If not nursing then what?

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I am someone who never had a real job before becoming a nurse. I mowed lawns and landscapes for people under the table before graduating. Now that I work I always think...what about when I want to step away from bedside nursing-what if I step away from nursing all together?

What career interests any of you? What would you do other than nursing or what have you done before nursing?

-Detective work for me ;)

Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Marine biology for me. That's always what my mind drifts to when I'm questioning my life choices during terrible shifts. I also think I'd be quite the good professional organizer. I love putting things away, keeping them in order, developing little organizational systems.

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Specializes in NICU.

Movie star or independently wealthy geek billionaire !!

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

This ground has been covered before, but hey, that's ok. I was a programmer or programmer/analyst for a long time before becoming a nurse. I've done some art and writing, but not nearly enough, and I need to work on that before the final curtain, so to speak. May finish writing a few songs too. Probably won't every get to try playing the drums, but that occurs to me now and then too. Thought about culinary school before nursing school. The options can be endless, but our available time isn't.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

I was a veterinary technician before becoming a nurse. But I make more than twice what I did then, and being a vet tech is a lot harder on the body. Even with good body mechanics, I often found myself hunched over in weird positions restraining big dogs. I loved it, but could never go back to it. I was in school for social work before I got into nursing school. I could see myself doing that time of work. Other than that, I have a strong interest in writing. I've written one full length novel, but have yet to even try and get it published. If I could eventually make money off of that, it would be a dream.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I really enjoy teaching, and have taken on being adjunct faculty. All the fun and none of the committees, faculty advising, etc.

I've turned down full time faculty spots though, I still enjoy the bedside.

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Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Public Health.

I'd be a dance teacher and have my own dance school

A race car driver

A travel blogger

Detective

Something to do with cadavers......LOL

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Specializes in Adult Psych.
I have a strong interest in writing. I've written one full length novel, but have yet to even try and get it published. If I could eventually make money off of that, it would be a dream.

I think that's awesome! That seems like a great hobby. It would be so cool to be able to say that you have a novel published. Do you have a blog or anything? I often wonder how nurses get into writing the cme courses I take.

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Specializes in Adult Psych.

Sometimes I also think about eventually working part time or per diem and doing more with art or gardening. That would be just as fulfilling. When I was younger I would enter the local art shows and at times have my art displayed in coffee shops. It was pretty fun.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

During a stay-at-home-mom hiatus, my kids and I had a bake stand at the summer farmers' market. I would TOTALLY open a bakery. Baking is my relaxation.

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I had a non-nursing health department job. It wasn't a good fit ultimately but it was nice not having the stress of call lights, unstable patients, etc.

I would want to be a clinical epidemiologist. Just got my mph so maybe!

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I'm getting ready to start my journey as a nursing student. After graduating college the first time around, I worked as an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities and am now a foreign language interpreter (I'm bilingual English/Spanish). My ideal dream for the future would be to own several homes and live off of that residual income and work as a nurse part-time or PRN in the mental health specialty. I loved working with my people with IDD, so doing something in that field again would also be nice!

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Specializes in PICU.

teach skiing full time in winter months and in summer months work on a beach/paddleboardbing/kayaking, etc.

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