I’m seriously considering making a full career switch to a Physicians Assistant or nursing after studying English in college. After seeing how much teachers work… 3 12s or 4 day work weeks for more money looks way more appealing lol.
I have a great amount of deskwarming that would allow me to take online classes to fulfill prereqs like science and math classes. Has anyone enrolled into online school while on JET or done a career switch and could offer some insight on how they went about it? Thank you!
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I’m currently getting my teaching license and then will be doing a masters starting in the spring. Depending on your program, it isn’t too hard. The only issue is having to stay up late for virtual classes. Other than that, it’s very doable.
Edit: beware though, I’m not living well financially. Depending on if you are paying on loans, you could be looking at some rough financial situations ahead. Just letting you know.
I’m currently looking into doing a career switch right now too! I was an accountant, and I also considered becoming a PA or nurse lol (ultimately decided to do nursing unless my experience in JET makes me change my mind). This all happened right after I was accepted into JET, but because I already put so much effort into trying to get into this program, I decided to stick with it and just get some good life and professional/working experience.
I’m not sure how it is for the programs you are looking into, but for the nursing programs in my area, they don’t accept any science courses that require a lab online anymore, so I’d definitely check into that before you decide to apply for a class like biology, chemistry, anatomy, or physiology online.
If you do decide to take online classes for classes like psychology or statistics, I’d make sure that the difference in timezones won’t be too difficult for you (aim for a totally asynchronous class with optional zoom meetings) and that the program you’re going to be applying to will accept the classes from whatever institution you’ll be taking them from.
Throwing another career option out there, check out medical lab tech programs. Every hospital system out there desperately needs lab techs and the starting salaries are better than teaching salaries in the US.
My husband is currently a nurse and leaving the profession because of the working conditions, nursing shortage, and burnout. That being said, it is a well paying job. I’ll also add that the 3 12s are grueling and intense both mentally and physically. He says often how he misses his 5 8s because his job wasnt as stressful on mind and body. He has also mentioned a few times he wishes he’d been a physicians assistant instead, so take all that into consideration. I don’t know much about the schooling needed to be a PA but I do about nursing. Nursing school does require clinicals, which to my knowledge cannot be done online. And trust me you want to do the clinicals otherwise when you get on the floor you won’t have any experience doing what you need to know how to do. My husband thought seriously about getting his master’s in nursing online while we are in Japan, but he couldn’t find one that would allow online clinicals to be completed. If you do find one though, then pass on the info please 😁
Hey, I completed an ABSN program in the States after JET and work full time now as an ICU nurse. I had a biology degree prior to JET though, so most of my prereqs were already completed (I think I only had to take one class online through my local community college after I returned home). I can’t help you much with regard to taking online classes while on JET, since I decided to just focus fully on ALT work/Japan while there, but if you have any questions about going into nursing feel free to message me. Good luck! 🙂
I made the decision to go to nursing school during my time in Japan. I didn’t do online classes for the prerequisites, but I’m sure it’s doable.
My original Bachelors degree is in art. I did a second-degree, twelve-month accelerated BSN program, which was a death march.
I worked as an ICU and ER nurse for five years before starting a masters program to become a family nurse practitioner. I’ve been practicing as an NP for almost three years, with a total of ten years of nursing experience.
I, too, considered physician assistant school. I went with the NP route because I can work as a registered nurse or a mid-level provider. PAs only have the one job title. I know several that were laid off at the beginning of the pandemic.
That being said, PA school has better training than NP school.
If you decide to go the NP route, make sure to get several years of experience before applying to level up.
Good luck.
I’m starting a medical terminology class next month (I’m also interested in healthcare). Its doable. I also took an online Japanese class at that same college too.