Former jobs before bit by the nursing bug?

[manna]

I noticed that some of us here are career changers... or older students. Just wondering what you used to do before you got bit by the nursing bug? What made you decide to go to nursing school?

I'm an engineering clerk - I pretty much sit in front of a PC in a windowless office all day and type and/or read schematics and circuits. BO-RING! Nursing will be my first college degree, though. I've got about 16 hours of pre-reqs left before I apply to the clinical/nursing courses for a BSN program.

I'm a former pre-med who realized she didn't want to sacrifice her family for her career... I also consider myself very much a "people person" so figured that nursing would be a good fit for providing empathic care and being a healthcare professional. :)

[neonatalRN]

I have always loved science, and I was a Neuroscience major until my last semester of my senior year in college. I wanted to do research on infant brain development. I switched to Biology and graduated with a B.S. in 2000, then entered graduate school to be a high school science teacher. Meanwhile I worked in the lab at Aveda, helping to develop new lotions and stuff like that. That was a cool job. After that I worked in a medical lab making the media for the lab tests. Then, I decided teaching wasn't for me, and also got pregnant with my daughter, and quit working because my morning sickness was so bad.

Then, spring of 2002, I had a dream that I was a nurse. I could see it so clearly. When I woke up, I thought, hey that would be perfect. I love science, already have a biology degree, and would love to help make a difference in people's lives. So, I started A&P last fall, and now am starting nursing school in less than 2 weeks!

Heidi

[manna, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by PJMommy

Yep...I worked in my living room with email, a phone and a laptop everyday --

OMG! Now there is my TRUE dream job... to work from home! I was always scared to get into IT, though.

Annasmom - Wow, working at Aveda! I just love their Rosemary Mint stuff! Good luck with nursing school! :)

[agent]

Not all ppl that work in IT get to sit around in their pJ's. I'm a web-developer (PHP/MYsql) as well.

[manna, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by agent

Not all ppl that work in IT get to sit around in their pJ's. I'm a web-developer (PHP/MYsql) as well.

Didn't mean to insinuate that they did. Wait, did I spell that right? :)

Anyway, just seems like a larger percentage of people in IT/computer-oriented jobs have at-home-offices or telecommuting options available to them... by the very nature of their work.

I once was a wannabe computer geek LOL

[agent]

I guess Im just jealous..

[manna, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by agent

I guess Im just jealous..

Of working from home?

I have a friend who works from home doing medical transcription, and I'll admit that some days I'm horribly jealous of her.... so I know the feeling. :)

[neonatalRN]

Manna, I worked on Rosemary Mint stuff, it was one of my favorites, too!

Heidi

[TaraSC]

I was a Network Communications Technician (a fancy word for telecommuncations field technician) before deciding to go back to school. I first started college in 1995 upon HS graduation and majored in Health Education. College was not for me at that time so I went into the Air Force and that's how I got into telecoms. It was a good field and I was able to make pretty good $$$ for someone without a degree after the AF. Many small companies or CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers) like the company I worked for went out of business. I am now in a situation where I have many somewhat useless skills since telecommunications jobs are now much more scarce than 3 or so years ago.

At any rate, I decided to go into nursing because I've always loved biological sciences and health related fields. I also feel that nursing is a very diverse field and I'm sure I can stay entertained with it while making comparable pay to what I had been.

Tara

[Monica RN,BSN]

Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's ... (Not my idea of a carrer) Then CNA .... WHile in nursing school..... Then RN.

[Dublin37]

Let's see....waitress, ride operator (Knotts), waitress, insurance processor (liked the medical aspect), Jr. High Teacher (loved the kids, hated teaching history, ick!), sub teacher, sold Tupperware, Longaberger Baskets, and Stampin Up, waitress again, Conference Coord. (great job, loved it, good $ bad hours for family), and now waiting to start clinicals! Tadah!

When I was a little girl, I always wanted to be a go-go dancer, so I'm a little envious. Though, I have no rhythm, talent, and I sure in heck don't want to strip! Just the dance part always seemed fun. Heather:D

[B.T.H]

Let's see...most of my work experience was in restaurants before I started training in fine arts under my brother. Thought it was going to be easy because I could draw so well. HAAAH!!!! After 10 years of painting under my belt I feel like I have just scratched the surface. Anyway, got tired of trying to make ends meet as an artist and thought I'd get a real job with benefits and stuff . Seriously though, I started nursing with the intent of getting a flexible job that I could schedule around my art. But since being back in school after having graduated(highschool) 17 years ago and not having done very well then. I find that school is a lot different now(what 2 kids and some maturity will do to boost our study habits). Anyway, so far so good, now I just have to keep this up for about 3 more years....graduate with a 4.0 from my BSN, then get accepted to a CRNA program somewhere.... and were set : rolleyes. Did I mention that I still have to paint full time for the galleries, and raise two kids at the same time....But so far so good, haven't dropped dead from exhaustion yet and still have a 4.0 half way through my pre-reqs. Anyone that wants to see my work, just punch up " Bao Ho artist" and you'll see my paintings. B.T.H

[4loveoflife]

I worked for Beneficial Finance as an Account Executive for nearly 7 years before a client sat at my desk and told me about her career as a traveling nurse. At the time I was being mentored into an executive HR position by the regional HR manager of the company. I was in colloge earning my Bachelors in business (HR) full time as well, when her enthusiasm infected me. It was hard to quit a $55k per year job (heck of a lot of work I had to do to get to that point, with no college degree under my belt as of yet...and 25 yrs old), and go to $0 per year, no tuition reimbursement anymore and thousands of $ in debt for student loans. But I got to the point were I felt totally unfulfilled, my stomach knotted up at the thought of work, something had to give. So on Jan. 1st, 2003 I did it! I handed in my letter of resignation, and I havent looked back once. I finish up my pre-linicals this semester and I am currently working as cna/gna at a LTC facility cleaning butts feeding people for 1/5 of what I use to make and no benefits! A lot of people dont understand, they think Im foolish. Thats why I love this board...people who understand what it is like to have a dream and take a risk and just go for it!