I have seen TONS of people who have said "nursing is my second, third or fourth career." As I have become more and more curious I was wanting to start a thread to see what areas and walks of life all the nurses and student nurses had before embarking on this incredible medical journey.
I will go first.
I was a TRUCK DRIVER prior to being a nursing student..
NEXT.
I am excited to see what you all did in your PAST LIVES>>>>>
I was a cashier at a local grocery store and also worked in the salad bar making fruit plates and things like that.... and after that I currently work at a facility caring for indiv. with developmental disab... I was a PAW (profession _ wiper) for a good year, then I went up to the central office as a dispatcher/driver/secretary.
Twenty-two years as a software engineer and system/network administrator. It was a blast in the early days, then it became an exercise in victimization (the business-end). The last time I had fun in the computer industry was 1987.
Thank you to all for posting and for those who are still posting. This is a fun thread that I have been thinking about for awhile. I really enjoy seeing others like me, who chose later in life to be a nurse. I am actually quite surprised at the number of those who went straight from high school or shortly there after to nursing.
Keep those posts coming...I have yet to see a prior lawyer or police officer. I am SURE there is one out there.
I used to work with a former police officer from Kansas City that looked like Mr. Clean!!
I was a cashier at a grocery store for 1 year when I was 16
I was a Journeyman Mechanic working out of Local 234 Pipefitters Union in Jax, Fl. I've worked on the chillers and boilers at lots of local hospitals and have decided to go for an inside job. Of course machines are a little more predicable than people but so far it's working out.
I love seeing all the different professions. It is amazing that most nurses start out with very different jobs and somehow find their way to nursing late in life.
My first real job I worked at an animal shelter.
Then a file clerk at a college (work-study program)
worked at a dog kennel
Vet assistant...always knew I loved animals, but this is when I realized I loved medicine
moved to go to vet tech school and worked as a receptionist
veterinary technician
receptionist again (same place)
supervisor at a doggy day care
and now back to working as a vet tech
I like my job, but realize I love the medicine more than working with the animals...in fact, most days I don't like animals. Being a huge animal lover, that isn't good. And I think I need to get out NOW. Plus, the pay sucks, no benefits, no room for advancement....so why not do something I love (in medicine) where the pay, benefits and appreciation might not be great, but it will be a heck of a lot better than I have it now. So I am doing my pre-reqs and hope to apply to nursing school within a year!
I am still working as a Paramedic while finishing the co-requisite classes for my ASN, prior to starting the program in the fall of '08. I have been an EMT since 1981 and a MEDIC since 2000.
I was a ladies shoe salesman at Macy's. Before Macy's I worked at Burger King, Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits then went to school for psychology one year then went to another university for technical communication for one year as well. I love nursing though so I stuck through the nursing program to become an RN!
I love seeing what people were before going into nursing. I teach at a small ADN nursing program and one of my former students got his Master's degree in English lit from Leeds University in England! Now he's an ICU nurse at Boston's Childrens Hospital.
I've been a nurse a long time, but when I was in school I worked as a sous chef at a restaurant on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. (My boyfriend at the time got me the job- rather, he was fired and I took his place. )
I was in medical ins and billing for 29 yrs. When my office closed, unemployment sent me to college (1st time college student at age 48).
Since my kids were grown and I could do what I wanted, I decided to go into nursing. I figured I would not have to worry about losing my job to merging or downsizing any more! Best thing I ever did. I am so HAPPY!!!!!!!!!
OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN
585 Posts
I was a medical office assistant/medical secretary for 12 years prior to starting nursing school this past September :)