Discussion

Getting out of nursing altogether

Mar 15, 200917 yr

I have been toying with the idea of leaving nursing altogether and going into teaching elementary ed. If any of you have been following my posts you know that I have been in an extremely bad situation in a less than reputable nursing school. I am sick and tired and depressed about the whole situation and I just want to get as far away from nursing as possible. There is no area of nursing that I can think of that appeals to me. I know that I can take the "alternate route to teaching" certification as long as I have a bachelors, which I do. Has anyone ever been a regular school teacher and/or have any thoughts on the matter?

Mar 15, 200917 yr

I would hate to be a teacher and deal with bratty kids, irresponsible parents, overbearing government regulations, school politics, lack of discipline tools, indulgent parents, druggie parents, everyone blaming the teacher for everything, violent kids, and so forth.

Mar 15, 200917 yr

Well, the job you're thinking about is hard to get. People don't quit.

Why not get a teaching spot in a reputable school? Mine had instructors who didn't have bachelor's, out of pure deperation, and it was pary of state uni.

Mar 15, 200917 yr

Experts

My sister taught 2nd grade for 30 years in a public school system. She enjoyed it. While she made as much cash as I did as a nurse (both of us with Master's Degrees in our field for most of our careers) .... she always had much better benefits than I did ... bettern health insurance, more tuition reimbursement for further education, etc.

In particular, as a government employee in a public school, she had a great retirement plan. She semi-retired at age 52 with a state-guaranteed pension that pays her 60% of her final salary, adjusted annually for inflation. She will also qualify for Social Security when she turns 62 -- which will bring her total retirement income to virutally full pay for the rest of her life. In the meantime, while waiting for the Social Security to kick in, she substitue teaches ocassionally to supplement the 60% pension.

Me? I've had to pay for all of my graduate education myself and will get no pension. I will have to rely on Social Security plus whatever money I have been able to save for myself over the years. I plan on working until I am in my mid-60's -- though I hope to be able to scale back to part time during the last 5 years or so of my career.

After her 30 years as a 2nd grade teacher ... my sister was getting pretty burned out and was really happy to get out of teaching full time. But she was no more burned out than every nurse I know -- but she is a lot better off financially -- and she always enjoyed having her summer's off to play golf 3 or 4 days per week, travel, etc.

That's not everyone's experience with teaching. My sister was lucky to be working in a nice public school district with a collective bargaining agreement. Like any other profession, you will hear both positive and negative stories about people who choose that profession. There are good places and bad places to work. I would suggest thoroughly investigating the job market in your area before making any decisions/investment -- so that you will know what to expect in terms of the local teaching jobs. How do the local teachers feel about their jobs and employers? How likely would you be to get a good job with a good employer?

Mar 15, 200917 yr

Author

Well, the job you're thinking about is hard to get. People don't quit.
Why not get a teaching spot in a reputable school? Mine had instructors who didn't have bachelor's, out of pure deperation, and it was pary of state uni.

What state university was this? They were teaching at a 4 year school with just an associates? Is that even legal?

Mar 15, 200917 yr

Author

I would hate to be a teacher and deal with bratty kids, irresponsible parents, overbearing government regulations, school politics, lack of discipline tools, indulgent parents, druggie parents, everyone blaming the teacher for everything, violent kids, and so forth.

Im thinking 1st or 2nd grade. I can deal with bratty and I dont think they will be violent just yet at that age. If they are I think I can take them! The parents probably would make me sick but they do at the vocational level too so... I can take it better coming from a 6yr olds mom than a 26 yr old!

Mar 15, 200917 yr

Before you do this, check into the job market for teachers. I had an elementary education degree before I went back to school and became a nurse. I gave up on teaching when there were 495 applicants for 9 jobs in one school corporation. I don't know if things have improved but for years after that, at least where I live, there just weren't many jobs for teachers.

Mar 15, 200917 yr

What state university was this? They were teaching at a 4 year school with just an associates? Is that even legal?

New York, a rural community college, and yes, it is legal. It's one of the best public university systems in the nation.

Mar 17, 200917 yr

If you're open to older kids (for a few years at least until you get a teaching certification), try for a health occupations teacher position. You'd be teaching high school juniors and seniors about health careers, and in the second level course, usually teaching them for their CNA 1 certification. Since it's a good class, they have to have a recommendation to enter and are usually some of the "good" kids. At least here in NC you do not need a teaching degree to do that (but think you do earn more). I'd then use that as a stepping stool to get the certification you need to teach the younger kids.

Good luck with your decision.

This topic is now closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

No registered users viewing this page.

Getting out of nursing altogether

Featured Replies

Currently Reading 0

Featured Content

Account

Navigation

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)

Chrome (Desktop)

Safari (iOS 16.4+)

Safari (macOS)

Edge (Android)

Edge (Desktop)

Firefox (Android)

Firefox (Desktop)