Can you imagine yourself doing something else

[Corgilicious]

Hello everyone,

What do you love about your job? Can you imagine yourself doing anything else?

What about nursing makes it worth all the stress and demands you go through?

I'm a first year in college considering nursing as my career.

[LVN2RNMom, ASN, BSN, LVN]

My response was no. I have been in healthcare for over 20 years and worked from a front office medical receptionist in private practice, to an auditor at a major health insurance company. After several personal loses, I was at a crossroads in life. I always knew that I was meant to be a nurse since working for my 1st Dr at a young age but I had too many personal obstacles from completing that goal. I also made the huge mistake of listening to others negative comments about how hard it is and that I could never go to school and work. Well, fast forward 20+ years and I am a current working Nurse (LVN). I am almost ready for my RN program to MSN and eventually NP. I no longer care what anyone says and I am successful because of my drive. Nursing is difficult and not for everyone but there are many aspects to nursing. I wouldn't change my profession for a thing, after all....I fought to be here.

[JerseyTomatoMDCrab, BSN]

Can I SEE myself doing something else? Absolutely. I would love to be a cupcake baker, dog walker, dental hygienist, professional Christmas light installation specialist, librarian or someone who works at a jeweler selling engagement rings. Am I GOING to do those things? Probably not. I am educated and skilled in the field of nursing and would be unable to earn a living doing most of the things above.

I like being a nurse. I like helping people, I love my schedule at the school, I like the flexibility of nursing. I definitely wouldn't say it's a calling and I would be equally happy doing something else.

[Asystole RN]

What most people assume, including the majority that post to this board, is that bedside nursing is the only kind of nursing. Nursing is a profession that encompasses many, many specialties.

I worked bedside in long term care and acute care. When I bored of that I went to a more procedural job where I was able to work independently at my own pace one patient at a time. Fast forward and now I work in a corporate setting, my wife who is also a nurse works from home. We still are nurses working as nurses but in very different settings.

Nursing is one of the most flexible professions out there. The nice thing is that clinical will always be there but feel free to play the field and venture out of your comfort zone into other specialties.