Second-career? what was the first?

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Hi all -

Just wondering - if nursing is your second career, what was your first career? why did you leave it?

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Active duty Air Force, supply and systems analyst. Left to raise my babies and go back to school (on my GI Bill).

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

First, an elctronics degree. Worked as a photographer for a year and then took a 1 year college photography program. Got a BA in psych, then went to nursing school. Worked for 10 years as an RN (ICU), quit and opened a nusiness, sold the business after 10 years, (3 years ago) now an ER nurse. This is it for as long as I am capable.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I was a factory worker at Procter & Gamble, producing Charmin tissue paper and Bounty paper towels during grueling 12 hour rotating shifts.

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:balloons: :balloons: just saying hello to all the current and former teachers. :balloons: :balloons:

i'm a former teacher. i was almost finished with my masters degree in early childhood special education when i just decided teaching didn't interest me anymore. my real love was to be a nurse in a nicu. (my oldest son was in a nicu when he was first born). so, here i am. i start the local cc's rn program in the fall.

--marci

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Specializes in Acute Hemodialysis, Cardiac, ICU, OR.

Man, there's a lot of diversity here...

Let's see:

Burger King

Visual Merchandising

Cashier at a music store

Returned Check Clerk

Receptionist

Direct Mail Marketing Designer/Graphic Design

Mommy

Customer Service in a hospital Business Office (Oy, Vey! The angry calls!)

Unit Clerk when I started Nursing School at 30

EKG Tech when the Unit I was working on wouldn't work with my school schedule, even though they promised me when I took the job that they would (big surprise there, huh?)

RN

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

Journalist. Got fired by the hometown paper after 3 months because they didn't want to pay benefits (they are notorious for this). Bumped around doing a bazillion jobs that paid less money. Went back to school for medical transcription, which I loved. Got laid off when my company was bought out by another company. Customer service work, which sucked. After all of this, I finally decided that since I wanted to be a nurse since I was a kid, it was time to start down that path. Met with a crapload of resistance from my mother, who wanted me to do the BSN RN route since I only need the nursing core and the clinical time, but no university would work with my schedule. Got accepted at LPN school where I can go part time even though it takes 2 years. The hospital will pay for my RN after I graduate.

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

I was a structural and aircraft rescue firefighter, licensed paramedic and police officer for 9 years before changing to nursing.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I was a surgical tech and prior to that, was in college studying for an English degree.Feel pretty good about my choice when I see old classmates of mine who graduated with BAs bagging groceries at the supermarket....

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Specializes in Camp/LTC/School/Hospital.

I was a dental assistant first, then a unit secretary in a hospital before becoming a LPN.

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