Did you leave a nice office job to become a nurse?

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Sep 22, 2007

To Nursing Career Advice Forum. Good luck.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Sep 22, 2007

I left the bedside for a nice office job! It's still a nursing job (consultant), so I still get to talk to patients.

Ms Kylee · Sep 22, 2007

Nope.. left a crappy customer service office job to go to nursing school... then I got a job as a Nursing Assistant.... Don't regret it one bit... 'cept on days when I work with the nurses that I can't stand...

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2007

I worked for an insurance company 9-5 Mon-Friday but wasn't making a good salary. Even if the salary was good I wouldn't have a 9-5 office job until I'm physically incapable of working close to the bedside with patients/students. I currently am fortunately to work Mon-Frid 7-3 with every weekend off.

jitterbugg · Sep 25, 2007

I am a student (pre-nursing program, waiting to get in) and I have a great office job. I am a receptionist at a small company, 8-5 Mon-Fri, 100% paid medical and dental, works with my school hours (within reason), paid sick days and holidays, great people around me, great bonuses. Nothing to complain about my job. I could be here the rest of my life, the company would love it, BUT it is not who I am. Something inside me says that I can make a difference in someone's life. That going though the stress of school, all the sick patients, the blood and guts, and tears, that I will and can make the difference. I could be here the rest of my life...but someone out there needs me.

coadestone · Sep 26, 2007

I'm about to make that jump right now. I wish I

was 100% sure I'm doing the right thing. I know how

lucky I am to have the office job I have now, but I've

always wanted to go into nursing and with my son being older

now (and me as well) I told myself its now or never.

Some of the threads I read on this board make me really

question if this is the right thing to do or not; but I

realize this is also a place for people to vent.

"Ikigai";)

jitterbugg · Sep 26, 2007

I think you just have to look deep down and find out why you want to be a nurse and see if that is more important that your office job. If your just going into nursing for the money, hours, whatever...I'm sure you could find that in an office job somewhere. Good luck to you.

ssanders80 · Sep 26, 2007

I am leaving a office job to become a nurse. Where I work now was my first job out of college when I graduated in '02. I've worked in 3 depts. and been promoted twice, but I was never satisfied with the job, nor was I sure what I wanted to do with my life. I've always have a love medicine and always knew I wanted to pursue a career in it. After two years of being where I'm at now, it dawned on me that nursing was where I wanted to be. I had too many internships in school iat various hospitals to not realize that's what I wanted to do, but I needed to mature, and I feel now is the time for me to enter nursing. I'm sure once I get accepted into a program (I'll hopefully start in Jan. '08) and I start working, there will be days when I miss the job I have now. But when I think about what I'm leaving and how I'm treated, esp. since where I work is not what I want to do, I think it will all be worth it in the end.

Cashboy's Mom, CNA, RN · Sep 27, 2007

i left my nice office job (bank branch manager, not so nice frequently with nasty rude customers, armed robberies and other stuff) to be a stay at home mom.... my husband left me and my two girls (at age 2 and 4) and so i am now ready to start nursing school (2 year adn) and am getting licensed as an lna.

just today i am interested in this post because my second day of clinical was rough- the nurses and lnas at the nursing home are kind of nasty, not helpful, and it's making me wonder what i'm in for....:trout:

my lna instructor gives us good advice i think though- and that is when you go home, don't focus on all the negative stuff from your shift but try to focus on the one thing you might have done to help a patient or make their day easier somehow. that's what i'm focusing on, not on how i was treated like crap or ignored all day because i'm a trainee!

2ndGoRound · Sep 27, 2007

I love this thread. I have a degree in Finance and a wonderful, laid back, weekends off, great paying, flexible, no holidays, 8 am - 3pm job and I am finishing 3 prereqs to apply to nursing school in the spring. Jitterbugg, I am with you...this is NOT who I am. I cannot see myself sitting at a desk and looking at a computer screen for much longer. I too hope and pray that I am making the right decision but, I am following my heart.

tatarn2b2007 · Sep 27, 2007

I left an office job of 12 years to go into nursing. I was a year away from a bachelor's degree in accounting and quit to go for nursing!! Most people I meet tell me I am crazy and on a lot of days I think I might be! However, I LOVE dealing with the patients...most of them!! Most of my coworkers are great, some aren't, but you will have that in any job...espcecially my last one...Ever deal with an office woman with significant other problems?!!! In short, I am glad I went into nursing. There are many options out there for us and I get to meet new and interesting people all the time and help them.