what did you do in your former life?

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TrudyRN

1,343 Posts

I am have a BS degree in business. My emphasis is marketing. I once worked for Ford Motor in their marketing dept in Detroit. I hated it! I travelled alot, which was fun at first but got old. I have always been in marketing in one capacity or another. I have had great jobs. But I have kiddos now and I do not want to travel. Plus healthcare is in demand now. I figure I have always played the role of "helper" to my customers, distributors, so now I am going into nursing. Plus, I love science. I wanted to go into medicine when I was in high school, but my dad talked me out of it because "I am a girl". I feel like he believed women should marry the doctors, not be the doctors! On a side note, my dad now sees the error of his ways. He says that I am alot smarter than many of the men he knows and he should have not detered my interest in medicine.

Maybe you could still become a doctor.

TrudyRN

1,343 Posts

babysitter, worked in dry cleaners shop, receptionist/girl friday in high school, lab tech, unit clerk, nurse's aide, RN in many different areas and as staff RN and Nurse Manager;

I wanted to be a lawyer but was told that girls don't do that. :(

manofbess

73 Posts

It seems like I've had 9 lives because I've had a lot of "former lives" in less than 3 years!

I have a BA in Journalism/Mass Communications with a focus in advertising. I didn't intern in undergrad b/c I transferred into the program junior year and was more focused on graduating in 4 years (the power of scholarships, right???) over getting priceless internship experience. Bit me in the pants it did. I moved back home b/c no one in Atlanta was taking my resume seriously!

So once I got home, I substitute taught for a semester and I LOVED the atmosphere. I decided that teaching could be right up my alley. So I did some research and found out I qualified for an alternative teacher licensure program here and I taught for a year.

Actually stumbled upon nursing by accident. I was reading the paper at the end of the school day and the front page story dealt with jobs in top demand. Surely nursing was right up at the top. I never realized until then that one could become a RN with an Associates Degree. I started asking some nursing friends a few questions and I did some googling, found this site, said "Hey, sounds like another field that's up my alley" (I've always felt like my purpose in life is to help and guide others in some way or another) and I applied for nursing school. Got accepted and I'll start in January.

Someone mentioned that the money as a server was too good to pass up--I want to know where they served b/c I barely made enough to keep gas in my car (I worked at a chain sit-down restaurant with a lower clientele compared to other places)...my last day as a server, I said I'd never do it again, but I may have to since no other employers have called yet and I need an evening/weekend PT job.

I plan on returning to my teaching roots by going into either school nursing or nursing education. Until then, I'm a struggling undergraduate again :p

twotrees2

913 Posts

In my former life, I was a gangster's moll, hung out with Bugsy Segal and Charlie Lucciano!!:lol2: :lol2: When I first read the thread, I thought that it was a past life thing, ( bit of a laugh!!), after reading the thread, in this lifetime, my main job before being a midwife was a Mammy!! (wish I could say I was a Calvin Cline underwear model too, but, sadly not!Could have modeled the latest line in Bridget Jones big pants however, FAB at covering all the marks of being a Mammy, but, I imagine, not as wildly exciting!!!)

P.S Guys, don't take me seriously, I'm not heavily into past life etc, but I imagine that if it existed, a gangsters moll is what I would have been! always feel a particular affinity with all that stuff, even although I'm as Scottish as they come!!!! Any of you guys imagine what you would have been before, bit of fun, and interesting as to how folks view themselves at heart!!:specs:

hmmm well hubby and kids think i was a witch in a past life and it carried over HAHHAHA> my grandmother says i was born a nurse for the elderly :) and THAT is a compliment trust me lol - so maybe i was a nurse in a past life. personally i think maybe i was a cross of both hehehhee.

takotako

6 Posts

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....

I was an accounting graduate before I became an LPN. I was laid off after the 9/11. I had a hard time looking for a job. I took CNA first, because it requires only one semester. I got a job right after I finished the semester, without experience. Then continue to become an LPN. I love the feeling that I could help the patient. I am working on being an RN at this time.

Takotako.

bblair

25 Posts

I am currently a teacher hopefully starting nursing school in August. I knew I either wanted nursing or teaching as a career, and my family talked me into teaching because of the summers/CHristmas break, etc. BUT, if you don't enjoy it, who cares how much time you have off, you are going to be miserable.

Specializes in Developmental Disabilities, LTC.

Hotels, hotels, hotels...front desk, for about 5 years. Was told I was really good at it, too. I even considered making that my lifetime career. It's such a back-stabbing industry, though. No one ever stays in a management position for too long...always looking to get promoted, or transferred to a better property. Yup, I worked in a pretty big dive hotel for 3 years, then the ritziest of ritziest hotels in Madison, WI (can you say culture shock) for 1 year or 2, then several in between hotels off & on. An old boyfriend of mine once told me, "People either go to hotels to sleep or have sex..." which is very true, which can lead to some very interesting experiences...I've got a million stories.

Cocktail-waitress/bartender. I had a blast doing this. Especially the waitressing. I was a league cocktail waitress for a bowling alley for 1 season & had only taken the job to kill some extra time I had...didn't necessarily need the $. I could be such a brat to my customers, & they would tip me more for it. They thought I was joking, or something, when I would insult them. Made the most $ on my all men's league night...go figure.

Little jobs along the way include: nanny to 3 kids (loved it), gas-station attendant (hands down worst job ever...you wouldn't believe the stress involved behind this job), & hostess/busser/takeout girl @ Chinese restaurant (my first job ever; paid $4.25/hour...loved it). That about sums it up. If it all fell apart for me right now, I'd probably go back to hotels, just because I have the experience & you can make a decent wage.

jojo77

8 Posts

I am a waitress(until I graduate). but whay really made me want to go back to school was wroking at an insurance office. the money wasn't bad, but I hated it. Good Luck in whatever you decide:monkeydance:

P_RN, ADN, RN

6,011 Posts

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I have resisted posting but:

Title researcher-dad was Realtor ( did while in HS)

Nursing Student 1 year

Title researcher

Secretarial school 19 mo (AA deg)

Secretary auto repair garage

Nursing School (2 1/2 yr)

Wife

Secretary

Nursing assistant (17 mo)

BA degree

Long distance operator

Mom

Medical assistant -General Practice

Mom

Nursing school (graduated- RN)& typed papers&title research&secretary

RN doctor's office

RN OR Scrub

RN Headstart

RN Voc Rehab

RN Hospital

RN public health

RN Hospital (22 y)

Retired

Doesn't feel like I did much though.

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