Having a second career is perfectly acceptable and is quite normal; perhaps you fell into your current career after graduating from University without much thought or perhaps you are looking for a complete change having tired of the one you chose. Whatever your background and whatever your degree, you can study and get into the field of nursing a lot sooner than you think.
If you have always wanted to get into nursing but are not sure about whether you are suited to the career or whether you would be useful, read on for more information.
Why Nursing
So, why are you going for a career in nursing? If you see yourself as a caring and thoughtful person who enjoys looking after others, then you have probably thought about getting into nursing before. Looking after people, providing high quality personal care and putting their best interests first is what being a nurse is all about. Ensuring that patients receive the best care possible is just part of the role of being a nurse and is something that will be woven into every day of your new career.
Your Background
What was your first career and how enjoyable was it? Do you have previous care experience, or have you come into nursing from a corporate background? No matter what your previous career or background you will find that there are lots of transferrable skills that you can use. For example, if you have experience dealing with customers then this could help improve your bedside manner. Your personal and work background has created and shaped you into the person that you are today, and into the nurse you will be soon, so do not underestimate the importance of your previous career or work history.
What Can You Bring To The Role
Are you a prompt, efficient and timely person? Do you love meeting new people, or do you want to care for people within the local community? Do you bring empathy, a listening ear or knowledge from previous jobs? With your experience and background, you can bring more to the role than you know. Knowing what you can and will bring to a nursing role will provide you with a purpose. When you have a purpose in place your ambitions and dreams will be easier to achieve, and they will be more rewarding too.
The Increasing Demand For Nurses
Nurses are needed now more than ever and with new trends in nursing, flexibility and adaptability are a must. The existing nursing population is aging and unless new nurses are in place sooner rather than later, there will be shortages and gaps in the market in just a few years. With the population leading healthier lifestyles age and life expectancy has grown and this has also put new strains and stresses on existing nurses. With the increase for nurses likely to continue for the foreseeable future, now is a good time to get into nursing and to realize those dreams you have hidden within.
Returning To Studying
Choosing one of the BSN accelerated programs to study online will allow you to study to be a nurse in as little as two years. When you return to studying, even after a short break, it can be hard to return to that mindset. Studying at a physical campus can be difficult to adapt to, whereas studying online can be very beneficial to you and your lifestyle as it gives you flexibility, saves you commuting time, and allows you to have the social feel and aspect without leaving your home.
Balancing Study, Work And Life Commitments
When returning to studying it can be difficult to find a balance and a happy medium between all your commitments. Splitting your time, energy and efforts may be difficult at first but after a few weeks you should have the balance down to a fine art. When you study for an accelerated degree, it is easier to see that any compromises you may have to make will not last in the long term, simply because you will have earned you degree in no more than 2 years. To make the transition to studying as pain free you must use help from family and friends where you can.
Your Future Options And Choices
Once you have earned your nursing degree there will be new doors and opportunities opening all around you all you must do is decide what you want to do next. So, where do you see yourself in the next 2 years? Or 5 years? Do you want to be head nurse in charge of others, do you want to dedicate your service to the elderly, or would you prefer to work in a fast-paced emergency ward? Of course, you can change your mind later down the line, but if you have a good idea about what you want to do and where you want to be, then this would help guide you through studying and balancing everything you need to balance.
Support, Advice And Guidance
Choosing a nursing career is not always the easiest thing to do. Within nursing you may face high levels of stress, upsetting situations and even times when decisions about life and death are made right in front of your eyes. Of course, with the rough comes the smooth and the emotional and physical rewards you get will far surpass any feelings or emotions you have felt before.
The next step
Once you have gained your qualification in nursing then it is now time to land that job. Getting the right nursing job is all about finding the opportunities that are right for you. For example, do you want to work within a hospital, or do you want to work with the elderly, perhaps in private nursing homes. Taking the next step is all about getting what you want and what you deserve. Nursing roles are all different in one way or another, whether this be through the type of patients you look after or the hours you work and the place of work. However, all nursing jobs and careers have one thing in common, and that is care.
