Also Ran Careers... what did you decide against before choosing nursing

NeuroICURN · Jul 12, 2004

I did pass on being a male stripper prior to be a nurse
defined as
a male who strips the floors
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

You know Tom....I always look forward to your replies. We can usually count on you for the comic relief! :)

cowgirlup · Jul 12, 2004

Well, nursing is still not my first choice of career, but with my new situation with a child, veterinary school is out of my reach. However, I still love diagnosing, caring for people, etc., but animals will always have a special place in my heart.
R.

I always wanted to be a vet growing up. I worked for a local veterinarian while in high and loved it! However, when I toured the state vet school, they scared me to death as they described their "weed out" math and science courses. I "chickened out" and chose to become an elementary teacher. At the time I thought it was the easy way out. Although I was good at my job, I became burned out and realized I didn't want to teach for the rest of my life. During a 4 year sabbatical, I worked once again for a vet. While there, I noticed how much time the veterinarians always spent on their job- away from their families. I realized that I would not have been happy working like that all of time because my family is so important to me. Most of all, it helped me resolve my deep regrets about never attempting vet school.

I am now starting nursing school and am very excited! I love the science courses I have taken and am anxious to begin my core nursing courses. Like you though, I have special place in my heart for animals. I really enjoy "doctoring" my horses when they get hurt or need vaccinations.

One other thing, I have noticed a very strong correlation between teaching and nursing. I feel like my skills as a teacher will make me a great nurse!

michelle95 · Jul 12, 2004

Chalk me up as another one with dreams to be a vet. I hope when the kids are grown that I can concentrate on that. I've always wanted to work with animals.

I thought about getting a 2 year degree to be a vet tech. Then, I found out what I would get paid. I was working as a CNA at the time making 8 an hour and after I would have finished vet tech school, I would have made 7 an hour. No thanks. I love animals but I do have a family to support.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2004

I had a prior career as a probation officer with a BS in Criminal Justice. I worked with kids and did family counseling. I loved it and had I stayed I'd be eligible to retire within the next 3 years. However, the job had a miserable residency requirement (like most law enforcement or CJ jobs). I was getting married and my husband's field had no work where I lived. So I retrained to nursing through an accelerated BSN program.

I had also considered a few other careers (teaching, RT, Speech Language Pathology) but they were either limited in employment opportunity at the time or had a really long demanding education program. Accelerated nursing allowed me to be back working full time in 1 calendar year.

finness · Jul 13, 2004

i was an english/documentary film major prior to nursing school. i switched without any science background and no idea how hard the course work was going to be. i rthink i read somewhere that nursing was considered a "second" career as many people 'join the ranks' later in life. in any case, i enjoy being part of such a passionate and highly eclectic group of people. :)

cowgirlup · Jul 13, 2004

Chalk me up as another one with dreams to be a vet. I hope when the kids are grown that I can concentrate on that. I've always wanted to work with animals.
I thought about getting a 2 year degree to be a vet tech. Then, I found out what I would get paid. I was working as a CNA at the time making 8 an hour and after I would have finished vet tech school, I would have made 7 an hour. No thanks. I love animals but I do have a family to support.

I did not mention earlier that I too thought about becoming a vet tech. I registered at the only school in NC that offered such a program. My parents and boyfriend (now husband) moved me 2 1/2 hours from home to my new apartment. I stayed only 3 days! I became very homesick and was upset when they told me I would only make about $10,000 a year (1987) once I graduated. I could not see investing two years of my life in an education that would only provide me with such little income.

I am now looking forward to the flexibility and income that nursing will provide so that I may spend more time with my family and hobbies-that include our animals.

hypnotic_nurse · Jul 13, 2004

I have so many interests....

Have actually been: editor, teacher, transcriptionist, writer (not successful, but still tried it!), artist (more a hobby I guess, but my paintings sell, just not for much)

Considered and have done some of the classes but haven't gotten there yet OR decided it didn't suit me: translator, entomologist, English professor, counselor, horticulturist -- still might pursue English or entomology at some point

Nursing was actually not something I ever thought I would do, in fact when I was younger I knew I would NOT be a nurse (mom's a nurse, two aunts were nurses, my sister is a nurse -- no way was I going to do it). Of course, now I am a nurse. :)

michelle95 · Jul 13, 2004

I guess I should say that originally I was going to be a CPA. My middle 2 years in high school I took accounting classes. I thought I was too stupid to be a nurse but not to be a CPA (yeah, the thought processes of teenagers). Then, I saw my friend in nursing school and while she isn't dumb by any means, I knew that if she could do it, so could I. And, I couldn't see me sitting behind a desk for the rest of my life...even if you can make mega bucks doing it. :rolleyes:

Some things in life are more important than money. :)

Chevelle · Jul 13, 2004

I considered so much! CPA, real estate, lawyer, trooper, college professor, social worker, race car driver, biologist, starting my own used bookstore....but I knew they were not for me because even though I thought I had finally decided, I kept looking. Nursing changed it all. It offered me everything and more that I was looking for. I have never considered anything else since!

BrwnEyedNurs · Jul 13, 2004

Quite a few of you considered being a CPA? That's funny b/c I graduated with a BS in accounting this past May and now I am going to nursing school :) I realized before my last semester that accounting wasn't for me...but I decided to go ahead and graduate since I was so close. Maybe one day I'll take the CPA exam and do taxes from my home part-time in addition to nursing,...probably not but you never know. Besides most CPAs I know have taken the exam about 4 times before they passed, anyway I am focusing on nursing school and the NCLEX so I'll think about that other stuff in a couple of years.

yellow finch, BSN, RN · May 5, 2008

This is an interesting thread so I'm reviving it.

I actually had several careers before nursing... film, flight attendant, and psychology.

To be honest, nursing never interested me until I was planning a move to be with my future husband. I was studying Forensic Science only to find out that there were no programs in the entire state where I was moving to. So I went to nursing school. Now I'm moving on to become an NP.

I should have gone to medical school years ago when there was a chance. Now... I'm too tired to go through all that schooling. *sigh*

S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN · May 6, 2008

Paramedic, Environmental Science, Environmental Geography, Geology, Forestry, Outdoor Recreation, hmmmmm......I think thats it. Nursing I think was the #7 choice on my application list. But that damn application essay won me over!