Changing to a non-nursing career?

Marisette, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2016

I became an LPN in 2008 when I was 27. I always loved anatomy, science, medical terminology, etc. so I went in to the nursing field. I think I should've seen the red flags in nursing school that I might not like floor nursing, but brushed it off to just being nursing school. I LOATHED LPN clinicals. I hated the catty drama that went on between the nursing students and nursing staff at the hospital & clinic that I did clinicals at. I constantly thought about darting through the elevators doors on the med-surg floor I did most clinicals on, and making a mad dash for the hospital exit! I stayed stressed out constantly, and hoped it would get better. I got my LPN license right after LPN school, and couldn't wait to start working. I honestly thought it would get better, but it didn't... I've had several LTC, and outpatient clinic setting type jobs & I absolutely hated all of them. I always envied the receptionists or those with desk jobs, & that's when I realized maybe floor nursing wasn't for me. I currently work very PRN as a health screener contractor nurse. I go to companies and do health screenings on employees (height, weight, BP checks, cholesterol screenings). It isn't that stressful and I only work every now and then.
Since I loathed floor nursing so much, I decided to become a medical coder! :) I will be finished this May 2016 with my coding certificate. I am so happy I made this decision. I hope to sit for my CPC-A soon after. It is a way to use my LPN license, still enjoy medical stuff, & have a desk job all at the same time! I am also a SAHM, and do not have much childcare help. My hubby works full time, and can't help me with the kids, so I need a job where I can work remote from home. Medical coding offers remote coding jobs, and I think that would be perfect for me.
If you do not like floor nursing, but enjoy medical stuff, there are other options out there... coding, utilization reviews, HEDIS nursing, etc. You might want to check in to some of those areas. I think nursing is a wonderful career, with all kids of job paths, but the "hands on" nursing isn't for everybody. Some people love "hands on" nursing and do it until they retire though... Don't feel guilty if you don't like it. My advice is if you don't like something, get out of it, and make a change before you have worked your life away in it & it's too late.

Thank You for your response. You have some very good suggestions. In my state the utilization, case management jobs and so forth are a little challenging to get into, but I will keep trying. I did complete a medical coding certification course in ICD-9 just prior to the transition to ICD-10. Unfortunately, I tested for an Ahima CCS exam and did not pass and now it's ICD-10 and I have to learn a new coding system. I paid too much for the education and really regret it. There are some good programs, but beware there are big scams in medical coding for anyone considering this route. No one in my class passed the certification exam. I may pursue this again, but at this this time, some issues and mandatory overtime obligations at work, make studying challenging. I will pursue the AAPC credential instead of Ahima if I test again. I have applied for two non-nursing jobs recently. I hope to return to this trend and report some good news to the few of us that posted and are interested in this route.

I have not always disliked the patient care part of my career. I started nursing in 1988 and loved the patient care at the time. Perhaps, my interest has changed. But, I feel it's more that the nursing field has changed so much in recent years. Corporate goals for the bottom line is more important than patient care. The regulation and unrealistic goals by credentialing agencies on healthcare is ridiculous. Sure, corporate goals for profit, cost cutting and so forth work well in the business world, but not so well when we work with people and their lives. These big corporations and the public want nurses to sacrifice for mediocre pay, shift work,no pensions, expensive continuing education, and a stressful work environment. No thanks, I will settle for a little less pay and going home without all the baggage of my work day.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Feb 14, 2016

... getting yelled at by family members, patients being disrespectful and acting "crazy", family members trying to tell me how to do my job without any medical education...

Feel your pain... and as you may have surmised already, this is one of those things that will likely never change.

What I've found, through the years, that often makes matters worse is the response / attitude that management takes on when dealing with customer service: rarely supporting those on the front lines... for "customer service" or PC reasons.

It's irresponsible that higher-ups haven't mustered the ability to come up with a way that addresses "customers" in a sensitive, yet adult manner -- when they're clearly wrong, unreasonable or plain nuts in their interactions with staff.

Good luck to you in your decisions for the future.

andreasmom02 · Feb 14, 2016

Thank You for your response. You have some very good suggestions. In my state the utilization, case management jobs and so forth are a little challenging to get into, but I will keep trying. I did complete a medical coding certification course in ICD-9 just prior to the transition to ICD-10. Unfortunately, I tested for an Ahima CCS exam and did not pass and now it's ICD-10 and I have to learn a new coding system. I paid too much for the education and really regret it. There are some good programs, but beware there are big scams in medical coding for anyone considering this route. No one in my class passed the certification exam. I may pursue this again, but at this this time, some issues and mandatory overtime obligations at work, make studying challenging. I will pursue the AAPC credential instead of Ahima if I test again. I have applied for two non-nursing jobs recently. I hope to return to this trend and report some good news to the few of us that posted and are interested in this route.
I have not always disliked the patient care part of my career. I started nursing in 1988 and loved the patient care at the time. Perhaps, my interest has changed. But, I feel it's more that the nursing field has changed so much in recent years. Corporate goals for the bottom line is more important than patient care. The regulation and unrealistic goals by credentialing agencies on healthcare is ridiculous. Sure, corporate goals for profit, cost cutting and so forth work well in the business world, but not so well when we work with people and their lives. These big corporations and the public want nurses to sacrifice for mediocre pay, shift work,no pensions, expensive continuing education, and a stressful work environment. No thanks, I will settle for a little less pay and going home without all the baggage of my work day.

That's great you've had some coding background... that could definitely help you if you want to go back in to some type of coding or billing job... Yes, I am aware that a lot of coding programs are scams... I'm going through my local community college where I got my LPN to avoid getting scammed. I am getting my coding certificate right now, but I have taken college classes that I can use towards getting an RHIT degree through that college in the near future. I'm about 5 or 6 classes shy of having an RHIT degree, so I may get that as well. :) I have heard that the CPC & CCS exams are monsters. After I'm done with my certificate, I'm going to take additional online exam preps to prepare me before attempting the CPC.

It looks like you're a BSN nurse, so that's a good thing as well. You shouldn't have much trouble finding a management position or desk job with that and your combined work experience. Have you ever considered teaching nursing? Good luck in whatever you decide to do! :)

Newlife2016 · Apr 3, 2016

I am at a hard place in my career now. I have been a RN since 2004. I did NICU for 4 years. I then did research nursing for 5 years. I am now a hospice nurse and I just feel like I can't do it anymore. I am a mother of 2 elementary age kids. Would love to actually be there to raise them. I am seriously considering a career change. I have had it with the mounts of paperwork, carrying everyone's burdens an issues and taking full responsibility for everything. I want the simplicity in life again. My 5 year old asked me yesterday, "Why did you become a nurse? You're always with other peoples families and not ours." And I thought to myself she is right. Why was I just getting home at 9pm??? I don't know what I like anymore I just try to survive day to day.

Marisette, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2016

Hello Newlife2016. I'm so sorry that you are feeling this way. I think your sentiments mirror many who have posted here in the past. It's so sad your child feels that you are with others more than your family. You need to speak to him and let him know that you work to help meet his needs and your families needs. I don't know how to describe what your feeling, but I can certainly identify. I've heard terms like nursing burn out, compassion fatigue.... I don't know the answer or the cure. I think it depends on each individual or situation. I don't think taking more breaks, or a three week vacation really helps, because time flies so quickly and you will soon return to the grind. I have tried unsuccessfully, to find a non-nursing job and get out of the grind, but have not succeeded. If you are young, you should start thinking long term and develop a plan for the future. Consider returning to school for a different career, working in nursing part time if you can manage financially. Best wishes in finding more simplicity in your life. I hope you return and share your success with us.

Newlife2016 · Apr 4, 2016

Thank you for your response. I definitely will update you all once I got it figured out!

dishes, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2016

@newlife, have you looked at speciality positions (besides research) that are Monday to Friday, 8 hour day shift? If not, look at school nurse, occupational health, diabetic educator, public health, ambulatory care, infectious disease and case management positions. These positions may give you better work life balance.

J Pink · May 26, 2016

I am standing in a place where I practiced as a RN in an ICU for an year and after that worked 4 years in a college as Clinical Instructor. Recently I have shifted to Hong Kong. I don't wish to take the registration and go ahead with my Nursing career, as I am not good at and do not want to do bedside patient care. I am looking for something in a corporate field or say a desk job. I am still wondering what else I can do apart from Nursing. I really regret the decision of going for Nursing.

2011RN · May 27, 2016

I am standing in a place where I practiced as a RN in an ICU for an year and after that worked 4 years in a college as Clinical Instructor. Recently I have shifted to Hong Kong. I don't wish to take the registration and go ahead with my Nursing career, as I am not good at and do not want to do bedside patient care. I am looking for something in a corporate field or say a desk job. I am still wondering what else I can do apart from Nursing. I really regret the decision of going for Nursing.

You are not alone. I regret going into nursing every single day. If I had it to do again I would go into social work. At least then you still get to help people but have weekends and holidays off and are not mandated for overtime all the time.

J Pink · May 27, 2016

You are not alone. I regret going into nursing every single day. If I had it to do again I would go into social work. At least then you still get to help people but have weekends and holidays off and are not mandated for overtime all the time.

Yes you are absolutely right. The problem here in Hong Kong is with the language. Locals and every big organization seeks for people with Cantonese. Having good English doesn't solely works. Job for me is like I want to remain engaged more than money! Praying that God shows the way. I know this is not the end. :)

Asystole RN · Jul 25, 2016

I am at a hard place in my career now. I have been a RN since 2004. I did NICU for 4 years. I then did research nursing for 5 years. I am now a hospice nurse and I just feel like I can't do it anymore. I am a mother of 2 elementary age kids. Would love to actually be there to raise them. I am seriously considering a career change. I have had it with the mounts of paperwork, carrying everyone's burdens an issues and taking full responsibility for everything. I want the simplicity in life again. My 5 year old asked me yesterday, "Why did you become a nurse? You're always with other peoples families and not ours." And I thought to myself she is right. Why was I just getting home at 9pm??? I don't know what I like anymore I just try to survive day to day.

If you are tired of working weekends and at night then why not get a job that does not require that?

I know that the clinical researchers at my company pretty much only work bankers hours. Seems odd to me to consider a career change when a job change will resolve your issues.

RPH_RN · Aug 5, 2016

There are lots of flexible jobs for nurses: research monitor, grant writer, medical writer, health educator, blogger.