Switching Careers: From Nursing to IT..Networking?

Go for it, YOLO.

 

Why don't you stay a nurse, get connection w all the docs, clinics, hospitals. The offer to provide IT services for them later.

 

why the change of heart? You're in a Masters program.

 

Seems like an odd change. Why?
I am in the networking field and you don't need a degree.

 

What would you say that is required to get into IT with a decent company? Reason I ask is because I have a friend who is really good with computers but he's not getting any experience right now.

 

Career changes into IT are painful mainly because you really have to start from the bottom. If you're fresh out of high school or college it's not a big deal because you'd have to put in your dues anywhere else.
But almost everyone working in the top ranks of IT have done their time on help desk/call centers. Go get basic IT certifications just to show the hiring managers that you have the gumption to do so. They'll know it's mainly paper certs but at least you show you want to do something.

 

Ok that's good. He's only 21 but he as a couple of certifications not sure in what though. He does have experience in Staples and Office Max as a tech and does side jobs on peoples computers. Any recommendations on what kind of places to start at?

Sorry for detailing the thread OP, I'm done.

 

My company always has open IT positions:

http://www.dyonyx.com/careers.aspx
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You can get an IT job without getting a bachelors. None of the IT guys at my company have a degree. The best thing you could do would be to look and see what certifications are in demand. Cisco certifications are popular. Especially the CCNA.

There are also quite a few certifications involving security you should look into getting.

 

I've been in IT for 13 years and don't have a degree. I work at Microsoft now and am in a good place in my career. However, I started out when I was 19, in 1999. I wouldn't really recommend it for someone that is older and already established in another career. As others have said, pretty much whatever specialty you desire to eventually get into, nearly everyone in IT starts out at the bottom. My first jobs were patching systems for Y2K and putting asset stickers on computers for $10/hr. Unless you know someone or already have experience, you're not going to get a "Networking" job or really anything admin related until you've put in several years at the lower levels. Even then you have to get a little lucky, as many people get stuck at the help desk/desktop support level and have a lot of trouble ever advancing out of it.

 

This.

I started out doing Help Desk work for a few years. After that, I was able to move in to the networking field. Haven't really heard of anyone jumping straight into networking without any prior IT experience.

Gotta pay your dues, mate.

 

Them hospitals be hiring IT folks left and right. Might be easier if you have an in with the man already.

 

Like Harrisment, I started out "at the bottom." I have a Humanities degree. I know all about IT from experience. There is no "IT" degree. There is only "CIS" and only then you'll be managing people who are going to hate you, like those of us who actually do the work and you sit there collecting money, not knowing where the problem is until we tell you where, exactly. OR, you can get a Computer Science degree, where the money will be creating programs and information systems that actually do good things for people or crap on other people's jobs. Good luck!

Heyyyyyyy, Peter. Wwwwwhhhhhat's happening?

 

Glad to see you're so vested in your future

 

Do you like hot chicks? If yes, stay in nursing.

Do you like ugly guys? If yes, network engineering is for you.

 

Stay in nursing

 

Ever thought about getting involved in things like Meditech, Centricity, etc. rollouts? Seems like it combines hospital and computer experience. And no, I don't know how you get your foot in the door, but if you have hospital connections or experience, you probably at least have that advantage. "IT" is a broad term that encompasses damn near everything.

BTW, if you're going into nursing, make sure you truly enjoy it. Way too many people find out too late it isn't for them. It can be mentally demanding and stressful. Are you a nurse right now?

 

My great regret in life is not doing nursing. IT is a sausage fest.