Community Chat

[azureblue]

Hi ladies,

I am looking to make a career change and would love to hear from current nurses about your experience(s) both present and past in the field. Has any one done this as a second degree program? I have discovered there are so many ways to pursue a RN license. I have learned a BSN is most desirable in the field. This would be my second degree as I already have one that is unrelated. I am interested in the specialty areas of Pediatrics and NICU. I would like to know:

1. How long have you been in the field and what is your specialty?

2. Did you take a traditional career path?

3. What do you love the most about your job?

4. What do you dislike the most about your job?

5. What is one thing you wish you knew that you did not know upon pursuing this field?

6. How is job growth/retention for you?

Thanks in advance for your help/feedback!

azureblue

[pitdakota]

Hi azureblue!

I will let nurses that are currently practicing answer your questions about the current work environment. I teach nursing so I thought I would chime in to say that you certainly should consider the second degree program if you do decide on nursing. I teach in that program and love working with these students.

Almost all second degree programs accept your previous degree to take the place of any general education requirements so that you only have to take the specific program requirements and the nursing courses to complete the program. And many times you might already have a course that will transfer for a certain program requirement. It is certainly much less time and money than if you were to pursue the BSN through a traditional program.

And yes, I would agree that the BSN is the only way to go especially since you would be in a second degree program. We have a mandate out to have 80% of all nursing staff in hospitals prepared with a minimum of a BSN by 2020. Also, many hospitals are working toward magnet status and those hospitals are requiring the ADNs to go back to school. So it would be worth your while to pursue the BSN if you decide that nursing is what you want to do.

And BTW, second degree programs are full across the country and many of them have waiting lists. Many people re-career into nursing and the second degree programs have offered a great opportunity for that transition.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

[pepes mom]

I am an RN, who no longer practices due to disability. I graduated from college in 1991 with my BSN, and worked at a major university hospital on a Thoracic Surgery floor.

At that time, the hospital employed LPN's and RN's (Associate's Degree, Diploma and BSN) as staff nurses. Within a year, the LPN's were no longer at the bedside. Then, the push was on for all RN's to obtain their Bachelors. Within 5 years, nurses were encouraged to pursue advanced degrees. I highly encourage you to obtain your Bachelors degree.

What I loved most about my job was being at the bedside working directly with the patients. Going home at the end of a shift knowing that you make a difference in someone's life is powerful. That difference could be small, but significant to the patient, or it can be huge, like saving a life.

What I disliked about the job were the sometimes unrealistic expectations that management set. The phrase "you're not working harder, you're working smarter" is forever etched into my brain. Just because something looks good on paper / in theory, it doesn't mean it's realistic.

Since I live in a major city, there are multiple hospitals in the area. (Full disclosure: most hospitals fall under 1 of 2 parent companies.) We have various types of hospitals here, from smaller community hospitals to huge university/teaching hospitals that are cutting edge. There is a nursing opportunity for everyone.

I wish you the best in whatever you decide.

[irishmama5]

I have a double Masters Nursing &Social Work 1975 graduated with my AS in Nursing, worked med/surg unit for 3 years. 1979 had my BSN worked 10 years NBN & L&D In 1985 had my MSN worked part time. Nursing Homes, Group homes, adult hospice. 1988 to present in home pediatric hospice. have always liked that when I needed to work part time I could and worked 11p to 7a for many years. When I worked the hospital I liked the patient care. There is really nothing I do not like about my job. The growth in the field is up to you, the more education the more experience the greater the opportunities. Good Luck

[RedTop]

I retired from a clerical position in a hospital administrative office; working for three Directors of Nursing within an 11 year span. I saw many nurses attitudes change over the years, and good nurses leave the profession, due to no longer being able to provide the patient care they chose this profession for, because of the charting documentation needed for the patients electronic medical records.

[terrier3]

On 9/18/2014 RedTop said: I retired from a clerical position in a hospital administrative office; working for three Directors of Nursing within an 11 year span. I saw many nurses attitudes change over the years, and good nurses leave the profession, due to no longer being able to provide the patient care they chose this profession for, because of the charting documentation needed for the patients electronic medical records.

Electronic records are fantastic, IMO. Coordinating care is very important and saves a lot of time, money & unnecessary testing.

I think the main problem is that hospitals have been cutting down on staffing...especially nurses. They create more & more overpriced management jobs...and nurses are overworked.

[ahoymate]

On 9/18/2014 terrier3 said:

On 9/18/2014 RedTop said: I retired from a clerical position in a hospital administrative office; working for three Directors of Nursing within an 11 year span. I saw many nurses attitudes change over the years, and good nurses leave the profession, due to no longer being able to provide the patient care they chose this profession for, because of the charting documentation needed for the patients electronic medical records.

Electronic records are fantastic, IMO. Coordinating care is very important and saves a lot of time, money & unnecessary testing.

I think the main problem is that hospitals have been cutting down on staffing...especially nurses. They create more & more overpriced management jobs...and nurses are overworked.

Hospitals have been cutting back on RN's for years & years. Hence, most nurses have too large of a patient load to care for.

[Suziepeach]

They need to bring back RN's... when we go to Kaiser, we see those trained to take only vitals and then LPN's that think they know all about everything- not cutting the nursing profession but they are out there....

[ahoymate]

Hospital nursing is hard, hard work. Best left to the young. I don't know how old U R, but you might want to volunteer at a local hospital to see if this is a fit for your personality.

[lulu2]

There is a poster Just Bee who changed careers (within the last few years) and became a nurse. Sometimes you can catch her here or in the Beauty Forum.