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

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Any career changers out there? if so, what did you do previously and what made you go into nursing?

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

very likely the same way i had been paying them before nursing school. the sad part is, literally as soon as i started the nsg program, things picked back up and several really good contracts came my way. like a dumb ass, i turned them down because by that point i was freaking out about having student loans for the first time in my life, plus all the guilt trips from my family, and i felt like i couldn't drop out. i wouldn't need to build my contacts/resume/studio up again now if i had stayed the course. looking at yearly earnings, i made more money doing what i love than i've ever made in any year as a nurse.

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

it could be great advice or terrible advice, depending on the person! entrepreneurs are generally ****** employees.

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I was a social worker and did hospice/home health. I lived in a state that licensed at the bachelor's level. Social workers usually need to get an MSW, at that time I felt like I couldn't afford it. So I went to nursing school back in the 90s. I love being a nurse.

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Specializes in LTC.

Statistical analysis and management. I worked in casinos from age 19 until I left to return to school. I started working in the cash cage, moved on to cocktails, then became a card dealer (most money in a casino), worked my way up to table games management, and finally worked as an HR coordinator and training manager for table games.

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My first degree was a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. I worked for 35 years in commercial television, then went back to school and got a BSN. I'm now working full time in a med-surg unit at a university-affiliated medical center and working on my master's degree. By the time I'm done I will have spent 11 years of my adult life in higher education, making me officially over-educated.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

My Bachelor's is in Sports Medicine. After going through a few career changes (usually out of necessity) I began pursuing Nursing before 2008 and kept at it. Now I'm a New Grad RN and while I'm looking for a job, I've certainly found where I need to be. Right back to taking care of people.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

BA in English literature, IMO one of the best degrees in which to develop critical thinking skills.

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Specializes in Education.

BS in biology. And I was a paramedic, which is what really made me decide to go into nursing.

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

I have a B.A with majors in Russian Literature, and European Studies. Graduated in 2009 so no way I was going to get a gov't job like I planned (wanted to do state dept.). Ended up working Patent Law for 3 years, first as an admin then as a paralegal. I had to leave because for the second time in as many years I was being a full-time caregiver to a very ill family member and couldn't handle being full-time for both family and work. Realized caregiving is a huge part of who I am. I'm now working as a CNA and going through the pre-reqs for nursing school.

In a big way I'm coming back to a lot of my childhood interests and rediscovering who I actually am again.

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Specializes in Inpatient Oncology/Public Health.

I have a BA in English with a Spanish minor. I worked for an IT consulting startup company as HR manager and did various other office management jobs before starting the nursing program when I was 28. I basically got laid off twice in a year and wanted some job stability. I have a lot of nurses in my family.

I've been an Onc nurse for 7 years.

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I have a be in elementary ed, and half a masters in English as a second language instruction. I taught for 9 years and knew the entire time it was not for me. I am a can while in school and even on my worst day I still love it more than teaching.

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Specializes in ED.

I have a BSA in animal health technology. Loved being a vet tech but the pay was lousy. Grandpa told me he'd pay my way if I went to nursing school so I said what the heck. Now I'm an ER nurse. Miss working with animals a heck of a whole lot but can't beat the pay I get now.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I've told this story before...I was accepted to three regional state universities during my senior year of high school, but instead worked a string of dead-end jobs well into my early twenties before enrolling in a fast track LVN program.

I once worked at McDonald's, Wienerschnitzel, Target, the 99 Cent Store, a temp agency, two grocery stores, a couple of direct care gigs, and finally a paper products factory for three years.

In essence, I did not have a career prior to nursing. Rather, I had a string of jobs that offered mostly low pay and no chance for advancement.

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