Nursing as a Second Career
It’s never too late. At any stage of your life, nursing is a great choice because good nurses are always in demand, it’s challenging, and you’ll use your experience and creativity to change lives every day.
Get there with a bridge program
A bridge program lets you use your previous experience to become a nurse faster. If you have a degree in another field, an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) can be the quickest way in. If you have a healthcare certification, you won’t have to repeat training you’ve already done.
The NCLEX-RN
After earning a nursing degree, you have to pass the NCLEX-RN – a standardized exam set by the Board of Nursing in each state that shows you’re certified to work as a Registered Nurse.
In their own words
- 01
- 02
01
I'm a second career nurse. What's wonderful about nursing, is that it's very accessible after you've already been to school or college for another type of degree.”
Victoria
Telemetry Nurse
02
When I went to school for the second time, my outlook, my self-discipline, was totally different.”
Thomas
Nurse Anesthetist
Specialties
Once you’re a Registered Nurse, you can choose to specialize in an area you really enjoy.
Featured specialties
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)Explore the rewarding role of a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), encompassing key responsibilities and the impact on patient care. FNPs are central to long-term, personalized healthcare, often building lasting relationships with patients.
- Nurse ExecutiveA Nurse Executive holds a top position within a healthcare organization, making sure its goals and mission are carried out in day-to-day operations.
- Patient Blood Management NurseA Patient Blood Management Nurse is a member of the multidisciplinary care team whose goals are to preserve and optimize the health of patient blood by practicing Patient Blood Management (PBM). PBM is a patient-centered, systematic, evidence-based approach to the care of blood that focuses on anemia management and prevention of blood-loss and bleeding, with a focus on patient safety and empowerment.
Get your nursing journey started by finding a school.
