Nursing?

[tongue_tied]

Anyone here a nurse or involved with nursing somehow? I'm thinking of making a slightly drastic career change. I need the challenge, I love science, and am maybe obsessed with the medical field. Tips? Challenges? Things you love, hate, etc.?

I should mention that my BA (yes, BA) is in theatre. So, I won't have much in the way of prereq classes.

Thanks in advance!

[Zen]

You have most of your core classes, you'll need Bio 101 and 102 and Microbiology.
It's not that hard but the A&P portion will require a lot of study. I found the class fascinating and was glad I took it.My instructor had a reputation of being tough, she was and I'm a better person for it.
I was accepted in to the nursing program but decided against it so I never did the clinical part, got a Phys.Ed. degree instead.
There is no shortage of nursing jobs but there is a shortage of teachers, that's why it's kind of cut throat to get in to the program.

That's my experience.

The End

[ny biker]

My sister was a phlebotomist for many years and then went to school to become a nurse. She worked very hard in school. (She also worked part time for the first couple of years and has 3 kids to raise, which did not make it easier.)

She now works at a hospital in a post-surgical critical care unit. The days are very long -- 12 hour shifts. She's looking for a new job that has better hours.

My cousin also became a nurse as a career change when she was in her 30s (and was the mother of 4). Again, worked very hard in school and her first job in a hospital involved long shifts. But now she's at an outpatient surgical facility and she seems to like it.

[Melalvai]

If you are thinking about a career change I strongly recommend the book "What Color Is Your Parachute?" It helps you figure out your strongest interests and skills, and what you need to shore up, to get to your new career. If I had had that book years ago I would not have meandered in postdoc swamps for many years!

[KnottedYet]

When I was going back to school for my second career, I knew what I wanted to do but I made a long list of other options. I spent a good bit of time investigating them.

Nursing was on my list, because it was similar to what I wanted and the pay was good... darn good. I have a lot of friends who are nurses who jumped all over me saying "NO! Don't do it! You're the wrong personality! It would kill you!"

They were right, which is fine, cuz I didn't really want to do nursing anyway. But I still looked into it.

If you are serious about nursing, I'd look first into getting a job as a CENA (nurse's assistant) in the kind of facility you'd like to work in. It's a very short training period, gets you right into the field, and often hospitals/clinics/nursing homes will pay part or all of the tuition for their CENAs to go to nursing school.

And you will find out very quickly if this is the kind of work you want.

[Zen]

She may have to do the same classroom work first, minus the clinicals.

[KnottedYet]

When I was investigating it, CNA was a 3 week course. MA is 6 to 9 months, PA is 2 years, LPN is around 1 year, RN around 2 years, and BSN is a full 4 years. ARNP is a BSN who works several years, then goes back to school for an additional 3 or so years.

One of the hospitals where I did a rotation had a very cool program for CNAs: they'd hire folks under some other title (patient aid or something) have them work for half their shift, and get the CNA course at the hospital during the other half of their shift. (you got paid for going to class, and the hospital paid for the tuition as well.) After you finished the 3 week course your title changed to CNA and your pay jumped up.

Experience as a CNA helps get you into nursing school (you are required to have some sort of experience in healthcare for a lot of the applications, even if it's only volunteer or observation). CNA doesn't substitute for any of the nursing classes or prerequisites or clinicals, but it does give you a leg up in the field.

[TsPoet]

no nursing opinion, but wanted to say don't let the BA stop you. I have a BA in anthropology.... and later got a PhD in Toxicology. Quite doable, maybe just a couple of extra classes.
I just tell everyone that I don't have it piled higher and deeper 'cause I never had any to begin with.

[KnottedYet]

I just tell everyone that I don't have it piled higher and deeper 'cause I never had any to begin with.

Ts- :p:D:p:D:p

I also have a BA in my alphabet soup... English Literature. (which has been surprisingly useful in healthcare, believe it or not) Flourish your Bad Attitude with pride!

[tongue_tied]

Thanks for the tips thus far. I have a friend who's making the same change and he's done a bit more research than I have. He mentioned something about getting a BSN which is a more versatile approach than maybe going right for a RN? Or something along those lines? Anyone know anything about that?

[sfa]

Each state is going to be slightly different for what it requires at each step along the way. I'm not in nursing, but I do the grant writing for a community college and a good portion of the grants we get are for the nursing and allied health programs. There's a LOT of grant funding for these programs right now as everyone is in a panic about the current and projected shortage in the field. As someone else said, though, it's difficult to get into a program because there's also a shortage of teachers for these programs and a shortage of space (even if we could find people to teach the courses, we wouldn't have a classroom to put them in, and even if we could get them through the classes, the hospitals don't have the capacity to handle the clinicals).

Since you already have a four year degree, a community college is probably the way to go. I'd bet that many of the classes you took in college will count towards your core requirements so you won't have to repeat them. Most colleges will have multiple pathways towards a nursing degree--the traditional approach where you complete core requirements and prerequisites then enter the nursing program (be prepared for a waiting list) and complete another 70 credits or so to get your degree. There are career ladder programs where you start with the CNA program and then get a job and work while you complete the next steps and end with the RN program. Many schools now also have a highly competitive accelerated nursing program where you can complete the required nursing courses in a little over a year by pretty much going to school non-stop (the courses run outside of the normal semester dates--they just slam through them intensely and without a break and you stay with your cohort the whole time).

The nurses that I've talked to generally love the work, but hate the bureaucracy (hospitals can be very political, and be prepared to spend a huge amount of time filling out paperwork). You have to be very much a people person since you'll deal with all types of people. Most people who stick with the career tend to like the odd hours where they'll work three 12 hour shifts and then have a block of time off. If your body can handle it, it's not a bad gig. But if you like regular steady hours, forget it.

Don't limit yourself to just nursing--there are lots of allied health careers that aren't nursing and that pay well and require different skills. There's less cleaning up vomit in radiologic technology, for example. Lab techs, pharmacy assistants, physical therapists (full fledged and assistants), cardiovascular technology, EMT/Paramedics--there are so many options that could work for you.

Good luck with your choice!

Sarah

[sfa]

Thanks for the tips thus far. I have a friend who's making the same change and he's done a bit more research than I have. He mentioned something about getting a BSN which is a more versatile approach than maybe going right for a RN? Or something along those lines? Anyone know anything about that?

BSN is a four year degree; ADN can be done at a community college (in 2 or 3 years, depending on the program you're in and how much you have to do in the way of prerequisites). Either one qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX exam to become an RN. I think the BSN makes a lot of sense for someone just starting out with higher education--you need it to get into MSN programs required for areas of specialty like being a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist. ADN programs transfer to four year programs to complete the BSN. What I don't know is if you're starting with a BA, do you need to ALSO get the BSN to get into an MSN program? Or does your BA plus an ADN allow you to get into MSN programs? If I were you, I'd check with the schools you're looking at and find out what the requirements are.

[KnottedYet]

In the trenches no-one is going to give a rip if you are an ADN or a BSN. (LPN or RN does make a big difference, however) To advance further in the nursing field you will need to have jumped through the bachelor's hoop, which you've already done.

Do you have experience in healthcare? You say you're "obsessed with medicine," what have you worked in so far? Knowing what you like or don't like and the knowing the levels of stress you work best under before you begin investing years in school can go a long way. Do you like working with patients who are conscious? Druggged up? Knocked out? Cut open? I've got friends who love blood and guts, but can't stand emotional neediness or abuse; they work in ICU or as surgical techs. I've got friends who love the conscious ones, so work on the floors. Then there are the folks who want to be cozy and charming and give shots and educate, they work in doctors' offices (more like an MA). I had a dear friend who worked in geriatrics. She felt best getting attached to people who would die soon because then there were no surprises. It's macabre, but it helps to know these things about yourself.

[MomOnBike]

I agree, before you invest all sorts of time, energy & money in a nursing degree, start at the bottom and become a CNA. Not only will you quickly find out if nursing is for you, but the consensus of opinion where I work (largish rehab hospital) is that those who have been CNAs make much better RNs.

I don't know about other institutions, but mine has a well-developed scholarship program to help CNAs move on to bigger and better(paying) things.

No, I am not a nurse, but I work closely with nurses and have the utmost respect for the field.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oops...I thought this was a breast feeding thread! :o

[Biciclista]

I'm not a nurse and I hope you become a good one. My stepfather is dying in a hospital (valley general for the locals) that is poorly staffed.
We were with him for about 3 hours last night, noticing he was in distress we asked for some sort of sophorific; pain killer, sleeping pill, something. The nurse said it wasn't on his chart. (actually it was, on page 1)
That was the first time we discussed it. when it became obvious that the poor man couldn't sleep we started making a lot more noise, got the head nurse involved. After 2 hours the nurse finally called a doctor who okayed some Atavan.. and we were told it would be there shortly so we went home. This morning he was in the same state, no, actually worse, and still had never gotten something to relax him. I'm furious.
that nurse was not sitting in a back room smoking a cigarette. She was running from room to room, getting interrupted each time we saw her with a phone call... (get xrays, do this, do that). She had not read his case file previous to treating him. (and no wonder, it was 2 inches thick!) She did not know him and she did not SEE (how could she not see !?!?)what distress he was in. So she did the things that she does; which actually made him a little more comfortable in that routine, but.. ok.. what I am trying to say; you young passionate idealistic future nurses you HAVE to get the state of care turned around or it will just be another crummy stressful job.

We need you, your passion and caring. We need your intelligence and the ability to act. Ok, so nurses can't prescribe drugs? call the doctor. You don't have enough time to care for patients? call your union. Tell your boss.

thanks for listening.

[shootingstar]

Do you have experience in healthcare? You say you're "obsessed with medicine," what have you worked in so far? Knowing what you like or don't like and the knowing the levels of stress you work best under before you begin investing years in school can go a long way. Do you like working with patients who are conscious? Druggged up? Knocked out? Cut open? I've got friends who love blood and guts, but can't stand emotional neediness or abuse; they work in ICU or as surgical techs. I've got friends who love the conscious ones, so work on the floors. Then there are the folks who want to be cozy and charming and give shots and educate, they work in doctors' offices (more like an MA). I had a dear friend who worked in geriatrics. She felt best getting attached to people who would die soon because then there were no surprises. It's macabre, but it helps to know these things about yourself.

It is important tongue-tied to understand yourself first. I knew someone who talked off the top of her head about getting into nursing, because that's where the jobs are. Same in Canada. There's a real demand.

I thought she was nuts. She was a math teacher at a tech. college in the Philippines. She was the sort of person that got abit too emotionally invested in other employees --not a great fit. And she was not physically fit. She already had a bad back..at age 38. She had a pleasant personality to start and a sharp/analytical mind...but the other stuff. Hmmmmm. Yea.

She was only getting info from her brother, who is a nurse somewhere in Texas. And has been a nurse there for past 6 yrs.

I am not a nurse. But I worked in a rehabilitation hospital for spinal cord injured adults. So my great respect for the nurses there. I also knew an employee elsewhere for a different employer who was formerly an intensive care unit nurse...she left after burn-out in 6 yrs. However her knowledge as a nurse was useful to convey to others about burn victims....

[tongue_tied]

I don't have any experience. Just knowledge that isn't being used right now. I love science, I love exploring how things work. Maybe nursing isn't for me, but that's why I'm putting a feeler out there for information. I love a challenge, making things happen, getting things done, knowing that you help people get better. I know about the red tape and paperwork doesn't bother me.

I know that I cannot deal with sick children. I know I cannot deal with geriatrics. Blood and guts don't bother me. But the smell of burnt skin does.

[spindizzy]

I'm a nurse.

I love being a nurse. It's hard. It's challenging. You work hard. You work short staffed. You juggle, juggle, juggle! It's political. It's hard on your body.

But my reasons for choosing and staying in this profession is because this is where I know I make a difference. I am a patient advocate. I am here for them, to help them negoiate the murky waters of the health industry. I care; I care about people (even though some of them can drive you stark raving mad- I am no saint!!! - I know hard - to believe:eek:) Medicine is constantly changing; there is always something new to learn.

Nursing keeps me humble.


Nursing has allowed me to work shift work, which in turn allowed my husband or myself to stay home with our kids when they were younger instead of putting them into daycare. Yes it was a sacrifice of our relationship for many years, but we are stronger for it. Shift work has allowed me to get out of committments I was to chicken to say "no" to in the first place:rolleyes:

I have been a staff nurse, a preceptor, a clinical educator and clinical intern. I have participated in research and have been working on a proposal of my own. I have so many opportunities to do what I love to do.

I am working on my last 2 course of my Masters. The world is truly my oyster.

Nursing pays well, and many places offer self-scheduling. (how humane is that?) Where I work you get benefits if you work .5 or more. I've been there so long I get 6 weeks of vacation. I've got a ton of banked sick hours - hopefully I'll never have to use them. I do steady days now - but sometime I do long for the 12 hour shifts. And the chaos. And the madness.

Btw- am a pediatric nurse to boot. Burned skin is the worst!

Good luck on your decision!

[itself]

I work for Abrazo Health, and we had a meeting two weeks ago. Apparently, there are a record number of people enrolling in nursing because the healthcare industry is stable and the pay is good. The bad news is that for the money, the wrong people are becoming nurses.

I understand that many of the nursing schools here in AZ have a waiting list quite long. Good luck on your new career, what a wonderful choice!

Lisa:)

[badger]

no nursing opinion, but wanted to say don't let the BA stop you. I have a BA in anthropology.... and later got a PhD in Toxicology. Quite doable, maybe just a couple of extra classes.
I just tell everyone that I don't have it piled higher and deeper 'cause I never had any to begin with.


I have a BA in anthropology, too! I'm now stuck in a dead-end snivel servant job losing my neurons but I get great benefits...

[Flybye]

I just find irony in the fact that this is a thread on nursing started by tongue_tied. We talking babies or occupations??
Carry on.