Career change can be a difficult task for many people. For those looking to change careers, going back to school to earn a degree for a new path can be especially difficult. Many individuals are looking for work in the nursing field today. This is partly because of the meaningful work it can provide and its stability. However, someone with a degree in another field may not want to go back to school for 2-3 years for a degree that will allow them to practice as a nurse.
However, depending on the prior work completed by the individual considering a career change to work in the health care system as a nurse, they may not have to start from the beginning to complete all required health care education.
Building on Your Previous Education
You can apply prior learning to your nursing education. The number of credits you can apply from before entry varies greatly from program to program. Some programs can accept up to 90-100 credits of prior learning and apply them to a student’s degree. In some cases, this means that instead of spending four years in school to earn a bachelor’s degree, a student can complete their degree in as little as 12-18 months.
Consider all of your work and academic skills and apply them to the healthcare field. Many skills apply to the work of nurses and other health care professionals. Skills in communication, organization, problem-solving, teamwork, and staying calm under stress are all very important in health care. Business professionals, teachers, and customer service professionals can all find work in health care.
These skills, whether in work or academic study, can translate to nursing because they involve organization, communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and stress management. In particular, skills relevant to entering a nursing career include prioritizing, managing multiple tasks at once, communicating with a variety of people, and remaining calm in stressful situations.
By taking a closer look at your current or previous career(s), you can establish a connection between your past work and your future nursing career. As mentioned earlier, many skills such as communication, organization, problem-solving, teamwork, and patience are required in many different careers, including in the health care field. Therefore, looking at your past work will help you see how your current skills apply to a nursing career.
Understand What You Still Need Before Applying
Identify Your Academic Gaps. Next, you will want to identify any academic gaps you may have and research how you can complete any missing courses before you start your nursing education.
Every Accelerated BSN program has its own admission requirements, so prerequisite courses can vary from one nursing school to another. A class that satisfies a requirement at one university may not necessarily be accepted by another, even when both schools offer accelerated nursing pathways.
For that reason, prospective students should review the ABSN prerequisite courses for each program they are considering and compare them with the coursework they have already completed. Looking at these requirements early can make it easier to identify missing classes, understand whether previous credits may apply, and avoid surprises later in the application process.
When comparing nursing schools, it is also important to look beyond course names alone. Some programs may have minimum grade requirements, laboratory requirements, or limits on how long ago certain science courses were completed. Checking these details individually gives applicants a clearer picture of what they still need to complete before applying.
Understanding ABSN program requirements before applying is critical to setting a realistic application timeline.
Choose the Right Educational Route
Route 1: Traditional Nursing Programs. For students without much prior college work, these are typical entry points to becoming a registered nurse. However, for individuals with a prior bachelor’s degree, these can feel like a step backward.
Someone with a bachelor’s degree can look into an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Since general education classes are already complete, these programs can be completed in less time and recognize prior learning.
One of the most important things to consider when looking into ABSN programs is the time and effort required to complete the program. As was mentioned before, an intensive BSN program is not easy and can be very demanding. Not only will you have to deal with a lot of schoolwork, but you will also have to complete clinical hours. These clinical hours can be time-consuming and make it hard to keep up with your other responsibilities. Therefore, before you apply to an ABSN program, it would be a good idea to sit down and think about how you will be able to complete the program while still fulfilling all of your other responsibilities.
Review the program length and the clinical hours required. Consider the program location and schedule. If the program is out of town for any portion, factor in housing and travel costs to and from clinicals.
Additionally, review the admission requirements of the programs you are considering for the best route for your needs to receive your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and become a licensed RN after graduation. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is a great place to start to learn more about each state’s specific requirements and review information about the NCLEX exams required for RN licensure after graduating from a nursing program.
Plan for the Financial Side of the Transition
It is very important to consider the financial aspect of making a career change. The cost of a program to complete the academic requirements for a new career is important to consider. In addition, equipment, uniforms, and other career requirements are also important to consider.
In addition to tuition, students typically pay for textbooks, scrubs and nursing shoes, clinical supplies, nursing equipment, background checks, etc. Some programs require students to travel to clinical sites, which can add to the overall cost. An intensive program typically does not allow time for a full-time job.
These include nursing school costs and the possibility of having to return to work to pay for school, which means finding a way to attend school while working.
It’s also a good idea to save up some money before enrolling in a nursing program. You can use this to cover the costs of tuition, as well as any other expenses that may arise during your time at school. As mentioned earlier, these expenses can be quite high, so having money saved in advance can help a lot. This means you can focus on your studies without worrying about how you’ll cover the costs of your new nursing career.
This planning isn’t exciting reading, but it can make a huge difference in how manageable the transition is.
Prepare for a Different Kind of Work
Nursing is not reading books and attending classes. It can be demanding and often requires long hours. However, nurses can work in many settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, research institutions, and community organizations.
It is wise to seek information from people who are currently practicing as nurses in health care settings and from current nursing students. Ask for their insights into the good and bad of the health care system and of the profession of nursing, and get their views on the best and worst nursing schools. Get their views on the good and the bad of being a nurse and get their views on the best ways to become a nurse. Get a realistic view of what it is like to be a nurse.
Nursing has many areas of specialization; for example, someone who wants a fast-paced environment may be suited to emergency nursing, while someone who wants to work with children could look at pediatric nursing, community health nursing, or even outpatient nursing.
Knowing the differences of the various types of work in the nursing profession will help you to decide whether or not nursing is the right career for you and not whether or not nursing school sounds like a good idea.
Build a Transition Plan Instead of Starting Over
Even though you are starting over for a nursing career, your previous education and work will matter. The smartest approach is to use this in your transition to a nursing career.
Go back to your transcript and list out the missing prerequisite courses for nursing. Research different nursing programs and compare them. Look at the costs for each program and read about the experiences of nurses working in different health care settings.
Remember, though, that changing careers to become a nurse requires a lot of hard work, but don’t throw away the knowledge, skills, and experience you gained through your previous education and work.
