Starting a Nursing Career at 40: Is it the Right Move for You?
Some careers require enthusiasm and energy in order to succeed. Others lean more heavily on empathy and life experience. Succeeding as a nurse often requires a combination of the four.
Nurses hold an important place in the hearts of people and patients across the country. They are often listed as the most trusted professionals in the United States (according to Gallup). They care for the sick and comfort their loved ones. They are also in high demand (according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Nurses work in hospitals, long-term care organizations, schools, corporate settings and almost anywhere else you can imagine. They combine the science of healthcare with the art of communication and compassion. Nurses are an important part of the country's fabric.
Yes, nursing is a great profession, but is it right for someone making the move to a new career at 40? It can be--but it's not without its challenges. Here are five facts about the challenges and opportunities associated with making the move to nursing at 40 or older.
A Degree is Required
Nursing is a profession that requires highly specialized training. You'll need have the latest knowledge and skills to help prevent illness, assist patients as they recover from illness and injury, and follow best practices that always seem to be evolving.
This requires spending some time in the classroom working with the latest tools, learning the latest techniques, and studying nursing theory. It also requires a degree. Education is paramount to your future as a nurse.
It Takes Energy
Nursing isn't all about your bedside manner. While the way you talk to and treat patients and their families is certainly important, you may also be expected to be physical from time to time.
According to a story in TravelNursing.com, a study published in MEDSURG NURSING, nurses can walk up to five miles during a 12-hour shift. Speaking of which, working a shift that long can take a toll on your body (as well as your feet).
There is also a lot of lifting, bending, pushing, pulling and carrying. The good news is that if you are the type of person who enjoys physical activity and staying on the move, you may really enjoy doing a job that allows you to get up and get moving.
Schedules can be a Moving Target
While it is not uncommon for nurses to work fixed schedules, it's also not uncommon for nurses to work schedules that fluctuate or change from time to time. Many nurses are also required to be on call.
Schedules that are moving targets can often be frustrating for some people, especially those who have young children and social lives focused on late-night activities. But for people who are more settled into their lives, flexible schedules (and working shifts that pay premiums, such as overtime), the schedules can actually come with an array of big financial benefits.
Nursing requires Empathy
Nurses often deal with people in the throes of life's most moments--and it can take an emotional toll. Caring for the sick, comforting their families, and seeing people in pain isn't easy. It's even more difficult when you have to stay focused on doing your job. But showing compassion is one of the most important things nurses do.
Yes, succeeding as a nurse requires the empathy. Some people are born with the ability to understand the feelings of others, help them understand their feelings, and share experiences in calm and meaningful ways. Others have to develop these skills over time.
Whether you are a naturally empathetic person or someone who has learned these skills over time, the important thing to note is that if you can understand and share the feelings of others, nursing might be a great career for you (regardless of your age).
Life Experience Matters
Nurses never know who is going to walk through the door. It could be a child. It could be a senior citizen. It could be someone in between. And each person who walks through the door brings with their unique situations.
That's why life experience matters when it comes to being a great nurse. Understanding that people are human, people make mistakes, and people come from all lifestyles is critically important to being able to provide exceptional care. For many, the ability to connect with and care for patients (regardless of their personal circumstances) comes from life experience.
Explore a Nursing Career at 40 or More!
Are you interested in starting or starting over with a nursing career? If you’re interested in earning an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, ECPI University offers this program at an accelerated rate. For more information on classes and how you can get started on your journey today, connect with a friendly admissions advisor.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Nursing - Associate’s
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