ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2006 > November > 01 > Entry
Could nursing be your calling?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In my job, I constantly hear from people who want to change careers, sometimes for the right reasons, other times for all the wrong reasons. Whatever the final straw may be that brings you to the decision to change careers, you might want to look at nursing as a possibility. And DON’T quit reading if you’re a man!
While nursing has traditionally been a female-dominated career, men have real opportunities in nursing and often find it to be a really satisfying job. If and when they just are “man enough” to give nursing a try.
Whether male or female, here are some of the great things about nursing to consider:
As a nurse, you can really make a difference in someone’s life. You can even save a life. You see people at their best and at the lowest points in their lives and you’re there to make a difference. As a nurse, you can attain a real feeling of satisfaction of a job well-done when you do make a difference.
Job opportunities are everywhere - check out the job listings on ajcjobs! Nursing is one of the top jobs around in terms of available positions, salaries and other intangibles that go along with working in a helping profession. People will actually pay you to go to school if you promise you’ll work for them after graduation.
The potential for career growth and further development is unlimited. With a degree in nursing you are in high demand. You can change jobs when the old one gets stale. You can travel to other parts of the world and have someone else pay - and you can work while you enjoy the scenery and culture. When you’re ready, graduate degrees are available to increase your skills and your reimbursement as well. Unlike other fields, the skills of one nursing job often transfer very easily to another.
Nursing has very flexible options for students who want to enter the field after another career. Accelerated programs allow people with degrees in other fields. Accelerated programs for people with degrees in other fields to graduate from nursing school and be ready to become licensed as a registered nurse. All this happens in as little as 12 to 16 months.
Now for the downside:
Even with a nursing shortage, it’s really hard to get into nursing school. Nursing programs may turn away as many as 10 students for every one they accept. Nursing education is closely regulated and it costs universities more to produce nurses than marketing majors so student numbers are limited. Faculty shortages and limited numbers of clinical facilities (such as hospitals and clinics) cut down on the numbers of students Schools of Nursing can accept.
Nursing is a hard job, physically and emotionally difficult at times. Shortages in hospitals make the job market good for nurses but the nurses who are out there are working really hard to cover for unfilled positions.
You have to take some really difficult courses such as chemistry, anatomy and physiology and microbiology to become a nurse.
Not really downsides, just challenges right? If you’re up for a challenge, think of nursing when you’ve reached your breaking point in the business world. It might be the best step you’ve ever taken.
Comments
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By arlene
November 2, 2006 8:49 AM | Link to this
Thanks very much I really was glad to read this, because I am at a cross road in my life and was really thinking of going into nursing
By RJ
November 7, 2006 3:36 PM | Link to this
I was laid off from my dream job over 3 years ago, and hopped from one unfulfilling job to another. I have a Bachelor’s degree and decided to apply to one of the accelerated programs. I am currently finishing up the science prerequisites in order to apply to nursing school. If you are at a crossroads, and really feel that it is right for you, GO FOR IT!