How many people are leaving nursing to go into a different field and what field?

[alison-z]

I still haven't decided on a major. I want to go into either nursing, teaching, computer engineering, or business administration. I visit here alot and enjoy reading everyone's threads. I heard nursing is very stressful and alot of nurses are leaving the field because they have to deal with hospital administrators, doctors, other nurses, rude patiences, and etc stuff. What is the most stressful thing about your job? How many people are leaving nursing and what field do you want go into ? I really want go into engineering software but my friends said the field will burn out but I don't think so. I think technology/computer jobs will always have jobs.

[LorraineCNA]

you don't take this the wrong way, but a lot of people have the wrong idea of what owning your own business is like.

My husband has been self-employed for the last 30 years. Here's the reality of it.

You don't work the "hours you want", you work the hours that the work needs done...or you won't have any customers. If you have your own business, you have to "make hay when the sun shines" because you don't KNOW if you'll be busy next month or six months from now.

There is no "time off". If you're not actually working, your business is always on your mind: you're either planning your work or worrying about it.

There are no paid sick days, personal days or vacation days. Your customers don't want to hear that you can't do their job because you're taking a couple weeks off. They'll just call someone else.

Benefits is another issue altogether. There aren't any. It costs my husband over 1200.00 a month just for our family's medical insurance.

There is no "matched" retirement...just what you put away.

Again, I hope I didn't offend. Most people just have no idea what it's really like. Of course you have to follow your heart, but just be advised that it's no walk in the park.

Lorraine

After 17 years Critical Care Nursing, I'm finally going to do something I think everyone should think about, own your own business, I am opening a small Door and Window sales and installation business, I will work my own hours and if I need off, all I have to do is ask the boss, me.

[SusanJean]

you don't take this the wrong way, but a lot of people have the wrong idea of what owning your own business is like.

My husband has been self-employed for the last 30 years. Here's the reality of it.

You don't work the "hours you want", you work the hours that the work needs done...or you won't have any customers. If you have your own business, you have to "make hay when the sun shines" because you don't KNOW if you'll be busy next month or six months from now.

There is no "time off". If you're not actually working, your business is always on your mind: you're either planning your work or worrying about it.

There are no paid sick days, personal days or vacation days. Your customers don't want to hear that you can't do their job because you're taking a couple weeks off. They'll just call someone else.

Benefits is another issue altogether. There aren't any. It costs my husband over 1200.00 a month just for our family's medical insurance.

There is no "matched" retirement...just what you put away.

Again, I hope I didn't offend. Most people just have no idea what it's really like. Of course you have to follow your heart, but just be advised that it's no walk in the park.

Lorraine

Lorraine,

What you say is so true. My dh is self-employed, too. We've had 2 "real" vacations in 11 years...and then there is no income for the week we are gone...and I am only hopeful my dh can relax and stop worrying about work.

He periodically considers going back to corporate situation, then I remind him of the reason he left that and went back into practice...

I think the grass always looks greener.

SJ