Changing to a non-nursing career?

Jennifercclark · Dec 26, 2016

I would like more Information on what jobs are available to RN who want to do something else. I've been a RN for over 24 years and really want to try something different.

Rntr · Jan 2, 2017

I wonder how you have done with the coding. Did they give you the chance to get a job as a coder?

Kathy H · Mar 22, 2017

I worked part time for a pharmaceutical company in the past, entering labs for a high risk medication in a national database. You can also work sales especially for meds you are familiar with - cardiac meds/CCU nurse, psych meds/psych nurse, etc. There's lots of money in sales and decent money if you work as a consultant, eg entering labs and coordinating with the docs and pharmacies (what I did). All the while I worked a full time nursing job too but the work was different and a nice diversion.

bunnylovinggrl · Mar 30, 2017

WOW! I'm going through these posts and I can't believe how many nurses feel like I do!

When I graduated nursing school, I kind of had an idea that I didn't really want to do nursing. I was looking at all kinds of jobs that I could do with my degree, and I did manage to land some sales interviews, but I'm kind of glad those didn't work out. I don't think I could be a salesperson.

I finally landed a job as a health educator for my first post-graduation job. The pay wasn't that great, but I would have stayed if the company didn't have the issues it did. It had a high turnover, and management didn't know what it was doing (I think they were just putting too much on my/their plate with regards to projects, but didn't realize how much work it would take). I loved many parts of my job, learned so much from it and truly wish it had worked out. I went to find a nursing job because I figured 'hey, if I'm working my butt off already, I might as well be paid more'. Needless to say, I hated it. The first month was great, but once orientation was over things just started going downhill and my honeymoon ended. After several months it got to the point that I just dreaded going to work.

Right now unemployed, but going to try to make it as a multimedia artist. If you have any art talent, it doesn't matter what your degree is. Companies only really look at your portfolio and what your skills are. I paid off my nursing school debt, my parents are kind enough to let me live at home for free, I don't have any kids to take care of. I'm doing self-schooling to improve the skills that I already have, watching youtube videos and reading articles on breaking into the art industry, joining communities of artists and figuring out things on my own. I make a small amount of money as a contract video editor, so it pays the gas, groceries and bunny food.

I will agree with you other nurses, getting into minimum wage/retail jobs is HARD once you've worked as a nurse. Going to keep trying for a part time job, don't care the pay, while I study tho until I can start supporting myself as an artist (which according to other self-taught successful artists usually takes 2 years drawing DAILY and developing your skills).

gelman · Nov 19, 2017

Is it too early to give up after only a year in nursing? I graduated at the top of my class and started out i n the ICU. Now my passion is gone and don't want to work at the hospital anymore. Any advice?

Rntr · Nov 19, 2017

I felt like that 42 yrs ago and should have changed way back then. Being honest with yourself and make the move to something you would prefer doing, Be true to yourself and feel passionate about what you want to do and head that direction.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Nov 19, 2017

@gelman -- Was in the exact same circumstances as you 11 years ago... cum laude grad, who went straight to the ICU. Additionally, before going into nursing, I had already earned two advanced degrees / licenses in non-nursing fields, and was an older student (50s).

Loved the medical environment, and was so appreciative of the opportunity afforded me... and consequently worked my butt off learning... both on the job, and on my own time... spending nearly all my free time devoted to the study of basic and advanced topics related to ICU practice.

Long story short: the experience didn't work out. I encountered tremendous jealousy, and witnessed an unbelievable amount of immaturity on the part of co-workers, as well as a management team that was clueless / weak in handling this HR issue. I resigned after almost a year, but remained in nursing 10 years before retiring last year.

Looking back, I think it may have been better to have started out in a step-down unit, and then moved up to the ICU after a year or so.

Not knowing all the particulars of your own situation and personal factors makes it impossible to give specific advice.

Generally though, my sense is to encourage you to NOT give up or drop out of nursing at this time... clearly, one year / one position does not make for a conclusive trial. Instead, I'd suggest checking out other options within this field.

Please keep us posted.

Hope things work out.

Feel kinda like I'm looking back at myself in this post, gelman. All the best to you!