what did you do in your former life?

Nurses General Nursing

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This is for all those who have changed careers....what did you do before you decided to become a nurse??? This is just to satisfy my own curiosity....I am currently working in retail and have started prereqs for a nursing program. However, I'm also considering becoming an elementary teacher...I thought if people would share their stories it might shed a little light on my own situation. Thanks....

Specializes in Rural.

I was a product manager for a large publishing company in Germany. After my move to rural nebraska I needed to change to a career that offered a greater chance for gainful employment. I was already an EMT and firefighter, so nursing seemed to be the ideal choice, and believe me it was. I am still happy with my choice.

I was a product manager for a large publishing company in Germany. After my move to rural nebraska I needed to change to a career that offered a greater chance for gainful employment. I was already an EMT and firefighter, so nursing seemed to be the ideal choice, and believe me it was. I am still happy with my choice.

Rural Nebraska---hey me2

Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.

I went to college, got a Bachelor's in Communication Disorders, graduated and moved back home and discovered that you needed a Masters in my home state to be a Speech Pathologist. :smackingf So I took some sign language classes and volunteered with deaf kids as a teacher's assistant while I worked in the government doing secretary work part time with every plan to get a Masters in Deaf Education. Instead I met my husband, married, had my first and second child, worked doing data entry in a law firm (in the office and from home), had my third child, then quit my job. Then my husband and I adopted a 6 and 7 year old (adding to the 6 and 7 and 3 year old we already had). I ended up staying home as a housewife for 17 years. :rolleyes: Did the school activities, PTA, etc and then looked around and the kids were older and disappearing to various parts of the house and neighborhood and it was hard to round them up. While typing up the graduate paperwork as my husband was working on his Doctor of pharmacy I made the statement...."I wish I had studied nursing....." and with his encouragement I went back to school (talk about "Twilight Zone"...cellphones everywhere, laptops and trying to remember how to use a microscope....) I ended up graduating with a BSN in nursing while all five were teens (with my youngest and my husband there to cheer at my graduation).....:mortarboard: now 3 of my kids are in college (two with scholarships), one is in high school, and I won't mention about the one that got away (my adopted son....he's over 18 and trying to find his own place in the world...somewhere...) and meanwhile I'm working on my Masters in an ANP program.

Life begins at 40...... :roll

Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.

Another former medical transcriptionist here. I love it and would love to do it for the rest of my life, but the job gets harder, the dictation gets worse and I was tired of watching my paycheck shrink every year.

I started out in medical records about 20 years ago. Shortly after that I was at a crossroads - do I continue with medical records or go into nursing? I didn't choose nursing because, back then, I didn't want to wear the same thing every day. I wanted to dress up and do my hair. I got tired of that pretty fast. Besides I was terrified of blood, poop and body odor. I got over that too.

I'm a nursing student now but work as a dialysis technician, which was a wonderful introduction to patient care. It also introduced me to the world of blood, poop and body odor and it wasn't that bad after all.

I wish I had chosen nursing 20 years ago, but better late than never, I suppose.

Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.

This thread makes me recognize how few members I even recognize anymore...welcome to you all!

I did hair, nails, facials, etc.

I was a retail clothing store asst. manager.

I was a bank teller.

I was a medical assistant, which inspired me to go on to be a RN.

In my former life I have been, a newspaper girl, a grocery bagger, foodservice worker, cook, made Levi's and last but not least a waitress. Funny though how much nursing is like waitressing... At least on the floor I work on. Only my customers are more sick than hungry and when I forget something or screw up I can lose my license or go to jail, instead of just getting fired! I still prefer nursing though...

After reading some of the other posts, changing from a full-time fireman to nurse was not that big of deal. Of course I have had all of those life learning jobs--construction, lawn mower, tree trimmer, veteran. I have also learned from my mistakes. That's why it is the former life!

Specializes in Psych.

Lets see, paperboy, burger-flipper, worked in a grocery store doing everything, campus security officer, associates degree in social sciences, worked with delinquent youth, nuclear security officer, MR/DD counselor / direct care, nursing student, emergency room tech.

Specializes in Emergency.

I was a telephone operator! You may have talked to me when you dialed 411! That was great money;but, unfortunately we were on strike alot.:smilecoffeecup:

Specializes in none yet, but I'm VERY excited!.

I taught high school and I'm here to tell ya...

If you decide to teach, I would go private school or not at all.

The kids are great, but the parents and the administration can make it difficult for you.

There are exceptions. There are good districts and communities of great parents (I hope), but be careful! I had a tough experience.

I actually had parents complaining that my expectations were exceeding their childrens' capabilities. These parents sometimes said so in front of their children.

Good luck to you whatever you do!

from most to least recent:

stockbroker/mom

stockbroker

retail buyer

video production

...between all careers, i was a beach bum...

Specializes in Long term care, psychiatric.

I was a pre kindergarten teacher. [email protected]

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