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>>>>>
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:
1. Eldest child in dysfunctional family - does that count as a job?
2. Woolworth seasonal retail employee (for those of us old enough to remember this chain store.
3. Dunken Donuts waitress
4. Gas station worker - when it didn't cost extra for someone to pump your gas!
5. Care giver to mental/physically challenged children - private residential school
8. Housekeeper at a Sheraton - definitely the worst job!
7. Au pair - went to France lived in as nanny for 6 months
8. Live in nanny state side - while I began going to nursing school in the mid 1980's
9. Critical Care RN for 16 years - got bored went back to colllege
got grad degree in landscape architecture.
10. Landscape designer for 3 years, manager for 1 - became disenchanted with the business world (it's way more cut throat and money oriented) and I missed nursing
11. RN again - interviewing for work now. Seriously considering MSN in Education since there is such a horrible shortage of teachers!!
Besides I don't want to be doing the hard labor of nursing in my 50 - 60's so this seems to be a good plan - since I know that I don't want another management job.
1. Eldest child in dysfunctional family - does that count as a job?
This is MOST DEFINITELY a full-time job.
11. RN again - interviewing for work now. Seriously considering MSN in Education since there is such a horrible shortage of teachers!!
Besides I don't want to be doing the hard labor of nursing in my 50 - 60's so this seems to be a good plan - since I know that I don't want another management job.
Congrats on going back to school for your MSN. That is the path I want to take as well so that I am not trying to keep up with 20-30 years olds on the floor when I am in my 50-60's. I will end up being an instructor at some nursing school, reading posts here about that nasty mean old instructor who made us do all the yucky work, LOL. Now, I am just the student who gets to complain, LOL.
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 wasn't quite a lawyer, but was well on my way to being one. I completed 1/3rd of my legal education, and decided to quit while I was still ahead. Now I'm using my BA in Psych. doing case management/therapeutic mentoring (
In response to LuckyMe2G .... I have an engineering degree and worked in the field for almost 7 years before deciding to stay home with my children. Somehow I ended up starting an an on-line retail business that has now turned into owning a local gift and monogramming store. I just recently started taking some pre-reqs (A&P) for an entry-level MSN program designed for career changers. The program starts this fall so I'm going through the admissions process now. How has the career change been for you? My family thinks I'm nuts. My grandmother actually said to me at Thanksgiving that I'm overeducated to be a nurse. I'm trying not to let comments like that get me down about going into nursing. I think the nursing field is a good fit for me. I'm trying to balance finding a career I will be good in, as well as a career that will be good for me (i.e. back to having benefits and job security as well as maybe even some schedule flexibility which is what I was completely lacking in engineering). I'm curious about your experience so far. Thanks!
I completely understand! I was in law school for a year at a institution considered to be somewhat prestigious--John Edwards completed his legal education there, but, as an aside, I think the education was pretty shoddy. Anwyay, I wound up leaving for a variety of reasons. I was basically miserable, and knew that I would continue to subsist as such as long as I continued on in the field. But in nursing :)...the thought of knowing that I can go in at one time, and get off at another (i.e. have a predictable schedule), is beyond appealing to me. There are other reasons as well, but, back to the point: I've had people look at me like I'm off my rocker when I tell them I've left law school and plan on going into nursing. My mother (a 25+ year veteran nurse) even had a not so encouraging reaction. I really feel like I've found a career path that fits with my personality characteristics, but it has been really hard to convince others that this is the right path for me. I guess the substantial difference between the two fields (law and nursing) is a bit off-putting for many people, and, although I can see that, it has been really difficult, nonetheless, not to have the encouragement. I guess you have to listen to your own inner voice, and ignore all the pressures from outside sources, in order to really figure out what is right for you. I really believe that only you really know what is best for you. Good luck!
I have a 5 year (haha) BS degree in nutrition, I've worked in fitness for years and still teach spin classes. So.. after 7 years of school, I guess I'll work for awhile.
karleb, RN
21 Posts
Good for you! Congratulations!