Switching career to RN

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Hello All,

I am a software engineer and want to switch to healthcare. My long term goal is to become an RN. For now, as a single working mother, I have to keep my job. So I want your advice on what online degree I can take now so that I can later use a bridge program to become an RN (ADN or BSN)? Would you advice CNA or Medical Assistant or Phlebotomist or or anything that I can pursue now online so that I can use any online bridge program to become an RN later? Please advice.

8 minutes ago, Prija said:

@2BS Nurse good question. I have a friend who is a nurse and wants to switch to software. At some point you realize what you want to do.

My own kids work in the tech industry. Keep in mind that health care requires you to work through most holidays (while the rest of your family is on vacation). Due to short staffing, you will not have the flexibility that you have now. It gets old year in and year out.

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Specializes in RN.

@2BS Nurse Yup, I am totally aware. But doesn't nursing give job satisfaction?

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34 minutes ago, Prija said:

@NurseBlaq I am not by any means saying that I am first one for being a single mom. please be a little more kind. I just asked for advice. If you cannot give suggestions, you really do not have to respond to my question. Every one has their own struggles. Just because my situation is not unique does not make it easy for me as I am the one dealing with it. Let's help each other out in this forum if possible. I am just trying to explore and see if there is any possibility and this forum helps with those clarifications for people have gone through similar stuff.

I also asked questions, are you going to answer them? I made an observation based upon what you posted. You posted about your children as if they were an obstacle. I merely pointed out it's not exclusive to you. My questions and observations were valid. Now are you going to answer them or are you going to keep wailing about how I'm not responding with kid gloves. We're also adults here and I didn't think I needed to pacify your ego but oh well.

And FYI I did become a nurse with children and I'm doing grad school now with children so to clarify, it is doable but there's no such thing as becoming an RN strictly online with weekend only clinical.

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I've been an RN for almost two decades.

there still isn't a program that's strictly online with only weekend clinicals and you will deal.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

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21 hours ago, Prija said:

Would you advice CNA or Medical Assistant or Phlebotomist or or anything that I can pursue now online so that I can use any online bridge program to become an RN later? Please advice.

While training for and working in those roles might help you get your feet wet in healthcare world/periphery of nursing, I do not think that you can bridge online to RN. I am not aware of any online bridge from those roles to RN. Hopefully someone will correct if I'm wrong about that.

I do think NurseBlaq gave concise info at the outset and the concern expressed wasn't particularly unkind. There is no widespread nursing shortage in the way that it is commonly portrayed and this profession doesn't have a great need for people wanting the fastest and easiest way in; that latter part is my opinion only. Schools that stand to profit off of your desires may have a different opinion.

 

22 minutes ago, Prija said:

@2BS Nurse Yup, I am totally aware. But doesn't nursing give job satisfaction?

Only in the same way that any other job may satisfy a subset of people. That is to say that in my opinion it would be incorrect to believe that, generically, nursing provides job satisfaction compared to working in the tech industry. If you've done your due diligence about nursing and aren't just assuming that it will be more satisfying than your current line of work, then go for it. But it could be a grave mistake to assume that it provides job satisfaction on the sole basis of being nursing (compared to xyz). 

I do think life experience can allow people to know that they probably will enjoy something (despite its faults) because it includes/doesn't include elements of their current work which they do/don't enjoy. But they are still wise to know the downsides of what they plan to get into in order to avoid serious disillusionment.

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I agree with JKL33 above. You will gain some job satisfaction, but until you experience the industry, reality doesn't set in. Media tends to glamorize the profession. You won't have the support televised on Chicago Med, etc. 

As an engineer, it will be hard for you to accept the fact that many common sense processes are broken in health care. Just make sure you go into the program with eyes wide open.

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Specializes in RN.

@2BS Nurse Appreciate your insight. I get mixed answers from the people I know. Agreed it depends on person to person. Just thinking out loud if there is a way to do it while keeping my current job to support my financial situation that's all. I don't want to regret not trying. But your point well taken and thank you for that candid response.

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Do you have the flexibility to go part time with your current job? Would they allow you to make up work time on the weekends? Do you have a lot of family support for your kids? If so, a part time ADN program may be possible. The rest of the RN -BSN can be obtained entirely online and once you start working, some companies will give you $ toward tuition.

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Specializes in RN.

@2BS Nurse Thank you. I think part-time option is probably a great one. I will do some research to see for any possible part-time schools locally. Thank you again!

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Specializes in oncology.
18 hours ago, Prija said:

ABSN does not work for everyone. My ask is online + evenings or weekend classes for clinicals in-person works as I can make arrangements for my kids to be cared.

I do want to provide ideas and information but am surprised that you have held back information. You started a program this Summer at Roseman and I am assumed you withdrew. I am wondering how you do not know the current paths to RN licensure? Acquiring knowledge in the internet age is much easier than ever before and you were actually in a nursing program. I will admit I presented a program to our new ADN applicants on the multiple educational ways to be become an RN as there is inadequate knowledge out there. So here goes:

 

There are 3+ :

Diploma (there are still some around) for example

https://www.grahamschoolofnursing.org/

Associate Degree In Nursing

BSN

ABSN

Entry through MSN etc.

There are probably some 'online' for profit nursing programs out there that have some kind of 'find your own clinical placement'. Florida is a haven for those but I am not sure of the acceptance of the degree with the California BON. It seems to be 'you pay for what you wish for, get stuck with tuition bills and never realize your RN dream'. The NCLEX pass rates are dismal....Only first time pass rates are published and pass rates for 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc are only 30% if the candidate passes at all.. Choose wisely.  

PS. I do not know of any part time RN nursing program but if you learn of one please share.

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Here is an example:

https://madisoncollege.edu/associate-degree-nursing-part-time

Having gone through engineering school, you wouldn't have a problem with the theory portion of this program. (To pass nursing exams, you have to figure out how to "game" your NCLEX style questions).

Clinicals, however, are logistically more challenging. If your clinical starts at 7 a.m., your instructor will expect you to show up at 6 a.m. You will not necessarily be placed at a clinical site close to home.  There are evening clinicals but I don't know of any instructors who want to work weekends. 

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