One year into nursing and thinking about changing professions....

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I've been a nurse (ADN) for over a year now and have been in the medical field all of my life (9 years prior as a medical technician). Now I am having seond thoughts and considering changing to another profession, just have no idea what really! The reason I went into nursing was mainly due to family influence and because I've been working in the medical field since I graduated from high school. So this seemed within my comfort zone I guess and something I thought I would be good at. During my time in school I felt pretty confident, but now that I have been out on my own I'm not so sure.

Since graduating from NS I have managed to land a few jobs. I am married with a 3 y/o girl. Since my husband is in the military and deploys all the time I've never really applied for anything in the hospital due to childcare issues with the whole 12+ hours thing. Usually I try to apply for something part-time with 8hr shifts. First job was PRN at a LTC facility which I worked at for 5 months before I left. Then PRN at a mental health/drug recovery center which I stayed at for 7 months till I moved with my husband to Fairbanks, Alaska 2 months ago.

The two jobs I had I didn't really enjoy at all. Felt like a "pill dispenser" and didn't feel I had any time to do any real nursing much less time to think about it. And mental health was just scarey to me. I really didn't enjoy feeling like I had to look over my shoulder all the time. I really don't know what kind of nursing I want to do. Having been a med tech on a medsurg floor I'm sure that's not where I want to be. I'm more of a paperwork type of person I think. I enjoy working in an office type setting. As a med tech I enjoyed screening the patients in family practice. It was easy going, minimal stress, pretty routine. I think a doctors office would be great, or school nurse. Especially since I have a young one I want to be with and not miss out on. I'm not sure what else is out that there that may be similar. I've been applying for school nurse jobs and family practice jobs. Fairbanks doesn't seem to have alot to choose from, esp for a new-ish nurse with only an ADN.

I'm thinking about to trying to go for my BSN in summer 2013 at University of Alaska Anchorage to try to get into more managment types of nursing, but don't want to spend money on a profession if I already don't enjoy it at the lower level. So I feel stuck. Anyone give me any advice as to what I should do or what other areas in nursing might be better suited for me?

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I've been a nurse (ADN) for over a year now and have been in the medical field all of my life (9 years prior as a medical technician). Now I am having seond thoughts and considering changing to another profession, just have no idea what really! The reason I went into nursing was mainly due to family influence and because I've been working in the medical field since I graduated from high school. So this seemed within my comfort zone I guess and something I thought I would be good at. During my time in school I felt pretty confident, but now that I have been out on my own I'm not so sure. Since graduating from NS I have managed to land a few jobs. I am married with a 3 y/o girl. Since my husband is in the military and deploys all the time I've never really applied for anything in the hospital due to childcare issues with the whole 12+ hours thing. Usually I try to apply for something part-time with 8hr shifts. First job was PRN at a LTC facility which I worked at for 5 months before I left. Then PRN at a mental health/drug recovery center which I stayed at for 7 months till I moved with my husband to Fairbanks, Alaska 2 months ago. The two jobs I had I didn't really enjoy at all. Felt like a "pill dispenser" and didn't feel I had any time to do any real nursing much less time to think about it. And mental health was just scarey to me. I really didn't enjoy feeling like I had to look over my shoulder all the time. I really don't know what kind of nursing I want to do. Having been a med tech on a medsurg floor I'm sure that's not where I want to be. I'm more of a paperwork type of person I think. I enjoy working in an office type setting. As a med tech I enjoyed screening the patients in family practice. It was easy going, minimal stress, pretty routine. I think a doctors office would be great, or school nurse. Especially since I have a young one I want to be with and not miss out on. I'm not sure what else is out that there that may be similar. I've been applying for school nurse jobs and family practice jobs. Fairbanks doesn't seem to have alot to choose from, esp for a new-ish nurse with only an ADN. I'm thinking about to trying to go for my BSN in summer 2013 at University of Alaska Anchorage to try to get into more managment types of nursing, but don't want to spend money on a profession if I already don't enjoy it at the lower level. So I feel stuck. Anyone give me any advice as to what I should do or what other areas in nursing might be better suited for me?
If you're more interested in paperwork there are areas of nursing that involve little to no patient care. Try assisted living or even home health visits. Look into non patient care based careers
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Funny you should say assisted living. I actually applied at one in my area and was offered a job at night, but I had to turn it down because I don't have any childcare at night. Would have taken it if my husband weren't deploying soon bcuz there would be someone here with my daughter at night at least... :(

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Since you like the office setting, try applying for a job with an insurance carrier. If nothing is available in family practice, submit an application into a medical clinic. Home health is another viable option.

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