Nursing - A Mid-Life Career Change

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #1 02-01-2009, 01:03 AM

Has anyone on here made a mid-life (I'm 28, but I'm including myself in that) career change and gone to nursing school?

Can anyone tell me what they thought of nursing school? How you feel about your job now?

I've realized over the past year that I really, really, really want to be a nurse. It's the perfect career for me - I'm good at taking care of sick people, I enjoy it, and I have experience in the medical field. Plus I love hospitals.

But I'm secretly terrified of nursing school. I'm worried it'll be too hard, too complex - especially if I'm working at the same time. And I worry that since nursing is dominated by women, the work environment will be catty and gossipy. I've worked with mostly women before, and it was all drama and gossip.

I'm supposed to start school next fall, so I have plenty of time to do more research and assuage my fears. I read all the books in my county's library system (there were five), I've talked to nurses who're in the field, but I'm still worried I'm getting into something I can't handle. Anyone have advice?

epchick · #2 02-01-2009, 01:13 AM

I have not thought about a career change...yet.

But when my bff graduated from nursing school, one of her fellow classmates was a man in his 50's (i would guess) and he had gone to both medical school and law school. He said that he worked in both fields for a while, but didn't feel fulfilled, so he decided to try nursing school. According to him, nursing school was BY FAR the hardest thing he ever did....but it was totally worth it.

Senusret I · #3 02-01-2009, 01:18 AM

I've got a contact for you at the GU School of Nursing and Health Studies who is a PhD/RN. PM me with your email address and I can facilitate a conversation.

KSUViolet06 · #4 02-01-2009, 01:21 AM

My mom is an RN (she has a BSN).

Are we talking starting from the entry level of the profession and becoming an STNA (nurses aid) or an LPN?

Or are we talking going back to a college/university to get a Bachelors in Nursing?

From what I hear, the nursing programs at schools here are all pretty rigorous.

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #5 02-01-2009, 01:29 AM

I'd be getting an RN at a local community college. I could do it at the local college, too, but it would cost a lot more. I probably will go back for a BSN at some point, though.

AGDee · #6 02-01-2009, 08:01 AM

If you have a bachelors degree already, a BSN might be useless, honestly. Essentially, the BSN means that you have a bachelor's degree with the first two years of basic studies and the second two years are essentially what you do to get your RN. It's an RN with a bachelor's degree, from what I understand. You can check with an academic advisor on that to be certain though.

I'm not a nurse but as both an Occupational Therapist and an IT person in health care research, I've worked with nurses for 22 years. I don't see the kind of cattiness you refer to as much on medical floors as I do in the corporate/business end of medical research. I think most people who go into nursing like people and are caregivers so you see less of that.

From my own observations, I would say the hardest things about nursing are (not necessarily in this order) 1) being on your feet for 8-12 hours a day 2) crappy shifts until you get some seniority, unless you like working nights/afternoons 3) having to work weekends and holidays 4) having to deal with people dying and 5) many hospitals are severely understaffed

On the plus side, working 3-12 hour shifts a week sounds nice to me. Yeah, those three days are really demanding but then you don't have to go in again (*except* they will call you and beg you to do overtime a lot, but then the money is very good too!) There is some flexibility as hospitals try to accomodate nurses. A lot of nurses I know work one job full time and then are in a pool somewhere else. They may work 3-12's at the full time job and then pick up a couple 8 hour shifts as a pool nurse. They rake in the money, but they work very hard too.

The hard thing about doing nursing school while working is the clinicals. I'm not sure how you'd schedule those unless your job is kind of flexible.

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #7 02-01-2009, 08:09 AM

^^^ That helps a lot, thank you. Useful information.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGDee

I don't see the kind of cattiness you refer to as much on medical floors as I do in the corporate/business end of medical research. I think most people who go into nursing like people and are caregivers so you see less of that.

This makes total sense to me.

AGDee · #8 02-01-2009, 08:12 AM

I guess I could also note that I made a mid-life career change, from Occupational Therapy to IT. It was scary at the time but I'm glad I did it. It worked out best for me both physically and emotionally. I was 35 when I made the change. I'm looking around to figure out what my third career will be now...lol. I get bored quickly I guess.

KSigkid · #9 02-01-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

Has anyone on here made a mid-life (I'm 28, but I'm including myself in that) career change and gone to nursing school?

Can anyone tell me what they thought of nursing school? How you feel about your job now?

I've realized over the past year that I really, really, really want to be a nurse. It's the perfect career for me - I'm good at taking care of sick people, I enjoy it, and I have experience in the medical field. Plus I love hospitals.

But I'm secretly terrified of nursing school. I'm worried it'll be too hard, too complex - especially if I'm working at the same time. And I worry that since nursing is dominated by women, the work environment will be catty and gossipy. I've worked with mostly women before, and it was all drama and gossip.

I'm supposed to start school next fall, so I have plenty of time to do more research and assuage my fears. I read all the books in my county's library system (there were five), I've talked to nurses who're in the field, but I'm still worried I'm getting into something I can't handle. Anyone have advice?

I had a couple of co-workers who did the mid-career change to nursing, and they have each said that it was one of the hardest things they've ever done. But, they also said that they couldn't imagine doing anything else.

I've done something somewhat similar...I worked for three years out of college in public relations, then went back to school doing law school evenings (working full-time). It's really hard to go back to school, especially something in a difficult field (as I'd imagine a science-based field like nursing would be), but I can say that it's worth it if it's what you want to do. That probably sounds a bit cliche, but it's the truth.

As for the cattiness - I've seen cattiness in every office where I've worked, so I don't think you'll see it in nursing any more than in other professions.

Good luck!

ISUKappa · #10 02-01-2009, 02:56 PM

My oldest sister did a complete career switch after her son was born from food science to nursing. She was going through a bit of a life crisis at the time (just had a baby, divorcing her cheating husband, etc...) and I think it helped her have a "fresh start" so to speak.

She got her RN through a community college and also worked FT. I don't think the classwork was necessarily difficult, but the intensity of everything (especially while being a single mom) was maybe more than she thought.

She now works as a nurse manager at a nursing home even though she originally went to school with the intention of becoming a L&D nurse. She really enjoys what she does.

Betzi · #11 02-01-2009, 03:31 PM

I have been a nurse for 37 years...since before dirt... and I have seen many people who have changed careers and decided to become nurses. It is a wonderful option with so many different types of nursing to choose from. I myself went back to school at age 55 and completed my BSN through a program that my hospital sponsored. Everything was paid for!

There are also some programs out there and I know Indianapolis has 2 of them that are specifically for someone who has a bachelor's degree in a different field, and you are able to earn a BSN in 18 months. It is a very intense program and difficult to work more than a few hours a week while you take it but wow what a way to go!

My daughter-in-law is currently enrolled in a community college ASN program and will complete her RN in 2 years. It really takes about 3 because they require all the prereq's be done first and it is very competetive to get into, usually requiring at least a 3.5 or better GPA. Once she starts working as an RN then the hospital will pay for her to get her BSN. Oh, and she is working nights as a unit secretary and the hospital is helping pay for her ASN. She had 3 years of college in a chemistry major and then dropped out to work for a while. Now at 27, she knows what she wants and is going after it.

I agree that nursing has some draw backs, mainly nights, weekends and holidays, but it has really served me well as a career I am proud to have.

Please PM me if you have any questions. I love my career and hope that you will find it a long and satisfying one, too.

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #12 02-01-2009, 04:35 PM

This is really helpful and encouraging. I think I just needed the reassurance that nursing school isn't rocket science and I'm not the first one to make a career change.

I would love to hear more stories, though, either from nurses (about how they like their jobs) or from other people who've made career changes.

Benzgirl · #13 02-01-2009, 06:20 PM

For God sakes, you are 28. You are not in mid-life. I know people who started medical school when they were 10 years older than you. My cousin went to law school when she was in her 40s.

My Sr. year room mate was a nursing student. She was very smart and she said it was tough. Physio was a lot of memorization and fitting in Clinical among your classes, activities and working is tough.

For her it paid off. She is Director of Nursing of one of the largest hospitals in the US and has a Master's Degree, as well.

You go into a career because you want to and you have time to do it, not because you feel it will be too hard. If you think it is too hard, become a Practical Nurse.

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #14 02-01-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

For God sakes, you are 28. You are not in mid-life. I know people who started medical school when they were 10 years older than you. My cousin went to law school when she was in her 40s.

My Sr. year room mate was a nursing student. She was very smart and she said it was tough. Physio was a lot of memorization and fitting in Clinical among your classes, activities and working is tough.

For her it paid off. She is Director of Nursing of one of the largest hospitals in the US and has a Master's Degree, as well.

You go into a career because you want to and you have time to do it, not because you feel it will be too hard. If you think it is too hard, become a Practical Nurse.

I noted that I'm not actually mid-life in my first post. "Mid-life" was easier to write than "5 to 10 years into your first career" was.

The info about your senior year roommate seems informative, though. She sounds very successful.

RedefinedDiva · #15 02-01-2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

Has anyone on here made a mid-life (I'm 28, but I'm including myself in that) career change and gone to nursing school?

I'm (kinda) gonna do it next year (2010). I'm looking for a program right now. I plan to keep my "day" career, but I want to get a nursing program under my belt as a fallback, add-on, or aid to my regular career. I'm constantly unfulfilled, though I think it's a problem of my own doing. I am just interested in so many things. I get carried away and before I know it, I'm in another course or program.

If you want to do it, I saw DO IT!! What's the worse that could happen? I'd rather die knowing that I've done/attempted everything my heart desires than to ever wonder "what if...." I wish you the best of luck!!!