30 Apr 4 Factors to Consider Before Retraining as a Nurse

There are many reasons why people might decide to change their careers. If you have been working in the same position for some time and it’s not as exciting or as rewarding as you hoped it would be, you could be thinking about doing something different. If you want to work in a career where you can make a real difference to the lives of others and enjoy a rewarding work experience every day, nursing could be the ideal option for you. Nursing is a highly satisfying career option with a high demand due to the nursing shortage in the US. Here are some of the key things to consider before you switch your career to nursing.

Training as a Nurse

As a specialized healthcare position where you will be responsible for the health and wellbeing of patients, nurses are required to hold a degree and a license before they can begin work. To qualify as a registered nurse, you will need to obtain a BSN degree, which typically takes around four years when studying full-time. However, if you already have a bachelor’s degree in another subject, there is an option that will allow you to become a nurse in half the time; accelerated nursing programs are designed for those who already have a bachelor’s degree and want a quick career change into nursing. The top accelerated nursing programs can be found via this link.

Studying Online or On-Campus?

If you want to change your career to nursing, you might need to consider how you are going to retrain as a nurse while still being able to continue working in your current career and earn the money that you need to live. Career changers are not often in the position to quit their job for two to four years while retraining, so online degrees are often the perfect option. Rather than having set lectures and classes to attend on-campus, an online degree will allow you to be in control of when and where you study. You can study from home and learn using pre-recorded lectures and learning materials that will be made available for you to access at times that are convenient to you.

Getting Relevant Experience

In some cases, it might be necessary for you to get some relevant experience before you will be able to start training as a nurse, particularly if your previous career is not relevant to healthcare in any way. While you will not be able to gain hands-on experience with nursing until you’re enrolled as a nursing student, there are several things that you can do to increase your relevant experience including volunteering in nursing homes, with vulnerable people, or in other social and caregiving settings.

Building Your Skills

Finally, consider the skills that you are going to need while working as a nurse and work on improving them. Communication, empathy, organization, time management, and critical thinking are just some of the biggest skills and qualities that are required of nurses. Spend some time getting to know your own strengths and weaknesses, building on the skills that you already possess, and developing new ones.

If you want to work in a meaningful career where you can make a real difference, nursing could be the ideal career change for you.

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Last Updated on April 30, 2021 by Marie Benz MD FAAD