anyone else changing careers to go into nursing?

amyrae76 · Jun 2, 2003

Hi Nurse Pickles!

Thanks for your message! I love hearing from others who are bored with the corporate world. I can especially relate to you about Powerpoint presentations! I do a lot of graphic design and layout of ads, brochures, etc., and with each design thing I do now, I think, "I can't wait till the day when I never do this again!"

You're right about the nursing profession. Just like any profession, there are people who love what they do and hate what they do. If someone were thinking of going into my current field, I would discourage them because I personally think it's incredibly boring and unfulfilling, but someone else might be very well-suited to it.

I'll pass along a little encouragement I got "from the field" over the weekend: I was at my friend's wedding, and at my table was a girl who's been a nurse for a couple years. She LOVES it!! She raved about it when she found out I'm starting nursing school in the fall, and she said it's so awesome to be able to help people and touch their lives. I think about how she feels about her job, compared to how I dread my stupid meaningless desk job every day, and I'm so excited about my decision!

Good luck to you!!

amyrae :)

KidsLuvMe · Jun 12, 2003

Well I'll just add myself to the list here :-)

I currently design security systems for the gov... Job security and good pay... maybe. Boring and meaningless... definately. What do I actually do... read stuff off of the internet and help people around the office.

I am still looking for a nursing program that I want to get into and I have until next april to decide where I want to live next but I am not wasting any time. I know I want to be a nurse and I will be. The sooner the better too.

waves · Jun 16, 2003

had a great time working on small (33-88 passenger) cruise ships in alaska, bc, puget sound,columbia river, baja...last job full season as captain...last relief job on yachts...yachts can be very lucrative...but how long can you drive rich people around if you have the urge to contribute to society? plan to do some traveling when i'm a nurse...maybe volunteer in the mountains of south america or the tundra of alaska...who knows...but ready for the change. ready to give back.

rnnurse2be · Jun 16, 2003

I am a mother of two elem. school aged sons, a mother and am 32. I work for myself doing accts recvabl for other businesses. I began doing this job when my second son was a baby, so I could provide for the family and stay home. I went back to college three years ago this summer. I have 2.5 yrs left before I get my BSN degree. You are not alone Amy, there are many, many, many non traditional students out there. Im still a mom, wife, and work for myself. It's just that now I add Full time Nursing Student to the list!

It can be done. JUST DO IT!

kat57 · Jun 19, 2003

I call it my mid life career crisis. I am 46 and have worked in secretarial positions most of my life. I sit in front of a computer all day and answer the phone, that's it. I have no more interest in the business world. A few years ago I realized that I wanted to become a nurse because as hokey as it sounds to 'make a difference'. I fought off the idea for awhile thinking I was nuts but I have always been interested worked as a cna out of high school and now it's my turn. I cannot imagine sitting at my job or any office job for the rest of my life. I begin LPN classes Jan. 04 and am really excited. Good luck to you all.

Nurse_RaRa · Jul 5, 2003

Gee - I guess all these posts answered your question. I also am going into Nursing at age 39. I appreciate everyone's input - I have a BA but only 15 credits transfered. Good luck!

Young One · Jul 8, 2003

Hi all,

I am a new member to this forum, I have to admit I have been lurking for a little. I currently work in the IT field hich you think would be great but lately I have just gotten this feeling that it may not be for me anymore. I am 24 years old and moved here about seven years ago and have felt stuck ever since. I applied to two different nursing schools in the area about five years ago and because of the two year waiting lists I was forced to move on and find something else to do for money. I eventually got married and now that is sort of on the rocks. Now I am considering nursing again but am not sure if I can manage the schooling. I have a very very hard time in school and with completing things in general. I have the opportunity to go through a two year diploma program with a full ride if I guarantee them two years of employment after nursing school. My delemma is I am just not sure if I am still cut out for it and if I end up getting a divorce I will be moving out of state and will lose my chance and have to start over at a regular college or community college. I really regret not doing this a few years back. I am really interested in L&D or NICU area. Just as a side note I am in counseling myself and with my husband. Anyone else go through this? How did you handle it?

Thanks,

Melissa(Young One)

echo*echo · Jul 10, 2003

Career? I'm 39 and I've never really had a career. When I entered college in 1982 I really wanted to either do something that would make a positive impact on people's lives (nursing or teaching) or something fun (radio-television-film). Others pressured me to do something more practical, so I started out as a business major. I was miserable. Then I switched to computers. Miserable. I eventually switched to R-TV-F which was terribly impractical. I was always a part-time student working odd jobs, so when I managed to find a job in the radio business without a degree I quit school. As fun as that job was, it was a terribly unstable and low-paying career. I was 27 years old, and I had never had any benefits or health insurance, and I was burned out on school so I took an office job. A dead-end job I worked for ten years. I was let go in 2001--I made $12 an hour. I have sought other employment only getting an occasional Temp assignment or permanent job offers starting around $8 or $9 an hour. So I tried to start my own business. That didn't go well either! I began to amass such a massive debt and reality finally hit me when I could no longer afford to keep my home. I made a horrible decision not following my instinct earlier in life and now I am a 39 year old single woman with no support system starting completely over. Its frightening to be in this situation but I intend to make the best of it. I only pray I will get enough from my house to see me through these next few years.

So I guess for me Nursing is an economical and emotional decision for me. I need to do something rewarding, something that gives meaning to my life and also touches others. And I need to be able to support myself. And I think one experience in my life convinced me I could actually do this, and do it well. My Mother passed away 5 years ago after a lengthy battle with cancer. It was I who cared for her. It was I who comforted her. Anything I could do to make her as comfortable as possible and keep her out of the hospital I did. Between my job and caring for her I would go days without sleeping. I don't think anything is more difficult than slowly watching a loved deteriorate in front of your very eyes. I never realized I could be that strong. If I can do that for my Mother, and I can do it for anyone.

iliel · Jul 10, 2003

echo*echo

Good luck to you! Stick with it and work hard! You'll do great!

I actually work in dentistry. I am a RDA and HATE it! I always wanted to do nursing, but for some reason, I was talked out of it by an advisor and told to do Dentistry for the hours and pay. But ya know what, they hours are poor, the pay suck and the benefits, well, feel lucky if you have them. There is no chance to grow in my feild.

After several years and huge amounts of student loans later, I quit, moved to Vegas and "started over" I am almost there! I'll apply in 2004 and plan to go as far as I can!

kryzzz · Jul 10, 2003

Aah, I love hearing from all of you from such different careers and different walks of life, all really trying to make a difference as Dr. Kate spoke so eloquently.

I have been taking my nursing prereqs at night with so many career-changers (post-Dot Bomb casualties); their experiences are invaluable and I believe we are creating a newer, more modern generation of nurses. This can only bring greater respect to the profession!

I worked in a hospital all through college, and I've been working in molecular biology these last four years. I can't wait to get back into patient care!

I am really looking forward to working with this next generation!

ulianka · Jul 12, 2003

EDI Manager for distribution company - going to nursing. So, count me in.

Nurse_RaRa · Jul 13, 2003

Mellissa, I understand your plight. It's great that you both are agreeing to counseling. My first hubby (bio-dad on a good day - sperm donor on a bad) only went one day....I would highly recommend Bill Glasser's book - Reality Therapy or maybe it's now Choice Theory...anyway - EXCELLENT Book! talks about how each of us have a Quality World Picture and will only change the stuff in it if the status Quo hurts enough - like me going back to school - I'll be closer to the two kids (ages 13 and 14) that live with Bio-dad. I was too far away to make it to their games/plays/concerts....and that hurt too much plus I want a job that I can do till I die.... My favorite saying is What's in your QWP? Mine is to be closer to my other kids and to endure an 80 mile RT commute to become a RN, and maybe make a dent in this world or someone's life related to caring/teaching/healing.

Yousay you aren't the best student and not good at completing things...that's honest. Why would you have to move with a Divorce? The CC deal sounds good to me. Is there a Sylvan Testing Place near you? You could try there for starters. I guess you just have to jump in and test the waters that way or you'll never know if you can make it - if that is what you want. I'd go talk to L&D and NICU RNS.

I left town after my divorce and the ex moved back to it! Big mistake - that's why the kids are with him by choice - their friends are there. But there is a 4 yr BSN there and no CC ASN so I'm moving closer but not that close.

Probably because fo the four kids - I chose to take the Divorce Recovery Workshop twice but I'm part IRISH so it's taken six years to get over it all.

PS. ex just married #3, New hubby and I still going great - He is very supportive of the move and school and new job.:chuckle :chuckle