A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

MT to RN anyone considered or completed? - thankful

Posted: Sep 11, 2012

I am considering going back to school to get an RN. After speaking with a few RN friends in my area I am looking deeper into the possibilities. They recommended our community college with its 2 year degree program. This school also works closely with a major health facility here in town for recruiting. I have been on the hospital's job opening emails and along with multiple openings weekly for RNs (days, nights, and prn) and my nurse friends' agreeing there is alot of opportunity in my immediate area... I am edging closer to an encore career as an RN (MTing now for 12+ years, now 48 years old so this is quite a leap for me!) Just wondering if there were any other former MTs now RNs still on this board who have input. Thanks in advance :)

RN versus MT - anon

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My best friend is a nurse at a local hospital, and she is getting her hours cut or being canceled a lot at the hospital she works at. Several other friends of mine are nurses as well. Even when she works a full week, I make considerably more than her (over 3 times and before pay cuts over 7 times), although she gets the health benefits while I pay through the nose...

3x the pay? - thankful

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My nurse friends are telling me RN newbies in my area start out at $20/hourly.. not bad IMHO. With this economy and healthcare woes, we risk getting our hours getting cut wherever we go. The healthcare, I agree, as I HAVE to meet production to maintain my healthcare benefits currently, which as we know, can be more than challenging some weeks with low volume... appreciate the discussion.. thanks

MT to RN 2 year program - Inquiring minds

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It is only a 2-year program if you've done the prerequisites; chemistry, A & P, pharmacology, math classes. If you haven't had those, you're looking at 2-3 years. Good luck getting hired at age 50+ with no experience.

gee...thanks for the slap - thankful

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This will be my last post requesting pertinent feedback... I had asked if anyone had done it and what they thought about it... not your personal opinion about my age, which by the way, the nursing admin at our local hospital states differently... besides from what I am reading here... longtime fellow MTs are having a tough time finding work too, aren't they? I am looking forward to an encore career as I've been at this going on 15 years. No silver spoon here and just trying to figure out my next 20 working years.

Im with ya.. - 2BanRN

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I am thinking of going to my community college for their RN program as well. I will be 43 soon, and have been doing this FAR TOO LONG (17 years). I have far too many years to go to not do something.

My thoughts...sm - nurses forum?

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FWIW, you might want to connect with a nurses forum on maybe LinkedIn or Simply Hired. When I get out of the MT biz, I may not look back here and that may be why you cannot get a decent answer.

As for the other issues, my local hospitals have loads of RN and LPN postings (not a big city either), so opportunities obviously vary by location. And don't let age deter you. I am 48 and ready to pursue an encore career, too, as soon as I can choose one. IMO, if you have a real interest in nursing, give it a go. If it doesn't work out or if unable to find a job right away, you have your MT skills to fall back on if you need the income. Sorry I wasn't much help RE: your question, but wanted to give you some encouragement. Good luck to you.

Thanks to you and 2banRN :) - still thankful

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Appreciate the encouragement and advice... ya know... Ive spent the last 25+ years raising kids (even spent 3 years raising grandchildren) and fought breast cancer... actually looking forward to doing something for myself, finally and it will work out however it will workout but at least I'm moving in a direction to somewhere!

Considered (see message) - Leaving MT

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I considered RN as well. I live in a good area for it. It is definitely tougher to get a job than it used to be in my area, but it is still a viable choice. I decided on surgical technology, however, for various personal reasons. I am 47. If all goes well and I make it through this program, I will be 48 and very close to 49. I am not letting my age or any negativity about my age get in my way, including my own doubts and fears about age discrimination. I am healthy, athletic, and will have a lot to offer. I will have both strengths and weaknesses just like any younger person would. There are at least three of us in our late forties in my class of 23, a lot of thirty-somethings, and a smattering of younger people as well. Interestingly, the youngest student in class (21) gets more flack about his age than anyone else. He has a very mature demeanor, but he has such a baby face. Also, I pay close attention to the instructional videos we watch in class, which have actual RNs, surgical techs, and other hospital personnel featured that are not actors, and a lot of them are no spring chickens.

I guess my point is don't let being 48 stop you. Also, I breezed through my prerequisites for the most part because of my MT background. It was a tremendous help. It even helps now in my program curriculum to a large degree.

Best wishes and good luck!

I say go for it. You're a youngster at only 48, - and in 2 years you

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will be 50 with or without that degree and will probably be much happier with it! You will have years ahead to work in a rewarding career, and your knowledge with MTing is so vast that it surely help you tremendously. My daughter just graduated in January with her RN and is working in a good-sized medical center making 29 plus change on an overnight shift. She works three 12-hour shifts and can arrrange her schedule to have 8 days off in a row if she'd like. Great career! Best of luck!

Do it - it will be worth it

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I am waaaayy over 50 and went back to school to become a physician assistant when I retired from my day job. I continued to do MT part time while training.

All the science courses I completed for my BA degree about 40 years ago transferred (!), so I was able to go right into the 2-year PA program, which included some additional credits that could be completed to get a Master's, so I did that, too. I was concerned that I might have trouble keeping up with the younger students, but that was not the case at all. The time-management skills developed over a lifetime trumped their youthful energy, and I did very well.

I had several job offers before I even completed the program and start my new job with the VA next month.

Being over 50 was not a handicap at all in getting hired. The employers who recruited me all said that they value the life experience of the "mature" workers.

So go ahead and complete the RN program and don't listen to the naysayers. There are many opportunities for RNs in areas other than hospitals, so there will be a lot more choice than you may imagine once you've completed your training.

Best of luck to you!

doing it.. MT to RN at 50 - thank you all

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With tears in my eyes, literally, I am thanking those with positive, encouraging posts. As time passes, I will post on my escapades!

Good For You! I guess I will bite the bullet and sign up also - 2BanRN

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I have wanted to be an RN since the second year of doing MT! I guess its about time. Both of my babies are on their own, and I am a free woman at almost 43, so why not!

Keep me posted!

Yay! Good for you! - Leaving MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I think you will feel great doing it! Going back to school and making a change has made a world of difference in how I feel about myself. Parts of it are really hard, but it is so rewarding. I look forward to classes and labs every single day and hopefully will be heading to the hospital in October to start clinicals. Very exciting!

Best of luck!

lest I forget to say Kudos to you also and good luck in your new endeavors - at the VA... nm

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nm

Thanks! - nm

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x

Good luck to you! I admire you! - Bear

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X

Going back to school - Shona

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I encourage you to go back to school. I am 44, have been working at home with my kids for the last 10 years and have just started back myself for nursing. I am going an accelerated program with a local university, and I think regardless of age, if it is something you want to do - DO IT!!!! There are plenty, plenty of jobs for nursing. and you will never regret it.

Good luck!

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