Changing Careers From Nursing to Acupuncture
In 2021, Northwestern Health Sciences University (NWHSU) interviewed Dr. Kailee Carlson, DCM, L.Ac., RN, who was then a near-graduation acupuncture student. At the time of the interview, Dr. Carlson had spent five years working full time as a registered nurse and was actively transitioning from nursing to a career in acupuncture. This article revisits that original interview and catches up with her several years later to see how her career has evolved as a full-time acupuncturist.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- Why Dr. Carlson chose to leave nursing
- Why she selected Northwestern Health Sciences University
- Her experience learning in NWHSU’s integrative clinical environment
- How Dr. Carlson is doing today as a practicing acupuncturist
- How Dr. Carlson feels about her career change three years later
Deciding to Change Careers from Nursing to Acupuncture
Making a career switch is no easy decision, but Dr. Carlson was interested in providing holistic care to her patients.
“I was working as a travel nurse and I had gotten to know a few of the acupuncturists that worked at the inpatient hospital. I had also been seeing an acupuncturist, and was inspired by the integration of Eastern and Western medicine techniques.”
“I have a background as a college athlete and have experienced a lot of different injuries. The great thing about acupuncture is that it can help with sports injuries, and keep you healthy so you can continue competing. I have an interest in continuing working with athletes, casual runners and those with active lifestyles.”
Dr. Carlson is not the only nurse to pursue a more holistic career, such as acupuncture, massage therapy, or nutrition. Many nurses and healthcare professionals cite the following as motivators for making a change:
- Gaining more tools to support patients holistically.
- Working for themselves, or in a small clinic environment with flexible hours.
- Choosing a more sustainable career, with less likelihood of burnout.
- Aligning their work with their values.
Choosing NWHSU for Sports Medicine and Diverse Clinical Opportunities
The Human Performance Center (HPC) and ability to work alongside experts in sports medicine is the biggest reason Dr. Carlson chose NWHSU’s acupuncture program. Along with the HPC and elective class options, Dr. Carlson was intrigued by NWHSU’s integrative care models.
“It’s nice to have exposure to other health disciplines on campus like chiropractic, massage and allied health programs. You get to know the other professionals that attend school here. It’s important to build professional relationships so that I have people to refer my future patients to, and vice versa. The community is supportive of each other, we all have the same goal of helping patients feel better.”
“Everyone is coming from different backgrounds, including veterans and those who were not in a healthcare setting previously. Our professors have different backgrounds too, coming from hospital settings, private clinics or have been faculty for many years.”
What also drew her to NWHSU was the wide array of clinical experiences available to students, including in major health systems providing both in-patient and out-patient care. Dr. Carlson completed internships at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, in the Allina Health System, and in a community clinic that provided free care to underserved populations.
Where is Dr. Carlson Now?
We had the pleasure of checking back in with Dr. Carlson, who has been in practice for a little over 3 years now. Dr. Carlson has a private clinic in St. Louis Park, located within Performance Running Gym. She treats a variety of patients, but specializes in endurance athletes. Her services include acupuncture, fire cupping, dry needling, holistic microneedling, food therapy, and lifestyle recommendations.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been over two years since graduating as a Doctor of Chinese Medicine from NWHSU. I remember hoping that life would feel a little more spacious once I no longer had daily quizzes, exams, and late-night study sessions — but running a business quickly filled that space with an entirely new kind of learning,” she shared.
In addition to treating patients (my favorite part), I suddenly became the accounting department, marketing manager, operations lead, and customer service team all in one. The learning curve has been steep, but it has also been deeply rewarding. I’ve realized that graduation doesn’t mark the end of education, it simply shifts it into a new form.”
While starting a business can be overwhelming and time consuming, Dr. Carlson shares why it’s worth it:
“While opening my own practice was never part of my original plan, it has given me a level of autonomy, creativity, and alignment that I didn’t know I needed. If you had told me three or four years ago that I’d be running an integrative practice and collaborating with local running groups, I’m not sure I would have believed you.”
Reflecting on Changing Careers from Nursing to Acupuncture
As she got her start as an acupuncturist, Dr. Carlson picked up nursing shifts, but now it has been two years since she fully stepped away. How does she feel about it?
Reflecting on that transition, I feel immense gratitude and pride. Moving into holistic and preventative medicine allowed me to finally care for patients the way I always wanted to — treating the whole person, not just the symptoms.”
For her, the key was aligning her work to her interests and values: finding purpose in supporting her community. “As both an acupuncturist and an endurance athlete myself, I’ve found a meaningful niche serving runners and active individuals. Through my practice — including my work within the Performance Running Gym (PRG) community — I help athletes regulate painful or irregular menstrual cycles, calm their nervous systems, explore food therapy, and recover from injuries so they can return to the activities that make them feel most alive. Supporting people in realizing that suffering is optional has been one of the greatest privileges of this work.”
Her advice for others interested in changing careers from nursing to acupuncture? Trust your path. “I’m grateful every day for the steps and leaps that brought me here. My biggest lesson so far has been to stay open, stay curious, and trust what lights your fire. Every practitioner’s path and timeline will look different, and that’s a beautiful thing. There are so many people who need our help, especially now, and this medicine has so much to offer. I truly can’t wait to see what the next five, ten, or fifteen years hold.”
Interested in switching careers? Or starting your professional journey? Check out NWHSU’s acupuncture program overview and connect with Admissions to ask questions or schedule a campus tour.