UW BSN Applicants as a second career

[Seattle1980]

Firstly this forum has been really helpful in my research so kudos to all those who take the time to post their thoughts.

Now a little about me; I already have a bachelors and masters in IT MGMT and have been working in the IT industry in management roles for about ten years. I hit the six figure salary mark pretty much 4 years out of school but never really got the professional satisfaction that I desired hence the desire to change careers.

I have been researching medical careers for well over a year; med school is not a viable option for me due to family responsibilities and the debt involved. I don't wish to move out of the Seattle area because of kids and PA program by UW is not an option because of their work experience requirement of 4000 hours.

I have had a chance to converse with RN's, doctors and based on the information at hand I have narrowed down my option to pursuing a BSN program at UW. My ultimate goal is to pursue a degree for CRNA at Gonzaga. I understand that I will be taking a pay cut and incurring student loans going through this process however like many others I have come to the realization that money is not nor should it be the sole reason for a career choice so I am willing to make this sacrifice.

I have not started the Pre-Req work yet but will be starting the first set of classes later this year.

Now my question is, are there other individuals on this forum that have pursued BSN as a second career similar to my situation and how has your journey been and what advice can you give to someone in my position.

Apologies upfront if the post is verbose and I truly appreciate any advice you can give.

[anichka]

Hi, I guess my situation is sorta similar, although I did not work in IT and I never quite hit six figures (though I did come close). I think it is not uncommon for people to have a bachelor's already and to decide to switch to nursing.

I am curious what it is for you that attracts you to nursing. You say you've arrived at that conclusion through talking to doctors and nurses and that you want to eventually become a CRNA. You also say you don't want to leave Seattle, but Gonzaga is not in Seattle, right? Many people are attracted to CRNA because of the money, which is why I am asking exactly why it is you want to go into nursing.

Personally, my situation was/is similar to yours in that I was not finding career satisfaction in what I was doing and I am also at an age (39) when I have family obligations and I am not willing to go into debt that some healthcare careers would entail.

I, however, have had a different experience in talking to doctors and nurses. If anything, they have been more discouraging. Not because of me (I think/hope?) but because of the nature of the work. I have one very good friend who is an MD and she thinks that as an RN, I will be bored unless I am able to get a job in ICU or the ER. She has known me since high school (25 years now!) so I have a tendency to trust her opinion. She has encouraged me to go straight for a PA program.

Nurses that I work with - and now, I am working as a CNA (at 11.08/hour) to gain experience - tell me to consider things like physical therapy as well. It's really 50/50 though. Some people seem to love their jobs and haven't had a hard time finding work, so they are encouraging. Others have had a helluva time with the job market, and finding what they want in a reasonable amount of time, so they don't have as many good things to say.

In any case, start knocking out the pre-reqs. Try not to take on too much too soon. It is challenging to return to school. It was hard for me to adjust to the amount of work required by some of the classes (I don't remember it being so time consuming when I was younger!), and it's better to do one class at a time, do really well in it, than to try to do too much at once and risk a lower GPA.

You will need some experience (100 hour minimum I think) when you apply to UW too. What is your plan for that? Becoming a CNA is a good, quick option that many people take. It is hard to get the hospital jobs though - at least in my experience. Most of them want a year CNA experience, so that leaves SNF and the like.

Good luck in your journey! I hope you find what you are looking for.