10 Reasons Why Nursing is a Great Second Career

If you have been stuck in your job for a long time, then you may be thinking of how to escape.  Unfortunately, winning the lottery is quite unlikely but retraining for a second career is less difficult and nursing is a great career choice. Here are 10 reasons why this is so.

It Requires Maturity

Nursing is a job that requires you to keep a level head and stay calm in a crisis. Life experience is a useful attribute for a nursing career, and you are likely to be more mature if you have been working for a few years, know how the industry runs and how to get along with your work colleagues.  Maturity is a trait that is welcomed within the nursing industry, and this means that your maturity will be a help to you rather than a hindrance. 

Transferable Skills

You are likely to have transferable skills if you have worked in your industry for a while.  For example, you may know how to multi-task, treat people professionally, and have empathy. These skills are all transferable to your nursing career.  Other skills such as the science involved in nursing are things that anyone entering the industry will need to learn from scratch. There are very few jobs that will give you the skills you need for this part of the job which means that everyone is going to be starting from the beginning and learning new skills. This won’t hold you back, especially if you have other transferrable skills. 

You Can Train Around Your Current Commitments

One of the great things about qualifying as a nurse is that you can do a lot of the studying around your existing commitments. Studying for an accelerated BSN online from Baylor University means that you can study in your own time, for example, in the evenings and at weekends, meaning that you can get the qualification without having to quit your day job right away so you can keep an income coming in as you train for a new career.

You May Qualify for Grants or Scholarships

Returning to studying can be expensive but there are some grants and scholarships available depending on what you want to learn. As nurses are in such high demand, it may be possible for you to qualify for funding which may mean that you don’t have to pay for the entire qualification yourself.  It is certainly worth looking online to see what options may be open to you. 

You Will Find Employment Quickly

Good nurses are in high demand. This means that once you have qualified you will be able to find work quickly. You will not have to spend months out of work or looking for a job that is related to the field you are interested in as many graduates find themselves doing. You will be straight into an exciting and challenging career.

Flexibility

If you are looking for a job with a lot of flexibility, then nursing will suit you well. Many people find that having flexible options such as the ability to work evenings and weekends or the chance to work part-time hours suits them very well. Night shifts may be daunting at first, but they give you a lot more time as you will be able to get more done in the daytime when places like grocery stores and banks are less busy. You may find that you have a lot more time off during the day if you are working a variety of shifts. Having days off in the week and working at weekends means that you don’t feel as rushed to get everything done at the weekend. You can enjoy some unhurried time to yourself. 

Variety of Work

The great thing about nursing is that no two days are the same. You will have a variety of different patients to treat, and they will help to keep your job interesting. This could be a breath of fresh air for you if you are feeling stuck in a rut with your current career. You will be able to get involved in lots of different aspects of nursing from pediatrics to geriatrics and everything in between.

Career Advancement

Once you have been working as a nurse for a while, you will have great promotion prospects. If you have worked in a leadership or supervisory role before this would have given you some fantastic experience at managing other people. You can climb the career ladder to a senior or management position or you can specialize in an area of nursing that particularly interests you. You could even do both during your career. The opportunities are wide open for you, and you may find this a welcome relief if you have been trying to gain advancement in your current job for a while. 

Respect

If you are considering a second career because you are feeling undervalued in your job, then nursing could be a good choice for you.  A nurse has the most contact with their patient than any other medical professional so they can spot any signs of relapse or recovery quickly. They can give vital information to doctors and consultants and gain a lot of respect from their colleagues because of their knowledge.  

Making a Difference

If you want a job where you can make a real difference in the lives of others, then this is a fantastic career path to choose. You will be saving lives and making people feel better every day and the sense of job satisfaction you will get from this is enormous. 

Nursing is one of the best careers you can have, and it makes perfect sense to get some life and work experience before taking it up. It makes a fabulous second career and you are never likely to regret having those skills. You will also be making a huge difference in the world, and a huge difference to yourself. Is nursing the right second career for you?