Any nurses you know or even you yourself who have left the field?
You often hear of nurses being unhappy with their jobs so they switch to a different specialty of nursing which suites them better (for example, bedside to case management) but you never hear of them actually leaving the field and going into something different?
Do you know anyone who has done this.
If you could do it over again would you pick a different career? and if so what field?
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
That's great that you have the memories! What do you do now?
I'm retired due to disability. I became unable to work a couple of years ago and ended up on Social Security. But I still keep up with the profession through continuing education and of course, AN.
I've been an RN for 30 years. I am the only one left working as an RN from my class. More telling? a huge number never made it to one year of practice. Only a few made it to 3 years. Most are selling real estate, working as chefs, running lumber yards. It just isn't for everyone. I was very lucky to piece together enough good jobs to make a career out of it.
Most I've seen leave move to another facet of health care, such as case management, or teaching. My sister just got her Doctorate in Nursing; she will be teaching. I see many more coming into the field, after having had a different career. That kind of works out well, they only have to put in , say, 20 years, as compared to a 23 yr old newbie, who's looking down the barrel of 40 years.
Most of the people I have seen who leave nursing in the middle of the lives came back to nursing after a while. They found that the grass wasn't as green elsewhere as they thought. Most of the time, it's because they weren't making enough money at their other career and they came back (at least part time) to earn some extra money.
I have seen some people "retire early" -- leave nursing in their 50's or 60's, but not stop working. They have found part time jobs and are OK with the lowered income they get in exchange for less stress.
I have seen others quit nursing within the first 5 years of their become a nurse -- and not come back, at least not for the time I knew them. These have been people who realized that nursing was not for them and they were willing to invest in developing a whole new occupational path. (going back to school for a different degree, etc.0
The people in the middle were not willing to invest in developing another career ... but weren't ready/willing to live on the lower income that they found when they left nursing. So they came back.
VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN
22 Articles; 9,996 Posts
I'm retired due to disability. I became unable to work a couple of years ago and ended up on Social Security. But I still keep up with the profession through continuing education and of course, AN.