I have been visiting this website for several months now and this is my first posting. I have read many posts that were encouraging of people going into nursing and many that were discouraging. I stay on a constant roller coaster with my decision to go back to school to be a nurse.
I was an elementary school teacher for 8 years and stayed stressed out most of the time. I took about 4 years off and did some soul searching. I have always loved science-really wanted to be a veterinarian- but took the easy way out, so I thought, and went to college to be a teacher. I decided to make a career change to nursing because it interested me. Anyway, I entered nursing school last fall and quit mid-November. I decided to go back to teaching and realized after only a few short months what a horrible mistake I had made because I did not want to teach for the rest of my life. I will be returning to nursing school this fall and really hope to stick it out this time.
I guess what I am looking for is some encouragement. I am aware that nursing can be very stressful, however I feel like I will have more opportunities to pursue in the nursing field if I become dissatisfied in certain areas of the profession.
Also, I would like to know and hear from any nurses that were formerly teachers and how they feel about their career change. Do you feel like you made the right decision? I feel like I will make an excellent nurse, however I really doubt my decision when I read some of the posts from unhappy nurses.
Thank you for your advice and any wisdom you would like to share! :)
I just got accepted into an accelerated program that will begin in the Spring. I am currently a teacher and do not know when would be an appropriate time to let my AP know that I will not be returning. I want to give them sufficient time to find someone to replace me as well as not burn any bridges.
Any suggestions?
Congratulations on being accepted in the BSN program. I'm also changing a career from teaching. I would let your AP know by no later than the 1st of November. You will probably need to talk with admin. too. They will have paperwork and an exit interview for you to attend. The exit interview will include what you will want to do about your retirement fund. They will also need to prorate your pay. If you leave at the Christmas vacation you will most likely be owed money. I went on maternity leave at the Christmas break one year and they paid me $10,000 for the days I had worked. This is what they owed me and hadn't paid me yet for my daily rate. When I quit teaching I had my retirement rolled into a 401k so that I wouldn't have a penalty.
thank you damrcngrl...this information helps a lot. I was thinking Thanksgiving time, but now that you mentioned everything that needs to get done, I think Nov. 1st is a good time. Thanks again.
damrcngrl95
207 Posts
Congratulations on being accepted in the BSN program.
I'm also changing a career from teaching. I would let your AP know by no later than the 1st of November. You will probably need to talk with admin. too. They will have paperwork and an exit interview for you to attend. The exit interview will include what you will want to do about your retirement fund. They will also need to prorate your pay. If you leave at the Christmas vacation you will most likely be owed money. I went on maternity leave at the Christmas break one year and they paid me $10,000 for the days I had worked. This is what they owed me and hadn't paid me yet for my daily rate. When I quit teaching I had my retirement rolled into a 401k so that I wouldn't have a penalty.
I hope this helps you with what to expect.