what did you have a previous degree in before you went into nursing?

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2014

Associate degree in business computer science in 1984. The long answer even for the short version. My wife asked me one day while we were on a walk if I could see myself doing what I was doing for the next 5 or more years. A few months later, the company for whom I worked was sold to a Texas firm.

Given I was in an extremely small niche (Internet security for business-based servers running Linux-based operating systems) that wasn't popular in our geographic area (Berks, Lancaster, and surrounding counties are into Microsoft Windows) it meant either going back to school to learn Microsoft Windows administration/security (I'm not a Microsoft fan), moving (not an option for the next several years), or getting into a new field.

One of the things I enjoyed on my job was helping customers in situations that often had them under high stress. While I'm an introvert, I enjoyed helping others. Vocational counseling showed I might be good at being a teacher, counselor, or health care related.

While I was very tempted on the teacher side of the fense, that typically requires a masters degree. Counseling would require a lot of psychology classes (which while I tend to get well, would involve a lot of secular issues I try to avoid for now), and health care seemed the most portable should my wife and I ever get to where we can be more mobile to move outside the area.

So while there are days I do question if I can be a good nurse or not, I continue to plow forward with the goal to becoming a RN, and to be among the best I can be.

What's your story?

Thank you.

ceccia · Jul 2, 2014

violin performance. i went to conservatory on a full scholarship, and made a living from a combination of performing and teaching private lessons. then the recession hit in 2008, several of my performance contracts were cancelled due to budget issues, and i panicked and allowed other people to convince me to "get a real job" and go back to school for "something practical" i.e. nursing. i very much regret it! i hate working as a nurse and am now busting my tail to get back into music professionally. literally, i work 8 hrs/day at my day job and then put in 8-10 hours of practicing and working on my business.

the irony? every place i work PRN is constantly reminding us that we can't be guaranteed to still have a job after the next medicare changes take effect in january 2015. what was all that nonsense about "go into healthcare; it's recession-proof!"? nope. i wasted five years of my life on this for nothing.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 2, 2014

BS Biology, Masters Teaching. Lost my teaching job b/c non-tenured masters teacher ($$$$) LOVE nursing!

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2014

I had a high school diploma. Went straight to college (BSN program) after high school.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Jul 3, 2014

Bachelors in Elementary Education here, with half a Masters in Education and Counseling

BrandonLPN, LPN · Jul 3, 2014

violin performance. i went to conservatory on a full scholarship, and made a living from a combination of performing and teaching private lessons. then the recession hit in 2008, several of my performance contracts were cancelled due to budget issues, and i panicked and allowed other people to convince me to "get a real job" and go back to school for "something practical" i.e. nursing. i very much regret it! i hate working as a nurse and am now busting my tail to get back into music professionally. literally, i work 8 hrs/day at my day job and then put in 8-10 hours of practicing and working on my business.
the irony? every place i work PRN is constantly reminding us that we can't be guaranteed to still have a job after the next medicare changes take effect in january 2015. what was all that nonsense about "go into healthcare; it's recession-proof!"? nope. i wasted five years of my life on this for nothing.

How would you be paying your bills now while you try to break back into music if not for nursing?

Maybe nursing isn't for you, but having a degree in *something* practical as a backup was good advice.

LandD_RN_chica · Jul 3, 2014

Surgical tech. I had my first daughter young and always wanted to be a nurse but never wanted to put the schooling in to do it. So I did a night time Surg tech school while my daughter was young and then never got a job doing it because they wanted experience and I didn't have any except clinical. ( same boat you are in as a new grad out of nursing school) anyway....at 26 I decided to go back to school and be what I really wanted to be. A nurse. BSN. Had another child halfway through school and still graduated cum laude as a single mom in full time school and working on the weekends. It was hard work, but I wouldn't change it for the world. and my Surg tech diploma actually helped me land my first job in the OR as a new grad. So I can't say it wasn't worth it. Even though I never actually had a paying Surg tech job. :)

Balto · Jul 3, 2014

I had started a Bachelor of Arts degree. I decided to switch while vacationing in Paris, France. Nothing nursing related occurred while there, but I came back with a sudden (crazy) urge to challenge myself. Nursing has met the challenge & provided me with so much more passion.

unicoRNurse · Jul 3, 2014

Bachelor of Criminal Justice and a post-degree paralegal studies certificate. I've been interested in nursing since high school, but I didn't have the confidence to go for it till a little later in life. There's that, and the fact that I want to feel happier about and more satisfied with the work I do.

maddison1002 · Jul 3, 2014

I had a BA in Psychology and a Master of Science in Administration of Justice. I was a juvenile probation officer for 17 years and had enough. Had to get away from the monotony, bad administration and politics of county government.

Nursing was something that interested me for quite some time, but I never thought I was smart enough. Graduated from an accelerated program in December 2013. Best thing I've ever done

newohiorn, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 3, 2014

Degree in Business Administration (majored in Transportation and Logistics). I never worked in that field for even a minute. I've always worked in medicine in some way, insurance, doctor's offices and eventually medical transcription, which I loved. I worked at home doing medical transcription for almost a decade, made a good living and was happy as a clam. Then my job got outsourced to India with no notice. I found another transcription job and started nursing school the minute I was eligible for tuition reimbursement so I would never have my job outsourced again.

I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I believe medicine is my calling in some way but I'm not sure nursing is where I should be.