Also Ran Careers... what did you decide against before choosing nursing

Rep · Jul 10, 2004

I always wanted to join the military. In fact, when there was hiring here in the Philippines for the US Navy. I applied but nothing came out of it. So, I enrolled in college and took up nursing. :)

JennInColumbus · Jul 11, 2004

It seems like there are a lot of people who were also interested/worked in law enforcement. I'm not alone :)

Jenn

bsnecu99 · Jul 11, 2004

I wanted to be a professional baker (decided if I did, I would end up weighing 300 lbs!) or run my own day care. (someday when I have children I may still do something like that)
A few years ago, an RN friend of mine and myself dreamt up an idea for a daycare type center for sick children...staffed by nurses, designed to give parents who are providing constant care to their children a much-deserved respite. However, upon checking into this, the insurance would have been astronomical, as well as the costs for the equipment we would have needed. I was a preemie (2 lbs. 8 ozs. at birth) with many chronic health problems and my mother cared for me for years, until I had a life-saving kidney surgery that turned my life around at age six. I am sure there were many times she needed a break, so that is what inspired my idea. I've hung it up for now, but it's still always been a little dream of mine...who knows? Someday it could really happen!
:) Kacy

OMG! I thought the idea of opening a daycare for sick kids was just my idea! I was going to research it for this area, but now that you are talking about horrible insurance costs, I think I'm going to forget that brainchild! Thanks!

bsnecu99 · Jul 11, 2004

Well, nursing is still not my first choice of career, but with my new situation with a child, veterinary school is out of my reach. However, I still love diagnosing, caring for people, etc., but animals will always have a special place in my heart.
R.

Stupid question - how do you pronounce your name? It sounds so pretty. :nurse:

hipab4hands · Jul 11, 2004

It seems like there are a lot of people who were also interested/worked in law enforcement. I'm not alone :)
Jenn

I think it's because the two fields require a lot of the same skill sets i.e. good oral and written communication skills, being able to analyze a situation and respond in the appropriate manner, etc.,

kat911 · Jul 12, 2004

I wanted to be a teacher, (6th grade), doing costume design on the side (it made sense in high school, ok :) )
I was enrolled in a nice little teaching college when I decided to take a year off and live with missionaries in Africa, i tried my hand at teaching in a village school- goodness- not for me! :chuckle To get out of teaching I started volunteering in some free clinics- what do you know, i liked it. Now I'm taking my NCLEX in three weeks

It is amazing how similiar our former dream(or actual) careers are, I did costume design in high school but didn't think I was artistic enough for a career. I started working on a degree in law enforcement, didn't think I could shoot someone (boy was I young and innocent) so Iswitched to nursing. After being a candy striper for 4 years then a"pinK lady" when I turned 18, you think it would have been an obvious choice. Twenty five years later no regrets.

Audreyfay · Jul 12, 2004

I always wanted to be a 3rd grade teacher. When I was a junior and was ready to choose my college, there was such an overabundance of teachers. I decided to go into nursing. I never looked back.

zenman · Jul 12, 2004

Posted by NeuroICURN: Truth be told....having been a police officer kinda helps in nursing. For one, everyone comes running to me when there's "big trouble" with family or whatever! Also, I can diffuse a situation like no one's business....and if need be, I'm ready to rumble! Just kidding! But, I do know how to defend myself, if the need would arise.....which we all should know!!!

You packing some iron at work! :rotfl:

lovinghands · Jul 12, 2004

When I was 6, I wanted to be a truckdrive( I saw a woman truckdriver on tv and thought that would be so cool). At age7 - my litter sister (who was 3yrs),was injured in a freak accident and she stayed in icu for 5 days. I wasnt allowed to visit with her because I was too young. I was so envious of the nurses and staff because they got to see her as much as they wanted (this is from a kids point of view.) Then, my parents removed life support and the next time I saw her was in a casket.(They werent going to have open casket - but I insisted that I had to see her and tell her bye.) From then on, I wanted to be a nurse...so that I could help other people like I wanted to help my sister. I will be starting my new job as a pediatric icu nurse Monday. In the very same ICU she died in.

Wishing you the best of luck with your new job. Your personal strength and compassion will shine through as you provide care to those little peds pts and their families. What a wonderful gift you have to give. God Bless.

Chad_KY_SRNA · Jul 12, 2004

In my short life I have wanted to be a firefighter, nurse(army, school, ER), paramedic, MD, and high school teacher. I am just out of high school now and am starting the nursing pre-reqs in about a month.

If everything were to work out the way I dream it does, I will get my BSN and then work a few years (hopefully mostly ER) then I would like to become a high school teacher. I would like to get a job teaching health/PE, health sciences, and/or English. Maybe do a little summer camp nursing.

One can always dream! :rolleyes:

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2004

I did pass on being a male stripper prior to be a nurse

defined as

a male who strips the floors

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

roadfollies · Jul 12, 2004

Before I started nursing I gave three careers a lot of thought and did a fair amount of research on all of them. I already have a bachelor's so I was thinking of law school/law enforcement, med school or nursing school.
I've heard a lot of other people say they thought about doing or even did law enforcement prior to nursing school. I'm curious if there is a lot of commonality between what we almost did and what we chose to do.
What were your second and third career choices before you decided on nursing?
Jenn

I was attending college with the intention of majoring in journalism! Go figure!