Considering the huge job pressure, time demand and a lack of development opportunities, it’s no wonder that you’re considering switching careers from nursing to something new.
For many nurses, careers in fields such as tech, computing or marketing can offer what they’re looking for. MentorCruise helps nurses – and other professionals switching careers – to make that transition, by connecting them with the mentors they need to succeed in their new profession.
Why Do Nurses Choose to Change Careers?
Tens of thousands of nurses leave the profession each year, and this number is steadily rising, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
There are countless reasons for this, but here are some of the top factors influencing the switch.
Burnout.
Nursing is incredibly demanding on both the mind and body. With long hours and continuous job stress, at least a third of healthcare professionals are thought to suffer from burnout and emotional exhaustion.
Safety concerns.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses have a high risk of sustaining workplace-related injuries compared to other professions. As well as workplace accidents, the many hours spent on their feet, bending and lifting can create long term back/neck problems.
This factor encourages many nurses to look for another profession, to prioritise their long-term health.
Progression.
Everyone wants to feel like they’re continuing to learn, develop and progress in their career, but many nurses reach a point where they feel they’ve reached the limit of what they can achieve in their profession.
When this happens, many look for a new challenge with greater opportunities for progression.
Salary.
Most nurses enter the nursing profession because they want to help others. But with financial burdens such as mortgages, kids, and retirement planning concerns, the limited salary nurses receive is enough to make many consider a career transition.
Research published by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) showed that nurses were underpaid for their labor – as in many traditionally feminine roles – making a number of nurses want to change to a profession that values them to the extent they deserve.
How Do Nurses Benefit from a Career Change?
Changing careers offers nurses many of the things they lack in their current job.
This includes the ability to:
Expand their skillset and knowledge base
Improve their mental health
Safeguard their physical health
Increase their salary
How to Make the Change.
1. Start Your Self Assessment
If you don’t know exactly what you want to do yet, it’s time to start brainstorming.
Begin by writing down your interests, including activities you’ve enjoyed at work or in your free time to look for patterns between the things you enjoy.
For example, do you like mostly creative activities? Or how about solving puzzles and challenges? Or do you just love helping people?
An online self-assessment will allow you to get a better idea of your interests, skills and intelligence type, so that you’re armed with the information you need to find the right career for you.
2. Browse Your Options.
When your self-assessment has given you an idea of the kind of work you’d like to do, it’s time to start browsing through your career options.
Remember that you have so much experience already - and many of the skills and traits your future employers are looking for (and will post about on their job listing) are transferable skills you’ve likely already gained from your nursing career.
What’s more, having a background as a nurse makes you uniquely advantaged to certain roles, such as those in health and med tech, since you have first-hand experience in the healthcare industry and can offer a perspective that other tech firm employees won’t have.
Since there are thousands of potential jobs you could transition to, here are five jobs that offer many of the benefits nurses seek from their new career.
Information Security Analyst.
In organizations’ computer networks and systems, Information Security Analysts protect against cyberattacks and help keep data safe.
Full-stack Developer.
With skills to develop the front- and back-end of a website, full-stack developers are software engineers/develops who build full websites or apps. This includes both the internal architecture that allows the website to run, and the part of the website that users can see and interact with.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineer.
Artificial Intelligence Engineers work with AI systems and machine learning to make improvements in organizations. This can include improving a product, increasing efficiency of operations or enhancing marketing efforts, among many other goals.
Cloud Architect.
Cloud architects work with – you guessed it – cloud technology, including its design, development and maintenance. They ensure that organizations can continue to use cloud technology to support their goals.
Data Scientist.
Data scientists analyse and interpret data – often using complex computing methods such as machine learning and statistical modelling – to improve businesses’ decision making.
When browsing through the jobs you’re interested in, make sure you take note of the skills and qualifications that employers are looking for so that you’re ready to take the next step.
3. Build Your Skillset.
While nursing, you’ll have gained a ton of valuable skills that are sure to help you in your new career.
In most cases, you’ll need to expand your skillset to qualify for your new job. Whether this is by getting certifications online, going back to university, or doing a vocational course, figuring out what skills you need is essential to starting a new career.
Getting a mentor can also help to fast-track your way to success in your new profession, as mentors can outline exactly which skills will help you to stand out to employers.
With a platform like MentorCruise, you can connect with someone who’s succeeded in your new chosen field. These mentors will let you know everything you need to do to make your career transition as successful as possible, including guiding you as you build your skillset.
4. Update Your Resume.
Right now, your resume is probably tailored towards nursing. But to attract employers in your desired field, you’ll want to reframe your resume, displaying the qualifications, strengths and interests that make you ideally suited to your new career path.
To find out more about writing the resume that’ll get you hired when transitioning careers, check out this article on Indeed.
5. Start Your Next Adventure.
While looking for a new job can feel daunting, there are a ton of great job sites to help you find a position suited to you.
Here is a list of some of the best, so you don’t miss the start of your new career.
So, if you’re a nurse – and you’re considering making a career transition – make sure to carefully browse through your options, keeping your interests and skills in mind, and begin your journey by finding a mentor with MentorCruise.