Transitioning from unrelated career to nursing...

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Good evening,

I am here because I would like to hear real stories from real people on how their path to becoming an RN was laid out. I have been in financial services/banking for roughly 10 years (since I left my first, but last unsuccessful university experience), and for more than half of those ten years I have thought much about becoming an RN. I began to think about nursing when I started realizing deeply about who I am and what I want to do... I have a hunger for helping people to live healthier thriving productive lives... supressing this need and desire has really made me a bitter person... I feel that I have so much more to contribute to the field of nursing than banking... I am extremely apprehensive/fearful of a few things, and they follow: how am I going to pay rent and bills as a single female going to nursing school? Do the programs at the public community colleges allow for night classes/clinicals only? I have been trying to get a hold of the nursing departments of those schools (Capital/NVCC), and nobody seems to have a straight forward answer. So, if anyone has any suggestions how I can clearly plan my life after I take my prerequisites in fall 05 and spring 06, please certainly drop me a line. Basically, if you have been "there" please share your epic with me, I would be really grateful to hear it.

Thanks a bunch! :)

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I went to Capital. I had morning clinicals for my first semester, then evening clinicals thereafter.

In order to get your dream in motion start with the prerequisites, as most colleges have a waiting list and you have to meet those prereq's even before you can even think about applying. Prereq's include ENGlish and Comp 101, intermediate algebra, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and basic chemistry.

If you can't stop your day job, i think Goodwin college in east hartford has a night course with weekend coursework, and capital was supposed to start up a night program.

You can do it. It is possible if you have the motivation and drive.I went the long way around so I would not suggest my route. I got a BS first then went to Capital after fininshing my prereqs (I only had A&P and micro to do) at a back up school (St.Vincent's in Bridgeport, just in case Capital put me on their wait list). I got in on the first try and I graduated. I've been a RN now for almost a year. It was a hard road but it was all worthwhile in the end.

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Good evening,

I am here because I would like to hear real stories from real people on how their path to becoming an RN was laid out. I have been in financial services/banking for roughly 10 years (since I left my first, but last unsuccessful university experience), and for more than half of those ten years I have thought much about becoming an RN. I began to think about nursing when I started realizing deeply about who I am and what I want to do... I have a hunger for helping people to live healthier thriving productive lives... supressing this need and desire has really made me a bitter person... I feel that I have so much more to contribute to the field of nursing than banking... I am extremely apprehensive/fearful of a few things, and they follow: how am I going to pay rent and bills as a single female going to nursing school? Do the programs at the public community colleges allow for night classes/clinicals only? I have been trying to get a hold of the nursing departments of those schools (Capital/NVCC), and nobody seems to have a straight forward answer. So, if anyone has any suggestions how I can clearly plan my life after I take my prerequisites in fall 05 and spring 06, please certainly drop me a line. Basically, if you have been "there" please share your epic with me, I would be really grateful to hear it.

Thanks a bunch! :)

Hello,

I just finished my third semester of nursing school and will graduate in December if all goes well! This will be a second career for me as well. I spent 11 yrs as a commercial pilot, 3 at a major airline. I was furloughed in 2003 and hope to be recalled sometime in the future. The medical field has always interested me, so I have decided to pursue a career as an RN. Also, I hope to be able to someday return to flying and I think the two careers will work well together ( I could still work as an RN on a per diem basis).

As far as paying for rent and school, be sure to get info on financial aid. There are lots of scholarships and grants available. Also, there are many single women in my class...Don't let your worries stop you..if you put your mind to it..you can do anything!

Good luck to you!

April

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It's good to know that I am not alone in this one... What I am planning to do, is stay at my current job for my entire Liberal Arts & Sciences, A.S. degree so that I can have two years to solidify my academic skills (especially mathematics, since I've been out of school for 10 years, but what's even scarier, is that I say this and I have a pretty decent job at a bank, now don't you all feel safe with your money...) and get rid of some debt, and save some money...Then, I plan on applying to several BSN programs (St. Joes, Southern, Western, Quinnipiac, Uconn, etc.)... and simultaneously pick up some 2nd or 3rd shift position in a hospital somewhere so that I can minimally support myself in addition to any financial aid or scholarships... So, in the fall, I shall re-commence my post-H.S. education, except with commitment and satisfaction this time around.

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Hello,

I am so happy to hear from more and more people choosing Nursing as their second career. I too will be continuing my studies probably not until the Spring 06' due to some major recovery from a huge knee ligament reconstruction 5 wks ago. I have been out of school since 91' and last semester took a pre-admission requirement, Human Biology and received a 4.0 and am so excited to continue.

You can definitely do this and there is a really great ADN program at St. Vincent's College in Bridgeport where you can go to school on either a full-time or part-time basis. If you choose the part-time status, you must complete your studies in 4 yrs. Of course the best thing to do is take many pre-req's at a community college before applying to get some work out of the way as well as save $$$. Then you can transfer into St. Vincent's with a head start. The limit to transfer in is a total of 6 classes of pre-req's (18 credits) If you have not taken Human Biology or Chemistry within the last 5 yrs, those courses must be taken but on the bright side these 2 courses are for pre-admission and do not count towards the 18 credit limit which is good. Even though this is a private school, there is certainly a lot of financial aid available to non-traditional students from numerous sources. One great website to search and apply for scholarships is: http://www.fastweb.com

Feel free to write back if you want any other help.

Sue

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Hi,

I'm in a similar situation as you. I've always wanted to go into Nursing, but honestly, I was scared that I couldn't do it. So I have spent the last 4 years taking business classes on and off, figuring that I would eventually just obtain a business degree and stay in my current position because I'm "comfortable." Go for your dreams, you won't regret it!

Anyhow, I finally decided to take a chance. One of the best decisions I ever made. I attend a community college - night and weekend program. I'm still a year away from clinicals, but looking forward to it! Although I work full time, I also have taken out student loans - which were very easy to obtain. They cover my tuition and books each semster, and then some. If you have any questions about that stuff, let me know.

You can do it. And you will have complete support from everyone here. I have met the most incredible and encouraging people here!

Best of luck to you :)

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