What You Need to Know About Nursing as a Second Career

A second career in nursing can be rewarding, and it can certainly be fulfilling. When you embark upon a new career there can be lots of things rushing through your mind. You may be nervous yet excited at the thought of a new career prospect or you may be a bit apprehensive about the change that lies ahead. All of these feelings and emotions are normal, and they are healthy to be feeling. To ensure that they do not consume you, and your idea of a new nursing career, you have to gather as much information as you possibly can. So, what should you be thinking about, and what should you be looking at to make this transition into nursing work for you?

The Healthcare Industry

It is important to get to grips with the healthcare industry as soon as you can. The healthcare industry or sector is evolving and it is growing. This means that there is always a demand for new nurses. As the healthcare industry is evolving, there is always room for career progression and development. As well as career development, you get the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. When you are looking at becoming a nurse in the healthcare industry, it is important to consider your entry options. For example, do you want to work in a private medical facility or would you prefer to work in a hospital? The industry offers you lots of entry routes and it is important to establish which one works for you.

The Nursing Industry

Nurses and those within the nursing industry are the backbone of any health service. Nurses have wide and varying roles which see them handling patients from all walks of life. The nursing industry is evolving and growing very quickly, and with old nurses retiring, and others moving on – there is always plenty of room to enter such an exciting industry. The nursing industry is not 9-5 and you must realize this early on. Long shifts and sometimes back to back working hours can be tough and they can take their toll on you. However, to ensure that patient needs are met and fulfilled those hours have to be worked. Even though shifts can be tiring, the nursing industry is still one of the most rewarding industries you can build a long-lasting and sustainable career in.

Your Life Experiences

When you are pursuing a second career in nursing you have a lot of life experience to offer. The experience and knowledge that you have gained in your professional (and personal) life can now be applied to your new role and industry. Your life experiences can help shape you into the nursing professional that you want to be, and they can also give you an insight into what you can offer. When you have life experience to bring to your new role, you can make a valued contribution to all those that you work with and care for. Your experience can also help you see situations and scenarios differently, which can help you better handle aspects of your new role. You may not think that your previous work or life experience is valuable, but within a patient-centered role such as nursing, you will find that it counts for a lot.

Pursuing New Challenges

Nursing is going to be challenging whichever way you look at it. You are going to be caring for others and providing support and assistance. However, you are also going to be supporting your colleagues and your team, and ensuring that high standards of care are maintained. Nursing is not for the faint-hearted, and you must be aware of the challenges that lie ahead. When you are aware of the challenges you may face, you can then better prepare and equip yourself for the sometimes-rocky road. An example of a new challenge may be shift work. It sounds simple enough, but if you have been used to certain working hours (for many years) you may struggle to adapt to shift-working. This may not seem like a big challenge but it is something you will have to overcome. Similarly, you might find team working at times challenging. As a nursing professional there will be times when you will work on your own. However, there will be times when teamwork is required. Being a team player and adding valued contribution, as well as valuing the contribution of others, is essential to any nursing role.

Future Opportunities and Progression

When you are going into nursing as a second career, it is important to think about your future as much as you can. The nursing industry offers you plenty of opportunities for progression and growth, and this is something you should focus your efforts and attention on. Even when you are starting as a nurse, you will find that there will be new opportunities that come your way. Whether this is an opportunity for working in a different specialism or working within another healthcare setting, they are all opportunities that have to be evaluated. To make the most of these opportunities, and to ensure that you progress as you want to, you are best to start setting career targets as soon as you land your first position.

Added Flexibility

As a nurse, you will have more flexibility than you initially thought you had. For instance, you could offer your services as a traveling nurse to give yourself the ultimate degree of flexibility. You will also have the flexibility to pursue the specialism that you want. For instance, if you feel that your initial specialism or choice is not working out how you expected it to, then you do not have to worry, as you can change – the flexibility is there. As such flexibility is in existence within the nursing industry, it is especially suitable as a second career for those with families.

A Stable and Secure Career Path

There is always going to be high demand for healthcare professionals – and nurses in particular. With this high demand comes increased stability and security. Knowing that you are entering a secure and safe job market will give you added peace of mind. If you want to progress with your career, or you want to advance in the area you are currently working within, you know that you have stability and security to fall back on, and this is not readily available in other sectors.

Degrees and Qualifications

To get started as a nurse, you have to have a relevant degree, and you have to be licensed to practice. The good news is that if you already hold a degree, you will be able to fast track your bsn in nursing and look at completing a program in around 2 years. Using your previous qualifications will help you get started in your second career as soon as possible. As well as a relevant degree being essential, you may also find it beneficial to have other qualifications on your resume. For example, qualifications in leadership and teamwork will fit in nicely with any nursing role you wish to pursue. They will also be beneficial to any plans for professional development too.

Getting Licensed

Once you have the qualifications you need to practice, you then have to get licensed. If you do not get your license from the relevant state (within which you wish to practice), you will not be able to practice as a nurse. Getting licensed isn’t as complex as it may sound, and your program provider or degree provider will be able to guide you as to what to do and by when. You can also reach out to state licensing boards to get answers to any further questions you may have.

Your First Role

After getting suitably qualified and licensed, you then have to get your first role. Putting your experience and knowledge into practice can be scary. However, finding an employer that is supportive of you and your growth is essential. When you are finding that first role, it is important to be patient. Rushing the process is not going to be beneficial for your career plan or your confidence. If you rush to get a position, and you land one that is not right for you, then it may knock your confidence. To make sure that you get the right first role for you, you have to write down what you want and what your expectations are. When you can make direct comparisons, you should be able to narrow down your choices, and then make the right selection for you, and your future career.

Expectations versus Reality

When you start in nursing, you can have high expectations and these can sometimes set you up for failure. They often don’t match with reality, and this can leave you feeling overly stressed or worried. To manage your expectations, it is important to be realistic. Set small targets when you start and expect to make mistakes. If you are not open to making mistakes, then you will not learn and you will not grow, and this will further affect your future career expectations. To further manage your expectations, you may find it beneficial to speak to those in the industry with experience and knowledge (those who have been in your position before). Reaching out for support, and guidance is important, and the valuable knowledge and insight you will get will help you manage your expectations, especially in those first few months.

Every Day Will Be Different

In your current (or previous) career, you may have found that days were boring, predictable, and perhaps monotonous. However, this will not be true within your nursing role. You must go into the role with your eyes wide open, and you must expect that every day will be different. Even if you are working in the same department, or within the same specialism, you will still find that your caseload will vary daily. Never knowing what to expect from a working day can be scary and daunting, but it is important to approach each day as positively as you can. If you feel apprehension about the day ahead, then you will not succeed in your new role. Balancing how you feel and learning to cope with the ups and downs is essential in your new role.

Handling Stress and Pressure

Any nursing role will be full of stress and pressure – there is no way around this. You have expectations to meet and you have standards to uphold and to do this some element of stress and pressure will be involved. How you handle the pressure and stress will determine how successful you are. Speaking to others about any worries or concerns you have will always be beneficial and seeking support from other nursing professionals is advisable too. Trying to disconnect from your role at the end of the day can help to give you separation between work, and home life, and also help you to achieve a sustainable balance.

Your Wellness

Even though your role as a nurse is to care for others, it does not mean that you should not care for yourself and place your wellness at the top of your priority list. If you are not focusing on your wellness, you will find parts of the role will be overwhelming and consuming. To focus on your wellness, you must eat well and you must give yourself enough time to rest and recover. Nursing is physically and emotionally demanding, and you must focus your attention on your wellness. If you are not looking after yourself, then how can you be in the position to look after others?

Nursing as a second career will be exciting, but it will of course come with its challenges. Building a strong personal and professional network around you, and focusing on self-growth, and self-development is important for your career moving forwards. When you can grow, and develop within your nursing role, you will unleash your full potential.