Nursing as a Second Degree: The Right Move for My Career?
There are those who knew exactly what type of work they wanted to do right out of high school, and then there is everyone else. If you already obtained a bachelor's degree but entered the workforce only to find that the career path you first chose wasn't what you thought, then going back to school to earn a BSN degree could be a great option for you.
Thanks to the increasing demand for nurses, many colleges and universities have created specialized programs that build on a student's existing bachelor's degree in order to make obtaining a secondary nursing degree a quick and easy process. Does this sound enticing? Here's a look at what you should know about obtaining a nursing degree as a second degree and what type of career you can look forward to upon graduation:
The Difference of a Second Degree Program
Second-degree BSN programs are frequently fast-tracked, meaning that those who succeed are generally those who are older, experienced, ambitions, and very motivated. This is not a program to undergo if you are just looking to experience or relive the traditional young college experience. Rather, during enrollment in a BSN program, you will likely be expected to take a heavy course load of nursing-specific curriculum such as advanced sciences.
The Hard and Soft Skills That Translate to Being a Successful Nurse
Not sure if you would do well as a nurse? Here's a look at some of the hard and soft skills that are readily apparent in a successful nurse:
- Compassion. For many individuals, the nursing profession is a calling very similar to teaching. The people who find the most joy and job satisfaction out of this career are those who have a great amount of compassion for others and a desire to care and assist them through hardships. That said, while compassion is a necessity, it's also essential for those in this career to have a solid center -- meaning having the ability to establish personal boundaries with those who might ask more out of you than you can give.
- Endurance. To succeed as a nurse means to consistently on the go and ready to serve one's patients and organization. This requires both mental and physical endurance, with many nurses experiencing near constant movement during the course of their daily tasks. In addition to being physically prepared for such activity, one must also be mentally prepared as it takes determination to stay focused for eight, sometimes twelve-hour shifts. The nice counterpoint to this is that many nurses work three or four days on, with three or four days off -- making for nice, long weekends.
- Strong organization. Strong organization skills are both an asset to have during enrollment in a bachelor to BSN program and when out in the field working as a nurse. Remember, this can be a very intensive program with a lot of information to take in and thus keeping that information organized will go a long way in improving how well you retain that information. After graduation and when working as a nurse, depending upon where you want to work, you may be charged with caring for multiple patients and be required to organize and keep track of each patient's medication, treatments, and more, equally critical, information.
- Excellent problem solver. Troubleshooting is another skill that is a big asset both during nursing school and when working out in the field. Every patient, employer, and organization will be different and expect different things from you and your role as a nurse. To succeed in every position you enter, you will need to learn how to determine what is expected of you and how best to respond to those expectations. In some situations, this may require undergoing further research on your own initiative to learn more about a given scenario. You might need to do your own troubleshooting to eventually solve it to the best of your ability and the desires of your patients, employers, and broader organization's goals.
Developing These Skills in a Formal Educational Setting
Of course, even if you don't think you are the strongest in any of these areas, it doesn't mean you can't develop them. School is, in fact, one of the best places to hone and become better in all of these areas -- granted you have the determination and are enrolled in a quality program that you are passionate about.
Are You Ready to Get Started Today?
If you want to become a nurse as your second career and already hold a bachelor's degree, you might be an excellent candidate for ECPI University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program (BSN). For more information on this accelerated course, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Bachelor’s to BSN
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