Are there any engineers out there?

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · May 22, 2006

Nope, but my husband is a Civil Engineering student (almost done with BE, starting ME in the Fall).

Are you considering making a switch? Honestly, if you're a Junior or Senior Engineering student, i wouldn't recommend switching, unless you really like school...lol. I say this because my DH's ed focus has been mainly advanced Math and Physics based courses- most of which aren't required for Nursing. You may have an easier transition into Medicine, actually. I've known a few people who have done that.

pbrookes · May 22, 2006

Hi, I am an industrial engineer and have been working for the automotive industry for 11 years. I start my final semester of nursing school in August and will graduate in December. I have been working full time and go to school at night. It hasn't been an easy road but definitely worth it.

Lynn5346 · May 22, 2006

I am an Industrial Engineer returning to college to pursue a degree in Nursing. I would like more flexibility and job security. I have had trouble finding good jobs during the past 4 years with my engineering degree.

SJERNBSN · May 22, 2006

I'm an RN who went to Nursing school right out of high school [1967]. After working for a few years and getting paid a pitiful wage, always working short, rarely getting breaks, doing unpaid overtime, working rotating shifts and constantly complaining a family member who was a mechanical engineer taught me a few things about drafting. I doubled my salary and worked Mon-Fri and went to the BR whenever I needed to [a real treat]. I workled in the field as a temp for 12 years doing drafting, design, technical writing, production control and left when my son was born to work off hours in Nursing again so that he wouldn't need to go to day care. It's a different world with alot less stress and responsibility and done at a more human-like pace.

Works2xs · May 22, 2006

Spent more than 20 years in the high tech sector doing various computer engineering tasks. I found the world of contracting to be extremely stressful and demanding. Yes, the pay was very nice. However, if you never have the time to put it to use, it doesn't do you much good.

The stress also takes a huge toll on the mind and body. It was getting so bad that it was a joke in our group that we should get hazardous duty pay (2 CABG's, 1 angioplasty, 2 strokes, one death from MI). My description of the field is "white collar sweat shop". Looking down the road, all that could be seen was more of the same. For me, it just wasn't worth the wear and tear.

The funny part of it comes when folks ask, "what was your previous career?" When I tell them, they look at me like I had boogers hanging out of my nose or something. Seems most folks just see the $$$ and automatically think it's all a bed or roses.

And it seems I'm not alone, at least not in this part of the country. Out of a class of 70, there are 8 other high tech refugees. I left it... I don't regret doing so...and every experience so far has been an affirmation that I made the right decision.

melamin · May 22, 2006

I'm an RN who went to Nursing school right out of high school [1967]. After working for a few years and getting paid a pitiful wage, always working short, rarely getting breaks, doing unpaid overtime, working rotating shifts and constantly complaining a family member who was a mechanical engineer taught me a few things about drafting. I doubled my salary and worked Mon-Fri and went to the BR whenever I needed to [a real treat]. I workled in the field as a temp for 12 years doing drafting, design, technical writing, production control and left when my son was born to work off hours in Nursing again so that he wouldn't need to go to day care. It's a different world with alot less stress and responsibility and done at a more human-like pace.

less stress? which one? engineering or nursing?? i know you prolly mean engineering..but just asking..

zenman · May 23, 2006

I am an Industrial Engineer returning to college to pursue a degree in Nursing. I would like more flexibility and job security. I have had trouble finding good jobs during the past 4 years with my engineering degree.

I had an IE as my Director of Operations once. We presented a paper an an IE conference in Chicago about our reengineering of a home health company. I thought it was funny since I wasn't one. He has now switched to direct patient care in orthotics. I also thought it interesting that there were a lot of engineers in acupuncture school.