Posted by KG on April 8, 2009, 5:49 am |
- Re: AA as a second career?
Posted by aa-someday
on April 22, 2009, 12:49 am, in reply to "AA as a second career?"
24.99.1.145If you perhaps have read some of my other posts, I'm in the same situation. I'm 31, no college degree, with a job in IT making 86k a year. After one shadowing experience, I decided that I wanted to make the switch to become an AA, and I'm going back to school next spring to get a BS in Psych with a pre-med concentration, and still work full time.
I would recommend shadowing at least once, just to be sure you'd really like to make the switch. And if you enjoy your experience, GO FOR IT! You only have one life to live, and you should follow your dreams, no matter how difficult they may be to achieve.
- Re: AA as a second career?
Posted by MRW on April 8, 2009, 9:35 am, in reply to "AA as a second career?"
71.251.200.235Ask me in a few years. I am 40 and starting at NOVA in June... - Re: AA as a second career?
Posted by KG on April 8, 2009, 12:21 pm, in reply to "Re: AA as a second career?"
70.88.187.169Do you have to move a long distance, sell a house, relocate a family/spouse, etc.? - Re: AA as a second career?
Posted by MRW on April 8, 2009, 12:40 pm, in reply to "Re: AA as a second career?"
71.251.200.235Yes, while working a demanding job and having a third child... School is going to be stress free compared to me past few months... - Re: AA as a second career?
Posted by KG on April 8, 2009, 1:55 pm, in reply to "Re: AA as a second career?"
70.88.187.169Is your spouse moving willingly, or did he/she give you a really hard time about it? Does your spouse work? How about the thought of changing your children's school? Was this a no-brainer decision for all, or did everyone let you know what a huge sacrifice you were requiring of them? Also, how far are you moving? (Sorry for all the questions!) - Re: AA as a second career?
Posted by MRW on April 8, 2009, 2:25 pm, in reply to "Re: AA as a second career?"
71.251.200.235Let me try to answer your questions in order:
It's much more complicated that I care to get into here, but my wife encouraged me to get back into healthcare and so something that wasn't sucking the life out of me. A lot of research and application later, I am going to NSU Tampa to become an AA. A few bonuses with Tampa are the presence of several of her family members a low cost of living and no state income tax. She runs a business and that will help while I am not working. We have 3 kids but the are all 3 and under. Schools are not a huge issue yet. We are coming from NJ, so the move is a big hassle. - Re: AA as a second career?
Posted by KG on April 8, 2009, 3:33 pm, in reply to "Re: AA as a second career?"
70.88.187.169Thanks for your story. It's not too dissimilar from mine, except mine is still sadly unresolved (spouse went from supportive to unsupportive for all the previously-mentioned reasons).
Anyone else out there to comment/give input to my original questions about AA being one of the best professions out there???? - Re: AA as a second career?
Posted by FutureAA on April 8, 2009, 4:23 pm, in reply to "Re: AA as a second career?"
67.165.199.11Well, not that I know from personal experience yet, but all the AAs and CRNAs i've talked to have said they LOVE their jobs. Can't say the same for the MDs/DOs/DDSs/RNs I've spoken with. You make great money relative to the length of schooling. Hours seem reasonable, and the work itself (i think) will be very rewarding. So yeah, if that sounds like something you'd like, then yeah it IS one of the best professions out there. 
