Career Change

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hey everyone! So I've recently been struggling with my career choice. I graduated with BSN almost 3 years ago and I've been working as an RN basically since the minute I graduated. And so long story short, I don't LOVE what I do, but I like it. I work in a great area for nursing (mother-baby) and I do feel very rewarded. The 12 hour 3 days a week shifts are nice because I do have 4 days a week to do what I want to do. But lately I've just been finding myself feeling a little...incomplete. It's nice to work 3 days/ week and I make very good money working in California and this area of nursing is fulfilling. However I HATE working nights, weekends and holidays (no prospect of going to days for at least another year or two). I just don't like having a different schedule than everyone else. I'm really not interested in other areas of nursing besides perhaps working in a clinic, maybe pediatrics. Lately I've been finding myself wanting to be an elementary school teacher. I just feel like I would LOVE that. I've always loved kids and wanted to be a teacher, but I was discouraged from friends and family when I was in high school to pursue teaching due to instability of job prospects and financial stability. I just feel so silly because for me it's a huge pay cut. I already have my BSN that I worked so hard for. I would have to go to more schooling (which I don't mind doing) to be paid less money and work more hours. And I have no idea why but I am so drawn to it. What do you guys think...silly to pay more money and go through more school to get paid less money even though it's something I know I would love? I'm also not very interested in being a school nurse or teaching nursing at a University. The aspect I am drawn to it teaching subjects to little kids. Any advice helps thanks guys!

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I feel like I see a lot of teachers posting about becoming nurses ...hopefully some are around at the moment??

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Specializes in School Nursing.

You could always try your hand at school Nursing. You basically have the same schedule as a teacher M-F and weekends, holidays, and summers off. It will be less money, but if you are trying to become a teacher, you will make less money anyways. It's a way to get into the school system and really see what everything is about. California is desperate for School nurses, so you might be able to get a job ASAP. Good luck with whatever you choose :cat:

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Some states allow you to obtain an alternative teaching certification with a non-education bachelor's degree.

Work as a teacher during the year, work as a nurse on all of those holiday breaks and summers. Best of both worlds.

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Specializes in ED, psych.

I would hate to be one to say "don't follow your dream."

I used to be a teacher. Still certified, K-12 SPED. I loved it, absolutely loved it.

You will still indeed be working weekends, and weeknights. You just won't be getting paid for them. Most teachers I know bring work home almost daily; there is just not enough hours during the day to grade papers, complete programming, go to countless meetings, and be with your students.

BUT. I decided to go with nursing, with an entirely new crappy schedule! I traded the stresses of one job with the stresses of another. But I'm glad I did.

And you might be glad too.

So I say ... Explore teaching. Shadow a teacher ... a few teachers, across districts if you can. Talk to fellow teachers. Give it some solid thought. You never know.

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My S-i-L just left teaching after 20 years (4th-5th grade, mostly). She got less pay than any nurse I know, brought home MOUNTAINS of papers every night and weekends, spent a lot of her own money on supplies for her classroom, and has noted that the flavor of the work has changed enormously now that parents all think their babies are special snowflakes who don't have to do their homework and take a week off to go to vacation even if it's not vacation week. They are on her like a cheap coat when young Algernon doesn't get an A on the three-week unit project he spent half an hour on the night before it was due. They won't help in the classroom or chaperone field trips. And then there's staff cuts, principals that have no clue, and ....

Spend a few lunch hours in the teacher's lounge and you'll thank your lucky stars for your nice 3-shift-a-week, well-paying job. A year until you get on days? When that year passes as a teacher and you're still dealing with the same old same old...

I agree that if you want to work c kids in school-type hours, be a school nurse (there's a whole forum here on that, and it's a lot of fun to read) and go per diem for the extra money in the summer and for vacations. You can always make an either-or choice later. But seriously, don't close the door on the good thang you got in OB until you've been on the other side of the fence awhile.

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Some of our recent older nursing students are former teachers.

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Specializes in Healthcare risk management and liability.

Mrs. RiskManager, the elementary school teacher with 25 years experience, endorses the comments of Pixierose and AliNajaCat above. Having said that however, she loves her career and working with the kids.

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Hey, maybe you should look into becoming a health teacher for elementary kids. I'm sure you probably only have to get a certification. Also try substituting, become a substitute teacher; to experience what's it like. You could do that on a free week day once a week. í ½í¹‚

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Ever thought of being a school nurse? I'm not one but it sounds like it could potentially be a good fit for you. Maybe post in the school nursing forum for feedback?

I worked outpatient as an RN (and now as an NP) and loved it. It would satisfy a lot of your requirements with regards to your schedule and preferences, especially if in a pediatric office. Most of my "real-life" friends and family are not in the medical profession and work 9-5, M-F jobs. It's nice to be able to meet up with them after work, spend weekends together, etc.

I also had a coworker who did home care with a developmentally disabled child. She LOVED the job and eventually went full time with it. It sounded like a lot of work at times (of course, all nursing is), but it seemed very rewarding for her. She even went on family trips with them. Home care definitely isn't for everyone but who knows, maybe you'd love it. By the way, she was paid very well (same as inpatient nurses in my area).

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