Was your previous career a failed one?

[manofletters]

I've just completed my prereqs and am about to start an ADN program. But I'm a little scared. I have a BA in Elem Education. After graduating, two years ago, despite having impeccable credentials, such as a 4.0 GPA, (and I was told men were particularly needed) I found myself unemployed in my field. I finally gave up and switched career pursuits.

So, I hear of all these nursing opportunities, just like I heard about teaching (which was true of some secondary positions), but worry that I'm doing this all for nothing, that I'll graduate with lots of debt and no job.

It is also taking a toll on my motivation to continue studying. I mean, all I hear are horror stories about how difficult this is. Can't imagine going through this for nothing.

I confess that I entered nursing because of it's legendary job security and decent income, though have now, fortunately, discovered an intense passion for it.

I'm 27 years old and feel that I've yet to get anywhere in my career pursuits. I feel like I'm starting adulthood over again by going back to school. Has anyone else here had any feelings/experiences like this?

[INFJ]

I am so feeling your pain! I, too, am 27...I have a Master's degree in Counseling. I graduated with a 3.98 GPA and searched for a job forever and never found one...not a decent one anyway. I have really "secretly" always wanted to do nursing, but was afraid of failing...so I figured with a "failed" career...why not face the fear?!?

I will graduate with a BSN in May and am finding myself extremely nervous about finding a job. What if the nursing shortage "disappears"? What if I have waited this long to do what I want to do and I can't get into it? I am so ready to have a life and do nursing and be successful that it's sometimes overwhelming. For our sake, I really do believe that our nervousness and apprehension is due to having the feeling that a former career choice kind of blew up in our faces. Forgive me if you do not feel this way...I'm kind of just lumping us together =) Anyway, I hope that is why I feel the way that I do.

Good luck in the next couple of years!!! =) Hope this has offered some insight that you are not alone!

Amy

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

I am so feeling your pain! I, too, am 27...I have a Master's degree in Counseling. I graduated with a 3.98 GPA and searched for a job forever and never found one...not a decent one anyway. I have really "secretly" always wanted to do nursing, but was afraid of failing...so I figured with a "failed" career...why not face the fear?!?

I will graduate with a BSN in May and am finding myself extremely nervous about finding a job. What if the nursing shortage "disappears"? What if I have waited this long to do what I want to do and I can't get into it? I am so ready to have a life and do nursing and be successful that it's sometimes overwhelming. For our sake, I really do believe that our nervousness and apprehension is due to having the feeling that a former career choice kind of blew up in our faces. Forgive me if you do not feel this way...I'm kind of just lumping us together =) Anyway, I hope that is why I feel the way that I do.

Good luck in the next couple of years!!! =) Hope this has offered some insight that you are not alone!

Amy

I felt your pain when you speak of your Master's in Counseling. My MSEd is in Counseling. It was a major reason I went back for my MSN. Congrats on your career move and your soon to be graduation.

[Sheri257]

So when I hear about this nursing demand, I am VERY skeptical. The only people who insist that there is one are people who are nurses (ie, employed, meaning their opinion is very personalized), professors (who have a vested interest in this belief, ie, their jobs!) and students (and how would they know).

I never met an unemployed teacher until I graduated with them!!!!

You're right to be skeptical. Unless you are planning to move away from Kansas, there will be no nursing shortage there, even by the year 2020, according to the U.S. Health Department.

Check out page 18 of this link:

ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/bhpr/nationalcenter/rnproject.pdf

There is a projected shortage of 800,000 vacancies nationwide by the year 2020 in many other states, but not in Kansas.

[Sheri257]

I will graduate with a BSN in May and am finding myself extremely nervous about finding a job. What if the nursing shortage "disappears"? What if I have waited this long to do what I want to do and I can't get into it? I am so ready to have a life and do nursing and be successful that it's sometimes overwhelming. For our sake, I really do believe that our nervousness and apprehension is due to having the feeling that a former career choice kind of blew up in our faces. Forgive me if you do not feel this way...I'm kind of just lumping us together =) Anyway, I hope that is why I feel the way that I do.

You live in Alabama ... so that's a different story.

Again, referring to the U.S. Health Department link on p. 15, there's about 1,800 nursing vacancies in Alabama right now. By 2020 ... there will be a projected 8,000 vacancies ... so you should be ok.

ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/bhpr/nationalcenter/rnproject.pdf

If people are wondering if there's going to be nursing shortage where they live, this link should help. It breaks down the projected shortages for each state every five years up to 2020.

Although keep in mind that it also depends on where you live in your state also. California has a huge shortage but, if I lived in a really rural area, I probably wouldn't find a job.

[Kitkat23]

Hey there. I'm a CNA working in LTC and now taking a PCT program at the community college. I want to go to nursing school and I'm 23 years old. When I was 18, I started taking courses at the community college and was undecided about choosing a career. During my first year of college, I did well; one A, B's and C's. During my second year in college, I got a new job as a telemarketer and met a bunch of new friends. They loved to party, so I hung out with the wrong crowd.

I started to hang out with them more and I skipped classes and abandoned my homework. I came into class whenever I felt like and pretended to listen to my proffesors. I had a "screw college" attitude and rather go out drinking, hang out with boys, clubbing, and smoke weed than hit the books and think of a career. My job as a telemarketer paid well and I was doing very well with my quota. My supervisor said that if I kept up the good work, that I'd take over as supervisor and get a big raise. So the hell with college, I thought.

Then my parents got a letter from the dean and I was on academic probation. They were very pissed off at me and I lied and said that school was too hard and the teachers were unfair, and I wanted to take a year or two off from college. Then a few months later my mom and dad told me to straighten out my life; they hated my telemarketing buddies and thought they were a bad influence on me. They wanted me to quit that job, find another one, and enroll back to college.

I was telling them off saying that I was 20 years old and could do whatever I wanted and like hell I was quitting my job. My mom said that if I don't like it at home that I could move out, so I did. I lived on my own for 6 months; meanwhile things at my job wasn't working out for me. I wasn't reaching my quota and my boss was getting on my case. They were cutting my hours and I could barely pay the rent. I was so stressed and depressed; I thought about going back to school; but wasn't sure what to do. I got fired from the job and then moved back in with my folks. I got a job at the casino and was thinking about taking a CNA course. When I was a little girl, I always wanted to be a nurse, but when I got older, math and science was my weak subjects.

But my old downstairs neighbor who works at the hospital told me that I could always start as a CNA and move up to be a PCT or go on to nursing school. I took the course at the community college and have been an aide on and off for almost 2 years. I did privateduty homecare for a neighbor for 3 months and then worked for a pool agency for 4 months and now I work at a nursing home. I've been there for almost 8 months. I started my clinical at the local hospital. (PCT student) I love it. Being an aide has changed me big time. I became more serious and caring and now I know were my future is heading. It looks bright. I wished I took the CNA program right after high school and then do the PCT course and take nursing prereqs at the same time, I feel like I'm not getting any younger. But it's never too late to go back to school.

I regret skipping school and partying when I was younger, but I grew up and learned from my mistakes. I wished I listened to my folks more. Those friends from my old job were cool to hang out with, but once your job performance starts to suck, they don't want anything to do with you. Yes I was friends with my supervisors; big mistake. It's not always great to learn the hard way in life, but sometimes it is a good way to learn and move on. I have cleaned up so much.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

My previous 'career' was not failed; however, it was dead-end. My previous job at a factory paid decently ($40,000 yearly) considering the fact that I had no college education or training. After three years I decided to resign because the opportunities for advancement were almost nonexistent. My previous job was also very, very hazardous. I never really had a career; merely, I had a job.

Oops! I forgot to mention that I completed medical assistant school in 2000, but that never went anywhere. I wasn't offered a medical assistant job that paid above $7 per hour. Why am I going to accept $7 when the factory was paying me $15.21 per hour? I thought I'd make a career out of medical assisting, but I was very wrong.

I completed LVN school in October 2005 and plan to pursue my RN if all goes well.

[smilin_gp]

Hehe, funny question. I graduated with a music education degree right at the peak of my state's recession. Needless to say, I am back in school!