Making a career change to nursing is a smart decision. Because of your life experience, you already have skills that can make you a good nurse. The steps to make the change to nursing include choosing an ABSN program, taking prerequisites, completing nursing school, passing the NCLEX-RN, and getting licensed.
It takes perseverance to execute a career change, but sometimes it’s the best way to achieve true satisfaction with your line of work. If you’re considering making a career change to nursing, you won’t necessarily have to go back to school for another four years.
With Felician University’s Hybrid or On-Ground Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, you can graduate in as few as 16 months. That makes our nursing school a top choice for individuals interested in a career change to nurse. If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 60 non-nursing college credits, you might be eligible for the ABSN program.
If you have a passion for helping others, you should take a closer look at why nursing can be a great second career and the steps you’ll take to transition to nursing.
Learn more about how an accelerated nursing program works and what you can expect.
Why Nursing as a Second Career Is a Smart Choice
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better second career than nursing. Not only does it provide a secure job with good compensation, but you can also transition to this career sooner than you might think.
1. Your Prior Experience Prepares You to Be a Nurse
Going into your second career, you already have valuable life and work experience. That means you’re more prepared to make a great nurse than if you were starting fresh from undergrad.
Because you are entering the nursing field with prior life experience, you likely already have skills and qualities such as:
- Ability to handle pressure
- Effective communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Strong work ethic
- Thoughtful decision making
- Wisdom and maturity
No matter what your prior job experience is, you have important experience that you can use to be a successful nurse.
2. You’ll Enjoy a Strong Job Growth Rate
Nurses are in high demand because of a national nursing shortage, which isn’t expected to be solved in the near future. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the expected job growth rate for nurses is 6%, faster than average, from 2023 through 2033. This indicates that healthcare employers expect to hire about 197,200 new nurses during this time period.
The job demand is generally geared toward nurses who have a BSN degree. Baccalaureate-prepared nurses are better positioned for job opportunities than associate degree-prepared nurses, as research indicates nurses with a BSN produce better patient outcomes.
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3. You Can Earn Your Degree Quickly
One of the advantages of choosing nursing as a second career is that you can potentially start quickly. With the Hybrid or On-Ground ABSN program, you can earn your BSN in as few as 16 months after finishing your prerequisites.
How to Make a Career Change to Nurse
The ABSN pathway consists of four main steps that allow you to make a career change to nursing. It starts with choosing a nursing program.
1. Choose a Nursing Program
At Felician University, we offer both a 16-month Hybrid ABSN and On-Ground ABSN program. With the Hybrid ABSN program, you’ll learn through a combination of online courses, in-person nursing labs and clinical rotations. That means you’ll benefit from the flexibility of online learning while also having the advantage of collaborative, real-world clinical experiences.
The On-Ground ABSN program offers in-person classes and experiential learning for people who learn best through face-to-face interaction.
Want to learn more about how to choose the right nursing program? Find out what to look for in your ideal school.
2. Complete Prerequisites
You may need to complete prerequisites before applying. Prerequisite classes give you the necessary foundational knowledge for the nursing curriculum. Science prerequisites must have been taken within the past 10 years for eligibility.
The ABSN prerequisites for Felician include:
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II
- Chemistry
- Lifespan Development
- Microbiology
- Pathophysiology
- Statistics
Applicants must also complete the following general education requirements:
- Communication and Expression
- Critical and Analytical Thinking
- Ethics, Values and Truth
- Faith and Reason
- Global Consciousness
- Information Literacy
- Liberal Arts
- Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning
- Technological Acumen
The best way to know which prerequisites you’ll need to take is to talk with a Felician admissions counselor, who will review your transcripts. Some of your previous college credits might transfer and meet certain prerequisite and general education requirements.
3. Transition to Nursing with an ABSN Program
Once you’ve been accepted into an accelerated BSN program, it’s time for some hard work and dedication. Reach out to faculty if you ever need help and collaborate with peers when tackling challenging topics.
At Felician University, the ABSN curriculum covers key areas of nursing, such as health assessment, adult nursing, pediatric nursing and global issues in health. Whether enrolled in the Hybrid or On-Ground program, each curriculum component builds on each other.
- Coursework, whether in-person or online, establishes the nursing and science foundation you need to develop nursing skills and clinical judgment.
- Nursing skills and simulation labs challenge you to apply what you’ve learned through coursework to practice. You will practice essential skills in a simulation lab and participate in mock clinical scenarios with your peers.
- Clinical rotations are where you apply all you’ve learned to real-world practice. You will work in various clinical facilities throughout the Parsippany or Rutherford, New Jersey, areas, providing direct patient care while under the supervision of your preceptors and nursing staff.
4. Take the NCLEX and Get Your License
Once you graduate, you must pass the NCLEX-RN examination before you can register with your state board of nursing to earn a license. It’s ideal to start studying for the NCLEX while you’re still in nursing school.
The NCLEX is a challenging test that brings together everything you’ve learned during nursing school. It also takes time to master the way the NCLEX asks questions. You’ll need to employ problem-solving skills to choose the best answer, as there may be more than one answer that’s technically correct.
In Felician’s ABSN, students start preparing for the NCLEX on day one. Coursework, practice exams and simulation experiences are all designed to help prepare you for the type of questions you will be asked on the NCLEX.
After passing the NCLEX, you’ll be able to receive your nursing license and begin your second career.
Career Opportunities After Your Transition to Nursing
The nursing field is filled with diverse opportunities in which everyone can find a niche that suits their personality and career goals. There are many options to choose from, both at the bedside and away from the bedside.
Just a few of the nursing specialties you can choose from include:
- Home health nurse
- Informatics nurse
- Pediatric nurse
- School nurse
- Surgical nurse
This list could go on and on. Another advantage of a second career in nursing is that you’ll have opportunities for career growth in many areas, such as:
- Advanced practice nursing
- Healthcare administration
- Nursing education
- Nursing management
After gaining some clinical experience at the bedside, you can choose to pursue career advancement by heading back to school to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
These degrees are often required for higher-level nursing management, administration or education positions. If your goal is to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), such as a certified nurse midwife (CNM) or a nurse practitioner (NP), you’ll also need an MSN or DNP and obtain board certification in your specialty.
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Make the Change with Felician
If you’re ready to make a career change to nursing, you have an exciting future ahead of you. While it’s challenging to alter course in your 30s, 40s or beyond, you’re likely to find it’s worth the effort if you have a passion for nursing.
At Felician University, we will be help you every step of the way as you transition to becoming a nurse, from our admissions counselors who will guide you through the application process to our dedicated faculty who want to see you succeed. Many of our students are second-career nurses, and we find they bring exceptional skills and qualities to the field of nursing.
Whether in our 16-month Hybrid or On-Ground ABSN program, you’ll receive a comprehensive nursing education that prepares you to confidently take the NCLEX-RN and become a nurse.
Contact our admissions counselors to learn more about how Felician can help you transform your life by making a positive change to nursing.