what did you do in your former life?

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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 Hospice, Nursing Education, Primary Care.

I have a BS in math because when I graduated there was no BS in computer science and I wanted to go into computer science. I had an incredibly long and lucrative career in computers, the last 20 years at a telecommunications company. I was a programmer, a business analyst (called nurse informatics in the nursing field), a project manager and spent 10 years as a manager of programmers developing software. At 20 years I was laid off from my last job. We had had 6 years of layoffs and the layoffs continue.

The computer field at a huge company is not fulfilling because there is so much bureacracy you don't get anything accomplished and you don't have a feeling of accomplishment. I lost my 21 year old son 1/25/2005 and I felt a calling to become a hospice nurse. I started going to school to become a nurse in Mar of 2005. I have a CNA and I am in an LPN program. I intend to get an associates RN degree then a BSN then become an NP or teach by getting a masters. I have taken all my science courses and only lack a course in nutrition to get into the BSN program.

I could skip the BSN and go straight for the master's. Will this hamper my ability to get jobs in management if I don't have the BSN?

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Specializes in Stroke Seizure/LTC/SNF/LTAC.
Hey I owned an insurance agency, Won all the trips made Lots of money was very unhappy, I am an LPN now and have one more semester for my RN, I work in Long term care and really love it. I make a difference. I am 47 years old and my name is Diane... Tehee.

Hey, I'm 47 and my name is Diane, too. :rotfl: I was an accountant for 20 years (hated it). I have a BS and MBA. Last job as an Accountant, I worked for a movie studio. Lots of perks, like free screening of theatrical films. Plus personally saw some famous folks. :clown: My favorite place to work was for a non-profit that gave away money (community foundation). We got to go to great places like the Getty Museum, the Holocaust Museum, baseball games, concerts and musicals. :cool: I now see a fair number of famous folks as patients. :roll

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I was and still am a medical transcriptionist for 15+ years. Have an associate in business and a certificate in data processing/programming. Finally decided I'm tired of taking pay cuts and/or not getting a raise because transcription is being shipped overseas. RN in 2007 after 3 years of study! Still transcribin' working my way through school. Welcome to nursing, friends!

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Delivered pizzas for a couple of years, was a lifeguard, swim instructor, after school program 'instructor' for kids, and worked as a temp - all at the same time.

Was in the Navy for 6 years. Secretary for a year. Full time mom until I went completely nuts (God love full time mothers) the nursing school.

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Specializes in Maternity & Well Baby Nursery.

I was a waitress, cashier, clerk, STAHM, nursing school student (RN Diploma, didn't finish program), got an AAS in paralegal studies, secretary, corporate accounting associate, and I was working toward my accounting degree (in hopes of getting my CPA) when I decided to go back to nursing school.

Coming back to nursing school is truly one of the best decisions I have ever made.

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I have been a paralegal for 17 years. Starting prereqs for nursing in January.

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Specializes in Geriatric and now peds!!!!.

I was a cubicle hostage doing accounts payable work for the East Coast's largest furniture store. Before that I did accounts payable work for one of the Souths largest poultry processing plants. I was a sahm for a couple of years, and also have been a waitress. becoming a nurse finally at age 37 was the best thing I have done (besides give birth to my 2 kids lol) I love my job.

Wendy

LPN

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Specializes in ICU.

I have a BS in chemistry and worked in a research lab for a while, worked as a forensic DNA analyst for about 3 weeks (I got fired!), worked as a receptionist, administrative assistant, deputy sheriff, cashier, pretzel maker, retail. none of those jobs gave me the stability that I look forward to having as a nurse.

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I was a waitress for a couple years until my aunt who worked at the same restaurant became a CNA. I remembered my dream of nursing.

So then I decided to become a CNA then HHA. I was a volunteer EMT, too. When I started that nursing was not a good career option (few jobs, even worse pay than now) but after a few years it looked like a good plan. I had started a medical assistant program then dropped out halfway through to go to nursing school.

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Specializes in DD, Geriatrics, Neuro.

Let's see. I've been a movie theatre manager, a nanny, a clerical worker, a chiropractic assistant, and a retail manager.

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Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

I was a cowgirl.

I worked on a Quarter horse Ranch.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Another former medical transcriptionist here, worked my way through nursing school as an MT and CNA

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