years teaching abroad. (Three in Japan, and one in Argentina). I'm still in Argentina now, and will be in South America for at least one more year. But when I do return to the states, I think I will really want to make a serious career change.

First I should say that I never considered nursing before because I never thought that I could handle the science. It was not until I finished university, that I realized that I had a passion for nutrition, and chemistry. I began to adopt a much healthier life towards the end of University and I think that is where the new found interest in nutrition, and health in general was born. I am really interested in preventive health strategies, and working with people who are over weight. If anyone has any advice on what approach to take with nursing it would be greatly appreciated.

I am also concerned with the course work. Since my background is in teaching and history, I get the feeling that I would be very behind. Is it feasible? And as vague as this next question sounds its very important. What am I really getting myself into both with schooling and work?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Becky

[Flightline, BSN, RN]

Mother Teresa taught history before giving it all up to become...well...Mother Teresa. I think she taught high school. So, you can certainly switch to nursing. But reading your post, I would think you'd be more interested in being an RD (registered dietician) They round on patients in the hospital, and write consultations for the MD to read and make dietary orders accordingly (which they typically do).

And this isn't just like how much brocolli a person should eat. They deal with TPN mixtures, and all that.

But why give up teaching? bilingual, culturally experienced, you could write your own ticket in the States, especially the Southwest. And teaching is a very deep vocation. Why change now?

But as for the course work, it is science based: biology, physiology, pathophysiolgy, pharmacology, as well as nursing. It would be a departure from what you have previously specialized in.

[Rabid Response]

If you are interested in nursing, then you should go for it. Like you, I thought that I wasn't strong enough in sciences to make it in nursing school. My BA was in English, and I'd only taken enough science classes in college to fulfill the basic requirements for graduation.

Guess what? The science isn't all that difficult. I got A's in all of my prerequisites. All you need is a decent grasp of algebraic concepts and some basic reading comprehension skills. Find out what prerequisite courses you need in order to apply to your preferred schools and start the process asap. Since you already have a BA, you will be eligible for most accelerated BSN programs. Check out the ones in the state you want to move back to.

Your teaching and communication skills will be great assets to you as a nurse and so will your knowledge of other cultures and languages. Don't talk yourself out of doing something you think you would love. Start with baby steps--one or two prereq courses a semester--until you gain a little confidence in your decision and your abilities. The time will pass whether you are working toward your goal or not, and you don't want to wake up one day and realize that you could have finished your BSN in the time that you spent debating whether to even start the process.

Good luck! If nursing is what you want to do, then I am certain that you can do it.

[mctavishcat]

Thanks for the advice. I still have time to think about it as I'll be in South America for another year but I'd like to start investing schools. Can I ask how many years most people have to spend in nursing school?

[MB37]

Since you already have a BA, you're eligible for an accelerated second bachelor's program in nursing. Mine was 15 months - 4 semesters (after prereqs). Also, my first degree was a double major in history and psych, and the only other science I took was one geology class to satisfy a requirement. I told myself that if I could pass chemistry, I'd consider nursing school. I got an A. I said the same thing about microbiology, and I was the only A in my lab section. The science isn't that tough, especially if you're a little older and have a decent work ethic. You'll probably need some basic prerequisites before you start, so look into the programs in the state you're planning to move back to. You can usually take prereqs anywhere, even an inexpensive CC, and transfer them into a university-based accelerated BSN program. You can also do a regular pace BSN, which is usually 2 full years of nursing curriculum, or a community college ADN, which is also 2 years after prereqs but often with summers off. There aren't that many left, but some people also choose hospital-based 2-3 year Diploma in nursing programs. It might not hurt to look into dietician or nutrition programs as well, just in case that's more where your interests lie. Good luck with whatever you decide!