Changing to a non-nursing career?

Nurses Retired

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Hello!!

I was wondering if I am alone in what I have done? I have been an RN since 1991. I have worked in Nursing homes and Home Health moslty, with some time in Cardiac Rehab and with mentally handicapped. This year as my baby headed to Kindergarden (along with my 3rd and 5th graders), I accepted a position as a para-professional (teacher aide) in the Special Ed department of our local school. Having just 2 weeks under my belt - I love it! I am excited to get up and go to work everyday. My kids ride with me to school, and then home with me again. No daycare. No more nights/weekends/holidays. I am getting close to all the kids in my classroom and am looking forward to helping them this year and many to come. Anyone else find more fullfillment after switching careers??? I feel like I totally picked the wrong field so many years ago, LOL!

Denise

I think I'd enjoy being a teacher's aide more than what I do as well. Less responsibility, less stress, more included as "part of the team". I'm a school nurse so I have one of the so-called best nursing jobs. Great schedule, less stress than hospital, etc BUT still not always treated like the professional I am. Teachers run the school and because I'm not a teacher I'm not really one of them. I get left out of a lot of things. The custodian and cooks get more appreciation than the nurse. Teachers have an odd relationship with the nurse. They love us if there is blood, vomit, or lice. However, they act like their job is more important and they have the right to tell us what to do. They get annoyed if we aren't immediately available because we happen to be using the bathroom or trying to grab a bite to eat. I enjoy working with the kids but am tired of feeling like an outsider and not getting the respect I deserve. I've tried several different nursing jobs and have never been truly happy with any of them. I just think I don't like being a nurse. I do enjoy taking care of people and making them feel better but I'm tired of the abuse I have to put up with to do that whether it's from doctors and patient's families or teachers and parents. My plan is to get out of nursing as well whenever feasibly possible.

It's nice to come here and know other nurse feel the same as me. People act like it's a sin if you tell them you want to leave nursing one day!!! Any other career it seems you get support to try something new. But I guess people think if you don't want to be a nurse anymore it means you are suddenly some evil uncaring person??????

It's nice to come here and know other nurse feel the same as me. People act like it's a sin if you tell them you want to leave nursing one day!!! Any other career it seems you get support to try something new. But I guess people think if you don't want to be a nurse anymore it means you are suddenly some evil uncaring person??????

and don't wait like I did.... 39 yrs of it and I am struggling to find something I can do at this age....

No, you are not alone, not by a long shot..

Put my first application in for a totally non healthcare job. Being a nurse has just caused me depression and anxiety. Even being in case management....stress is still enormous, I can't stand even opening my emails anymore! I just want my life back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Put my first application in for a totally non healthcare job. Being a nurse has just caused me depression and anxiety. Even being in case management....stress is still enormous I can't stand even opening my emails anymore! I just want my life back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/quote']

I totally understand. I've been an LPN since '08 & hate it. I'm 33 & don't want to do this another 30 years for my sanity. I'm considering going back for surgical technology, or another career. I'm a healthscreener nurse right now PRN, & it's not too stressful, but I don't like bedside care or clinic nursing anymore...

I would avoid being a surgery tech unless being screamed at by surgeons doesn't bother you! When surgeons get stressed the techs are the first ones they start to take it out on. You need a strong backbone for that job. That's why I left the OR-they don't pay me enough to get screamed at daily or to walk on eggshells and I was a circulator so I didn't even have it as bad as the techs!

I would avoid being a surgery tech unless being screamed at by surgeons doesn't bother you! When surgeons get stressed the techs are the first ones they start to take it out on. You need a strong backbone for that job. That's why I left the OR-they don't pay me enough to get screamed at daily or to walk on eggshells and I was a circulator so I didn't even have it as bad as the techs!

Thanks for your reply... I did some scrub nursing as an LPN for a dermatologist during skin surgeries & liked it pretty well. I would probably try to find a private surgery practice if possible, if I get my scrub tech... Not 100 % sure what I want to do yet though...

Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Congrats to all that have made -- or are about to make -- a change to a better life!

You'll all likely end up living longer / being happier as a result.

Since I am wanting to get away from clinic/bedside care type nursing as an LPN, I have juggled the idea of surgical tech & medical coding. Anyone here worked in medical coding or considered switching to it? I want a desk job, I'm sure of it, if I don't go in to surgical technology. I worked for a local private doctor for a while in 2011, and did some phone triage & prior authorizations there. Yes, it got stressful, but I liked it soooo much better than the floor nursing there. I would almost go to tears when it was time for me to get up from the desk & get back on the floor.

That office had a picnic table out back that us nurses ate lunch at. There was another private doctor's office next door to us, & the receptionists & coders from that office would eat lunch with us some days. I remember talking to the coder from that office one day, & she said she loved her job. She said she made about the same pay as the nurses there, and she was a lot let stressed than them. I've heard coders can make decent money. My local community college also offers a coding program that I'm interested in as well. Any comments would be appreciated, thanks! :)

If I were you I would go for the coding. Sounds like you want an office setting so that would be the best bet. I have considered coding but I have checked all schools around me and none offer coding courses. Maybe there are online ones...though I can't really afford tuition now anyway. I do notice when I have been looking for jobs online there are plenty that require coding courses if you want to work in a medical office.

Hi mtngrl, thanks for your reply. I agree, I think medical coding might be the best option for me. :) Have you checked local comm. colleges and trade schools in your area for a coding program? The thought of a 9-5 desk job (no matter how much paper work, or how much I'm on the phone) sounds dreamy compared to dealing with the public, grouchy nurse managers, & bodily fluids all day. I just know I'm burned out from floor type nursing.

Specializes in ICU.

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.

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