Nurses - especially those who changed careers to become a nurse

It's something I have always entertained because I love helping people. With my current stay in the hospital, I admired the nurses so much with all their patience and kindness, and it got my wheels turning.

I have a BA in an unrelated degree. I know you can do that accelerated program to become a nurse in a year if you already have a BA, but I don't have the appropriate science courses, and I also don't have the required high GPA.

I would assume I would have to go to a community college and do some science courses and then look to be welcomed into a program.

Can anyone offer their experience or advice? or the job outlook? Or if they found this career or career change was worth it? Do you find it to be a career that is family-friendly? How do you maintain your current career while attending school? I would assume I would have to quit?

I have lots of questions and concerns obviously, so any insight you can offer would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Re: Nurses - especially those who changed careers to become a nurse

My background real quick: graduated with BA in Psychology, realized there's not too much to do with just a BA and trying to stay in the field, may as well have been liberal arts. My mom & sister are nurses, so I got the old "why don't you become a nurse" (which mom had been telling em for years).

The science pre-reqs are Anatomy & Physiology 1&2 and Microbilogy. Take Chemistry for a bachelors. I took all 4 and applied to Suffolk (got in!) and Stony Brook's 1 yr accelerated program for people with bachelors in something else (I don't know why I bothered - like 400 people apply, 35 get in and I heard they basically "own" you for 12 months!). Stony Brook also had a 2 year program - should have applied to that but whatever.

Suffolk and Nassau only have associates degrees, which are good, but right now there are a lot of nurses on LI and a lot of hospitals are trying to get MAGNET status (what is MAGNET? ) so they won't hire associates. Something to keep in mind.

Since that's the case, I recommend a bachelors program. Look into SB's accelerated one. Other colleges offering BSN: Molloy & Farmingdale.

Also, keep in mind nursing school is hard!!! I only took like 9 nursing credits a semester, but it felt like I was full time with 16 credits!

But alas, there is light at the end of the tunnel!!! I love my career so much! I can't explain how it feels to make such a difference in people's lives.

HTH and you can FM me if you have any questions!

Re: Nurses - especially those who changed careers to become a nurse

Well, I can agree that nursing school was very hard and the State Boards were even harder!! I graduated in 1971, with an RN Diploma in nursing, along with several college credits if I wanted to go on to get a degree. I was encouraged to go into nursing by my Mom, who glamorized it, by telling me stories about my Aunt, who graduated from the same nursing school, yrs. before, and she became a NAVY nurse. I liked hands on nursing, but found that after I graduated, and got my first nursing job, it seemed like all I did was the business end of nursing, writing endless nurses' notes, giving meds, and that was about it. RN's, seem to have more of an administrative focus these days, while the hands on patient care is delegated to LPN/NURSING ASSISTANTS. It might not be the case everywhere. Many of my nursing friends are still in the profession, and like it. I wish I would have gone to college to become an elementary school teacher, since I love children, and using creative ways to teach, which I did with my own children. Mary

PS The nursing education I received was helpful, as I raised our three children. My maternity nursing book, pediatrics book, and microbiology book got a good work out!!!!

Message edited 4/5/2011 4:13:49 PM.

Re: Nurses - especially those who changed careers to become a nurse

Re: Nurses - especially those who changed careers to become a nurse

I agree with other posters about the AS degree, most hospitals in NY are only hiring BSN. As far as the accellerated program goes, IMO, its not possible to do this while working full time. I went to Adelphi with a non-nursing AS degree and did the accelerated program which took 2 years including summers. It was a lot of work over 2 years, I would imagine that anyone doing all of those classes in 12 months would have to have no other real responsibilities.

As far as the prereqs go, you need 1 year of chem, one year of bio, one year of anatomy and physiology, and microbiology.

You could always take the prereqs at Nassau or Suffolk, no need to pay Adelphi or Molloy all the money for the same classes. Just an FYI, A+P fills up quickly so you need to be on top of that when registering for it.

Good luck!

Re: Nurses - especially those who changed careers to become a nurse

Re: Nurses - especially those who changed careers to become a nurse

Yes, in my first job, I was charge nurse. But, my Mom is presently in a nursing home, and the floor RN only does admin. duties, at the front desk. The RN is also the one who takes charge of the tri-monthly patient care meetings. I've never seen the RN doing any hands on patient care. Since it's been awhile, I'm not sure what PA. licensed LPN's are permitted to do these days, but it seems, upon my observance, that they do many of the duties that RN's use to do. Mary

Message edited 4/5/2011 7:52:55 PM.

Re: Nurses - especially those who changed careers to become a nurse

I am currently in the Suffolk nursing program (I graduate next month! ) I was in the same situation as you. I have a Bachelors in Psych but didn't pursue it so I had a great job, but wanted something else. I went to suffolk for the RN program and absolutely LOVE IT!!

The prereqs are A&P I and II, English 11 and Psych 100. The chem can be waived to get into Suffolk. The admission is SOLELY based on your GPA for those four classes...and if you transfer any of them in (I transfered psych and Eng) they don't count towards the GPA, so as long as you do well in the A&Ps, you should get in w/o a problem...

As for the job outlook, yes, most hospitals are looking for Bachelors degrees, but that doesn't mean that you WONT get hired. I would suggest that if you go to the suffolk problem, you get your foot in the door at a hospital if possible as a CNA (if you can afford it, the salary is not the greatest and I don't know what you do now...) I currently work in an NSLIJ hospital and their policy is that they will hire associate degree nurses, but you have to be enrolled for your bachelors within 24 months...

Lastly, Stony brook has a bridge program for those people that already have a non-nursing bachelors. Its a two year online program and you end up with your masters...then can do the clinical hours to get your NP. Personally, I couldn't afford the one year SB program as I was told that there was NO WAY you can work and do the program...

If you have any questions about the suffolk program, feel free to FM me!!

GOOD LUCK!