Changing to a non-nursing career?

Nurses Retired

Published

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 agree! I worked from home doing telephonic nursing for over two years, and it was awful. The company treated all the nurses so terribly. They could not be pleased no matter what.

All calls are recorded, plus they listen in. They count key strokes. If you stop typing for 5 mins to use the bathroom, they get on you about it.

There are all kinds of quotas you have to reach. It was supposed to be chronic disease mgmt, but the company pressured us big-time to push unneeded equipment and supplies onto pts. Mgrs told us "You have to make the pts get flu shots!"

They wanted us to call the same pts over and over again and try to verbally bully them into getting flu shots. The company promised their ins co clients a certain percentage of their members would comply with various things the ins company wanted, and we were so pressured to try and force pts to do things.

When the computer system was slow, or went down, we were supposed to tell pts that we (nurses) lost your data- "Could you repeat your address/phone number/med list please?"

So glad to be out of telephonic nursing.

The company wanted us to take the blame for lost data, and look like idiots rather than blame their crappy computer system.

Companies will always put the blame on their employees. They will never take responsibility for their actions or faults. Never did Never will

Specializes in peds, allergy-asthma, ob/gyn office.

In all of my 13 years as a SAHM... my LVN license seemed to hold me back from getting jobs. I had been out of nursing too long to get a nursing job, yet I think other types of employers questioned why I was not applying as a nurse. I can only guess, because I never got a call back for the school aide, library clerk, etc jobs I applied for. But, as another poster said in this thread.... it's not always just about the paycheck... my sanity is a big factor!

In all of my 13 years as a SAHM... my LVN license seemed to hold me back from getting jobs. I had been out of nursing too long to get a nursing job, yet I think other types of employers questioned why I was not applying as a nurse. I can only guess, because I never got a call back for the school aide, library clerk, etc jobs I applied for. But, as another poster said in this thread.... it's not always just about the paycheck... my sanity is a big factor!

I am having the same problems of finding a non nursing job. No one is calling back.

Specializes in Managed Care, Onc/Neph, Home Health.
I agree! I worked from home doing telephonic nursing for over two years, and it was awful. The company treated all the nurses so terribly. They could not be pleased no matter what.

All calls are recorded, plus they listen in. They count key strokes. If you stop typing for 5 mins to use the bathroom, they get on you about it.

There are all kinds of quotas you have to reach. It was supposed to be chronic disease mgmt, but the company pressured us big-time to push unneeded equipment and supplies onto pts. Mgrs told us "You have to make the pts get flu shots!"

They wanted us to call the same pts over and over again and try to verbally bully them into getting flu shots. The company promised their ins co clients a certain percentage of their members would comply with various things the ins company wanted, and we were so pressured to try and force pts to do things.

When the computer system was slow, or went down, we were supposed to tell pts that we (nurses) lost your data- "Could you repeat your address/phone number/med list please?"

So glad to be out of telephonic nursing.

The company wanted us to take the blame for lost data, and look like idiots rather than blame their crappy computer system.

Anna, sounds like we worked for the same company. All they were interested in was metrics! I got so sick of communicating with my Team Lead via IM's I didn't know what to do. I thought working at home would be "cushy" as well. HA!

Specializes in NICU, Peds, Med-Surg.

andreasmom02---Happy for you, and hope coding goes well !!! :) I think I'd be very good at that---I LOVE details and accuracy---gee, ya THINK coding demands accuracy and deets???? LOL!!! :)

And everyone else who's trying to switch to something else----Prayers and (( hugs!)) And I can SO relate to wanting to work in a Dollar General-----there are TONS of them where I live, too, and they're always hiring!! Maybe THEY would hire me, since no one seems to want to use my skills as an admissions clerk/ unit secretary in a hospital/ clinic, etc...(ugh, I KNOW I'd be very good at those types of jobs!!!!!)

For those who've mentioned that sometimes the interviewer may think we did something WRONG in nursing----YES! That is something I've thought of, and for a while, I had an awkwardly worded way to say I'd done nothing wrong in the "GOAL" part of my resume. I tried different ways of wording it, but it never sounded right.

When I'd FINALLY get an interview (RARE!), I would take that time to explain that my license was fully unencumbered, and that they could always verify with my references that there'd never been any kind of problems (legal or otherwise) with my nursing jobs or license......and then I'd yell that i just WANTED OUT! !!! LOL---Okay, I'm kidding about that last part.....of course I'd never say that!!! :)

Specializes in NICU, Peds, Med-Surg.

EwaAnn....I just read what your doctor said about your nursing home job killing you----OMG, I can relate!!! That was my

last nursing position, and I think I'm traumatized for LIFE----Except I did LOVE (and will always remember!) most of my

precious residents!!!

I hafta add, that in addition to ALLLL the stresses we've all had----there's one topic I'd like to mention---forgive me if I'm

repeating anyone or if there are multiple other threads about this---but---the HEAT----OMG, the OVERLY WARM patient

rooms (especially of our dear elderly!!!) OMG, at the Nursing Home, I thought I'd die just from the heat.....I'd go into

a room to assess, do some simple wound care, and feel like I'd die from the HEAT......!!) I'd tell myself "it's not about ME---

mind over matter, etc.....but....omg, especially in the SUMMER, and their rooms and the hallways would be intolerably warm!!

Another small hospital where I worked had major air conditioning issues, and was always WAY too warm, too! Even the patients and

visitors would complain! I LOVED that job so much and stayed 5 years......but when I think back on how hot ALL of us were,

it's funny to me I handled it for so long....HOW did I tolerate being SO hot and miserable for 12-hour shifts??? (really, more like

13-15, we were ALWAYS late cuz of the massive paperwork and patient loads!!!)

Going back even further in my career.....when I worked nursery and NICU......at least the warmth of the isolettes and the

warmer temp of the nurseries didn't make us feel like we were gonna die of heatstroke!!! :o

So yeaaa, my next job----whatEVER it may end up being----I wish I could work in an IGLOO....!!!

In all of my 13 years as a SAHM... my LVN license seemed to hold me back from getting jobs. I had been out of nursing too long to get a nursing job, yet I think other types of employers questioned why I was not applying as a nurse. I can only guess, because I never got a call back for the school aide, library clerk, etc jobs I applied for. But, as another poster said in this thread.... it's not always just about the paycheck... my sanity is a big factor!

Do you currently work as an LPN or are you still a full time SAHM? Did you ever find another career path? I'm an LPN & full time SAHM. I work PRN as a healthscreener nurse though. I am trying to become a CPC (Coder). I'm currently taking online classes towards that. I really hope my LPN doesn't hold me back as well. I felt that getting my CPC on top of my LPN might help me land a chart auditor nurse or coding type job in the future. I don't like nursing anymore, and don't see much of a future in being an LPN for myself. Local hospitals don't hire us anymore, and I don't want to go back to school for my RN (don't have the energy).

andreasmom02---Happy for you, and hope coding goes well !!! :) I think I'd be very good at that---I LOVE details and accuracy---gee, ya THINK coding demands accuracy and deets???? LOL!!! :)

And everyone else who's trying to switch to something else----Prayers and (( hugs!)) And I can SO relate to wanting to work in a Dollar General-----there are TONS of them where I live, too, and they're always hiring!! Maybe THEY would hire me, since no one seems to want to use my skills as an admissions clerk/ unit secretary in a hospital/ clinic, etc...(ugh, I KNOW I'd be very good at those types of jobs!!!!!)

For those who've mentioned that sometimes the interviewer may think we did something WRONG in nursing----YES! That is something I've thought of, and for a while, I had an awkwardly worded way to say I'd done nothing wrong in the "GOAL" part of my resume. I tried different ways of wording it, but it never sounded right.

When I'd FINALLY get an interview (RARE!), I would take that time to explain that my license was fully unencumbered, and that they could always verify with my references that there'd never been any kind of problems (legal or otherwise) with my nursing jobs or license......and then I'd yell that i just WANTED OUT! !!! LOL---Okay, I'm kidding about that last part.....of course I'd never say that!!! :)

I have been thinking of applying for admissions clerk type jobs for part time or PRN work, while working on my coding certificate, but I'm afraid that my LPN will hold me back as well. :( Has any nurses had any luck finding a non nursing job such as admissions clerk or secretary in a hospital or clinic? I don't like floor nursing anymore. I want a desk job terribly. :( I really wish I hadn't went through nursing school sometimes. I loved learning the medical/anatomy portion, but really hate the hands on stuff. I really hope my coding plan works out. Best of luck to everyone in the career change journey!

Specializes in peds, allergy-asthma, ob/gyn office.

Actually... finally.. yes! I first checked with the BON to make sure they did not have requirements for me to have recent experience. I had always kept my CEUs up and they said I was good to go. I got a job in an OB/gyn office and to be completely honest, the ONLY reason I got an interview there was because I knew the other nurse who works there. It is a far from ideal job. We are literally worked to death... and other messed up aspects of it. Not something I expected from an office job.

I had become interested in coding as well. Began classes in 2009 for Health Information Management with Midland College. Became frustrated with some aspects of the online classes. For example, we were given wrong password as a class to access a site for a project. The entire class spent a week freaking out, and the instructor was clueless as to what the problem was. A classmate finally just accidentally, randomly figured out the password. Also, the Health care stats class.. which was only 2 credit hours, had about 12 hours of homework per week. Online was just not a good fit for me. Also, I have read so many discussion boards online detailing how it is extremely difficult to get into coding if you do not have experience. I still would really love to be a coder.

Actually... finally.. yes! I first checked with the BON to make sure they did not have requirements for me to have recent experience. I had always kept my CEUs up and they said I was good to go. I got a job in an OB/gyn office and to be completely honest, the ONLY reason I got an interview there was because I knew the other nurse who works there. It is a far from ideal job. We are literally worked to death... and other messed up aspects of it. Not something I expected from an office job.

I had become interested in coding as well. Began classes in 2009 for Health Information Management with Midland College. Became frustrated with some aspects of the online classes. For example, we were given wrong password as a class to access a site for a project. The entire class spent a week freaking out, and the instructor was clueless as to what the problem was. A classmate finally just accidentally, randomly figured out the password. Also, the Health care stats class.. which was only 2 credit hours, had about 12 hours of homework per week. Online was just not a good fit for me. Also, I have read so many discussion boards online detailing how it is extremely difficult to get into coding if you do not have experience. I still would really love to be a coder.

That's great you found a job, I'm happy for you! I actually worked as an LPN in a clinic setting myself in 2012. I worked about 6 months for a couple of doctors in a dermatology setting, so I know where you're coming from. That place was a nightmare to say the least. The doctors were very picky and extremely GROUCHY. We nurses couldn't do anything right no matter how hard we tried. We were over worked & under paid. We were doing suture removals, sterilizing surgical tools, rooming patients, calling in meds, assisting with light therapy, assisting with surgeries, helping sell cosmetics, doing telephone triage, plus the loads of DRAMA we put up with there, etc.! All for under $10.00 an hour!!! Yes I said under $10.00 an hour. I live in a rural area, and $9.00 -15.00 an hour is average here for an LPN. I left after 6 months... I myself didn't think a dermatology setting could be that terrible. I got the job because I knew the receptionist that worked there (my husband used to work with her at his office), and she got me an interview. I like my online coding classes a lot so far, it's just hard not being able to ask my instructor a question face to face like in a classroom. I see a lot of local coder jobs in hospital settings here, & a lot of remote coder jobs online... I wouldn't mind working remotely as a coder, but only after coding in an office setting with others for a while. I'm just praying I can land a coder job myself! Good luck to you in your job & future careers!

Specializes in ER.

Well, I am a newer nurse but I am testing for the police exam. They will pay to put me through the academy if I can pass everything. I am not entirely sure I can pass the background though but first I have to get the test results on the written exam to see if I did okay on that.

The issue with the background is that I don't know my neighbors, not entirely sure where I lived for a few semesters of college and who I lived with (I found them on craigslist several times, made better roommates than friends), and I did quit some jobs improperly. So I may not "pass" it. Even though I am a nurse and have no issues with getting nursing jobs. I've never had a speeding ticket or a car accident.

EwaAnn....I just read what your doctor said about your nursing home job killing you----OMG, I can relate!!! That was my

last nursing position, and I think I'm traumatized for LIFE----Except I did LOVE (and will always remember!) most of my

precious residents!!!

I hafta add, that in addition to ALLLL the stresses we've all had----there's one topic I'd like to mention---forgive me if I'm

repeating anyone or if there are multiple other threads about this---but---the HEAT----OMG, the OVERLY WARM patient

rooms (especially of our dear elderly!!!) OMG, at the Nursing Home, I thought I'd die just from the heat.....I'd go into

a room to assess, do some simple wound care, and feel like I'd die from the HEAT......!!) I'd tell myself "it's not about ME---

mind over matter, etc.....but....omg, especially in the SUMMER, and their rooms and the hallways would be intolerably warm!!

Another small hospital where I worked had major air conditioning issues, and was always WAY too warm, too! Even the patients and

visitors would complain! I LOVED that job so much and stayed 5 years......but when I think back on how hot ALL of us were,

it's funny to me I handled it for so long....HOW did I tolerate being SO hot and miserable for 12-hour shifts??? (really, more like

13-15, we were ALWAYS late cuz of the massive paperwork and patient loads!!!)

Going back even further in my career.....when I worked nursery and NICU......at least the warmth of the isolettes and the

warmer temp of the nurseries didn't make us feel like we were gonna die of heatstroke!!! :o

So yeaaa, my next job----whatEVER it may end up being----I wish I could work in an IGLOO....!!!

Yeah the EKG showed an irregular rhythm. But I still kicking. LOL!! :lol2:Just need to at least work at least 10 years for early retirement.

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