Nursing as a second career offers strong job growth, high earning potential and the ability to make a difference in people’s lives. With multiple degree options and various programs available, including ones that don’t require health care experience, you can make the change to a second career fast.
Many choose nursing as a second career because it offers strong job growth and high earning potential. It also provides a meaningful line of work where you can help others on the path toward healing.
Many people choose to become nurses later in life. If this path is right for you, you can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in as few as 16 months with Harding University’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing program in Rogers, Arkansas.
Designed for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 64 college credits, the ABSN program can be your fast-track to earning a BSN and embarking on a nursing career.
As you consider whether nursing is right for you, you might ask yourself, “What skills do I need?” or “How fast can I become a nurse?” and “What steps do I need to take?” The answers below can help you decide whether nursing is right for you.
Is Nursing Right for Me?
Should you choose nursing as a second career? Nursing is a rewarding career that allows you to make a difference in people’s lives. It’s an excellent choice for anyone who wants a more fulfilling career, as you would be joining a highly respected workforce that has consistently been named the most trusted profession in the U.S. for over 20 years.
The field also needs more nurses. Due to factors such as retirements outpacing new hires and the rising demands of an aging population, the country is experiencing a nursing shortage. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing employment is projected to grow by 5% between 2024 and 2034.
Nursing also offers high earning potential. As of 2024, the median annual salary for nurses was $93,600.
When you become a nurse, you will find many specializations and advancement opportunities. You can specialize in pediatrics, emergency room nursing or obstetrics, to name a few. There are dozens of nursing areas for you to explore, so you are bound to find an area that fits your interests and strengths.
You will also discover that nurses can advance their careers in many ways. You could pursue leadership positions, such as becoming a nurse manager, or return to school to earn a graduate degree and become an advanced practice registered nurse.
Can You Become a Nurse Later in Life?
It’s never too late to become a nurse. Pursuing nursing as a second career later in life allows you to bring all the skills you’ve acquired from your previous career and experiences. You will start nursing school and your career with an advantage.
You won’t be alone on your journey, either. In nursing school, you will learn alongside students who are also beginning their second career with a range of experiences.
What Skills Do You Need to Become a Nurse?
While nursing school will help you develop the skills needed to become a competent nurse, you might find that many skills you acquired in your previous jobs are transferable.
Nurses must be strong communicators, organized and have excellent time management and interpersonal skills. These are skills you might have already developed in your previous career and will bring with you when you start your second career as a nurse.
Nurses must also be skilled in the following areas:
- Adaptability
- Compassion
- Critical thinking
- Emotional resilience
You will also need clinical and technical skills to provide safe patient care. Nursing school will provide many opportunities to develop these skills and more.
Read more to learn the essential skills for nurses.
How to Start Nursing as a Second Career
To become a second-career nurse, you must earn a nursing degree, pass the NCLEX-RN licensure exam and register with your state board of nursing to obtain a nursing license.
As you start planning your nursing education journey, you might come across common questions, such as “How fast can I become a nurse?” and “Do I need health care experience?” The answers below can help you prepare.
How Fast Can I Become a Nurse?
The time needed to become a nurse varies and depends on your degree choice, the time it takes to prepare for nursing school, the nursing program and the number of NCLEX attempts.
You have two degree options: an Associate Degree in nursing or a Bachelor of Science in nursing. While both degrees prepare you with the tools needed to become a nurse, employers have expressed a preference toward hiring BSN-educated nurses. This is because evidence indicates that nurses with a BSN are more prepared to promote positive patient outcomes.
Whichever degree you feel is best for you, you can earn it through the following types of nursing programs:
- Associate Degree in Nursing Program: An associate degree program is designed for individuals without college experience. It confers an ADN and typically takes two years to complete.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program: A baccalaureate program confers a BSN and is intended for individuals without a bachelor’s degree or college experience. It typically takes four years to complete.
- Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program: An accelerated BSN program is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree or a minimum number of college credits and allows them to earn a BSN on an accelerated timeline.
Once you graduate with a nursing degree, you will likely need to wait a few months for your scheduled NCLEX test date. Overall, depending on your path, it can take anywhere from as few as 16 months to four years to become a nurse.
How Can I Earn a Nursing Degree Fast?
Accelerated nursing programs help individuals with non-nursing college credits or a bachelor’s degree earn a BSN fast. By leveraging students’ preexisting college education and applying it toward a nursing degree, students can earn a BSN faster than many ADN programs.
At Harding University, the ABSN program allows students to earn a BSN in as few as 16 months. The ABSN program offers the same quality as a traditional BSN program, preparing students with the knowledge and experience needed to become practice-ready nurses.
Do I Need Health Care Experience?
While the answer varies depending on the nursing program, you generally do not need health care experience to apply to nursing school. Most associate and traditional bachelor’s nursing programs are designed for students without health care experience.
While some accelerated nursing programs require students to have health care experience, due to the shortened timeline, Harding’s accelerated BSN does not.
Even if you don’t have a completed bachelor’s degree, you might still be eligible for the Harding ABSN program. The admissions requirements are open to applicants with 64 or more non-nursing credit hours and those with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
The Steps to Becoming a Second-Career Nurse
Consider the steps below as you start the transition to nursing as a second career.
1. Apply to an ABSN Program
For individuals with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 64 college credits, an accelerated BSN might be the best option. Harding’s ABSN program fast-tracks your nursing education so you can earn a high-quality BSN in as few as 16 months.
When you reach out to the Harding ABSN admissions counselors, they will review your transcripts to determine eligibility. Once deemed eligible, they will walk you through each step of the admissions process, including:
- Creating an academic plan to help meet GPA and prerequisite requirements in time for your target start date
- Completing prerequisite courses
- Taking the Health Education Systems, Inc. Admissions Assessment Exam
- Submitting your ABSN application
2. Earn a BSN
Once enrolled, you will start working toward your degree. While every program curriculum varies, you can expect nursing school to include nursing theory coursework and hands-on experiences that instill the theory and practical skills needed for your career.
At Harding, the ABSN program combines online coursework with hands-on nursing labs and clinical rotations, so students receive a well-rounded education. The coursework, delivered through an interactive e-learning platform, offers students flexibility in when and where they complete assignments, provided deadlines are met. This lays the groundwork for advanced nursing concepts and skills.
Skills and simulation labs expand on the coursework, providing a safe space for students to practice skills, such as nasogastric intubation and patient assessments, and develop their clinical judgment. Finally, during clinical rotations, students apply all they’ve learned to real-world patient care in health care facilities throughout the Rogers, Arkansas, area.
3. Pass the NCLEX-RN
Once you graduate with a nursing degree, you can register to take the NCLEX-RN, a rigorous exam that assesses nursing applicants’ clinical judgment and ability to provide safe patient care. When taking the test, you will find that many multiple-choice options are technically correct, requiring you to decide which is the most appropriate given the context.
Because passing the NCLEX requires more than memorization, it’s best to start preparing early while in nursing school. The Harding ABSN curriculum is designed to prepare students for the NCLEX; however, it’s best practice to start your own study sessions outside of classes. When you graduate, dedicate the weeks leading up to the exam to full-time studying.
Learn how to prepare for the NCLEX with these tips for success.
4. Obtain a Nursing License
After passing the NCLEX, all your hard work has paid off. You can now register with your state’s board of nursing to obtain a registered nurse license. Once issued, you are ready to apply to your first nursing job and embark on a second career as a nurse.
Start Today with Harding University
Should you decide that nursing as a second career is right for you, then Harding’s ABSN program can help make it happen by fast-tracking your path toward earning a BSN. With a comprehensive nursing education from Harding University, you will be prepared with the tools needed to pass the NCLEX, earn a nursing license and start working as a nurse.
Our team of admissions counselors is available to guide you through the admissions process so that you feel supported through each step. Contact an admissions counselor today to learn how Harding’s ABSN program can help you meet your goals of becoming a nurse.