4 answers
LAURA
Student
Winchester, California
1
Question
Asked
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How do I get started as a nurse with different experiences?
I used to want to be a pharmacist. I graduated a four year university and my grades weren't that good so I need to go to community college to retake some classes. I finally got a job as a pharmacy clerk after 3 years of unemployment after graduation, and I'm also a pharmacy volunteer at a hospital. After working at a pharmacy for a few months, I learned that pharmacy isn't a good field to enter right now and that I should become a nurse instead. I appreciate them looking out for me but I'm not sure where to start. I am again thankful for finally getting pharmacy experience after 3 years of unemployment after graduation. But, realizing that what I wanted for awhile isn't all that it's made to be, I'm confused on what to do, how to get started in this new field or how to transfer what I know or spent what I thought I wanted, to something else. Thank you for reading this
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4 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1903
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Laura !
I think that it's great that you're interested in being a Nurse now and it's not all that difficult to take the first steps. It's surely an exciting transition from being a pharmacy clerk and I am sure that you've learned things in your current job in the pharmacy that will be helpful as a nurse.
The first thing to consider is whether you want to go to school for two years or four years to become a nurse. Then you would choose a community college or four year college accordingly. Once you have that situated, all you'd have to do is complete an application package which you'd most likely find on the school's website. You said you already have a Bachelors Degree and that is great. Your grades were good enough to earn the degree and you can start fresh with Nursing School. Do not discount your degree because it doesn't consist of straight A's. Go to nursing school with confidence and zest. Your Bachelors Degree is valuable and you've learned a lot in those past four years and achieved personal growth so it was definitely time very well spent. Also consider that many of the students who would be your classmates in nursing school may not have your experience in a medical setting, so you have an edge with that.
The way that your pharmacy employment work will help you as a nurse is that you probably know the names of many prescription drugs and what they're used for, the newest drugs, dosing, drug interactions, black box warnings and drugs that can be used for more than just one illness. That is something that is taught in nursing school. Not only that, but you also understand, know and probably could demonstrate the use of assistive devices and the latest in diagnostic technology devices. In addition, you have interacted with patients and their families as well as Medical Insurance. You certainly are well prepared to start studying for nursing ! You probably have most of the medical terminology down, too ! So, this is a very good thing. Your background with pharmacy is a wonderful thing to bring to nursing.
The nearest Nursing Schools where you live are Pacific College in San Marcos and California Career College in San Diego. Go to their websites and take notes about tuition, what courses they teach, admission requirements and everything. Go for tours of both campuses to see which one you like best. Taking these steps will eventually have you enrolled in the college of your choice and on a good start for studying nursing. Don't let anything stop you. Reach out for information about grants and scholarships that are available to help you with costs, too. Go for it !
I do have some tips ala advice to share. Keep your pharmacy job as long as possible. Perhaps a couple of evenings or on weekends. Let your manager know your plans and ask about any scholarships the manager may know about. Is there tuition reimbursement at your company ? Have the discussion and get a feel for where your employer stands on education for their employees.
If you haven't already, obtain certifications such as CPR and First Aid. Renew them each period of time that is required - keep the certifications active. Some other certifications you can obtain would be for : Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS Certification), Basic Life Support (BLS Certification), Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C Certification), Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE Certification), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS Certification), and Medication Management for Unlicensed People (see link below). Having certification in some areas like this could boost and compensate for what you believe are the poor grades you had in college.
All in all, you are on the right track with recognizing that a career transition is necessary for you and that is the important step in taking action towards your new goals. Always reach out for information and support as we are very happy to help out here at Career Village. I wish you all the best in your new ventures for a wonderful future career in nursing !
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT https://allianceforcamphealth.org/courses/medication-management-training/
I think that it's great that you're interested in being a Nurse now and it's not all that difficult to take the first steps. It's surely an exciting transition from being a pharmacy clerk and I am sure that you've learned things in your current job in the pharmacy that will be helpful as a nurse.
The first thing to consider is whether you want to go to school for two years or four years to become a nurse. Then you would choose a community college or four year college accordingly. Once you have that situated, all you'd have to do is complete an application package which you'd most likely find on the school's website. You said you already have a Bachelors Degree and that is great. Your grades were good enough to earn the degree and you can start fresh with Nursing School. Do not discount your degree because it doesn't consist of straight A's. Go to nursing school with confidence and zest. Your Bachelors Degree is valuable and you've learned a lot in those past four years and achieved personal growth so it was definitely time very well spent. Also consider that many of the students who would be your classmates in nursing school may not have your experience in a medical setting, so you have an edge with that.
The way that your pharmacy employment work will help you as a nurse is that you probably know the names of many prescription drugs and what they're used for, the newest drugs, dosing, drug interactions, black box warnings and drugs that can be used for more than just one illness. That is something that is taught in nursing school. Not only that, but you also understand, know and probably could demonstrate the use of assistive devices and the latest in diagnostic technology devices. In addition, you have interacted with patients and their families as well as Medical Insurance. You certainly are well prepared to start studying for nursing ! You probably have most of the medical terminology down, too ! So, this is a very good thing. Your background with pharmacy is a wonderful thing to bring to nursing.
The nearest Nursing Schools where you live are Pacific College in San Marcos and California Career College in San Diego. Go to their websites and take notes about tuition, what courses they teach, admission requirements and everything. Go for tours of both campuses to see which one you like best. Taking these steps will eventually have you enrolled in the college of your choice and on a good start for studying nursing. Don't let anything stop you. Reach out for information about grants and scholarships that are available to help you with costs, too. Go for it !
I do have some tips ala advice to share. Keep your pharmacy job as long as possible. Perhaps a couple of evenings or on weekends. Let your manager know your plans and ask about any scholarships the manager may know about. Is there tuition reimbursement at your company ? Have the discussion and get a feel for where your employer stands on education for their employees.
If you haven't already, obtain certifications such as CPR and First Aid. Renew them each period of time that is required - keep the certifications active. Some other certifications you can obtain would be for : Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS Certification), Basic Life Support (BLS Certification), Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C Certification), Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE Certification), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS Certification), and Medication Management for Unlicensed People (see link below). Having certification in some areas like this could boost and compensate for what you believe are the poor grades you had in college.
All in all, you are on the right track with recognizing that a career transition is necessary for you and that is the important step in taking action towards your new goals. Always reach out for information and support as we are very happy to help out here at Career Village. I wish you all the best in your new ventures for a wonderful future career in nursing !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Heidi Nichols
CRNA
7
Answers
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Updated
Heidi’s Answer
Hi Laura! It’s actually good you have figured out that pharmacy isn’t for you BEFORE you done all the training! Education is awesome but not cheap. I have several different degrees because I wasn’t sure of my career path when I was younger. I started as a Vet tech and then went on a medical mission trip to Guatemala and that’s when I realized I wanted to work with people. don’t regret my other degrees but my nursing degree has been my most valuable education. As a nurse you have so many options for your healthcare interests. I started with a two year associates degree and worked in a clinic while finishing my bachelor degree. I worked as a nurse in Infectious disease, oncology and cardiac before goi g on to get a masters in Nurse Anesthesia.
My advice: see if you can shadow a professional working in the field you are considering. That allows you to see the duties and responsibilities without commiting to a program without knowing if you will like. I have nurses shadow me in the operating room all the time so they can see if they are interested in pursuing anesthesia. I love having people see what my job is and how fulfilling it can be.
Hope this helps! Good luck to you 😊
My advice: see if you can shadow a professional working in the field you are considering. That allows you to see the duties and responsibilities without commiting to a program without knowing if you will like. I have nurses shadow me in the operating room all the time so they can see if they are interested in pursuing anesthesia. I love having people see what my job is and how fulfilling it can be.
Hope this helps! Good luck to you 😊
L. M.
RN
15
Answers
Arlington, Texas
Updated
L.’s Answer
Hey Laura,
Seems like you are beating yourself down. Believe it or not, you have accomplished so much already. Pharmacy is not for the weak and you have shown how strong you are by just completing your degree. Don't look at grades to determine where u will be in life. Some people make all A's and they are terrible at what they do. You can transition easily into nursing since you probably have done prerequisites that are required. Just make up ur mind if that's what u want to do. You will do great. If is nursing, apply to a nursing program and have then transfer courses that way you don't have to start over
Good Luck.. You got this.
I finally graduated nursing school in 2022 after procrastinating for 10 yrs.
Seems like you are beating yourself down. Believe it or not, you have accomplished so much already. Pharmacy is not for the weak and you have shown how strong you are by just completing your degree. Don't look at grades to determine where u will be in life. Some people make all A's and they are terrible at what they do. You can transition easily into nursing since you probably have done prerequisites that are required. Just make up ur mind if that's what u want to do. You will do great. If is nursing, apply to a nursing program and have then transfer courses that way you don't have to start over
Good Luck.. You got this.
I finally graduated nursing school in 2022 after procrastinating for 10 yrs.
L. P.
physician
6
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
L.’s Answer
Nursing is a great field and there are so many options in Nursing. For example you can work in a hospital, in a clinic, or you can do home visits. Nurses can work with different age groups for example: newborns, children (Pediatrics), adults, elderly (geriatrics), or all of the age groups in Family Practice, to name a few. Nurses can even decide to work in a specialized area of medicine like ICU (Intensive Care Nursing) , in the operating room (OR nurses), in Obstetrics (OB), Orthopedics, Emergency Room (ER), Psychiatry, and so on. Having graduated from a 4 year university then I think you are probably set to apply to a nursing school. There are 2 year nursing schools offered in Community Colleges and 4 year nursing schools offered at Universities (providing a BSN, a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing). The 4 year degrees allow for more opportunities in hospitals for example or in administrative positions.
I'm not sure how to get an opportunity to shadow (follow) a nurse in a hospital or clinic, perhaps by volunteering, but I think that would give you a better idea what nurses do. In California for example, there are many Community Colleges and State Universities that offer 2 and 4 year nursing degrees respectively. Here is a link to these schools in California https://www.rn.ca.gov/education/rnprograms.shtml
You have already done a lot of hard work! Best to you
I'm not sure how to get an opportunity to shadow (follow) a nurse in a hospital or clinic, perhaps by volunteering, but I think that would give you a better idea what nurses do. In California for example, there are many Community Colleges and State Universities that offer 2 and 4 year nursing degrees respectively. Here is a link to these schools in California https://www.rn.ca.gov/education/rnprograms.shtml
You have already done a lot of hard work! Best to you