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Nursing as a Second Career

Nursing as a Second Career

ProNurse

Attracted by strong demand, healthy salaries and prospects for more meaningful work, many mid-career workers – including some men – are giving nursing a closer look as a second career. So how do you get there from where you are?

There are a number of ways to get on the path to becoming a qualified nurse. If you already have a health/biology related degree you might be able to take a shorter course that takes your current knowledge into consideration. If you have reasonable GCSE’s or A levels (or equivalent) you can apply to take a nursing degree or diploma in the usual way.

Don’t panic if your formal qualifications don’t quite hit the mark as the nursing industry has taken a sensible look at who applies to be a nurse. Not everyone who has impressive exam grades will make a competent nurse, and lots of people without the ‘minimum’ qualifications will be excellent nurses. You can apply with limited qualifications and your previous working experience will be considered as part of your application. Of course, all student nurses are expected to reach a sufficient standard so you may be asked to take a refresher course to help you reach an academic standard that will allow you to perform well on the nursing course.

Once you’ve qualified and are let loose on the wards, what can you expect on the floor?

Along with the rewards that come from caring for patients, you will probably experience a few let downs common to novice nurses. You’ll also face – and learn to handle – on-the-job issues you may not have encountered in your previous career. You will learn every day and make a real difference in people’s lives.

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