Thinking about switching from teaching to nursing? Pacific Lutheran University’s ABSN program lets you earn your nursing degree in as few as 16 months. No prior health care experience is required. It’s a fast,supportive path for educators ready to make a meaningful impact in a new career.
Teachers profoundly impact their students by guiding young minds and fostering growth. Sometimes, though, they are compelled to learn new skills and seek a different kind of fulfillment. If you are a teacher exploring different professions and love to help others, nursing could be a rewarding path for you.
As a teacher with a bachelor’s degree, you could earn a nursing degree in as few as 16 months through Pacific Lutheran University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program.
Nursing is a profession grounded in critical thinking, scientific principles, and clinical expertise, where every day brings opportunities to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. Discover why teachers are suited to nursing and how to transition from teacher to nurse with this comprehensive guide.
Why Teachers Make Great Nurses
Changing careers from the classroom to become a nurse is a major decision that can yield great rewards. Educators have skills and qualities that are highly transferable to the nursing profession. They are often natural caregivers, strong communicators, and critical thinkers, making them well-suited for a career in health care.
Transferable Skills from Teaching to Nursing
Teachers are responsible for creating a learning environment where students can thrive. They must also anticipate behavior, adapt material, and ensure students meet their goals. The following skills could transfer well into nursing:
- Organization and planning: Just as teachers plan lessons and classroom activities, nurses must organize patient care plans, manage schedules, and coordinate with other teams. Nurses must anticipate patients’ needs, prioritize tasks, and execute care plans to ensure high-quality patient care.
- Assessment and observation: Teachers constantly observe students for signs of understanding or frustration. Similarly, nurses must assess a patient’s physical and emotional state, recognize subtle changes, and interpret those observations to inform care.
- Problem-solving: Nurses and teachers are responsible for multiple people at any given time. Student behavior can be unpredictable, just as a patient’s health can change instantly. Critical thinking skills are necessary as nurses must quickly assess a situation and take appropriate action.
- Communication: Clear, effective, and empathetic communication is key in nursing. Nurses educate patients and their families, collaborate with other providers, and chart their observations. Communication skills are highly developed in teachers, who must impart concepts to students at various levels of understanding.
- Patience and adaptability: Just as teachers must adapt to students with different needs and learning abilities, nurses must manage patients with various conditions and care needs. Nurses encounter patients from all walks of life, often in vulnerable states. They require a calm and understanding demeanor in the face of a patient’s changing needs. Maintaining composure and making quick decisions is a strength of both teachers and nurses.
Opportunities for Personal and Professional Growth
Both teaching and nursing offer opportunities for career growth. Teachers can add subjects or endorsements to their teaching certificates or move into administrative roles. Nursing also opens doors to continuous personal and professional development.
Just as teachers can interact with diverse subjects and age groups, nurses can practice in various specialties, from pediatrics to critical care to public health. They can also earn an advanced degree or become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). As nurses gain experience, they can move into leadership roles like charge nurse or Chief Nursing Officer. You could even combine your teaching experience with your nursing background by becoming a nurse educator.
The ability to make a meaningful impact and constant opportunities for advancement provide a profound sense of purpose.
Moving from a classroom to a clinical environment will bring new daily routines and challenges. You will learn health care terminology and procedures and be involved in high-stakes decisions. Your emotional resilience and commitment to lifelong learning will serve you well in the nursing profession.
PLU’s comprehensive education, including simulations and clinical rotations, is designed to familiarize students with the professional health care environment. You will gain practical experience and develop the confidence to provide high-quality care. The adaptability and problem-solving skills you developed while teaching will help you navigate this new field.
Is nursing a good career? Dive into the details here.
Steps to Make a Teacher-to-Nurse Career Change
If you’re wondering whether you can become a nurse without a science background, know you can. ABSN programs are designed for people who want to change industries, from education to health care.
There are several steps you must take to transition from teacher to nurse.
- Meet admissions requirements.
- Enroll in an accredited nursing program.
- Earn your degree and pass the NCLEX-RN exam.
Passing the NCLEX is an important step toward obtaining your license in the state where you plan to practice.
Meet Admissions Requirements
Because they are fast-paced, accelerated BSN programs have specific requirements that must be met before prospective students can apply. To be eligible for Pacific Lutheran’s ABSN program, for example, you need the following:
- A minimum of 60 non-nursing college credits OR a non-nursing bachelor’s degree
- Successful completion of prerequisites with a minimum grade of B-
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Prerequisites cover microbiology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, human development, statistics, and nutrition.
Pacific Lutheran’s admissions representatives will support you through the admissions process. Feel free to contact the admissions team with any questions.
Enroll in an Accredited Nursing Program
Enrolling in an accredited nursing program will ensure that you receive an education that follows industry standards and best prepares you to take the NCLEX-RN and become licensed. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Pacific Lutheran University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Earn Your Degree and Pass the NCLEX-RN
Once accepted into a nursing program, you will embark on a challenging yet fulfilling journey combining didactic instruction with hands-on practice.
Pacific Lutheran’s ABSN program is comprised of three main components:
- Online coursework, covering nursing topics from pathophysiology to assessment to leadership.
- On-site nursing skills and simulation labs, where you will practice nursing skills, like administering injections or caring for wounds, in a controlled environment.
- Clinical rotations where you will provide direct patient care at top health care facilities in the Seattle area.
In addition to learning the clinical skills needed to provide competent care as a nurse, you will develop soft skills like compassion and empathy, leadership, and clinical judgment. Pacific Lutheran’s faculty will provide strong support during the 16-month program. Academic Success Coaches also offer advising, resources, and encouragement and support in the fast-paced program.
After graduation, you will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. This computerized adaptive test will measure your nursing knowledge and clinical decision-making ability. Test questions increase in difficulty as you answer correctly, and the exam’s length can vary. It contains a variety of question types, including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and more.
If you want to know what to expect from the NCLEX-RN, check out these tips.
Benefits of Changing Careers from Teaching to Nursing
As a teacher, you already work in a profession that requires skilled communication, organization, and the ability to assess what a person has learned and is capable of learning. Nursing is equally challenging and rewarding, requiring similar skills. Nurses also enjoy the following benefits:
The Ability to Specialize and Advance
Nursing is a profession of continuous learning and evolution. The chance to specialize, pursue advanced degrees, and take on leadership roles means your career path can remain engaging and challenging for decades.
Nurses can work in a variety of settings, from hospitals to skilled nursing facilities to patients’ homes. They can focus on an array of specialties, such as:
- Cardiac care
- Critical care
- Emergency room
- Informatics
- Labor and delivery
- Mental health
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation
- Surgical
After gaining experience, you could further your education by becoming an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), like a nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, or nurse midwife. These roles require an advanced degree, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). In addition to the ABSN, Pacific Lutheran offers graduate degree options.
Job Stability and Increased Demand in Health Care
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects registered nurse (RN) employment to grow by 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the national average. Demand for nurses in Washington State is expected to increase to more than 69,000 by 2032, according to the Washington Center for Nursing.
This projected growth means that BSN graduates will have job opportunities and choices.
Opportunities to Make a Meaningful Impact
Nurses have a direct impact on patient health and well-being. They can rest assured that their care helped a person heal or provided comfort to them and their family.
Like the relationship between teachers and students, nurses must build trust with their patients. Year after year, RNs are ranked as the most honest and ethical professionals in Gallup’s annual poll.
Quality care by nurses affects patient safety and health outcomes positively. According to the American Nurses Association, RNs can deliver this care through the following:
- Evidence-based practice, meaning they keep current on intervention methods and best practices
- Open communication between fellow health care professionals, patients, and their caregivers
- Patient-centered care that considers a patient’s health care needs, values, and safety
- Empowering patients through education
Making a difference in people’s lives is likely something that has been important and satisfying for you as a teacher. Becoming a nurse will enable you to continue that and challenge you in new and exciting ways.
Begin Your Teacher-to-Nurse Transition with Pacific Lutheran
PLU-educated nurses are not just clinically astute. They embody a deep commitment to care that extends beyond kindness. They advocate for well-being and equity in their practice and communities, which aligns well with the compassionate spirit often found in teachers.
Our ABSN program presents an ideal solution for teachers who want to change to a nursing career without spending another four years in school. Contact our admissions team to find out how you can leverage your existing non-nursing bachelor’s degree or college credits and earn a BSN in as few as 16 months.