Career Change: Going Back School

[2China2009]

Just would like some opinions from this board about a career change. I have been a nurse for 26 years and want out. I have been very unhappy for the last 9 years. I am wanting to pursue a degree in Psychology eventually working with kids of all ages. This would involve getting my masters degree since I already have my Bachelors. I would have to continue to work full time just 32 hours a week so I would have a lot of time to devote to studying. I would like to take 1 class at a time and do this over 2 years. I will be 49 in December but have lots of working years left. For those of you that have done this what was your experience and are u glad u did. I was not a strong academic student in college, but I am hoping I can be successful.

 

[Wendy1985]

Just would like some opinions from this board about a career change. I have been a nurse for 26 years and want out. I have been very unhappy for the last 9 years. I am wanting to pursue a degree in Psychology eventually working with kids of all ages. This would involve getting my masters degree since I already have my Bachelors. I would have to continue to work full time just 32 hours a week so I would have a lot of time to devote to studying. I would like to take 1 class at a time and do this over 2 years. I will be 49 in December but have lots of working years left. For those of you that have done this what was your experience and are u glad u did. I was not a strong academic student in college, but I am hoping I can be successful.

Similar but not quite the sane I was a volunteer for 7 to 8 yra right before covid hit, I relized I wanted a change, so much happier with my second act as a soon to be fitness instructor

 

[barkley]

i had a former co-worker who at age 50 decided she would go back to school to get her law degree. her attitude was even if it took her 5 years doing it part time while continuing to work full time it was still what she dreamed of/wanted to do. she did it. it was hard work on her part but when she was done she took the skills she already had and had promotional opportunities through the public agency we worked for that she had never dreamed of (and they were thrilled to get someone who had the hands on knowledge). she never regretted it and so far as i know she was still working into her early 70's and loving it.

 

[spiders]

I quit my job in my mid 20’s and went back to school while picking up a different job to pay the bills. It didn’t take me 2 years. It was just another undergraduate degree rather than going back for graduate work like you’re thinking of but it was manageable.

Only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.

 

[Toolulu22]

I know many people who have changed careers or started new careers in their mid-life. Questions would be: do I have the time to devote to classes (you seem to), do I have the money to fund my education while paying for my life, does my family support me (important because your free time will now include papers, research, meeting classmates virtually/in-person), what job prospects do I have after I earn my degree? Do you need a master‘s degree to make a career change? If so, look at specific jobs you are interested in and the qualifications for them.
Don‘t let your age deter you. As you mentioned, if you plan on working 15 years (or more) longer, then do something you love. 26 years is a long time I one job. I can understand wanting to do something else. Good luck!

 

[FigmentSpark]

I knew a doctor that went back to school to go into a research field. He wanted out of patient care and wasn't ready to retire.

Why spend your life doing what you hate when you have the choice to pursue something that will make you happy. Even if you start down that path and change your mind, you are still a nurse and could always go back to it.

Follow your dream. At least give it a shot.

 

[Kittyblue]

I did a career change in my early 30s when my oldest was 2. I had an injury that I thought would prevent me from doing my career at the time, so I went back to school. I had quite a few classes to take, so I did as many as I could handle each quarter. I think you should go for it. Every year you continue in a job you hate, you'll wish you would have done it now.

 

[tcufrog]

Do you plan to become a child psychologist? We have a major shortage of them around here.

 

[Karin1984]

I am working on my graduate thesis now. I went back after 15 years. I did an accelerated course to do it in 2 years instead of 3,5, but even without this: do not underestimate how much time this will take.
You say 'I will only work 32 hours so I will have enough time to study'. That's exactly what I thought, however I didn't realize how much time I need to relax and destress after a day of work. I mainly studied on my days off and not in the evenings after work. I'm not a very social person, so limiting outings & social gatherings wasn't much of a sacrifice, but there will be times where you do have to chose.

Also an easy trap to fall into is to eat healthy during this. I went to school on saturdays & tue/thurs evening, so little time left on these days to cook & make wise decisions. It was so easy when I went from work to school to buy some fastfood instead of a healthy meal I brought with me, or on the way back buy a snack somewhere.
It is not very important, but it is something to keep in mind.

Something fun, there was quite an age gap between me and the youngest student. I was the oldest in class at 34, the youngest was 19. And in group projects, when you just talk, I really noticed: little to no life experience with some. And I am getting old. ;-)
I found it very amusing that I could offer wisdom to the young kids.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I changed careers from chef / hospitality industry to marketing in my late 30's. I started my own business and did night school for 4 years.

I worked during the day and 2 nights a week took in person classes after work. On college days my schedule was

Leave my house at 7.30am
Start work in the office at 9.00am
Finish work at 4.30pm
Travel from work to college campus
Eat some food
Class from 6.15pm to 9.30pm
Arrive home at 10.30pm

I would spend 1 day a week, usually Saturday in the college library, studying and doing assignments.

Depending on my work schedule I would also go into the college library after work.

Working and college is not easy. People really underestimate the amount of time taken up by assignments, exam prep and study. Its not just the actual class time you have to account for, thats only half of whats involved.

After work I found I needed about an hour time out, to either take a walk or have some food to clear my head from work mode and to get into college mode.

Your days will consist of work, college work, food and sleep, in that order. Did I mention that sleep is something you will crave but have no time for. Sleep will become that treat that you promise yourself after the individual assignment , the group assignment, that study group you joined as you really don't understand what that lecturer means in that module , the notes you need to prepare for that work meeting etc etc.

Your meals will change from that 2 hour relaxing time where you make your favorite dishes, to what can I get on my way that I can eat in the car or is the college canteen open today.

Also don't underestimate the social bonding with your classmates. The ones who got most out of the college experience were the ones who formed study groups, or just chatted to their seatmates before class. Having college buddies, people who are sharing the same experience is invaluable, just having someone else to vent to or ask that stupid question or even those times when family and friends just don't get the stress you are under helps so much.

 

[JaxDad]

I completed a masters degree while working full-time. I also did my Professional Military Education requirements via correspondence, which were similar in their time requirements. It can be very difficult. There will be times when stressors in your work and personal worlds align with your education world, and it will feel overwhelming. Overall, though, it is manageable. You will need to be disciplined about doing work every evening and weekend, not just when something is due or there's an exam. At the end, it is extremely satisfying and well worth it.

I also had the luxury of dropping out of the work world to return to school full-time for a career change like yours. I had some savings, tuition was reasonable, and I was able to supplement my income as a military reservist. That was also difficult, but a lot more fun. I was able to take more interesting courses, interact directly with professors and other students (I met my wife then), and enjoy campus life. Also, I was able to bang out the degree quicker--1 year instead of 2. Even before I completed the degree, I was able to intern with a small company and a non-profit in my new career field, which was very beneficial. Just something to think about, if you have that option. In COVID times, I'm not even sure it is possible.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Chiming in as a fellow nurse. I also have a background in nursing and psychology, but in my case, studies in psychology came first. In fact, I went into nursing because of the better job opportunities (and pay). That said, I can only imagine the level of burnout you’re probably feeling. Life as a nurse can be tough, especially if staffing ratios are such that you can’t do everything you have to do, or working conditions are otherwise harried. And I’m not sure what your background is. But is there a reason you can’t find something in psychiatric nursing that is more aligned to what you want to do? There are so many jobs out there with varying descriptions and responsibilities. And you will never stop thinking as a nurse. (Which isn’t a bad thing, necessarily; holistic care is always a good thing.) I’ve known many nurses over the years who hold positions that don’t involve traditional nursing duties. I could be wrong and you just dream of having your own practice with your own shingle outside, idk. And if that’s the case, then more power to you! Your nursing credentials will certainly help you along your journey. I just wonder if there’s a way to combine the two. If you do go back to school, yes, it’s tough, but there are many programs online now which can make your life as a student a little bit easier, if that’s what you want. Good luck in whatever you decide!!

 

[RangerPooh]

I’ve spent ten years working in higher education, most as an undergraduate academic advisor. When I have students looking to make changes like this I encourage them to meet with program specific advisors for a real picture, as what’s in their vision may differ from what it actually entails.

My question is have you met with a graduate advisor for the school you’re interested in attending? You’ll want to do so to determine if you can only take one class a semester or if they require part time students take two classes (6 credits). You’ll also want to have an accurate picture regarding how long the program will take going part time? If the traditional program is one year holding a full credit load then it’ll take much longer than two years at only one class a semester.

What do you want to do with the degree? Have you looked at job announcements in that field to see what their preferred qualifications are? Are they requiring a masters or PhD? What licensing do they require?I work with half a dozen licensed counselors in my office, three hold masters degrees, the other three PhDs. Not everyone can write prescriptions. They also all had to do a large volume of practicum hours either as part of or following their degrees prior to sitting for licensure exams. So be sure to look into this as well.

You mentioned that you’re burnt out in nursing, but I know that some universities offer DNP tracks in Psych. This might be another option to consider.

 

[MrsPete]

Just would like some opinions from this board about a career change. I have been a nurse for 26 years and want out. I have been very unhappy for the last 9 years. I am wanting to pursue a degree in Psychology eventually working with kids of all ages. This would involve getting my masters degree since I already have my Bachelors. I would have to continue to work full time just 32 hours a week so I would have a lot of time to devote to studying. I would like to take 1 class at a time and do this over 2 years. I will be 49 in December but have lots of working years left. For those of you that have done this what was your experience and are u glad u did. I was not a strong academic student in college, but I am hoping I can be successful.

9 years is a long time to be unhappy in your job. What -- specifically what -- is making you unhappy? Are you sure a career change would remove these issues?

Do consider that Psychology degree recipients often have trouble finding employment. It's all about the connections you make in college /internships /who you know -- and if you're working 32 hours a week, you may not be on the cutting edge.

Two jobs that are similar to what you propose but might be easier to find a job: School Counselor and School Social Worker.

Don‘t let your age deter you. As you mentioned, if you plan on working 15 years (or more) longer, then do something you love. 26 years is a long time I one job. I can understand wanting to do something else. Good luck!

While this sounds nice, I don't know how realistic it is -- yes, age matters.

How many years do you anticipate working after you change careers? You're not approaching this as, "Yippee! I loved school and can't wait to go back!" Rather, you're saying, "I want to change, and another degree is the price I must pay to make the change." If you put a good bit of money, effort and time into this, you have to be SURE you're going to work enough years to make it worthwhile.

But is there a reason you can’t find something in psychiatric nursing that is more aligned to what you want to do?

That is a brilliant suggestion. It's the area that interests you, but you could most likely enter into psychiatric nursing more easily than you could earn a Psychology degree. I know that psychiatric nursing is one of the higher-paying nursing venues too.

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

The PPs brought up lots of excellent points to consider! I want to chime in with my own experience because I’ve thought a lot about going back to school recently. In the end, I decided that I work to live and even in a different career, I don’t think I’ll ever live to work. So for me, it’s not worthwhile to go back to school because although I might like a different career, I will be happier prioritizing other things over work.

However!!! I expressed my feelings and other career interests to my manager, and as fate would have it, a few weeks later she found a certificate program that combines my current job duties with my new career interest. So my work is going to pay for me to do the certificate program! It will be % free for me and they are going to reduce my workload to account for the time spent in classes. I would highly recommend researching whether there is a way for you to take courses through your employer or to leverage your current nursing skills into something aligned with psychology. It’s a risk-free way to dip your toes into the new field.

 

[MrsPete]

...I don’t think I’ll ever live to work. So for me, it’s not worthwhile to go back to school because although I might like a different career, I will be happier prioritizing other things over work...

This is important. I think American society pushes the idea of work-as-who-you-are, the core of your identity. Society tells us that when we find our passion, we will love our jobs. You've heard that lie: If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life. We tell start by telling high school kids that they must search and discover "the perfect university" for them, then they must seek out the career that will bring them fulfillment. This is all very unrealistic.

Personally, I like my job -- some parts more than others -- but I wouldn't do it for free. It is NOT a passion for me.