anyone else changing careers to go into nursing?

junior_felix · Feb 8, 2004

hello!

i'm a student from brazil and i'm at the same situation of you!in few words i do belive we've done the best thing when we choose nursing. bye.

originally posted by amyrae76
hi everyone!

is anyone else here totally changing careers to go to nursing school? i guess i'm looking for a little encouragement that it's ok for me to want to get out of the corporate/business world that i hate and go into nursing!

what are your thoughts and reasons? here's a little about me -- i have a degree in advertising and i've been in the business world for almost 5 years now. i just have no interest in business-related things, and i have no desire to climb the proverbial corporate ladder. to me, nursing seems like something totally different from that. i can't say i've had a passion for it my whole life, like some people can. it only just occurred to me about 6 months ago. but i just want something different -- i hate sitting at a computer and being bored out of my mind for 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week!!

anyone else in a similar situation?

amy :)

hello! hello

piper_for_hire · Feb 8, 2004

I think some of us here are changing careers because our jobs have been moved to India or China and nursing seems to be a way to start over. I absolutely hated working in corporate america and now that my industry is being shipped overseas, like others have been in the past, I need to think about feeding my family.

Nursing may be hard work and I may be underappreciated, but there is plenty of work and my kids will have a roof under their heads.

Who knows, I may end up really being good at it and loving it!

-S

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2004

Originally posted by orrnlori
This thread is so interesting. I was a banker for over 20 years. Went back to school and got my ADN in 1998 because it was something I always wanted to do.

I've worked at a large university hospital since I graduated. I'm now 48 and dead on my feet. I long for the days of sitting behind that desk in that soft chair. I don't want to take anything away from anyone here. Everyone must follow their hearts. I've been so disappointed by the profession yet exhilerated at the same time to be doing something so important and being in the most trusted field in America. But it is hard and underappreciated work. For those thinking about it, think about it hard. You may be wonderfully happy, you may find after years of difficult classes then awful shift work, that you made the wrong decision. For those thinking about management, please, work the floor first. You can't possibly be a good manager to your nurses unless you've walked in their shoes first. I wish everyone the best and I hope your dreams are fulfilled.

I hear you. I just showed my husband the happy, excited posts on this thread and said to him "Hey, remember back when I was like that?"

Now, I fantasize about sitting at a desk, staring at a computer screen for a living!

After years of nursing, I am exhausted, disappointed, disillusioned and my back is wrecked.

I'm still hanging in there, but sometimes, just barely. Occasionally, I get to do some desk nursing. Those are the only days I don't go home in pain.

When you compare the posts by nursing students to those of seasoned nurses, they are polar opposites.

kc_jellybean · Feb 9, 2004

I've worked at a large university hospital since I graduated. I'm now 48 and dead on my feet. I long for the days of sitting behind that desk in that soft chair. I don't want to take anything away from anyone here. Everyone must follow their hearts. I've been so disappointed by the profession yet exhilerated at the same time to be doing something so important and being in the most trusted field in America. But it is hard and underappreciated work. For those thinking about it, think about it hard. You may be wonderfully happy, you may find after years of difficult classes then awful shift work, that you made the wrong decision.

I know it will take some getting used to - being on my feet on day/night, being on call, working nights/weekends/holidays/etc, but there are so many directions you can go from there - :nurse: school nurse certification, working in a dr's private practice, home health care nurse, traveling nurse, research settings, legal nurse certification, nurse reviewer, or on to more schooling to become an NP, a forensic nurse, or even teach! :nurse: Besides, every city has hospitals, doctors, etc - you can go work almost anywhere! :roll

Nursing just has so many opportunities and options compared to my current occupation. I am being laid off - Friday is my last day, yea!!! - and it all works out well for me b/c I start school in May, but for many of my colleagues, to continue in this profession, they will have to relocate to where the jobs are. This means uprooting families, selling homes, putting their kids into new schools, etc. Personally, night shift on Christmas Eve sounds better than packing up and moving again, just for a j-o-b that I am indifferent about! :wink2:

sweetpotato · Feb 9, 2004

That is exactly how I feel. Amen to that!

Peyton · Feb 16, 2004

Hi, new here. But just wanted to add myself to the count.

BTW - CNA2bLPN2bRN (or something like that LOL) I noticed you live in Morgan Hill. I lived there in HS - up in Holiday Lake Estates. 17515 Holiday Drive to be exact.

Golly...that was a looooooooooonnnnggg time ago. Over 20 yrs actually. Funny I remember that.

jawbreaker3000 · Feb 17, 2004

Hello to everyone.

I found this website by accident and am very thankful that I did. Like so many of you, I too, am in the process of changing my career. I have been working as an Accountant for a number of years now, but becoming a Nurse had always been in the back of my mind ever since college. In my family, everyone is in the Medical field, be it a doctor or a nurse, except for myself. The reason for this is because I hated being stereotyped as another Filipino with a Medical profession. But now, I am beginning to hate the corporate world and have realized that becoming a Nurse is my true calling, not because I wanted to join in the bandwagon, but because it is something that I have always wanted to do. I want to be able to help others on a hands on, one-on-one basis, and not just with their taxes or financial statements, etc. I want to be able to make a difference in someone's life, or maybe save someone's life, and be proud to tell my kids that I made a difference. My sister, who herself is a nurse, had told me that since I do not have any nursing experience, that I should prepare myself for the worst because it takes a special kind of person to become a Nurse. I agree to that wholeheartedly. To get some experience, I am going to start doing volunteer work next month at a hospital closeby, and in the Fall, I am going to start working on my prereqs at a nearby community college where I have been accepted. Hopefully by next year, when all my prereqs (all Sciences) have been satisfied, I will be off to Nursing school.

I just wanted to say this website has helped me a lot in making my career decision possible. To everyone, thank you all for your input, your knowledge and advice. It's really nice to know that I am not alone, and that there are others who are willing to help others like myself and to show me the way.

Mom2kids · Feb 20, 2004

I've been an administrative assistant for the last 12 years. Time to move on and do something else. My job just isn't fulfilling anymore. It's the same old thing EVERY SINGLE DAY! UGH! I've always wanted to be a nurse, but always made excuses for fear of not 'making it' through the program and a general doubt in my abilities to make it. Then when I had the opporunity to go back to school my husband and I (more me, than him) decided to start a family. It was really my decision. It was just another way for me to avoid going back to school. :uhoh3:

Anyways, I will be leaving my job this summer to become a SAHM and student...I've got a few more pre-reqs to take before I apply to my community college ADN program - (no waiting list right now -- whoo hoo!) I'm SO happy to be making the change but scared at the same time. A journey into the unknown freaks me out. I'm most excited right now about being able to spend more time with my kids since I've never stayed with them other than maternity leave for 6 weeks. I think it's important to them right now too!

Just want to say I love this site! The support of the board is phenomenal!! Can't wait to talk nursing lingo with everyone when I get there! :) :)

Good luck to everyone pursuing their NEW careers in NURSING !!!

Rep · Feb 21, 2004

I've been an administrative assistant for the last 12 years. Time to move on and do something else. My job just isn't fulfilling anymore. It's the same old thing EVERY SINGLE DAY! UGH! I've always wanted to be a nurse, but always made excuses for fear of not 'making it' through the program and a general doubt in my abilities to make it. Then when I had the opporunity to go back to school my husband and I (more me, than him) decided to start a family. It was really my decision. It was just another way for me to avoid going back to school.
Anyways, I will be leaving my job this summer to become a SAHM and student...I've got a few more pre-reqs to take before I apply to my community college ADN program - (no waiting list right now -- whoo hoo!) I'm SO happy to be making the change but scared at the same time. A journey into the unknown freaks me out. I'm most excited right now about being able to spend more time with my kids since I've never stayed with them other than maternity leave for 6 weeks. I think it's important to them right now too!
Just want to say I love this site! The support of the board is phenomenal!! Can't wait to talk nursing lingo with everyone when I get there! :) :)
Good luck to everyone pursuing their NEW careers in NURSING !!!

GOOD LUCK AND STUDY HARD.

Corporate burnout · Mar 1, 2004

HI Mom2kids! I've been a corporate secretary for about the same amount of years as you. I hate it! I'm looking for something fullfilling and challenging too.

Wow! It's great to see that there are so many of us with the same idea in mind...get out of the corporate world and in to the human world. I'm hoping to start with prerequisites in the fall but I'm not sure how our family can afford to lose my income once the nursing program starts. Are any of you facing this situation? How are you supplementing your income when you begin nursing school?

Paleobug · Mar 2, 2004

I'm hoping to start nursing school in the fall. I have a mortgage, and finances will be tight. What I've done is eliminate non mortgage debt such as credit cards and car payments. One of the hospital chains are giving scholorships called an "Adopt a Nurse" program and they will pay for school as long as you agree to work for them for 2 years. That, with working part time and savings I should be ok financially. I would recommend looking into similar programs in your area. See what type of scholorships are available for example, the Pell grant. I also read somewhere that some federal student loans may be forgiven if you will be working in an area that has a severe nursing shortage.

sweetpotato · Mar 2, 2004

HI Mom2kids! I've been a corporate secretary for about the same amount of years as you. I hate it! I'm looking for something fullfilling and challenging too.
Wow! It's great to see that there are so many of us with the same idea in mind...get out of the corporate world and in to the human world. I'm hoping to start with prerequisites in the fall but I'm not sure how our family can afford to lose my income once the nursing program starts. Are any of you facing this situation? How are you supplementing your income when you begin nursing school?

Hello

I do not have any children but, I will be in a tight financial situation but I will be happier. I have also found a program that pays for nursing school as long as you commit to working two years. While I am taking pre-reqs I will look for a part -time job but my husband will cover our basic expenses. I may have to use a little excess of my student loans for other bills.