New Career Idea's Needed *Updated Page 2 Post #16

[Boyd]

Some of you may know my history a little bit and know why I am semi retired stay at home dad. Well, I want to go back into the workforce again especially with a new baby on the way!!! Problem is, I can't do my old line of work, my body won't keep up.. the Mind is willing, my body not so much... so.... I've got a degree in IT/IS and am halfway to my associates in Health Sciences but I'm stalled there. I am debating going back into the IT field full time or ditching that, getting student loans and finishing up my nursing degree. Anybody ever done a 180 degree change in career before? The thought of it is sort of scary.

 

[19Dawn76]

Going to nursing school was one of the best things I ever did. i am a stay at home mom now but if i needed to I could easily get a job that would support us. After you re done with school there is a feeding frenzy of people offering to hire you and some of those offers include paying off your student loans.

 

[AK Michelle]

Boyd I've done a couple of 180's. If you are flexible and willing to change it's not that hard. You need to be happy with your job, you are going to spend the majority of your time there. So what do you enjoy more? working on computers or working with people? You're a smart man, you'll do fine whichever way you decide to go.

Whether you think you can or you think you can't, either way, you're right!

 

[babylady4]

Boyd, I have a degree in Human Bio; can't find a decent full time job so I am doing the same thing. Going back to school to get a degree in Nursing. Is it what I want to do? No, not really but at least there are jobs available and it is something that will hold my interest.

So how will you hold up as a Nurse? That can be physically demanding.

 

[Goose and Fig]

I started out in nursing, but kept getting blocked out of the classes I needed. I'm glad- because I spent few years working in nursing homes. Even though I immediated showered as soon as I got home, my young son and I were always sick.
Guess I did a 180- going from teaching geology to making furniture, but I'm going back into the science field when the little one starts kindergarden. Going back to school is NEVER a bad idea! Just make sure it's something you'll be happy with.

 

[ams3651]

Im not so familiar with what you do now but I know a guy where I live who went from an IT job to repairing computers in peoples houses. He does very well. The other thing is business like Avon and Princess House do very well for men. My princess house rep told me that men do quite well, after my now ex booked a party off me and sold hundreds of dollars in products. Good Luck with what every you decide to do.

 

[CMV]

Nursing is a tough field. I was a nurse for many years, but stopped working when my daughter was born. I no longer wanted to work days, nights, weekends and holidays. It didn't seem worth it once I had a reason to be home. The good jobs with the best hours are highly sought after so competition is great for those jobs. There is a great need for nurses and jobs are always available, but the hours are long, the pay is decent (but not great), it's taxing both physically and mentally/emotionally, and there is very little appreciation. I am getting ready to go back into the workforce, but it will not be in nursing. I just can't go back to that field- too much stress.

My husband is in IT and loves it. He works from home and makes a very good living. His field allows for a lot of flexibility. His work is constantly changing and evolving so is constantly challenging and interesting to him. He travels a bit for work, but not excessively, and the remainder of the time he is home. It's worked out very well for us and our family.


Sometimes a radical change is just what you need. With a new baby on the way I'd think long and hard before going into nursing, though. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I'm not sure of your physical limitations, but what about going to school to be a paramedic? They get benefits and fairly decent salaries. Crazy hours, but if you like that stuff, then it is worth it. Its not really all that physically demanding either, at least in my area, because the EMTs do all the dirty work (Lifting, moving, cleaning, etc.)

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

I work for Kish Health System in DeKalb, IL. We have 6 IS RN's. That is a field which will grow, because most facilities will be forced by law to comply with EMR. These techies must have their RN so they can - and do - keep us floor RN's functioning all through the day and night. Would you want to talk with one of them just to see what its like?

You seem perfectly poised toward certain employment in the next 5 years!

I've known many men in nursing who only use their RN to gain venture capital to pursue what their heart truly desires. I knew a few rock band drummers and bass players who'd work agency just to keep their band on the road. One was a pilot of a small fleet of planes. Many dads work the weekend night shifts "well, I'm a single dad so I don't really sleep anyways...." might as well get the premium pay for staying up all night! Right now, my clinical coordinator told me we had 600 applicants since October. There are hospitals closing units everywhere right now, but it's been like that FOREVER; no jobs then lots of jobs, it comes and goes. With the changes taking place in health care reform, its impossible to say where it will end up.

But it sounds like you're already on track to be a valuable employee. I'd advise stick with it, so you'll be gainfully employed and be ABLE to pursue whatever you wish!

 

[Boyd]

I found myself in warehousing pretty much after high school. Even though I had the computer business and degree it wasn't my full time j o b .. it was my hobby. I had some problems last october that have left me weaker than I was, and unable to sling 80lb boxes every four seconds. I know that sounds like a lot but its kept me in shape over the years and it paid very very well. It is a job that most people wash out of very quickly but more than enough to raise a family on.

Since last october I've been working to get myself back into shape.. Well I'll never be in the shape I was over a year ago, but its good to dream right?

So IT stuff... it's been 11 years since I got my degree and I don't have all the new certifications that everybody seems to want, but my history and experience seem to make up for that loss. The work in Michigan is hit and miss.. (at least with my business, its part time at best) so that's why i was wondering about nursing...

I've always loved health sciences and that's what my degree was going to be in till my son got sick 5 years ago. I couldn't be the bread winner, go to school and help him through chemo so I put school on hold. I was too raw with the experience to jump back into the classes after spending close to a year in the hospital with him, but I knew I needed time. Well I am sure I can handle it now, and I have a lot more support now than I did back then.

But since it's been sooooooooooooo long since my 1st degree and my 2nd I was paying out of pocket, what are student loans like, how hard are they to get and can they help supplement cost of living while you are going to school more to fast track your career?