Changing Your Career to Nursing: How To Transition

Nursing is a compelling option for those looking for a rewarding career change. This path offers ample opportunities for growth, job stability, and meaningful work that has a noticeable impact on others. Accelerated nursing degree programs are ideal for career changers who want to get started on their new job in a matter of months. There are several educational options that may help career changers transition smoothly to a nursing career.

Why Consider a Career Change to Nursing?

Nursing offers job stability, growth opportunities, and a deep sense of purpose. Current shortages project plenty of openings for nurses in a wide range of roles, particularly for those willing to relocate to help where nurses are needed most. There are many compelling reasons to consider a career change to nursing.

Job Stability

The job outlook for nurses is favorable. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 5% increase in employment of registered nurses from 2024 to 2034. This will create around 189,100 openings for RNs each year. The Health Resources and Services Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services noted a major discrepancy in nursing supply and demand between 2022 and 2025. In this three-year span, the demand for RNs increased by 3% while supply grew only 1%. This left a deficit of 295,800 nurses across the country.

By 2027, the HRSA and HHS anticipate a 10% shortage of full-time-equivalent RNs nationwide. The outlook is more dire in some states than others. The shortage is projected to be 22% in North Carolina and Washington, 20% in Maryland, and 19% in South Carolina, Michigan, and New Mexico.

Opportunities for Growth

There are several potential pathways to a nursing career. Students may undergo training to pursue a career as a licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse in as few as 13 months at Concorde Career College, depending on the campus location. Students have several opportunities for growth with continuing education to get an associate degree in nursing or bachelor of science in nursing, which would equip them to pursue a career as an RN.

Sense of Purpose

According to the 2025 Survey of RNs by AMN Healthcare, 75% of nurses are satisfied with their career choice. The percentage of nurses who were dissatisfied and very dissatisfied with their career fell from 22% in 2023 to just 13% in 2025. Sixty-five percent of nurses are likely or very likely to recommend nursing as a career choice for others.

Though nursing has many challenges, nurses find the sacrifices well worth the rewards of the profession. In the same survey, one nurse noted, "At the end of my 44 years, I can say the journey was worth all the tears and heartache I went through." As more nurses enter the workforce, many of the biggest nursing challenges may decrease. Sixty-three percent of nurses say that reducing the number of patients per nurse would be extremely effective at improving their work environment. 

Diverse Roles To Choose From

Nurses come in all shapes and forms. Health care professionals may tailor their career to suit their interests in a variety of ways. Those who love working with kids may consider a job as a school nurse or work in a pediatrician's office. Those who like to travel may select a career as a travel nurse, doing temporary work in different parts of the country to fill gaps in shortage areas.

From labor and delivery to geriatrics, nurses have a role serving patients at every stage of their lives. This career path is so wide that it can include remote nursing, hands-on nursing, home health care nursing, and more. Nurses may work in labs, hospitals, clinics, schools, prisons, and beyond. Even in a single setting, such as a hospital, nurses can be seen in the emergency room, intensive care unit, labor and delivery unit, operating room, postanesthesia care unit, progressive care unit, and other departments.

Related: Types of Nurses

Assessing for a Nursing Career Fit

A passion for helping others is the best reason to pursue a career in nursing. One respondent in the 2025 Survey of RNs advised, "Nursing can be anything you want it to be, but go into it for the right reasons. If you are going into it for the money, there never will be enough for it to be the right fit."

Health care professionals who enjoy the scope of their work may find deep satisfaction in a nursing job. Nurses should have great empathy, resilience, patience, and adaptability to meet the demands of this career. Robust training is necessary to prepare future nurses for the varied responsibilities of this job, including:

• Communicating with patients and their families
• Evaluating patients' conditions
• Administering treatments and medications
• Providing wound care
• Controlling infections
• Collaborating to develop patient care plans
• Monitoring medical equipment
• Performing diagnostic tests
• Championing patient rights

Those interested in training for a career in nursing should consider shadowing or conducting an informational interview with an experienced nurse. Volunteering in a health care setting, such as a hospital, may also provide a firsthand look at what nurses do.

Steps To Transition to a Nursing Career

Transitioning to a nursing career is a big step. Career changers should be prepared for the adventure ahead.

1. Identify Transferable Skills

Career changers likely have transferable nursing skills even if they're not coming from a health care profession. They should consider where their strengths lie and hone relevant skill sets such as:

• Communication: Nurses must communicate clearly with patients, families, and other health care providers in both written and verbal form.
• Time management: Nurses typically manage multiple patients at a time. Organization and time management skills can help nurses keep up with their patient load and improve the quality of care for everyone on the roster.
• Problem solving: A key part of nursing is making note of symptoms, evaluating test results, asking relevant questions, and guiding the patient's health care journey toward an accurate diagnosis and beneficial treatment plan.

2. Choose an Educational Pathway

Concorde offers three distinct paths to engage in the proper training for a career in nursing. Students can choose the best path for their timeline, interests, and career goals:

• Practical/Vocational Nursing Diploma Program: Get a nursing diploma in as few as 13 months to pursue a career as an LPN or LVN.
• Nursing (Pre-Licensure) Program: Students can complete an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing Practice at the Memphis campus in as few as 21 months for the necessary training to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. The Jacksonville campus offers a Nursing Associate of Science degree in as little as 20 months.
• RN to BSN: Students can continue their education beyond an RN with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They can pursue RN-To-BSN training with Concorde in as few as 17 months.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing: You can get a BSN in as little as 29 months at the Aurora or Kansas City campuses and start your career with a Bachelor's Degree.

Related: Can You Be a Nurse Without a Degree?

3. Complete Certifications and Licensure Requirements

LPNs and LVNs must pass the NCLEX for Practical Nurses. Those interested in becoming an RN must pass the NCLEX-RN. Depending on the state, career changers may need to complete additional licensure requirements. After practicing as an RN for a number of years, they may pursue additional certifications in specialty areas such as ambulatory care, cardiovascular nursing, medical-surgical nursing, gerontological nursing, case management, and informatics. 

Overcoming Common Challenges in the Transition

Nursing comes with many challenges. Taking a proactive approach may prepare career changers for the rigors of the job. Those new to health care should consider taking on a part-time or volunteer role in the field to ease the learning curve. 

Career changers should set realistic goals as they pursue their nursing education and seek support from friends and family. They should stay mindful of their physical and mental health. Sixty-four percent of nurses say compassion fatigue has impacted their health, and 58% feel burned out most days. Finding a good work-life balance is essential. Career changers should start optimizing their schedule, implementing healthy habits, and developing their support system while in school to establish a framework that can carry them through their future career.

Pursue a Career as a Nurse

As a career changer who switched to nursing, you're poised for substantial options, opportunities, and stability in the coming years. This career offers personal fulfillment and diverse work environments. If you're ready to start charting your path forward, explore our nursing programs at Concorde. We offer three options, so there's something to suit your lifestyle. Each program is flexible, so you may take one course at a time or commit to a full course load to expedite your journey. Concorde's nursing programs provide the opportunity for you to engage in the proper training for a rewarding health care career.