Switching from Engineering to Nursing? Worth it?

FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP · Jun 12

I was a high tech management consulting executive (Accenture, PWC, Oracle, etc) before becoming an NP. Started nursing school at age 53. Best career decision ever made.

However, only you know if nursing is a good career for you. I suggest you try to find a way to shadow some RNs, talk to them, etc., to get a feel for if this is a good fit.

Something I did was take a course through the Red Cross (many community colleges also offer this) to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Some places call this a "tech." When you take the course, you will have to complete clinical time in a nursing home, providing hands-on pt care. This is a good way to see if you are OK with this.

This is also a good credential b/c many nursing students work part-time as a CNA while in school.

Also, make sure you carefully research nursing pay in your area. If you are willing to relocate, CA pays the most and has the best overall working conditions.

Good luck

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Jun 17

2nd career nurse here. First degree was in Computer Science. I don't think I ever loved my job, but it paid the bills. Until a company bankruptcy and mass layoffs. I had seen it coming and had started taking prerequisites for nursing school. Graduated at 48 and have never regretted it.

FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP · Jun 17

Ado Annie said:

2nd career nurse here. First degree was in Computer Science. I don't think I ever loved my job, but it paid the bills. Until a company bankruptcy and mass layoffs. I had seen it coming and had started taking prerequisites for nursing school. Graduated at 48 and have never regretted it.

You raise a good point. High tech was so volatile - constant layoffs, no matter how well a company was doing. As an NP, I don't have to deal with that. Given the high demand for healthcare, it is rare for providers to be laid off, and if they are, it is generally easy to get another position.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jul 18

Just make sure you understand the physicality of nursing. If you are used to working in an office and suddenly on your feet for 12 hours it can be a shock to the system. I retired from the military in 2022 where I was Army RN for 20 years. Now I just work part time and I know as I get older for sure I don't think I could handle full time nursing. I do 16-24 hours a week ICU and even that can be a lot. Also when new you will more than likely be on nights. One good thing I guess you could go back to your current career if you don't like nursing.

Music in My Heart · Jul 28

I was an engineer for many years before making the switch.

I didn't switch due to passion nor any other high-minded reasons... mine was purely pragmatic... looking for a stable job with a decent return-on-investment.

Nursing has been that for me. In contrast to my engineering career, not one single time have I had to consider whether I might be employed next year. Neither have I seen a colleague get laid off. While engineers around the country were getting furloughed or terminated during the darkest times of COVID, I was working continuously and earned more than I ever have. Further, I get paid for every bit of time that I work... no more of this uncompensated overtime.

If you're thinking about it due to passion or mission, be careful... this is a high-burnout kinda gig.

Noah423 · Aug 21

that's a big decision, and it's great that you're giving it serious thought. Switching from software engineering to nursing is definitely a shift, and it's totally normal to go back and forth on it—especially when you've got a good job in tech.

If you're feeling drawn to healthcare and can't stop thinking about it, that's something worth paying attention to. Nursing is a completely different field with its own set of challenges and rewards. It can be incredibly fulfilling, especially if you're passionate about helping people and making a direct impact on their lives. But yeah, it's also a different kind of stress compared to software engineering—there's the physical and emotional demands of the job, plus the fact that you're dealing with people's health and lives every day.

The good news is that if you do decide to switch, nursing is a field with solid job security and a lot of opportunities. And with your background in engineering, you might bring a unique perspective to the healthcare field, especially as technology continues to play a bigger role in medicine.

One thing to consider is maybe shadowing a nurse or volunteering in a healthcare setting to get a feel for what it's really like. It might help you decide if it's truly what you want.

At the end of the day, it comes down to what's going to make you feel fulfilled. If nursing is something you're passionate about and you can see yourself being happy doing it long-term, it might be worth exploring the switch. Just remember to weigh the practicalities—like the time and money needed to go back to school, and how the lifestyle and stress levels will differ.

Whatever you choose, it's important to do what feels right for you. Good luck with your decision!

GracePressure, MSN, RN · Sep 22

I would not have what it takes to go into engineering and I think it's amazing that you did that, just wanted to get that out of the way first. Second, I think you should talk to a nurse in real life. Ask them about their day and the tasks they do. I think you should talk to an older nurse and a younger nurse. Nursing is very physical, turning, repositioning, transferring, showering, toileting. You have to be OK with seeing and smelling body fluids and not running away. You have to be OK with seeing people and their families at their worst almost every day. I am not saying every nursing job is like that, I worked in mental health for a bit and there is not as much of that there. Also there are other jobs like education. Regardless I think you should also considert hat in most cases you will have to work shift work and weekends. So if you are OK with structuring your work like that then yes. But your heart has to be in it - it's not for everyone and that's OK.