Thinking About Nursing as Second Career

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Hello,

I am thinking about nursing as a second (actually third) career. I am 47 and have my bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Over my life I have gone back to school several times and worked as an orthotist in a hospital setting (pediatric and adult) and then as a massage therapist specializing in work with women and pregnancy for the last 11 years while raising my 3 kids (youngest now in high school). I am thinking about returning to school for nursing and have been doing lots of research online. I would like to shadow some nurses to make sure nursing is the right choice but due to privacy/liability issue that does not seem to be a possibility so far. I am pondering volunteering at a hospital, attending a one year LPN program (and then possibly a bridge to BSN), attending a 2 year RN program or just going all out and getting a second bachelor's in nursing. I think I would prefer working in a hospital and know that probably requires an RN or likely even a BSN degree. I would appreciate any advice on nursing as a career in general and the best way to go about deciding if nursing is right and how best to obtain the most useful education. Thank you!!!

Thank you Koalified! I agree about massage. Is there anything that surprised you about working for your degree or working as an RN?

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
gprsn: Two things concern me about the accelerated BSN programs - cost and pace - but I am still considering that option. Thank you!

Yes and yes. Second career nurse here. If I had it to do over, knowing what I know now, I would not have gone the Accelerated BSN route. I would have attempted to jump into a four year nursing program in year three- meaning, I would have tried to get all the pre-reqs I had counted and taken whatever I had to take to be invited into year three. It would have been 9 more months of school but much less money.

Nursing is not family friendly, at least during school and the first year. Keeping up nursing credentials is not "prohibitive" but most places like it if you have a specialty credential; at any rate you'll have to pay for or scavenge a certain number of continuing ed hours to renew your license.

You will be exposed to toxic medications, not to mention every bodily fluid imaginable, in nursing. Probably much worse than "chemicals and plastics."

I don't know you but I want you to realize 1) how hard it will be learning something as challenging as nursing and 2) that you may be naïve in your expectations about "wanting to move on and learn new things."

Best of luck.

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Thank you Koalified! I agree about massage. Is there anything that surprised you about working for your degree or working as an RN?

Surprised? Not really. I expected school to be difficult and it was. It's very time consuming too. I barely worked while in school. Being an LMT was nice because of the flexibility. As for working as an RN, the first year was very, very difficult. I worked with some mean nurses, techs, and docs. If you are in a better environment, it won't be horrible but it will be difficult. Now, nursing is easy. With the experience and knowledge gained comes confidence.

LMT vs RN? I love having PTOs, 401k, steady income, health insurance. I also like telling people I meet that I'm an RN instead of LMT. There is no doubt in what i do for a living. You know what I mean when you tell people that you are a massage therapist. So annoying. With at least one year of nursing experience and a BSN under your belt, you will always be able to find a decent paying job.

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Thank you ruby jane for the information. I'm glad to know all the down sides to this decision and I greatly appreciate your perspective. I'm sure if I decide to pursue this that it will be very difficult; I have no delusions about that. So would you do it again if you had the choice?

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Thank you for your thoughts, Koalified. Yes, I get what you mean!!

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

I went back for nursing at age 39, and I did the Accelerated BSN.

There was an accelerated bsn program for 28k at my local state school. Well worth it. I considered the adn as that would have been less expensive, but it also would have taken longer and in the long run, cost the same since a bsn is an eventual necessity where I live.

I don't recommend going for the LPN first. The reason is that it will give you little to no credit for the bsn. It is a large investment of time, money, energy in it's own right. If you want to get a flavor for nursing, get your CNA. Its a short training and will give you lots of hands on experience. If you like it, you can do it through nursing school and have your foot in the door at a hospital. Also, in my area the hospitals pay some tuition for their employees. Many student nurses work in the hospital.

The pace is fast, but if you got a mechanical engineering degree you will do well.

I have not regretted getting the accelerated bsn for a nanosecond. It would have cost me way more to go to the 4 year program.

I've been working as an rn for 6 months now. I find it challenging but satisfying. No regrets about my education whatsoever.

And I am just like you, always wanting to learn. Nursing is built for that. Always evolving and nurses are expected to be lifelong learners.

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Thank you FolksBtrippin! That is very helpful. There is no option like that here for an absn. The options are in the city, 1.5 hours away, and the cost is 60-70-K. My local state school would take me 3-4 years for a BSN and cost about 30-35K. I will definitely consider the CNA possibility. I am so glad that you had a good experience with your absn and enjoy working as an RN. Congratulations!!

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Hi rsusi,

I have decided to pursue nursing as a second career, at the ripe old age of 44. I have a BS in (chemical) engineering and worked for 5 years just out of school, and then quit to be a full time wife and mom. I knew as a junior in college that engineering wasn't for me, but I was broke and chose to finish to get the degree and then, well, life happened. The job paid fairly well but my heart wasn't in it.

One of my children had many medical issues - both physical (rare kidney disease, diagnosed at age 2) and severe emotional. She passed away at age 14 this summer after nearly 3 months in the ICU. I can't help but think that this life experience has helped me understand what other families endure. I was researching getting into nursing before she became extremely ill and passed, so this was not a flighty decision. I will also have few responsibilities come next year, as I recently divorced and my other child will be off to college. After being away from engineering for 17 years, this career change at this point in my life makes sense. (Just a few life changes!)

I am just starting my prerequisites at the local community college. I plan to apply to several second degree BSN programs in the area. Good luck with your journey!

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
Thank you ruby jane for the information. I'm glad to know all the down sides to this decision and I greatly appreciate your perspective. I'm sure if I decide to pursue this that it will be very difficult; I have no delusions about that. So would you do it again if you had the choice?

Honestly, NOPE. However...I would have had to go on to get at least a Masters degree (and much of public health management is done by nurses).

If I had it to do over I'd have gotten my MSW. But the longer I work the less I worry about retirement (and I couldn't say that if I had my MSW).

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I would honestly tell you not to do this. If you have a good career otherwise, I would try to stick with that and maybe volunteer or something if you want to help people.

Admittedly, I have been very unhappy in this career lately, but I think nursing is a complete dead end and if I could go back in time, I would not have gone down this path myself.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
Thank you FolksBtrippin! That is very helpful. There is no option like that here for an absn. The options are in the city, 1.5 hours away, and the cost is 60-70-K. My local state school would take me 3-4 years for a BSN and cost about 30-35K. I will definitely consider the CNA possibility. I am so glad that you had a good experience with your absn and enjoy working as an RN. Congratulations!!

Since absn is not feasible, I think adn is the next best bet. You can do an online bridge to bsn when you need it. Many nurses in my hospital are working with the adn and doing the online bridge right now.

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Thank you, PaulaTX. I am very sorry for the loss of your daughter. It sounds like you have been through a great deal. I really admire what you are doing and I wish you the best of luck with everything. I'm sure you will make a great nurse and have so much to offer those that you care for. Take care!!

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