Second career nurses: Do you like nursing better?

SugarNSass · Mar 10, 2011

As a journalist trying to get into nursing school, I have a feeling I am going to find this thread very interesting.

SandraCVRN · Mar 10, 2011

Second career, previously a dental assistant/oral surgery assistant. It was a good job and I really liked it, but a move left me open to going back to school. (that & a very encouraging husband)

I am very happy with nursing, don't get me wrong I have THOSE DAYS just like everyone else when I would rather be a walmart greater but that happens in every job. I notice at work the people who have never really worked in any other field complain/vent the most about workload etc.

I know it's hard right now but is there another area of nursing you may be interested in??

Good luck...no one likes having to cry before going to work.....

noahsmama · Mar 10, 2011

Yes, I like nursing about a million times better than what I was doing before. Previously I worked at a national laboratory, crunching numbers for the Department of Energy to assess whether or not certain energy efficiency standards that they were considering enacting were cost-effective or not. I liked it for about the first five years that I worked there, but worked there for thirteen years. I was beyond burnt out. And frankly, I just plain didn't care any more if requiring everybody's refrigerators to be X% more efficient would save Y quads of energy and Z billion dollars or not. I was bored to tears.

I chose nursing because I wanted to do something that felt worthwhile and meaningful to me. I wanted to work with people, doing something that would change their lives in a positive way. Nursing allows me to do that.

I've said it before but I'll say it again -- changing careers to nursing is by far the best career decision I've ever made.

The fact that you hate your current job so much tells you that you MUST make a change. Whether a change to nursing is right for you is something only you can tell. I recommend volunteering somewhere where you can observe nurses at work so that you can get a better feel for what nurses do.

Good luck!

jrj1979 · Mar 10, 2011

Absolutely best decision I ever made. My original degree was in Business Administration and over the years I worked as a computer programmer, for the government, and even at Home Depot for awhile. Hated all those jobs and had been laid off 4 times in 10 years from different positions so I thought nursing would be something more stable.

So don't let all the negative posts discourage you. I have a great job, and only have to work 3 days a week which is great. It is tough at times and some shifts are very challenging but I always leave each day knowing that I made a difference in a childs/families life (I work in a NICU). I work for a teaching hospital so we are somewhat immune from money hungry administration etc. Plus where I work really empowers the nurses that work there and it has lead to a very collaborative culture, and a very postive working environment.

So to answer your question, no I don't miss my old "career" getting my BSN was the best decision I ever made.

Bill E. Rubin · Mar 10, 2011

I'll second the posts above. I had a 20+ year careeras a software engineer. I miss going out to lunch with friends sometimes, and I miss working from home which I sometimes did.

I don't miss the soullessness of the corporate world, the constant fear of layoffs, among other things. Nursing can be exhausting and trying at times, but I have no regrets. I love what I do and I love having the chance to make a real difference in people's lives.

Best of luck!

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2011

Yes.

I didn't have much of a first career, just worked as an administrative assistant, but I do like nursing.

AnneS · Mar 10, 2011

Changed careers after 20+ years as a CPA. I absolutely love being an RN. I loved being a CPA too, but after so many years I think everyone gets a bit bored. Anyways, I had always wanted to be a nurse, so went back to school part time at the community college where I got my ADN. I do not regret it for a second. Sure, nursing is hard work, but so are lots of other jobs that I have had, but no other job I have had has been so rewarding.

SandraCVRN · Mar 10, 2011

PS

Also, I make close to 3 times as much after 8 years then after 20 in the dental field..

Guest717236 · Mar 11, 2011

Walked out of business after management jobs dried up in my area.

Trained in nursing, spent over 20 years in various specialties and loved it.

Nursing offers unique opportunities. You can chart your own unique course in

one specialty or several over time.

There will be days you will cry in nursing too, but over all the satisfaction you get from

helping others outweighs the challenging days.

If I had it select all over again, I would select nursing first. It has offered an interesting journey that I feel I would not have experienced in another career.

Best wishes!

joanna73, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2011

I worked in hotel mgmt for many years. Ended up HATING it. You're on salary, you work all the weekends and holidays, and often don't get a proper break in a 14 or 15 hour day. Nursing is much more interesting and rewarding, I make great money, and I work less.

86toronado, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2011

I worked in catering previously. I have to say that I never feel as stressed in nursing as I did when I was putting together a big catered event for a multi-million dollar client. After almost a decade in the business, I worked 60+ hour weeks for a salary that was slightly more than half what I made my first year in nursing, working 48 hours a week at most. So, yeah I'm very happy with my career change. My only regret is that I didn't do it right out of high school.