Nursing is in great need of fresh blood right now, and if you want to transition into a nursing career, you’re doing the profession a great service. Nursing is an exhilarating field where you’ll get to make a real difference in the people you serve and your community. However, it’s not the easiest field to get into and it’s not for everyone. You have to be ready to go through nursing school and get all the certifications needed. The good news is that you could use your current credentials to accelerate the process even if they’re from a non-nursing-related field. Let’s take a look at how you can transition into a second career in nursing.
Do Your Research
The first thing you have to do is know what you’re signing up for. You have to know what the reality of being a nurse is and what the average day of a nurse is like. Start by joining nursing forums and discussion groups and ask other nurses what they like and don’t like about the job. Ask them if there’s something that surprised them about the job that they wished they knew before they started.
You could also go a step further and book an interview with a nurse. All you have to do is set up a LinkedIn account and look for nurses in your area. Once you find a few nurses, send them a message telling them that you are interested in becoming a nurse and would like to learn from them.
Some people will answer, and some won’t, but if you build a rapport with a nurse, don’t rush them into an interview. Ask them a few questions and once you feel comfortable with them, ask if you can book them for a Zoom session. If you manage to get a session, make sure that you have a clear set of questions that you’re going to ask them. Ask them how hard the job is, what made them choose the profession, what their role is like, etc. After that, you should have a good idea of whether you have what it takes to do the job and what it is really like to work as a nurse.
Look at Career Paths
Next, you have to look at the different career paths in front of you. If you want to get started as soon as possible, you could become what is called a licensed practical nurse. This is usually a one-year formation, but your role will be very limited. Another option would be to get a three-year associate degree and become a registered nurse. Or you could enroll on a four-year program and get your bachelor’s.
Look at your current life circumstances before you embark on your path. If you already have a job, then you have to check how you’ll be able to fit your studies around your work schedule. You might have to start working part-time and dedicate yourself to your studies 100%, study part-time and wait longer, or work and study full-time.
Look at your whole career arc as well. Someone who would like to earn a master’s degree later might want to privilege a bachelor’s degree, for instance. Or maybe you could start with an LPN so you can test the waters and see where your career takes you. The most important thing is knowing what you expect and what will be required of you.
Speak with an Advisor
If you’re currently studying but you want to switch paths, we suggest that you consult an advisor at your school. They are the best equipped to tell you what the prerequisites are to make the switch and what courses you’ll need to take. Also, check with your school’s nursing department if there is one so you can attend informational sessions.
Look for Accelerated Programs
Another thing you should look at are accelerated programs. These programs will allow you to use previously earned credits to fast track your way to a nursing degree. If you want an example of an accelerated non-nursing degree to BSN online, check out Baylor University.
Going with an online accelerated degree might be the best way for you to get your credentials. This will make getting your degree while working much easier. Working and studying full-time might be a tall order if you have to take yourself to class, but it could be possible if you can take courses from the comfort of your home.
And, if you think that online nursing degrees are less respected or of lesser quality, think again. As long as the program is licensed by a reputable accrediting agency like the AECN or the CCNE and it is respected by the industry, you will have no issues.
First of all, an employer has no way of knowing if you got your degree online or offline unless you got it from a school that only offers online degrees. Second, it’s the prestige of the school and of its nursing program that will do most of the talking. So, you should worry about getting your degree from a good school more than anything else.
Shadow Nurses
Shadowing a nurse is the best way for you to know if you’re really cut out to be a nurse. The opportunities to do some shadow work right now might be limited, but you might still be able to find shadow work openings in smaller institutions. This is also where having relationships with nurses will help. They might offer you to shadow them and it will be easier for you to get through the door if you’re with someone who knows you. From then on, you’ll get a real sense of what their duties are and some of the challenges they have to face.
This is all you need to know if you want to make a transition to nursing from a non-nursing field. Be prepared for the road ahead and ask as many questions as you can from students and people in the field so that you know exactly what the job and coursework are like.
