Working as a nurse in the US?

How can I build a strategy for changing careers, getting trained as a nurse, and working toward someday becoming a nurse practitioner?

• For the past few years I worked overseas in educational publishing, and it’s time for me to take my life in a new direction. I want a career that will allow me to work with people, challenge me to keep learning new things, and provide room for advancement. Though I only have a (mostly useless) liberal arts degree, I’m a strong and tenacious student, and I’m excited about learning more about math and hard science, especially biology. My long-term goal is to become a nurse practitioner, but I can’t afford all that school yet. One of the things that attracts me to nursing is that people can start out low on the totem pole and earn higher and higher credentials while working in their field. Right now I’m trying to save up for an LPN or RN program, just to get the ball rolling. I want to start learning as much as I can, in any way possible. I’m ambitious and I work hard. I've heard that some hospitals used to hire people and train them to become surgical techs. What other nursing-related jobs could I get a hospital to train me for? What other types of on the job training could I get in a hospital setting that would help me work toward my long-term goals? What other strategies could I develop to work toward that path?

• Answer:

  Getting your CNA is a good start. It won't allow you to skip nursing classes, but will make you shine when applying to a hospital. Too many RN grads have never had much hands on experience with touching, moving, bathing, feeding people. It's an art. If you are able to function as a CNA, you have enough  chutzpah to move on to an RN and eventually NP. Just get comfortable with the human body and how to care for people with dignity and respect.