When comparing nursing vs. teaching, nurses enjoy better earning potential, a strong job growth rate, and a diverse range of nursing specialties. You can transition your career more quickly with an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, like the one at UST.
Teachers face considerable challenges, including funding cuts, limited resources, work-life imbalances, and student behavioral problems, just to name a few. It’s not surprising that the teacher turnover rate is high. According to the National Education Association (NEA), 55% of teachers acknowledge that they’re thinking about leaving the profession. If you’re among them, you might consider a teacher-to-nurse career change.
The transition from teacher to nurse is not as daunting as it might seem. The University of St. Thomas’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program allows you to leverage your teaching degree toward earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as few as 12 months upon meeting the requirements. With didactic coursework taught online and experiential learning, you’ll be ready to tackle your new career in nursing.
When comparing nursing vs. teaching and weighing your decision, you’ll want to consider the benefits of switching to a nursing career and look at the teacher vs. nurse salary expectations. Then, learn more about the ABSN program and how it can help you navigate the transition.
Why More Teachers Are Exploring a Career in Nursing
While weighing a career in nursing vs. teaching, it can be helpful to consider the compelling reasons why other teachers have made the switch to healthcare.
Weigh the pros and cons of nursing careers before deciding to switch fields.
Significant Demand for Nurses
Nursing is a career field with significant and sustained demand. There has long been a shortage of nurses in the U.S., which is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job growth rate for RNs is expected to be 6% from 2023 through 2033, faster than average for all professions. This indicates healthcare employers will need to hire about 197,200 new nurses during this period.
The job growth rate for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) is even higher. The BLS notes that most types of APRNs are projected to have a job growth rate of 40% from 2023 through 2033, much faster than average. This equates to about 141,200 new jobs for these professionals during this period.
In contrast, the number of kindergarten, elementary, and high school teachers is experiencing a decline. The BLS projects a 1% decline in jobs for all these levels of teachers from 2023 through 2033.
Strong Earning Potential
Another compelling reason to make the teacher to nurse career change is the jump in earning potential. RN salaries vary depending on healthcare employer, geographic area, nursing specialty, and years of experience.
In general, however, you can expect a healthy entry-level salary with the potential to grow considerably as you gain clinical experience and add credentials to your resume. You might also pursue career advancement as an APRN or step away from clinical care to become a nurse administrator.
Transferable Skills Overlap
While teachers and nurses draw upon different hard skills, they share similar soft skills. If you decide to switch from being a teacher to a nurse, you can expect a significant carryover of your soft skills, such as:
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking and analytical reasoning
- Interpersonal skills
- Leadership
- Organization
- Time management
One major part of a nurse’s job is to serve as a patient and family caregiver educator. You’ll be responsible for helping patients understand their diagnosis, treatment options, and discharge instructions.
Diverse Work Settings
If you’re tired of working in the same classroom every day, you’ll appreciate the diverse range of work settings available to nurses. Aside from hospitals and doctors’ offices, nurses can work in:
- Disaster zones, as a disaster relief nurse
- Emergency medical evacuation flights
- Government agencies
- Home health and hospice agencies
- Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- Oncology treatment centers
- Private corporations
- Substance abuse and behavioral health treatment centers
Wide Range of Specialties
Teachers can specialize in certain areas, such as mathematics, language arts, special needs, or physical education. Nurses can specialize, too, but they have access to a greater range of specialization possibilities than teachers. Some of the dozens of nursing specialties available include:
- Behavioral health nursing
- Cardiac care
- Emergency room nursing
- Neonatology
- Pain management
- Plastic surgery
- Public health nursing
- Trauma center nursing
There’s a nursing specialty for virtually every interest.
Is it too late to become a nurse later in life? Get some insight and start planning your career change.
Teacher vs. Nurse Salary: Comparing Financial Prospects
Some teachers might decide to switch to nursing because of the higher salary potential in healthcare. According to the BLS, kindergarten and elementary school teachers made a median annual salary of $62,310 as of May 2024. High school teachers didn’t fare much better, with a median annual salary of $64,580.
In contrast, registered nurses made a median annual salary of $93,600. If you decide to pursue career advancement to become an APRN, you can expect even greater earning potential. Most types of APRNs, including nurse practitioners (NPs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and certified nurse midwives (CNMs), made a median annual salary of $132,050. CRNAs earn the highest median annual salary of any clinical nurse, at $223,210. If you’re dissatisfied with the income potential of a teaching career, perhaps nursing is the right choice for you.
How an ABSN Program Helps You Transition from Teacher to Nurse Faster
Since you already have a teaching degree, you won’t have to return to school for another four years to earn a nursing degree. UST’s ABSN program allows you to use your prior non-nursing college education to earn a nursing degree much more quickly.
Accelerated Timeline
You may need to complete some prerequisites before starting the ABSN program. Once enrolled, however, you can expect to complete the program in as few as 12 months. The accelerated timeline is possible thanks to our consecutive semesters and laser focus on nursing-specific curriculum. Since you’ve already earned a degree, you won’t need to complete general education courses again.
Multiple Start Dates Per Year
Traditional BSN programs usually only offer one or perhaps two start dates per year. Our ABSN program offers three start dates in January, May, and August. That means you can get started after completing the admissions requirements and receiving your acceptance notice.
Strong Student Support
The accelerated timeline means you’ll have a full schedule in nursing school. Although it can be hectic, you’ll benefit from our extensive student support. UST maintains small class sizes, which allows for personalized attention from nursing instructors. You can also work one-on-one with an Academic Success Coach, who can help you navigate any obstacles.
Nontraditional Students Are Welcome
We welcome nontraditional students at UST, including those making the teacher-to-nurse career change. Whether you already have 20 years of teaching experience or you’ve only been working for a short time, you’ll fit right in with our ABSN program. Your nursing cohort will comprise students from all walks of life, career fields, and age ranges.
When planning a career change, you’ll need to put together a financial plan. Don’t neglect to apply for financial aid for nursing school.
Take Action to Change Your Career
You can expedite the teacher-to-nurse career change with the University of St. Thomas’s ABSN program. With no waitlist and three start dates per year, we can enroll more students at our three locations in Houston, including our downtown campus. In addition, you could graduate with your BSN in as few as 12 months and be ready to take the licensure exam.
You’ll enjoy our small class sizes, hybrid learning approach, and personalized support. Work one-on-one with an Academic Success Coach as you navigate the nursing curriculum and polish your new nursing skills in our fully equipped labs.
Ready to begin the transition from teacher to nurse? Contact an admissions advisor at UST today.