Thanks for your responses John, (and others).

The funny thing here is that I'm currently working in Data Security
for a firm that does EOL IT management. I got into IT in the late
1990s, not with any degrees or formal education, I just clawed my way
into it with determination and talent. I also have a background in
electronics. Obviously none of this makes me a rock star but in my
travels throughout the IT world, I'd say I do pretty good for someone
with just a HS diploma.

Except now I'm kinda burned out. My interest is waning, and I know
that my motivation to stay on top of all the new technology (or old
technologies with new names) will start to erode. It's time for a
change. Also, as I've gotten older, I've developed a desire to want to
help people instead of machines. In my early 20s I thought of trying
to get to medical school to become a doctor, but a lack of self-
confidence talked me out of it. Now that it's too late in the game
for that much schooling, i'm smacking myself.

Regarding the nursing shortage, I've always been skeptical. I
remember all too much the "CS Degree Shortage in IT" stuff from before
the turn of the century, and how the job market saturated around
2002. Fortunately in that field, there were enough people who could
shake out the real geeks from the goldminers, so I was lucky enough to
be able to stay employed. Most of what I dig up about it makes the
'shortage' seem like hype and b.s.. There are thousands of new
nursing grads that complain about being unable to find a job. I hear
it and read about it all the time, but I try to qualify it with the
fact that I don't know how many of them are unwilling to relocate.
The other thing that affects them is that every opening demands 3-5
years experience. You know- "can't get a job without experience,
can't get experience without a job". Also, I suspect that most of
them feel like they'll go straight from school into a fictitious sit-
com hospital like on the show [scrubs], so they thumb their noses at
nursing homes. I think this is a HUGE mistake. See above chicken/egg
problem.

Regarding specialization, when I envision myself as a nurse, I'm
pretty much a dead ringer for a psych nurse in a mental health
facility, or some combination of nursing and psychiatric care in a VA
Hospital. This isn't a monetary choice, it's what I think I'll
naturally gravitate towards and do the most good as.

I'm willing to relocate when the time comes, but I also understand if
someone wants to stay in the place they grew up.

Interestingly, I wouldn't doubt if after awhile I don't end up
crossbreeding the careers down the line- i.e., developing software or
hardware for the medical industry. But that's a ways off. After some
experience I'd also like to be a travel nurse, but I'm not 100% sure
how the licensing works for that.

Meanwhile, back to studying..

Thanks

-ph