if this is your 2nd (or 3rd!) career what was your first?..m

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I'm just curious, what was your previous career and why did you decide to make a change?

Here are my answers:

In my previous life I was a Paralegal for a large corporation.:specs:

I decided to make a change because the law truly bored me! All I did was sit at a desk all day pushing paper, dealing with state bureaucracy, corporate politics, etc. I realize in nursing I will have some of the same issues (politics, etc). It's really the patient interaction that I'm looking forward to. I'm a real "people person" and a good hand-holder too!:kiss

Marci :nurse:

Hi all,

I graduated H.S. in '93 and after that went to college for a degree in Agricultural Science. I graduated with a BS in winter '97.

Was interested in Agriculture but realized my senior year that I wanted to move back to Pittsburgh to be with my family and all the jobs I could find related to my field were out in the middle of no where. So, I ended up working as a secretary at an Information Tech. company. I got to learn and experience different things - got to work for many different people and departments. Did a lot of recruiting / HR and planning conferences and tradeshows / Marketing. Started to realize, though, that it wasn't my "calling". Although I enjoyed what I did and the people I worked with I knew that I didn't have a "mind" for business. Also, I saw very clearly how women are treated in the business community and I did not want that for myself. I've actually had men tell me that because I am a young married woman they will not teach me what I need to know to be successful at my job because I could get pregnant and leave.

Thought about going back into Agriculture but I also realized that working in an office was really nice compared to sweating or freezing outside and that I really need to work in a capacity where I get to interact a lot with others. Which, you don't get to do much in Ag. I also thought about becoming a Vet-Tech but the cost of schooling was so high and the pay was really low.

Then, over a year ago I got laid off from my info. tech job and I realized that it was my opportunity to pursue nursing. My husband had me look for another job in HR or Marketing just to make sure that nursing was what I wanted to do but after 6 months I could not find anything at all. I also realized then that I did not want to leave my home (Pittsburgh) to find another job and if I stayed in Pittsburgh I would not be able to find a job.

So, I decided that now was definately the time to start nursing. I currently work in a small sales office doing typing and I am taking some pre-req's. in the evenings. I'm also waiting to hear back on a CNA training / job position.

Like another poster said, I don't have any illusions of what the nursing profession is, but I really feel that it I will enjoy what I do. Plus, I want to start a family in the next couple of years but I also want to work outside of the home and nursing will give me the ability to be a mom and work part-time.

I graduated from H.S. in 1968 (yes they did have electricity then), got a B.S. in 1972, got an MBA in 1998, traveled for a Baby Bell for 30 years, and realized I had wasted more than half of my working years doing something I didn't like. When I graduated from college the first time, there were 103 elements on the periodic chart; now there are 110. Obviously my science knowledge was outdated. I had to take some of the pre-

reqs, test out of some others and will begin nursing school this September. I have been mistaken for several instructors, a parent of a student, even the dean of the college because of my gray hair. I wonder how this will be for me as a "old lady newbie" on the floor as we read so much about the experienced nurses vs. the new grads. I would be a tough, old bird to eat!

Maybe there is a chance we can get the ball rolling on the SNOTF (student nurses over thirty-five) chat thing that Dublin started?

Good luck to all of us!

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by oldnewnurse

i graduated from h.s. in 1968 (yes they did have electricity then), got a b.s. in 1972, got an mba in 1998, traveled for a baby bell for 30 years, and realized i had wasted more than half of my working years doing something i didn't like. when i graduated from college the first time, there were 103 elements on the periodic chart; now there are 110. obviously my science knowledge was outdated. i had to take some of the pre-

reqs, test out of some others and will begin nursing school this september. i have been mistaken for several instructors, a parent of a student, even the dean of the college because of my gray hair. i wonder how this will be for me as a "old lady newbie" on the floor as we read so much about the experienced nurses vs. the new grads. i would be a tough, old bird to eat!

maybe there is a chance we can get the ball rolling on the snotf (student nurses over thirty-five) chat thing that dublin started?

good luck to all of us!

and welcome to the board. i was nearing 8 years old when you graduated high school and excatly 10 years later i did graduated from high school. so, you are still young!:) :balloons: congratulations on going back to school and all the best to you as you embark upon your nursing career! come back now, you here! :)

When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a vet. Graduated from High School in 1980, and soon got stupid and married in 1982. This is the time in my life that I call the trenches. I have done just about every manufacturing job you can imagine--from slinging chicken in a poultry processing plant, to slinging underwear and tee-shirts in an undergarment factory. Went to college in 1991, had a baby in 1993, divorce in 1996. Started nursing school(the first time) in 1997. Had to drop out of nursing school (lack of funds) have been working in a library.

Needless to say after having cancer in 1998, I decided I had better make some serious grown-up decisions about my life and found that I still had the urge for nursing, so I will be going back to school in the fall for that.

Sorry this is so long. I wouldn't say that nursing is my first or second career. But, I will say that having done everything else, I am still drawn to nursing.

Let's see,

1. Hellion

2. Juvenile deliquent

3. Pumped Gas

4. Self employed salesman

5. Son, you got a choice to make... which led to

6. US Navy for 21 years

7. EMT-I

8. LPN

9. RN

But, I would love to go to culinary school and open my very own small restaurant. Or become an engineer for the railroad.xyxthumbs.gif

bob

.

Well, I have degree in photography but I never used it. I worked at a printing company for years and now I produce enduring materials for a company that organizes medical education conferences.

Kim

First time around I graduated with a BS in Computer Science and have been slinging code ever since then ('90). I basically am not satisfied anymore with sitting in front of a computer all day in a cubicle. I need to feel like I've accomplished something at the end of the day that is worthwile. Make decent money but feel pretty empty inside. I also want more interaction with different types of people.

Originally posted by 2ndCareerRN

Let's see,

1. Hellion

2. Juvenile deliquent

3. Pumped Gas

4. Self employed salesman

5. Son, you got a choice to make... which led to

6. US Navy for 21 years

7. EMT-I

8. LPN

9. RN

But, I would love to go to culinary school and open my very own small restaurant. Or become an engineer for the railroad.xyxthumbs.gif

bob

Wow Bob, what an exciting life !! You are an inspiration to many !

:wink2:

Same as Chris, I've been working as a computer programmer for almost 5 years now. Prior to that I studied for 2 yrs of nursing in my country but wasn't able to finish it. I took the short way and got my diploma in computer programming. Even though the pay is good, I'm not happy. So now i'm going back to school to do what I really love to do. A lot of people thinks I'm crazy because I'm doing this. Anyway, God-willing I will start the nursing program next fall after taking all my pre-reqs.

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by promises

same as chris, i've been working as a computer programmer for almost 5 years now. prior to that i studied for 2 yrs of nursing in my country but wasn't able to finish it. i took the short way and got my diploma in computer programming. even though the pay is good, i'm not happy. so now i'm going back to school to do what i really love to do. a lot of people thinks i'm crazy because i'm doing this. anyway, god-willing i will start the nursing program next fall after taking all my pre-reqs.

and welcome! all the best to you!
Originally posted by sbic56

vettech

I understand and agree with you completely about your statement about going into animal healthcare for the right reasons. I did go into nursing for the challenge as well as a desire to help people. Actually, I am thinking more towards becoming a groomer and pet sitter. I think I would have a hard time dealing with dying animals on a regualr basis and bad pet owners, (not that there won't be a few of those no matter where I work with animals.) I know you will be a good nurse having already been experienced in the field you are in. Just a different type of animal. ;)

Also, I think those going into nursing believing they will get the respect they are looking for may be dissappointed. That is one of nurses biggest complaints about the profession...lack of respect.

I hope others feel that way. We get a pretty even mix when we have MDs and RNs as clients. Some seem honestly impressed by our skills and procedures, others treat us like we're not "real" nurses and doctors. The WORST bunch are those who medicate their own pets using pediatric doses, assuming the meds will do the same in their pet as it does a child. I've lost count of how many animals I've lost from that. Even an infant dose of Tylenol is fatal to felines.

My feeling is that, so long as I respect and adjust to the differences, I think I'll make a great RN. As one RN joked with me on another board, if I can hit a kitten vein, no way I'll miss a human's. ;)

BTW, I've done a few humans already. I've drawn blood for rabies titer levels on 2 vets I worked for. While I was tsill in school I also placed an IV catheter in my own mother's vein when the home health nurse kept missing. (It was my mom's request, I didn't want to do it.) I guess I work well under pressure and nailed it on the first try. The nurse actually laughed out loud. I really think she expected me to miss!

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