Were you previously unemployed and sought nursing as a second degree/career?

dominique.l.weaver · Jul 23, 2013

I'm the same as you. I have a Bachelor's PR degree. I graduated in 2011 and I have been unable to find work. nursing appealed to me because of the job demand and stability. What did you major in?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2013

Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!

The market is very poor.....there is NO shortage. Some areas of the country, like California, have a 47% unemployment rate of new grads. Big cities like New York and Boston are all experiencing a surplus of nurses. It will depend on location or your willingness to relocate.

check out......these forums.

[h=2]Nursing First Job Hunt Assistance[/h]

[h=2]Nursing Job Search Assistance[/h]

melizerd, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2013

Go into nursing because you have a passion for it. There's no shortage. I live in a part of the country that new grads (both ADN and BSN) get jobs within a couple months of graduation, but no one is picking their specialty, they're just glad to have a job.

I was a stay at home mom and enjoyed that before deciding to go into the work force, so I'm an "older" student compared to some but this is my first degree because it's my passion and my calling to be a nurse.

sevenup0307 · Jul 23, 2013

Yeah it seems nothing is really secure nowadays...Well I might as well give it a shot instead of just twiddling my thumbs at home. It's either nursing or fast food/retail as a career, I'll try to get my foot in the door with a hospital b4 I graduate that way I have some experience and I'll be considered an internal applicant. I'm going to be a certified home health aide in like 2 months. Then I hope to move on up to CNA/PCA. I don't mind relocating or joining the military, there has to come to some point where a person needs a job for a paycheck otherwise you won't be able to survive. I like helping people and making them feel good, plus healthcare did play a big role in my family, so nursing is a good choice for a career. To answer your question, my previous degree was in environmental science. BTW thank you for the forum links they will be very helpful!

melizerd, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2013

Starting out as a CNA/PCA is a good idea. It will give you a better feel for the type of jobs that everyone does in a hospital. My program required you to be a CNA before starting the program so that you had taken the class and state exam and knew sort of what you were getting into LOL!

There are a lot of jobs in health care and a nurse is just one of them, working at a CNA might open you up to other things as well that you would be interested in.

sevenup0307 · Jul 23, 2013

Indeed! I think the experience will be very helpful. CHHA experience will be good for the home/nursing home setting. If worse comes to worse i have an uncle that works at a hospital, ill ask him to help get me a job as an RN.