Here is one more young doctor shifting into the field of nursing. She expresses her sentiments and reasons for choosing a new career. I do not blame her for her decision. Maybe if majority of the doctors here become nurses, and leave for greener pastures abroad, some good leader(s) of this country will notice there’s a big problem in the health system, and do something about it. I just pray that when that happens, it is not too late yet.

Excerpts from the article:

“If this nation thinks that paying $200 to a doctor here is equivalent to $5,000 to a nurse abroad and should be enough compensation for our toil and brains, I am not going to play a martyr. We doctors are just like every decent, hard-working citizen of this country who has an instinct of self-preservation. We are trying to stay afloat even as the nation seems to be sinking. Government officials can continue to bicker until one day they have to go to a hospital — only to find it empty. We boast about the brawn we send overseas, but if we lose our brain as well, what is going to happen to this country?”

“Since I am young and broke, this could all be useless bellyaching. But couldn’t it also be the valid complaints of a thinking citizen of this country? Although some of our colleagues remain hopeful about our country’s future, I don’t think I can stay longer, waiting for a miracle. I am turning 30 in a few months, with only one ton of medical textbooks and a stethoscope for assets. And I still owe my parents half a million pesos in medical school tuition. A doctor cannot save lives if his own is in peril.”

The first place we would tell you to go is to anyone you may know who is already a nurse. Ask them about nursing life. Its not your average job. It takes a special person to be a great nurse because this is one area you simply can’t be a good nurse.  Ask them questions about a typical week. Asking about a typical day simply won’t do. You need to be sure that this is a career you are ready to dig into. It’s not an easy feat. There will be occassions when the balance of someone’s life is resting in your hands. You truly will be an Angel of Mercy.

Second, visit the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). They have a great page on the facts about nursing. After leaving the AACN website you should be able to make an informed decision as to whether you’re ready or not for an exciting career in nursing. Be sure to take advantage of the information on schools and financial aid.

Third, find a program. You can look up accredited and licensed schools National League for Nursing Accrediting Commision (NLNAC). You should be able to pull up all the schools in your area of choice that run nursing programs. If you’re making a career change, try choosing a school that works well within the current balance of your life. Which leads me to four.

Fourth, this program is pretty rigorous and demanding. Make sure you have the support of family and friends during this critical time. Especially if you are in in an accelerated program. Many people choose to go into nursing well after the paradigm in the shift of no responsibility to full of responsibility has occurred. They will need to understand you won’t have time to do everything you did under normal circumstances and adjustments will have to be made in lifestyle to accomodate your new adventure.

Fifth, keep up with Occupation: Nurse. We want to be there when you’re all done so you can come back and tell us how it was.

This was just the quick and dirty of How to Become a Nurse. There is lots of information here, and around the web. So take advantage of it, and we hope to see you back here real soon!

Forensic nurses, who must earn an associate degree in nursing before obtaining their forensics certificate, can work for hospitals, medical examiners, disaster preparedness, and even law offices, helping to set up forensically accurate exhibits for court cases.

 Now is one of the best times to start thinking about a career change to Nursing. It’s expecially exiting for those who already have their bachelors degree (field doesn’t matter), there are accelerated programs that can earn you a second bachelors degree in Nursing and push into a full RN position in 12 – 18 months if you’re serious about the change. Michigan is in such desperate need of people in the Occupational Health field, they are awarding scholarship funds (most of the enough to cover all of your tuition for the program) to anyone who will work in Michigan for a certain amount of time without having to repay loan. We are so excited about this program we created a page just for that. Click on our Scholarships and Loans page.