Musicians, Artist career changers?

[Elsa15]

Hi there,

I'm working towards going into nursing as a second career, coming from a performing arts background. For those of you who are also artist, I have some questions:

Did you ever regret your career change?

Why did you change careers?

Do you ever desperately miss your old life?

How do you fulfill your artistic needs while working as a nurse?

Thank you so much for any thoughts!

[elkpark]

don't go into nursing unless you're completely ready to give up on being a professional artist, and you're legit happy to do art as a hobby or "on the side". the OP sounds like she is, and has real interest in nursing aside from just the money, so it will probably work for her. :)

This sounds as fishy to me as all the people here who post that you have to have a "calling," and nursing has to be your entire life, in order to be a good nurse. People pursue all kinds of occupations and vocations on a part-time basis, balancing it with something else that is important (or necessary) to them. Why on earth would the arts need to be "all or nothing"?

[Farawyn]

This sounds as fishy to me as all the people here who post that you have to have a "calling," and nursing has to be your entire life, in order to be a good nurse. People pursue all kinds of occupations and vocations on a part-time basis, balancing it with something else that is important (or necessary) to them. Why on earth would the arts need to be "all or nothing"?

And as Rocknurse pointed out, it certainly can be done. All of the other posters are still artists in some capacity.

[Farawyn]

I'm not an artist, but one of my kids is. He's pursuing the sciences in college but still has passion for his music and is involved with it at the college level.

I would hate to see him stop something he loves to work.

Davey is lucky, he loves both.

[Davey Do]

I like this.

So, are you saying only experienced nurses can do this, or are there prodigies?

It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you look playing the game,

Farawyn, you personify this concept!

[Farawyn]

It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you look playing the game,

Farawyn, you personify this concept!

Now I'm suspicious.

[OldDude]

It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you look playing the game,

Farawyn, you personify this concept!

Well, since you say that I might qualify as some kind of artist.

[chopwood carrywater]

So... These are from my past.

I have been trying to find the time to get back in my studio, but between work, family, and too much other stuff, I have not quite gotten it together.

And there is a place for art in nursing. A lot of it is the psycho-social aspect with pts and families. And sometimes it's using the creative side of my brain to come up with solutions to the problems I encounter as a nurse.

And there's always some time to grab a camera or iPhone and take y'r best shot.

[Farawyn]

The gate is absolutely stunning.

[chopwood carrywater]

The gate is absolutely stunning.

Thank-you.

It is the favorite of all my works.

[Elsa15]

Wow!! Really nice! I hope you do find time to continue!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Science to a Nurse is like the knowledge of the media to an Artist. Both the Nurse and the Artist need to know how to apply this information in order to manipulate the media and achieve a desired goal.

There is an Art to Nursing.

I appreciate someone that feels that way. Especially someone that is also an artist.

I also felt nursing was an art.. before the corporate masters beat that out of me.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I still hope to be the next George R. R. Martin or J.K. Rowling (pipe dreams). My ideal life would be PRN nursing, traveling the world, and writing NYT's best-selling novels back-to-back-to...you get the picture.

I have found some contentment in nursing. Though it is too early to say whether I regret my decision, I am glad I chose a marketable degree that pays a higher than average salary, helps me help my mother and brothers financially and allows me to have four days off per week.