Nurses in Other Professions

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Hi!

I'm wondering how many of you know nurses that have taken on other careers rather than to continue with their nursing and why?

I'm too new to the profession to know any personally but a lady I worked with said she knew 5 former nurses who were working at the local Wal-Mart because it was less stressful and nursing was not about the money.

I am sure there are others...Care to share?

Well, L&D may not be stressful, but MedSurg certainly is.

I'm thinking that after nursing Wal-mart would be a piece of cake. Like patients and their demanding families don't want you to drop everything, they want what they want and they want it yesterday.

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We vent, we're tired and frustrated and come here for camaraderie and to blow off steam. For those who do not understand how intelligent people can make these poor choices:

As for me, I still get satisfaction out of my career, although the stress takes it toll after 27 years. I do the best I can, one day at a time, in a dysfunctional, largely unresponsive system.

I cope by working 2 12's a week. I only work a third if I feel like it.

Some days I am so whupped I DO feel like throwing in the towel....and one day I may (like so many of my former coworkers have done)

Doesn't make me unintelligent...just stubborn. ;)

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

If I hadn't gone to graduate school and become an NP, I probably would've left nursing. Right now I'm in management, and do NOT intend to do that forever!

I've lost touch with most of my nursing school buddies. I do remember that one quit nursing after about a year, but her hubby is a very well-to-do realtor so she can drive a Jaguar without working. Another was in social work before nursing and went into running a local Alzheimer's organization sometime after nursing school- I think combining the two. I currently work in industry and we have a supervisor who was an LVN. Most nurses, though, seem to stay in some sort of nursing role, from what I've seen. I think running a day care for adults or children, doing transcription, and doing pharmaceutical sales are still ways of using some of your nursing knowledge and skills, and having nursing credentials surely helps in those sorts of jobs.

Personally, I have had an antiques/collectibles booth and have done some online sales; it helps keep me sane. I have on occasion threatened to go flip hamburgers but what I *really* want is to be independently wealthy!!

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Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by cannoli

Well, L&D may not be stressful, but MedSurg certainly is.

Well, I wouldn't classify L&D as not stressful, but that's another thread. I left bedside nursing after 4 years, and mainly from the stress of just that: L&D.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by cannoli

Well, L&D may not be stressful, but MedSurg certainly is.

.

WHO SAYS????

i really don't get why people have to engage in these

"i have it harder than YOU do" innane debates....

ugh.

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I was just quoting a previous poster. L&D is the last place I would want to work and I imagine it can be very stressful, also very litigious.

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Check out post #58 & #59.

I was just replying in reference to post #58, I was NOT saying that L&D is not stressful, I got the impression that that poster was and I can't imagine how Walmart could be more stressful than nursing.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I'm telling you...Try to be a supervisor at Walmart sometime. You may not have to worry about getting sued, but you are always watching your back. People are crazy and so mean. The lines are too long, even though you every employee in the store on the registers...THEN, they are screaming at you b/c there is no one to help them on the floor. AHHHH...I hated it.

L&D definetly has it's stressful moments. It is scary that you are virturally holding 2 lives in your hands. But, the beauty of it and the overall happiness of the outcome is sooooo worth it.

I agree that we shouldn't get into who has it worse than the other. We all went into nursing for a reason. Even if we didn't fully realize what we were getting ourselves into. There is a reason so many of us stick it out in the good times and the bad. I think it is the sense of helping people. Management may suck and the politics are horrid, but we can look past that and see the good we are doing.

Ok, said my piece...keep sharing! This is a very interesting thread.

:)

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This is a great thread and just the predicament I find myself in at the moment.

I want to get out of bedside nursing.

Not because I do not like the NURSING part (that I love), but I despise the petty, backstabbing B.S. that goes on anywhere you work.

I am looking into agency nursing now (for my area).

I'd LOVE to be a teacher but I'm 48 and going back to college is not something I would do.

I have great ideas for businesses, but I have no money to open a business and no credit.

So, for now, I will look into agency nursing. If I didn't have small children at home I would do travel nursing.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions or just wants to BRAINSTORM, PM me!

:p

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Agency works for me, just a very few hours. If you go to the same places you know about as much as how things are done as the staff does and have very little of the politics.

I would love to do something else too, but am not sure what. Made a small foray into the world of ebay with some handmade items, but that didn't go, may try again later.

I don't want to go back to school.

I am half seriously thinking about applying at a grocery store chain, they have good benefits, don't know about the pay.

I live 2.5 miles from a Super Walmart and I love the store, and may apply there, though I've heard they have no or lousy benefits and it's hard to think about working for 1/4 of the pay I now make.

Agency meets my goals, a few hours, a few bucks.

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There are many great things about Agency work. I get to set my own days and hours and am not on nights either. Thank God. I couldn't handle it with my 17 month old child! If he is awake half the night, then I can just do a 3-11 shift. It works out great for a mom of small children.

The money is better too, plus, I don't have to attend those unit meetings that were REQUIRED when I was a floor nurse a few years ago at the same place I am working agency now. It wound up being a witching session for all involved and a lot of company BS, evaluations, demotions, etc. They would hand out material which they would expect us to read, and it would wind up in the gargage can as it was just a waste of paper after we understood what they told us about it the first time. I used to get in trouble for leaving an IV machine in a room when a patient was discharged of all things! Things like that covered in Unit meetings. If we worked the night shift, we would get off at 10 am after these unit meetings. When you are used to sleeping by 8 am, that can hit your schedule hard. It was all for nit picking at it's best.

I am so glad I don't have to do that anymore. Agency work is here to stay! I am involved in the paralegal field, so I can do that too. Agency is a great place to go when you are stressed out. Plus, the people who run the place like me or at least act like they do.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Vascular & Healing Touch.

I know several former RN's who have married well & are FT mom's now. Some have gone into business, selling uniforms & nursing art work. A niche for everyone I suppose. :rolleyes:

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