Nursing - A Mid-Life Career Change

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Thanks! That's just what I needed to hear!

[RedefinedDiva]

Originally Posted by IlovemyAKA

I'm looking to make a change in 2010 as well. I have a BS in Health Admin, but I was finding it tough to find a job in that field right after graduation. Everyone wanted more experience or nurses. I started working at a company that has nothing to do with health, and provides general business services. I've decided that I want to get my Nursing Home Administrator's License. It requires a 1000 hr Administrator-in-Training internship that I just don't have time for right now because I'm currently pursuing my MBA. If I had it to do over, I would've chosen to pursue the license instead of the MBA. Grad school just seemed like the next logical step, and I don't want to quit because I'll be finished next year. It just delays the internship by a year.

Lol--I said all of that just to say that I understand the OP wanting to change.

I have list of professions to look into and Health Care Admin is one of them. I didn't know that it was a hard field to break into.

Anyway, to the OP, DO IT!! I am a certified teacher, (almost) licensed attorney, and I'm going to nursing school next year. And that's just the beginning! LOL! I know that people think I'm crazy (I think it too sometimes!!), but I love learning and I want to do something the benefits me in the long run. Just make a plan for yourself. Don't worry if people think you are nuts. It's YOUR life and you only have one to live.

I got this via email and I've already sent for more info on this as well. I don't know if you'd interested, but just in case....

***
If you would like to apply to medical school but need to complete undergraduate science course requirements, we'd like to tell you about an outstanding program to help you achieve your goals.

The Columbia University Post-baccalaureate Pre-medical Program is the oldest and largest program of its kind in the United States.

With an internationally recognized faculty, Columbia's commitment to post-baccalaureate pre-medical and pre-health students is proven by a placement rate of above 90 percent of graduates in American medical schools.

Mission

For more than fifty years, Columbia University's faculty has been committed to a simple, but important idea - regardless of when you decide to pursue an education and career in the health sciences, you should have the same rigorous program in the sciences available to you that is available to all Columbia students.

Purpose

The program's purpose is to enable college graduates to complete the academic prerequisites for admission to schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine; advise them about the sorts of practical experiences they must acquire in clinics and laboratories; guide them through the medical school application process, and, through a written committee letter, provide institutional support of their medical school applications. Some 400 men and women are currently enrolled in the program; most of them had little or no exposure to science during their undergraduate studies.

The Postbac Student

Postbac students are both recent college graduates and/or experienced professionals with backgrounds unrelated to health care. Upon arriving on campus they have completed a rigorous undergraduate education and often extensive life and career experience, yet have taken little or no science coursework. Such students, if their determination is unwavering, tend to find their encounter with Columbia's intensive sciences curriculum and vibrant premedical community to be a rewarding and life-altering experience, as well as superb preparation for medical school.

Program Timetable: Traditional, Accelerated, or Part-Time

Students who begin the Postbac program in the fall term can expect to complete their coursework after two full academic years of study. In the third year, students apply to medical school while deepening their exposure to medicine through full-time research or volunteer work.

Students can expect to complete their coursework in 18 months if they are prepared academically to begin General Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus I and who begin their program in the spring semester.

The Postbac Program also affords great flexibility for part-time study. Many students begin by taking a single course while continuing to work a full-time job; this is especially the case for students who begin in the spring or summer terms in order to complete preparatory coursework before enrolling in the required science courses.

History

Columbia has long been a pioneer in medical education. Founded in 1767, Columbia's medical school was the first to award the M.D. degree in the American colonies. Beginning in the early years of last century, the University formally offered premedical preparation to students who were not matriculated for an undergraduate degree and, in 1955, established the Post-baccalaureate Premedical Program within Columbia University School of General Studies. The combination of Columbia's renowned premedical sciences curriculum and the wealth of clinical and research opportunities in New York City makes for a post-baccalaureate experience of unparalleled richness.

Location

Columbia's urban campus in New York City rivals the campus of any other Ivy League university. Designed by Mc Kim, Mead, and White, one of the nation's leading architectural firms at the time of construction, the Morningside Heights campus contains many buildings classified as historic landmarks.
Lincoln Center and midtown Manhattan are 10 to 20 minutes away by subway or bus; Wall Street is within a 30-minute subway ride.

REQUEST MORE INFO HERE

Hope that helps!!

[IlovemyAKA]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

I have list of professions to look into and Health Care Admin is one of them. I didn't know that it was a hard field to break into.

I don't know if it's tough for everyone, or if it was just the timing. Another young lady & I graduated together with the same degree, and she received similar feedback. She called me & said "everyone wants nursing backgrounds!", and I told her that I was feeling the same way. Another guy graduated a semester prior, and he got an entry-level position with the Center for Disease Control. I have a friend who went on to get her MHA, and started an administrator-in-training type program. After it's done, the company will move her to another one of their locations.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by IlovemyAKA

I have a friend who went on to get her MHA, and started an administrator-in-training type program. After it's done, the company will move her to another one of their locations.

That's not a bad deal at all. My brother has his MHA and has been the CEO of numerous rural southern hospitals with a company like that. He does very very well.

[ASUADPi]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

I have list of professions to look into and Health Care Admin is one of them. I didn't know that it was a hard field to break into.

Anyway, to the OP, DO IT!! I am a certified teacher, (almost) licensed attorney, and I'm going to nursing school next year. And that's just the beginning! LOL! I know that people think I'm crazy (I think it too sometimes!!), but I love learning and I want to do something the benefits me in the long run. Just make a plan for yourself. Don't worry if people think you are nuts. It's YOUR life and you only have one to live.

I sound like you, minus the law school.

I too am a certified teacher and will be taking classes to get into nursing school.

I will go the BSN route. I figure most of my credits will transfer anyways. Plus, I am thinking of joining the Navy. They would pay for my BSN and I just have to serve 3 years at a training hospital in either Virginia, Maryland (Walter Reed I believe) or San Diego. Not to bad a trade off.

[ZTA72]

Originally Posted by ASUADPi

Plus, I am thinking of joining the Navy. They would pay for my BSN and I just have to serve 3 years at a training hospital in either Virginia, Maryland (Walter Reed I believe) or San Diego. Not to bad a trade off.

I would advise you to get that in writing. The military has a way of sending you where they want, especially when you owe them.

[Thetagirl218]

My sister is graduating next month with her LPN. She started at the local tech school her last semester of high school, and is planning on getting her RN at the local community/4 year college (Most of Florida's former community colleges now offer 4 year degrees in some fields including nursing).

There are several people in her LPN program who are switching careers.

One of my best friends is in her late 30s and married with two kids. It took her 5 years to get her AA (Mostly because of working and paying for school), but she did it. She had originally meant to go into the police force, but now is starting the nursing program to get her RN. She has told me that there are tons of people her age and older going back to school!

I would say there have been a lot of people switching fields during the last 10 years. I always had older people in my college classes training to be teachers.

[kiteflyersmom]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

I have list of professions to look into and Health Care Admin is one of them. I didn't know that it was a hard field to break into.

Anyway, to the OP, DO IT!! I am a certified teacher, (almost) licensed attorney, and I'm going to nursing school next year. And that's just the beginning! LOL! I know that people think I'm crazy (I think it too sometimes!!), but I love learning and I want to do something the benefits me in the long run. Just make a plan for yourself. Don't worry if people think you are nuts. It's YOUR life and you only have one to live.

I got this via email and I've already sent for more info on this as well. I don't know if you'd interested, but just in case....

***
If you would like to apply to medical school but need to complete undergraduate science course requirements, we'd like to tell you about an outstanding program to help you achieve your goals.

The Columbia University Post-baccalaureate Pre-medical Program is the oldest and largest program of its kind in the United States.

With an internationally recognized faculty, Columbia's commitment to post-baccalaureate pre-medical and pre-health students is proven by a placement rate of above 90 percent of graduates in American medical schools.

Mission

For more than fifty years, Columbia University's faculty has been committed to a simple, but important idea - regardless of when you decide to pursue an education and career in the health sciences, you should have the same rigorous program in the sciences available to you that is available to all Columbia students.

Purpose

The program's purpose is to enable college graduates to complete the academic prerequisites for admission to schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine; advise them about the sorts of practical experiences they must acquire in clinics and laboratories; guide them through the medical school application process, and, through a written committee letter, provide institutional support of their medical school applications. Some 400 men and women are currently enrolled in the program; most of them had little or no exposure to science during their undergraduate studies.

The Postbac Student

Postbac students are both recent college graduates and/or experienced professionals with backgrounds unrelated to health care. Upon arriving on campus they have completed a rigorous undergraduate education and often extensive life and career experience, yet have taken little or no science coursework. Such students, if their determination is unwavering, tend to find their encounter with Columbia's intensive sciences curriculum and vibrant premedical community to be a rewarding and life-altering experience, as well as superb preparation for medical school.

Program Timetable: Traditional, Accelerated, or Part-Time

Students who begin the Postbac program in the fall term can expect to complete their coursework after two full academic years of study. In the third year, students apply to medical school while deepening their exposure to medicine through full-time research or volunteer work.

Students can expect to complete their coursework in 18 months if they are prepared academically to begin General Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus I and who begin their program in the spring semester.

The Postbac Program also affords great flexibility for part-time study. Many students begin by taking a single course while continuing to work a full-time job; this is especially the case for students who begin in the spring or summer terms in order to complete preparatory coursework before enrolling in the required science courses.

History

Columbia has long been a pioneer in medical education. Founded in 1767, Columbia's medical school was the first to award the M.D. degree in the American colonies. Beginning in the early years of last century, the University formally offered premedical preparation to students who were not matriculated for an undergraduate degree and, in 1955, established the Post-baccalaureate Premedical Program within Columbia University School of General Studies. The combination of Columbia's renowned premedical sciences curriculum and the wealth of clinical and research opportunities in New York City makes for a post-baccalaureate experience of unparalleled richness.

Location

Columbia's urban campus in New York City rivals the campus of any other Ivy League university. Designed by Mc Kim, Mead, and White, one of the nation's leading architectural firms at the time of construction, the Morningside Heights campus contains many buildings classified as historic landmarks.
Lincoln Center and midtown Manhattan are 10 to 20 minutes away by subway or bus; Wall Street is within a 30-minute subway ride.

REQUEST MORE INFO HERE

Hope that helps!!

I agree! Do it! I am a teacher (beginning my 20th year on 8/24/09) and I am also a perpetual student. I earned a doctoral degree in education last summer. If I could, I would probably love to explore nursing as a career. However, I have children who are busy with sports and I help them quite a bit with school. I am a bit of a helicopter mom, lol. By the time they are ready to go to college I will be in my mid 50's. Needless to say, it is not going to happen.

If you are in a position to do it now- then do it now! It may seem tough but remember that saying. I'm not sure how it goes. Basically, it reminds us that things that are difficult to attain are generally the things that are worth the struggle. If it were easy, then everyone would do it.

Good luck!

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Columbia's not an option for me because it's in NYC and I have to stay in DC with my mom (she's sick). But thanks for the info!

Boy, we're a well educated bunch here at GC, aren't we? We have lots of lawyers and doctors and vets and MBAs, etc. Lots of people who didn't stop at 4 years of undergrad.

[AOII Angel]

I'm a physician, but my mother and sister are L&D nurses. I was actually my sister's roommate while she was going through nursing school. It is tough! My medical school experience was much more pleasant (not from a degree of difficulty perspective but from a basic human dignity perspective!) My sister had a really tough time. Her professors loved to demean their students. One of my favorites was a professor that several times admonished my sister to stop thinking like an LPN! After her experience, I was terrified of how I'd be treated in medical school, but was surprised to find that I was always treated with respect. My advice is to go into nursing school with a thick skin!

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

I've never heard medical school referred to as ANY degree of pleasant!

I can't believe the abuse your sister got from her professors. How strange that of all fields, nursing - which is all about caregiving - would have the nasty professors.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

I've never heard medical school referred to as ANY degree of pleasant!

I can't believe the abuse your sister got from her professors. How strange that of all fields, nursing - which is all about caregiving - would have the nasty professors.

Actually, med school was pretty dry the first two years, but 3rd and 4th years were downright fun! I loved being on the wards, interacting with physicians, caring for patients and figuring out the puzzles that are patients! My sister came home crying on more than one occasion. I can't say that I or any of my fellow female med students ever went home in tears! It is strange that nursing schools are so malignant. I've known many a nurse who had the same experiences.

[ZetaGirl22]

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

I've never heard medical school referred to as ANY degree of pleasant!

I can't believe the abuse your sister got from her professors. How strange that of all fields, nursing - which is all about caregiving - would have the nasty professors.

There is a saying out there in the nursing community that nurses "eat their young" Take from that what you will, but I definitely have heard of some quite ridiculous stories about nursing faculty from various schools from many different students.

Don't take this as me trying to deter you because I am basically doing exactly what you are right now LOL! I'm 28, have a BA in Political Science and am doing the last of my prerequisites right now at my local community college. I will be doing the CC route for my clinical program based on cost and convenience. I don't know what your first degree was in, but if you stayed away from the sciences the first time, you will have a few prereqs to complete before you enter a program and they are DEFINITELY not easy. I have done very well in my prereqs so far-I have a 4.0, but it took a lot of work, especially in Anatomy and Physiology. I am in part 2 of that right now. Another thing to keep in mind is most nursing programs, regardless of whether its an ADN or BSN are VERY competitive. At my CC the cutoff GPA for accepted applicants into last semesters clinical class was a 3.3, and the school recommends that you maintain at least a 3.5 to maximize your chances.

And I see you are in the DC area! If you are interested in an accelerate BSN option, Georgetown has an accelerated BSN that takes 16 months. From what I hear it is VERY rigorous and VERY expensive, but they have a scholarship program with Washington Hospital Center where if you are chosen, WHC will cover your tuition in exchange for a 2 year work commitment (I believe its 2 years). There are lots and lots of options out there. University of MD also has an accelerated program where instead of a BSN, you become eligible to take the NCLEX (the licensing exam-which actually gets you the RN credential) and you also earn a masters degree.

[Buttonz]

I have my BS already and I'm looking to make the switch to get my BSN. I'm looking at Stonybrook which offers a 12 month program and Pace, which offers a 12 month program or a 24 month program, depending if you need your pre-reqs (the only one I have for them is stats) or not.

I'm nervous but excited at the same time. I really think that this will be good for me. My hope is to get into school and camp nursing.

[cheerfulgreek]

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?

Whatever you do, don't back away from any career you want to get into just because it's hard. If you want to reach a career goal badly enough, you'll do what it takes to do it. I think nursing is an excellent field to go into, especially if you really enjoy the medical field. I think you should go for it, because after school is all done and over with, you'll be happy you stuck with it.

I wish you the best of luck!