Changing to a non-nursing career?

Nurses Retired

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  • Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

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andreasmom02

372 Posts

What I have read on Indeed about coding is that medical records is eating into that profession. Even very experienced coders are having difficulty finding work.

My mother in law's friend just got her coding degree. She got a job right away & even works from home some days & loves it! I'll take my chances, I have to get out of nursing for my sanity!

Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... I have to get out of nursing for my sanity!

Reading ya loud and clear, A.

All the best!

andreasmom02

372 Posts

Reading ya loud and clear, A.

All the best!

Thanks so much! Same to you!

azureblue

26 Posts

Specializes in Trauma, Cardiac.

To mtngrl and all of you who have reached your limit:

Count me as one of you, please. I am 64, with 40 years RN experience this month. For about the past 20 years, I have enjoyed nursing less and less, but it took me until now to admit it! It was a good profession in 1974 when I graduated, but now it has a totally different focus. Not to say it's bad, just different, and not my cup of tea anymore. I've done critical care, med surg, tele, PACU, nursing education, long term care - you name it. I have a Masters in Nursing. But I am done, for all the reasons mentioned in this thread. I'll renew my license this year, just for security, but I am unemployed and looking for options. And those outside health care probably think I am uncaring; that's something I can deal with.

CareerBuilder, InDeed, Monster, and the others all have links to skilled resume writers who can make you shine on paper, and focus on your transferable skills. I found a great (free) test on transferable job skills by searching for "skills inventory" at the U. of Minnesota in Duluth. Entering these words will get you many resources for identifying skills you may not have known you were good at!

Even so, I have still not decided what to do with the next half of my life. I'm getting a lot of emails from life insurance companies looking for "account executives" (sales people). I'm no good at "cold-calling" to sell things.

My strongest idea so far is to have my own business, probably online. Being subservient to so many administrators, nurse managers, doctors, families, and yes, patients, has made me really want independence. And any business I start will NOT be health-related. The only health care I want to be involved in is my own, and my family's. :) Does anyone have any good ideas about enjoyable online businesses?

Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Hey, Azure. Can tell you've made up your mind to move on. Congrats!

No specific ideas for you... but only a reminder:

The most effective way to land something new is to inform all your friends and acquaintances that your seeking new opportunities outside of traditional nursing or even completely outside of nursing, as you deem it to be.

Undoubtedly, there'll be some wasted time chasing dead-ends, but you just don't know where some of the leads may take you... maybe to something really cool!

Keep yourself healthy, stay positive, be creative and smile!

Wishing you much success.

Specializes in OB, Women’s health, Educator, Leadership.

I know just how you feel especially the sentence "after being subservient to so many administrators, managers, doctors, families and patients has made me want independence". That is how I feel but i never really acknowledged the reasoning behind it. It is only so much you can swallow before wanting back your dignity. Unfortunately this is the story for many nurses. For some reason nurses stop thinking outside of the box as soon as they receive their licenses. It's like they say well now I'm a nurse so that's it for me! There are a lot of areas in nursing one can choose but the independent route is not a bad choice. Especially since we have very marketable skills. I started a company outside of nursing that mentors teen girls and fosters entrepreneurial programs. Try the entrepreneur section here and see if you get any ideas. I went back to my childhood and remembered all of the things that I loved to spend time doing and figured out a way to turn it into a business. I am still a nurse as I don't hate nursing but rather the politics. Good luck and I hope you remember your passion and make it work for you.

Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Great advice, Passion!

lilfirenurse

3 Posts

Same boat been working mostly in nursing homes/rehab for 10 years i have a ba in comm but never really used it im in nj but tired of the shift work missing life and being stressed out any advice kg

Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
I recently quit my new job in an outpatient oncology. I quit my job in a hospital last year where I worked for several years and truly hated it. I really don't like nursing and don't want to do it anymore. I was always jealous of all non-nursing jobs like pharmacists, medical assistants, medical receptionists, IT specialistst. Right now I'm staying at home and don't know what to do with myself, but I'm determined to find a Non-nursing position. I love travelling and Irecently thought that I could work in a hotel or something like that. I just don't have any other skills besides nursing. I'm still relatively young ( middle 30s') and need to work for another 30 years. I don't need much money, I don't have kids and don't plan to have and my husband makes good money. We don't have any debt either. I just want to look forward to go to work and not be stressed out all the time ( like most of the nurses are).

I'm happy to hear that you made a great transition to something that you love to do. I'm determined to do the same and try different things.

Your life sounds like absolute heaven. I would give my eye teeth to have been able to stop being a nurse in my thirties. No bills, no kids, a husband who makes good money--girl, you have it made. Do any hobby you enjoy and have fun!

Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
I have to come to absolutely DESPISE nursing. I have been a nurse for 7 years, and have tried several different areas. It is no longer about the patient, its allll about MOUNDS of ridiculous paperwork, employers that have no respect for us, so much stress that I cannot deal with. I have become increasingly depressed. I am at a job now that makes a lot of money.....but I have come to hate it also. I want to work somewhere positive, where employers don't overwork you to where you are sick. I swear I would not be surprised if I have a heart attack soon due to the STRESS! I want to leave nursing altogether. I will likely keep renewing the license, but I KNOW the next job I get will not be a nursing job. I am also sure I will most likely make less than half of what I make now.....but I will have my health and sanity back. I am just figuring out the plan now, of when to make my move and get out the hellhole they call nursing.

I've decided it would be great to live in a one bedroom condo and just cater for a living or work as a cook at a medium sized restaurant. This nursing is getting very old. I want very few possessions, just a decent car and a roof over my head --not in a slum, though. I have even considered entering a convent, where I could live free of charge, and aide people. My daughter said I can't do that, because I am divorced, and would have to wait until my current husband is dead. She cracks me up.

Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
I hope to change to a non-nursing job someday soon. Or at least a non-hospital nursing job. I haven't even been doing this very long, but I know its not for me. I've even found myself daydreaming about my old crappy retail/restaurant jobs lately. I wish I'd listened to those voices in my head telling me it wasn't a good fit during school, but practicality won out I guess.

If I miss working as a dishwasher at The Village Inn that tells me that I picked the wrong career path.

azureblue

26 Posts

Specializes in Trauma, Cardiac.

To Havin' A Party!

My apologies for taking four months to respond to your kind suggestions. It has been a rough year. I'm still looking, but I think you are right to say "stay healthy." That's a priority now, since it hasn't been for the past 40 years. Also, I've been occupied being "nurse" to my 18 year old old kitty with renal failure. Sadly, we lost her this week, but it was good to be able to help her feel more comfortable using my nursing skills. Real teamwork with the vet. Veterinary nursing, anybody? :cat:

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