anyone else changing careers to go into nursing?

Kel_1 · Jul 15, 2003

Hi,

I now exactly how you feel. I sit at a computer all day and its boring me so i to have decided to go back to uni to do nursing.

I am currently a legal secretary in a small legal firm. I thought it was what i wanted to do all my life but i have found out that its not what i want.

I always wanted a career that uses my brain and keeps me active and motivated.

I was in hospital recently and thats were i got some feeling that i would love to do nursing, helping people and knowing that when i go home at night i have acomplished something that i can be proud of.

Good luck with your studies. Hope it all goes well for you.

Paleobug · Aug 18, 2003

Hi, I'm making a career change myself in my early 40s. I have a BS in geology and could never find work as a geologist, so I use my degree as a hobbie. I have been working in the casino industry and I am tired of it and I want to finally have a career and no longer just a job. Also, there is no job security in casino work. You have to start "on call" and work part time before you can be hired full time and that can take years.

I've been reading all the negatives from nurses already working in the field. I can say this that with what I've experienced while working in a casino I don't believe could be much worse than being a nurse i.e.; odd shifts, physical labor, demanding bosses, mean people, stress, etc. Being childfree helps too.

Good Luck!

Mister Chris, MSN, NP · Aug 19, 2003

Originally posted by amyrae76
Hi everyone!

Is anyone else here totally changing careers to go to nursing school? I guess I'm looking for a little encouragement that it's OK for me to want to get out of the corporate/business world that I HATE and go into nursing!

What are your thoughts and reasons? Here's a little about me -- I have a degree in Advertising and I've been in the business world for almost 5 years now. I just have no interest in business-related things, and I have no desire to climb the proverbial corporate ladder. To me, nursing seems like something totally different from that. I can't say I've had a passion for it my whole life, like some people can. It only just occurred to me about 6 months ago. But I just want something different -- I HATE sitting at a computer and being bored out of my mind for 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week!!

Anyone else in a similar situation?

YES! I started out as a building surveyor, completed full training and then let loose onto the building world only to find there was a building slump and work was scarce! I was going through a divorce, needed somewhere to live and some income. I was offered a 3yr. Psych. course - live in - and get paid! thirty years later I'm a nurse Regstered in Psych. General, Aged Care and now working as an Independent Nurse Practitioner! It works if you put your mind to it. Good Luck.

amy :)

Mister Chris, MSN, NP · Aug 19, 2003

I made a slight mistake on my first visit to this site and added my bit to the end of amyrae76! sorry amy.

Yes I have made a total change in carreer and am now 61. many years of very rewarding nursing under my belt. I often wonder what would have happened if I had persisted and stayed in the building industry.

Mister Chris, MSN, NP · Aug 19, 2003

Originally posted by Paleobug
Hi, I'm making a career change myself in my early 40s. I have a BS in geology and could never find work as a geologist, so I use my degree as a hobbie. I have been working in the casino industry and I am tired of it and I want to finally have a career and no longer just a job. Also, there is no job security in casino work. You have to start "on call" and work part time before you can be hired full time and that can take years.

I've been reading all the negatives from nurses already working in the field. I can say this that with what I've experienced while working in a casino I don't believe could be much worse than being a nurse i.e.; odd shifts, physical labor, demanding bosses, mean people, stress, etc. Being childfree helps too.

Good Luck!

Mister Chris, MSN, NP · Aug 19, 2003

I can reccomend making changes. One of the biggest rewards I had was the people contact (even as a male nurse!) and the wonderful feeling of doing something worthwhile. (Even if the money was yuk!)

Dublin37 · Aug 20, 2003

Hi Amyrae, oh my yes I am a career switcher. I'm 41, with a BA in Sociology, and I was a History teacher in Jr. High. I was also a Event Coord. that was fun, but not good family hours. I used to laugh about the thought of EVER wanting to be a nurse:imbar , yup, I'd make jokes about the hosp smells, wiping touches etc. It wasn't until I delivered a baby that died, that TOTALLY changed how I view hospitals.

I can't say the desire happened over night but four years later, it grew and grew in me until I couldn't ignore it. People thought I was crazy not to go back into teaching, such great hours, and my husb is a teacher as well. I loved the students, but the subject matter.... ick! And I hated constantly being the disciplinarian. I do enough of that at home! :chuckle I can't wait to be a nurse, I just hope my brain can hold on to all that info so I don't kill someone :eek:

Heather

Crystal J · Aug 20, 2003

Hi there! I was four classes away from a business degree(Associates) when I received my calling to be a nurse. I have taken care of the prereqs and now I just have to apply. I will apply for Fall of 2004 so I can prepare financially for everything. In the mean time, I will take classes towards the degree like Microbiology and A&P II. I am in the same boat, I sit at a desk all day bored to death.

I have been reading this website for a while now and I realize some of the negatives that comes with nursing. I have also read the positives to it too. I am visiting a hospital soon to shadow a nurse, just waiting on the date. I think it really depends on the person and the hospital on how much a person will like their job. I know I will not know until I jump in and do it - but I am willing to give it a try. I like the fact that there are so many areas you can go into and learn if you get bored with one thing.

Wish me luck!

Crystal J.

agent · Aug 20, 2003

Hi crystal. I'm in the same sit as you except i did just get the degree, I just have to take A&p and micro and hopefully start the nursing clinicals in fall of 2004

Mister Chris, MSN, NP · Aug 21, 2003

Originally posted by Crystal J
Hi there! I was four classes away from a business degree(Associates) when I received my calling to be a nurse. I have taken care of the prereqs and now I just have to apply. I will apply for Fall of 2004 so I can prepare financially for everything. In the mean time, I will take classes towards the degree like Microbiology and A&P II. I am in the same boat, I sit at a desk all day bored to death.

I have been reading this website for a while now and I realize some of the negatives that comes with nursing. I have also read the positives to it too. I am visiting a hospital soon to shadow a nurse, just waiting on the date. I think it really depends on the person and the hospital on how much a person will like their job. I know I will not know until I jump in and do it - but I am willing to give it a try. I like the fact that there are so many areas you can go into and learn if you get bored with one thing.

Wish me luck!

I wish you very much luck? With your present life experiences and academic background you will not need so much luck, more pluck and staying power! YOU CAN DO IT _ GO FOR IT! From Chris
Crystal J.

:kiss

MICU RN · Aug 21, 2003

Best advice is to shadow as many nursing areas as possible. Nursing has its positives, job security, travel, ect., however, it also many negatives, irregular hours, very hard an often disgusting job task, i.e., cleaning plenty of body waste. The pay is okay to start but quickly tops out, you will not make plenty of money unless you work two jobs. Compared to other college educated professional jobs I think it is rather at the bottem in terms of autonomy and respect. What they really don't tell you when you are in nursing school is that to get to the better jobs in the clinical area you pretty much have to get at least a masters degree (PT, pharmD, CRNA,NP physicians asssistant). Hospitals could not function without bedside nurses, but they are at the bottem of the food chain. You get very little autonomy, but plenty of responsibility, in fact the hospitals will dump as much as they can on the bedside nurses and not want to pay you for it.

Crystal J · Aug 21, 2003

Thanks for the advice! I will keep all of that in mind! I am nervous, but I really feel nursing is my calling. I really have enjoyed all the responses I have gotten to my post! This website has really helped me make my decision, even with the negatives. A friend told me "Just go for it. You may love it or hate it. Regardless, you can always go back to office work if you hate it".

Crystal J.