MinorityNurse.com

 

Career Change to Nursing

Well after five years in the corporate shark tank, I've decided to swim up for a breath of fresh air and pursue my passion to be in the medical field. I have a BS in Chemistry, an MBA in both International Business and Marketing, performed research on AIDS/HIV in South Africa, Studied in France and Belgium, and am ready now more than ever to switch gears! I feel vulnerable from a financial sense and the fact that these are uncharted waters for me, and yet I am armed with a passion for science, helping people (especially children), a deep seed of faith and wanting more out of life, and so I've decided to pursue nursing.

I remember thinking one day at my job, why am I beating myself up, dragging my feet into work in the wee hours of the morning, working 14 hours a day to give upper level management an extra dollar? Of course I'm grateful to have a job, but what's the point if it's physically and mentally draining and for no real purpose? I think the light bulb burst in my head when my manager came into my office and said, "Angela your work is wonderful, I see the perfectionist in you. You do everything you can for the team and are a tremendous support to us. Unfortunately, we can't control the other team members that don't do their jobs and contribute to the bottom line and we depend on you. But, don't get worked up. We're not doctors, surgeons, or nurses. It's not a matter of life or death." I thought to myself, but if it was life or death, someone could surely depend on me.

After that conversation, some soul-searching and the realization that I didn't have to say goodbye to my dreams, because I was in my late 20's (~ a year ago), I started taking pre-requisite courses for nursing. I applied and was accepted in the accelerated MN program at College of Mount St. Joe in Cincinnati, a 15 month program. I start this coming May. I also got my STNA license and am planning to gain experience now in the critical care, ICU area in order to purse my dream of becoming a CRNA. I hope to find people like me taking a leap of faith to pursue a life long dream as I continue on this amazing journey. I hope to look back as an CRNA in a few years and help pull another young African American woman up from the water, give her insight and help her on her way to make a difference in this world.

More than anything, right now I'm so excited. From figuring out what's the best stethoscope to purchase, the appropriate text to study in preparation for the NCLEX, to what courses I can take in the next few months at my local community college to prepare me for what's to come, I'm excited! I know it's a road of many twists and turns ahead, but my passion, drive and perserverance won't let up! Nobody said it would be easy.

Angela