mamabear79

Hello! A few years ago, I believe I posted a similar question on this forum, but my situation has changed and the job market has changed. I will be as brief as possible since I know there are many, many curious career changers out there looking for advice. I have been teaching for three years and just finished a masters degree in special ed last fall (I live in NJ). I am 31 and have a 4 month old daughter who I am staying home with until January. I really don't want to go back to teaching and have toyed with the idea of finishing nursing school for a few years. Prior to taking a teaching job, I was simultaneously enrolled in a local community college with the intent of completing their RN program. I made it through the prereqs (finished four years ago) and took a job as an aide in a rehab/LTC facility. I made it through the two week training period in rehab, decided nursing wasn't for me (my first official day as an aide I was given 14 patients in the LTC wing and I freaked out!), and took a teaching job a few months later. My dream job at this point means being able to spend as much time with my daughter as I can (hello, night shift). Teaching involves a TON of work outside of school, on top of a huge level of BS that has bothered me (and has been increasing) since I started three years ago. I am no longer foolish enough to believe that there is an ideal or "perfect" job, nor do I believe that nursing is always a feel-good profession. At this point, I am questioning if nursing might suit my family's needs better (my husband and I toyed with the idea of me being a stay-at-home-mom, but it would be financially very difficult for us and I want to work--ideally part-time at some point). I DO believe I have the personality and confidence to be a good nurse and now that I have a child, I think I would be even better--not only because motherhood has made me a more compassionate person, but because a job has become a means to an end, not the be-all, end-all of my existence. In many ways I think that's an advantage, not a detriment. Just to be clear, I am not interested in nursing because I believe I can make a ton of money or I am deluded enough to think that there are millions of jobs out there the way there were when I was doing my prereqs. I just want some job security, some flexibility, and some benefits...and I don't want hours of paperwork to take home with me. Teaching has already proven to me that I am a pretty good caretaker so I am not worried about that aspect of the job. Just wondering if anyone has any advice. Thanks :)