I'm curious to see if there are any nurses on this site that have successfully left the nursing profession. If so, what career do you now have and how difficult was it for you to switch careers? If you are seriously planning on leaving the profession, what do you want to do?
After less than a year in nursing, I want out! I'm willing to do whatever it takes, but I am finding the process very difficult. First of all, I'm finding it hard to narrow it down to what I really want to do. I think this is because I was too reckless in my decision to pursue nursing and I want to get it right this time, to the point that I am being obsessive about it. There are many other careers that I am interested in, but I find myself picking them apart and comparing them to the things that I dislike about nursing. I am terrified of ending up in another career that I don't like. For example, I was interested in pharmacy for awhile, but then I thought about the hours. Many pharmacists work evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, etc. I'm sure that there are jobs out there where they don't, but like nursing, it may take years to get there.
Another difficulty that I am running into is the fact that I have a BS degree that lacks the basic sciences required for most of the programs in which I am interested. I would have to go back to school for 2 years in order to complete the prereqs for many of the programs! One example is a nutrition program that I looked into. The admission counselor intially told me that my BS degree would be all that was required for the program. After checking out my transcript, she seemed shocked that I didn't have courses that are required for most life science-based BS degrees- calculus, organic chem, biochem, foreign language, physics, etc. It is very frustrating.
I'm just looking for some support from fellow nurses who have been through this process. I guess I can see why so many nurses who are unhappy stay in nursing. It is difficult to get out!
Life's too short to be unhappy. Make a list of the things you love to do, and then try to find a job that fits it. I've spent years being unhappy. Well, I may be unhappy again, but at least it will have a different cause!
to kat, rn,bsn:i would recommend pharmacy as a profession and i have never regretted it. i would talk to as many people as you can. the academic part is very rigorous, and nursing undergrad does little to prepare you. you may want to take some higher level math, ie calculus, plus chemistry (the 4 semester one for science majors) and physics. you have to be ready to really embrace all this!! once in there, i found i really enjoyed it, and that was half the battle. read some of the comments on a pharmcy discussion board:pharmacyweek.com: discussion board (keep in mind alot of those folks are malcontents and have nothing good to say--you need to hear the bad with the good). there is good and bad, you just have to find what suits you best: i have done long term care, home health (hated them the most!), hospital inpatient and outpatient, retail and now mail service. probably the most interesting job i had was working in a poison control center. most of these hire nurses as well and in the line of work i was able to use knowledge of pharmacy and nursing, as well as good, old-fashioned life and parenting experience. plus you have lots of great stories to entertain your friends. you really get a different slant on life.
nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN
1 Article; 2,043 Posts
Life's too short to be unhappy. Make a list of the things you love to do, and then try to find a job that fits it. I've spent years being unhappy. Well, I may be unhappy again, but at least it will have a different cause!