Whether you are a college student or a professional in a different sector, if you are looking for a career change, nursing is a good option! How are we going to justify this statement? Firstly, the nursing career will be very rewarding. Secondly, in the United States, there is a shortage of nurses and hence, it’s a great time to become one. By 2024, projected job openings for registered nurses will be 3,190,300. That is a large number of positions that will need to be filled.

Is the career right for you?

Whenever you are thinking to move from one career to another, you need to take the time to evaluate whether the field you choose is suitable for you. After some time of research, you could decide whether you are really passionate about the field and can sustain in it. The preliminary research will let you learn about the differences between registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse practitioners.

Also, we would advise you not to stop with just research. Take a step further and join a healthcare organization as a nursing assistant, a nurse technician, or a volunteer. This step will give you a glimpse of what your career change to nursing will be like. Moreover, meeting the nursing professionals in your workplace will yield helpful suggestions, as well as insights into your job prospects. After doing all these, make a firm decision whether you are ready to immerse yourself in the field of nursing or not.

Finding the right nursing school

So, you are ready to change your career to nursing. Now, remember that the commitments of time, as well as money, are important. While looking for the right nursing school for you, first verify whether you are meeting the credit requirements, as well as other prerequisites to join the nursing school. When it comes to nursing schools programs for becoming a registered nurse, the prerequisites will be more or less similar for all the schools. Typically, you must hold a C average (or higher) in basic college courses like:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• English
• Math
• Psychology
• Chemistry

However, a few schools would require a little extra – like a course in biology with practical lab experience. Some courses would even ask for a math course as a prerequisite.

For everyone who is looking for a career change in the later part of life, note that most of the programs would recognize the coursework that was done during the last 10 years only. But, if you have robust academic experience, then you might fulfill most prerequisites without having to take any additional courses.

Earning a nursing degree faster

As you are changing from one career to another, you might be wondering whether there are ways to earn the nursing degree faster. The answer to this question is “yes”. Nowadays, several schools are offering the following programs that are specifically designed for students with bachelor’s degrees:

• Second Degree BSN
• Accelerated BSN
• Direct Entry MSN

Courses like these would allow you to complete your nursing degree in an accelerated phase. Thereby, you could begin nursing as a second career within just one or two years of starting your nursing education. Also remember, in nursing, you will always have the opportunity to work while doing your nursing degree.

Several schools are now offering part-time nursing courses, which are designed to accommodate the working schedules of employed students. So, those who are leaving their profession and entering into nursing wouldn’t have to worry about the income halt. You can still continue earning while preparing for your career change. The nursing field is one of the few fields that has the feasibilities like these to accommodate everyone.

Preparing for the nursing entrance exam

The entrance examination is an integral part of the nursing school admission process. We have found that several nursing schools are asking you to pass the “Test of Essential Academic Skills” or the “National League for Nursing” to have you enrolled in the nursing program. If you have worked for some years in any profession, you likely would have lost the practice of taking standardized tests. Preparing for your entrance examination after been out of them for some years would demand re-inventing effective study procedures. You will at least need a month of studying in the library or going through your review books before taking your entrance examination.

Physical demands in nursing

There is a difference between working in a hospital or nursing home and working in an out-patient clinic, school or government organization. The job in a hospital or nursing home will be very demanding and will include the following physical/mental stresses:

• Shift works
• On-call works
• Working on weekends and/or holidays
• Being on feet for longer
• Moving patients
• Handling critically ill patients
• Emergency situations

Consider all the aforementioned points before making a career change to nursing. But, once you are into it, you will have more job satisfaction as you are going to serve people.