I was a ______ prior to being a nurse/student nurse

Nurses General Nursing

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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>>>>>

Specializes in Geriatric and Rehab.

I had recieved my BFA and was working as a substitute teacher. When summertime came after my first year teaching, I looked around for a summer job and found a nursing home offering paid training to become an stna. That summer working as an aide, I thought " I can do what those nurses do". That fall I signed up nursing school and I've been an LPN ever since.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

Great topic! I was a traditional college student and I've never had a career other than nursing but this has been very interesting to read.

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Production operator in several factories and an apprentice machinist.

I was very good at the work, and received a number of quality awards, and "employee of the month" designations. I kept getting laid off, however, as factories closed and moved operations to Mexico and over-seas. Plus, the pay was low.

Now, my taxes are more $ than my whole check used to be.

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Lets' see,

Bartender

soudered PC boards (put little capasitors and transister and anodes on plastic boards for computers and other electronic devices)

Plastic injection mold operator

Waitress

Grocery clerk

and Assistant to a woman that ran 5 strip joints. That was an interesting job

When I used to chat on line I was always surprised to meet so many nurses who claimed to have worked as exotic dancers in their previous life. It surprised them, too. No one here, so far, seems to have come from such a former ... profession?

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When I used to chat on line I was always surprised to meet so many nurses who claimed to have worked as exotic dancers in their previous life. It surprised them, too. No one here, so far, seems to have come from such a former ... profession?

There is a young lady in my nursing group at school that is an exotic dancer. It is paying her way through school, works limited hours, and she has a lot less stress (so she says). She does not go around announcing it but she was talking to me one day about this very topic and mentioned what she does. She is a very intelligent young lady. She is going to make a fantastic nurse.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I was a young woman only going to school to please my parents and to have access to a car prior to being an LPN.

I was married, working full-time, had 2 children at home, one in college prior to being an RN

What's the saying? "If I knew then what I know now...I would have_________"

"If I knew then what I know now...I would have been serious while my parents were paying and I had all the time I needed to suceed and would have gone to medical school and been a Dermatoligist.

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Specializes in LTC.
I was a young woman only going to school to please my parents and to have access to a car prior to being an LPN.

I was married, working full-time, had 2 children at home, one in college prior to being an RN

What's the saying? "If I knew then what I know now...I would have_________"

"If I knew then what I know now...I would have been serious while my parents were paying and I had all the time I needed to suceed and would have gone to medical school and been a Dermatoligist.

Ditto that (except for the dermatology part).

This time around, I'm getting along well with others and impressing the instructors by not talking during class. It makes a night and day difference.

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Had I had a larger backbone when I was younger I too would have found myself going to medical school and most likely becoming a surgeon. Life had different plans for me and I honestly cannot WAIT to be a nurse.....

Sometimes the long road is a good road....

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Specializes in None yet - looking for a job.

I was a:

Paperboy

Line Cook (at several restaurants)

Masonry hod-tender

Mason (for 15 years)

Had a surgery and decided I wanted to help people instead of build buildings.

Now a Nursing Student. . . starting second semester next month.

I hope to get a BSN.

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Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.

Worked fast food as a teenager (Jack in the Box).

Worked as a pastor's secretary.:typing

Did clerical in the government during my college years

Worked for my teachers as I studied and received my Bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders.

Went back to working clerical for the same government agency while I did

Volunteer work as an interpreter for the deaf at my church and as a volunteer teacher's assistant at a school for the deaf (elementary and secondary school).

Got married and was mommy and wife fulltime for several years. Babysat a friend's child.

Went back to school at the age of 42 and graduated with a BSN at 45.

Worked about 3 years as an RN and went to school partime. I've finished and I am soon graduating (this month December 2007) with a Master's in Nursing (Adult Nurse Practitioner) at the age of 48.:studyowl::w00t:

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I was (and still am to a certain extent) a cosmetologist before becoming a nurse. I enjoyed that career but nursing was always there calling my name. Also, the cosmetology business is VERY cutthroat & competitive where I live. I grew very weary of the back stabbing behavior of some of my fellow stylists.

I still have a handful of clients that will not let me retire my scissors & foil for good. I tried to wean them slowly, but they ended up with very bad color jobs that took me hours to fix. Lesson learned. Keep them happy in my spare time. It also benefits my wallet...extra money...GOOD extra money at that.

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I was a teacher for 2 yrs in the Philippines after graduating from college, then I work at the post office for 8 years, got married then migrated to the US. I went back to school and had my second degree in Computer information Systems which got me a job as a software developer for a little over a year. Although I wasn't thrilled with the sit-down job and being in front of a computer all day, suffered migraine almost every week, it paid the bills.. then my husband became terminally ill that I needed to take care of him for 2 years until he passed away. I didn't want to go back to computer field so I decided I go back to school again, this time for nursing. This will be my third college degree. I call myself a professional student but I felt the call when I had interactions with nurses and medical workers during the time my husband was in and out of the hospital. I think I can give a piece of myself, too in return of how those nurses took care of my husband. I have 3 more semesters to go.

It's so nice to hear other people's account on why they chose nursing.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!!!

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