Did You Change Careers And Regret It?

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2008

I changed careers at 32 when I left my job as a probation officer (with 2 degrees)and went to nursing school. I've now been a nurse for 21 years. Overall, I have no regrets. However, my probation officer colleagues are now retired with full pension and health benefits. I'll be working at least another 14 years. Career change can take you out of step careerwise and it is hard to regain those years.

I did feel overall I got more community respect as a probation officer. The job was more like family counselor in the state I came from. I never felt like I got much respect as a hospital nurse. Punching a time clock was completely alien to me. Now, I'm a community health nurse and I feel I have regained some of that community respect again.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2008

Although I'm fairly young at age 27, I am another career changer.

I worked at a factory for several years before taking the plunge to enter nursing. I'm very equivocal on this issue because sometimes I regret the swap, and sometimes I don't.

The positive aspects of factory work for me were the decent pay, low stress, being able to leave work exactly on time, not dealing with the rude public, and having no legal or ethical responsibility over anyone else's life. I did not have to tax my brain at the factory.

The positive aspects of nursing for me are the multitude of jobs, career stability, the decent pay, the continual process of lifelong learning, opportunities for growth and advancement, and the ability to assist others.

Sarah Kay · Feb 12, 2008

I'm in the midst of a career change to become an RN. I worked as an RD (Registered Dietitian) for ~4 years before entering an accelerated BSN nursing program....couldn't be happier with my decision! Nursing school in intense, but also expands on all the topics I wanted to know more about as a dietitian. Also, the job opportunities are endless as a nurse. In my other (and current career) that is not the case. Looking forward to spring of 2009 when I graduate!

:paw: ~ Sarah

gina gina · Feb 12, 2008

nursing has been goood to me financially.i am a bailbondsman on the side jus in case i get tired of nursing.for some reason,i jus can't seem to focus more on bailbonding.i really would love to be in entertainment,that is my passion.i'm going to go for it.life is too short to be limited.i don't want to look back later and kick myself for not going after what i really want to do.to answer yuor question,i use to work in fast food and i did not like it,so therefor nursing is better for me.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2008

I'm in the midst of a career change to become an RN. I worked as an RD (Registered Dietitian) for ~4 years before entering an accelerated BSN nursing program....couldn't be happier with my decision! Nursing school in intense, but also expands on all the topics I wanted to know more about as a dietitian. Also, the job opportunities are endless as a nurse. In my other (and current career) that is not the case. Looking forward to spring of 2009 when I graduate!
:paw: ~ Sarah

I wish there were a way to follow up, and get your perspective after you've worked as a nurse for a while.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2008

I wish there were a way to follow up, and get your perspective after you've worked as a nurse for a while.

So true. It would seem difficult for one to discuss how pleased he/she is with a career change when they have never worked one single day in their 'new' profession. Clinical rotations do not reflect the realities of nursing in any way, shape, or form.

classicaldreams · Feb 12, 2008

Have any of you changed careers to become a nurse and regret it? If so, why?

I worked in publishing for many years before becoming a nurse. I've been a nurse for three years. No, I don't regret it. Nursing is rewarding, much more rewarding than business, at least for me. I did carry over my own idiosyncrasies from one career to another. (Funny, how you blame them on others.) But overall, medicine and nursing is interesting. I'm in a very busy ICU where we see it all.

Good luck to you.

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Feb 12, 2008

Another career changer here. I worked for a city in the Department of Public Safety. I held several licenses/certifications due to required cross training as a police officer, structural and aircraft rescue firefighter, and a licensed paramedic. I primarily worked on the Fire Rescue side.

I guess I'm going to be the first one here to admit that I do regret changing careers to nursing. Like a previous poster stated, I was surprised by the lack of respect for the position, especially from others in the medical community and from my superiors. I guess I've been accustomed to being supported by those I work for and having a voice in my workplace that is valued. I have not found this in the two places I've been employed.

I am no stranger to hard work from my previous career, but the work expected from you as a nurse is unbelievable. Mainly I can't be in three places at the same time - it just can't be done although it is expected.

I consider myself to be a professional and always act as such although I am treated in an unprofessional manner.

Perfection is always expected in an imperfect system and the nurse seems to be the scapegoat.

For now, the schedule works very well for my family and I will continue to work in nursing. I am going to try to work in other areas and hopefully, I will find something more I enjoy about it. I do enjoy my patients, their families, and my coworkers. I enjoy advocating for my patients and participating in their road to wellness. The work of nursing is fulfilling, but the atmosphere and attitudes toward nurses are toxic.

When I look to the future, I really can't see myself being in this career for the long haul.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Feb 12, 2008

I have been in various areas in nursing, but finally got to be a licensed nurse in 2006. It will always hold my interest because I enjoy reading about medicine, diseases, and being knowledgable enough to teach those that are totally unaware. I did always know that nurses were not quite respected, however, the intensity of it did not weigh itself on my soul until I actually went through the process to become one and then work as one.

Never before have I seen such whiny, manipulative, and pitifully competitive people until I entered the process and became a nurse. It is a 'watch your back' career, from my observations.

But, do I regret it, not really. I am in the midst of what I love, I have been learning how to tune out what is not significant to me, and I give myself accolades first, because I am not dependent on anyone else to determine what is success and progress in my personal life.

Sarah Kay · Feb 13, 2008

So true. It would seem difficult for one to discuss how pleased he/she is with a career change when they have never worked one single day in their 'new' profession. Clinical rotations do not reflect the realities of nursing in any way, shape, or form.

I agree with you to a point. I work very closely with the RN's in my dialysis units. RN's are not only the charge/floor managers but also the clinical managers of the units. I often hear about the negatives that the nurses experience. Overworked, under-compensated, put into situations that are unsafe......among many other things. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to come off as if I understand all the facets of nursing--I haven't even skimmed the surface. But I do understand that every job, and every career for that fact, has its pros and cons. I simply meant to say in my original post that I'm happy to be pursuing a career that is more medically directed and more involved with direct pt care than my current role.

pie123 · Feb 18, 2008

So true. It would seem difficult for one to discuss how pleased he/she is with a career change when they have never worked one single day in their 'new' profession. Clinical rotations do not reflect the realities of nursing in any way, shape, or form.

Clinical rotations certainly do not. I worked as a student nurse on a Medical Surgical unit for almost 2 years. I would care for 3-4 patients, under the supervision of an RN. At the time I thought it was relatively doable. Most of the time it was quite a nice gig. I had mostly stable, walky/talky patients. Occasionally I had total care patients. BUT, I never had to deal with doctors, clarify orders, etc., not so much with families, if anything was screwed up, my RN took care of it, and ultimately, I really had no responsibility. I just had to do my bit of assessments, chart them, have my RN sign off, pass a few meds, and help other nurses. Now, when I became a nurse, that was a different story. 2 years later, I'm looking for a new career. If not a new career, at least something that does not involve acute care.