Second Career (in addition to nursing)

PetiteOpRN · Jul 4, 2010

I do freelance writing (mainly advertisements for local businesses) and editing. I have the freedom to do as much as I want and I can do it at midnight if that works best for me. I have had trouble taking on too much, but I'm learning to say no, and keeping my workload to a manageable level.

With a nursing schedule (odd shifts, call), it can be hard to work a day job.

PsychiatricNP · Jul 4, 2010

Hi Sage:

I do a couple of different things in addition to nursing - though there is some overlap in my other jobs with nursing. In addition to nursing, I am a clinical social worker so I do some therapy and assessments at a mental health agency on a part-time basis as well as teach a couple of social work or nursing courses at a local college every semester. I do psychiatric evaluations/assessments at an emergency room on an on-call basis. I actually don't have a "full-time" job but rather several part-time jobs. This works for me mainly because I am in a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program right now and because I like to have flexibility to spend time with my family, travel, etc.

In terms of not having benefits...that is a draw back. I find that the arrangements I have are lucrative enough that I can buy insurance for my wife and kids. Not having paid-time-off is the probably the biggest thing to take into consideration, but if I am planning to go on vacation, I just plan to work a few extra hours somewhere in the weeks prior to the vacation and it all balances out. About being a workaholic - I actually spend more time at home doing several different things than I did with one full-time job. I guess it is all about finding an arrangement that works for you.

If you can find a balance between nursing and a second career - go for it! I feel that it has kept me current in both professions while keeping me from burning out.

WorkofHeart8 · Jul 4, 2010

Thanks PetiteOPRN and PsychNM! I would rather have several PT jobs than just 1 FT job because I get bored doing the same thing and because I have several interests that I don't really want to have to choose :)

deleern · Jul 4, 2010

I do a full time Nursing position (ADON & MDS)IN LTC. My Husband and I have a Catering business. He does custum lawn and landscape. AND he runs a Organic gardening Co-op.... and he also works full time.... but in the Past 3 years we have Put away $50,000. HE is what is called a workaholic. I help him. but he is the one that does this....

Neveranurseagain, RN · Jul 5, 2010

I too, have several part time jobs that I do. I am a nanny at resorts (I live in a resort area) for babies and children, and occ. seniors. I am a baby nurse that helps new parents out for the first 1-2 mths after the birth of their baby, I do medical standby for special events such as company open houses, festivals and athletic events. I do short term senior care, too. And I work camps during the summer, as well as during spring and Christmas break. And soon I may restart teaching CPR and BFA.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 5, 2010

I have a 2nd part-time job. It's in nursing, but is in a different area of nursing. I wish it were in an entirely different field instead of nursing. I think it would be healthier for me to have my 2nd job be something totally different.