I'm thinking of completely changing my career path

[bearded_cat]

I am tired of the work I do now, though am adequately compensated for it. I am seriously thinking of, beginning in the Spring semester, taking courses that will lead to a nursing degree. I understand it is hard work, and underappreciated (not to mention underpaid), but I am interested in doing something on a daily basis that I can feel good about. I already have two bachelors, and am basically bored with my work.

Any thoughts on this?

[patdem]

1. With a name like 'bearded_cat'...maybe a vet?

The only human suffering you will see would be a result of love and caring for a member of the family as opposed to seeing all the horrible things humans do to other humans? Just a thought? :bounce:

[bearded_cat]

2. I thought about that too!

I love animals. It is something to think about. I am leaving my options open, but just feel it's time for another change. On weekends, I tend to hole up like a mouse, because I want to recharge for the next week. I hope I'm not going through some mid-life crisis that will cause me to make decisions that will leave me broke and feeling a mite stupid.

[demnan]

3. What do you do now?

Here's what you need to address. You want to move to another area, you're going to have to go to school and work at the same time. The question is not should you go into another career that you really desire (if you really desire it!) but how do you reach that goal? Is there a transitional career that you could pursue while taking your college classes (for instance, I wanted to be a database developer, so I took classes and worked as a Help Desk person for a few years)

another example (if you wanted to be a certified nurse, you could go to school while doing medical technician work, or nursing or nurses aid.

The cool thing is, if you do this, you already have half a foot in the door. If people like and know you, you can then go forth to your career choice pretty easily because the people you work for can open doors for you.

[bearded_cat]

4. I got a degree in Psychology when I was young and idealistic

a degree in accounting (finance) when I got a little older and wanted to make money. I never did use it - a waste of time for me. I have spent the past few years as intake specialist for a mental hospital. Took the job because I didn't know what else to do at the time. I'm tired of hearing the same old complaints and seeing the same old circumstances - particularly in this cut-back services economy. Maybe experiencing burnout. I want to deal with immediate needs and see those results truly making a difference. I know it sounds somewhat selfish, but repairing physical hurts would be a lot more satisfying to me now than trying to see that people have their psychological hurts remedied.
Thanks for the response - good advice.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. Consider taking your experience into the field...

Either ICMS or Level C support. You can do a lot of good out there, with your experience, and the work is interesting.

[Droopy]

5. I'm sort of in the same boat

I don't have two bachelor's degrees, though. I've got two years of school and I'll be going back this fall to finish up my degree. I'll also be continuing on to graduate school. I've been out of school for eight years working as a trucker. Pay's okay, job's boring as hell. There's no fulfillment to it.

Have you considered going on to graduate school? With two bachelor's degrees, there ought to be many fields you can go into. Law and psychology are two I can think of right now. You could also go and expand on a field you are already familiar with, but I don't think you'll want to be doing that right now considering your current feelings about that.

[bearded_cat]

6. Good luck with your chosen path!

I have worked some tough jobs over the years, and there aren't too many jobs more tiring and physically debilitating than trucker.

[ant]

8. look into nursing

First off, there's a big shortage on nurses right now and that's affecting things like bonuses and benefits - just something to consider.

A friend of mine is attending nursing school. I'm not clear on her specifics, but she already had her B.A. (in math, maybe with a bio minor), and when she's done she'll have her masters. However, she's already working at a hospital in NYC, and they're helping her pay for school. I also know she makes at least 50k a year. (Again, though, this is NYC.)

Anyway, I suspect the salary will be different depending on where you are and what your education level is - I'm not clear on the different types of nurses, whether certification also means college or just an associate's degree, etc., but my point is that while nurses CAN BE underpaid, they can also be paid very well. You should definitely do some research and figure out how to maximize your earning potential in this field. I also suspect that, because of the shortage, you'll have the upper hand in terms of where you work.

[bearded_cat]

9. The ever increasing shortage

is one reason I was looking into it. Selfish reason: more money and benefits. Idealistic reason: There are more and more people every day that need help due to our aging population. Seems like something I could do, have a reasonable expectation of a job wherever I wanted it, and could enjoy doing it enough to stick with it until I need a home-care nurse!

I like the idea posted earlier about vet school, though. It just seems a harder road to travel to get there, and I'm not sure I would be motivated enough to complete it.

Damn - A lot of "I" this and "I" that. Thanks everyone for being tolerant!

[liberalnurse]

13. Yes, nursing can pay very well....

depending on the educational level and experience. Masters pays best....

Some nursing schools are working with students with a non-nursing BA in a bridge program for BSN-MSN. Wright State University is doing that right now. ( WSU is in Dayton, Ohio).

[Ilsa]

10. Do some serious volunteer work at a hospital first.

that might help you decide if it is the right thing for you. See of the nurses get together after their shifts and talk about work, and listen carefully. When you do the volunteer work, ask for the nastiest, shittiest jobs they can hand over to you. And don't be afraid to go sit with a patient who is terribly sad or bereaved. You need to know where your boundaries are and how well you can handle it without burning out.

Nursing can be rewarding, but not everyone gets to do what they really like in the field. There is usually alot of job security, and it also requires a lifetime of continuous learning, which I happen to enjoy as a nurse. Pay depends on the type of nursing you do...

I was a banker and I worked as a volunteer for four years, spending anywhere from three to 12 hours a shift once a week in a major hospital. Later I went back to school to get my nursing degree. I'm now an RN.

[bearded_cat]

12. Thank you for your time

on this - very good advice. I will do the volunteer work.

thanks again

[liberalnurse]

11. Nursing is wide open for a variety of service areas.

You can teach, do clinic, legal-nurse consulting....etc anywhere in the world......

If you get your Master/ Nurse Practitioner..... you can be independently sailing... I'm working on mine in Family Practice-Community Health.


Excellent career option.

[bearded_cat]

14. Do you feel you get treated with respect?

I would feel a tremendous amount of self-respect, but don't really know if the day to day job would end up making me feel, I don't know, not respected. I don't need a lot, but don't want to spend my days being treated like nothing. That's a worry about this.

Thanks for the energizing post!

[liberalnurse]

15. No, I've never felt anything like that....

as long as I'm in a primary medical enviroment. There are non-traditional area's that the primary staff members are not nurses. Example; state workers comensation, lab's....some jails. The non-medical folks just don't understand.....

You can never get bored in nursing because there are so many area's of practice.......a gazillion! You can just quit and get 2 new jobs a day if you want....

Nursing if full of variety. I've worked pediatrics; med-surg; coronary and critical care; drug and alcohol abuse; correctional/prison nursing and local jails; workers compensation/case management; psychiatric, MRDD, long term care; occupational medicine and teaching......

[tedoll78]

16. Hi bearded!

I'm starting a program for Diagnostic Medical Imaging on Monday. Basically learning how to take x-rays, evaluate their quality, care for patients, etc. A two-year program for an associate's degree. The chance to make a difference in peoples' lives, job security, better (and increasing) pay.. I'm convinced that this program will be of more value to me than the B.A. I spend four years to get. So.. my situation is similar to yours, I guess. If you find that you like nursing work, it'd be a great move.

Pretty much anything in the healthcare industry is really nice right now. Admissions into programs is getting much more competative though, due to increased salaries and the tough economy. Best of luck to you!

[bearded_cat]

17. I think you're on the right track

and I am going to head that direction - the Gods willing. If Zeus throws a lightning bolt in my way, I'll just take it as a sign I'm on the right path.

Good Luck to you!