Teacher turned Nurse

[NamasteNurse]

Even cafeteria duty which used to be a punishment. Listening in on pre-pubescent conversations to get a hint of what the next generation is thinking. Standing in the corner looking bored so they don't know I'm taking it all in.

I miss teaching. Seeing that light bulb go on, hearing myself explain something I really know and looking into young eager eyes that want the information. Priceless. The feeling that something good and real and valuable has happened here today. Sitting quietly with a 14 year old whose friends have decided to 'hate' her today. I miss it.

And yet--nursing the elderly has it's moments too.

No doubt it's worthwhile.

I still get to intimately connect with other human beings. Only this time it feels like most of the learning is on my part. I've been a teenager, I know what they feel, how they think. But old is something yet to be for me. I can only imagine how old feels.

I love hearing the stories when they can tell one and when I have the time. The "good-old-days" when there were no TV's computers or pollution. When people connected in ways we nostalgically wonder about. When Sunday was a day of rest and that meant sitting in the parlor talking. Think about that for a minute.

Looking into old eyes I see the child, the teen, the young man or woman. The lights are still on and someone is in there. They look to me for care, understanding and sustenance. They shake their heads sadly when I just don't get it and I'm frustrated. I can ease their aches for awhile, give them the gift of my time, or a magazine, some cream on their feet. I can try to listen and empathize. They need me, well maybe not me exactly but they need the connection with a younger generation just as we all need connections with people older and younger than ourselves. We are all teachers and we are all students learning how to live how to-be.

So yes I miss teaching and school, but the world is school and learning never ends. Sometimes though I just wish the bell would ring.

[bogonko]

This was a great piece. I will be starting my clinicals in January having switched from teaching. Teaching has its rewards as well as does nursing. I am sure that you had your great moments in teaching and you will have more in nursing. Kudus...

[Wishinonastar, BSN]

Well just be aware that nurses are not pampered by administration and have no powerful union to speak for them. They work weekends, holidays, shifts, seven day stretches and long days with no lunch break much of the time. There is no prep time, there are no subs to call in, no students to run errands, no down time, no pep rallies or field trips. We work every day, very hard for little reward other than that great feeling you get when you have saved a life or recognized a serious problem and prevented it. No one will ever know you have done it but you. It is a very different ballgame and I can say this because I work in a school. I am a nurse and I still work longer hours with no breaks and much more stress and responsibility than the teachers and they make about $20,000 a year more than me! It does not matter what setting you are in, nursing is always very very hard.

[emilia1962]

Thank you for your comments and suggestions. Laura, that's what I am thinking...but first I need some experience. I've only been nursing for 10 months. I'm 52 years old and getting ready to get my RN. I love learning, so it's not a chore for me. Thanks again! I also love writing!

I am glad I read your post. Can you please tell us here where you attended your Nursing course? Thank You.

[cherryames1949]

NamasteNurse you are a gifted and talented writer! I love your articles. Keep writing.

[miteacher, ADN, MSN]

This is interesting. I am also a teacher in my third year of teaching, and will hopefully start the nursing program soon. I do not like the way education is going with all the testing, and the budget cuts, so I thought I would give nursing a try. It's interesting to hear someone else's perspective on going from teacher to nurse. One of the things I will never miss from teaching is taking my work home with me, spending my own $ on my class all the time, and coming in to work two hours early or staying late.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

You could teach Nursing!

[summr]

As a former teacher, I too worked long hours. Long hours at home preparing for my classes. I was not pampered by my principals, but ignored or harassed. I attended funeral(s) of students killed because of gangs and suicides. These were students who I had long-term relationships with.

My trusty Chicago Teachers Union did not save me when my job was cut due to budgetary reasons. After teaching for a set amount of years, I was guaranteed tenure where I would work as a full-time sub for a year if my position was cut, but now I can't even serve as a sub in Chicago because they closed the pool. I think that just about covers it.

I will take my future nursing career over teaching today, and maybe most days, because: there is some form of accountability in the medical field, unlike teaching, and I'm hopeful for some job security. I want to work and work hard and not worry if anyone but the patient is satisfied because I'm used to not being recognized for a job well done. The reward of a job well done....

[miteacher, ADN, MSN]

Thank you for giving me some insight on changing careers. I also deal with many of the same issues that you dealt with. Arizona is a right to work state, so we can be terminated at any time. I am also fearful that I will lose my job one day too. I made a mistake moving to Arizona to teach. I started the year out with 35 students in my 4th grade class, and I think that says it all....

I spent hundreds, if not thousands of dollars of my own money on my supplies. The only supplies I am given for the year is two cases of copy paper. Everything else has to be provided by me or parents, and parents don't provide anything. I go into work two hours early on most days, and bring papers home with me on weekends. I don't think other people realize how hard teachers work for such little monetary gains.

[tiger123]

i want know about medicat of serum why when gauges smal the measure be big

[riggy3, MSN, RN]

NamasteNurse You mention "Seeing that light bulb go on". In your career change to nursing you will have many opportunities to see it again. Possibly when you orient a new student nurse, graduate or teach something to a patient. Teaching is a big role for every nurse.

In my present stage of my 30 year career I am making a transition from nurse to Nurse educator I find it very rewarding to see that "Bulb go on"

[LJTulsa]

Miteacher,

I completely agree! I taught for two years and was laid off. Now, I get to pursue something I have always wanted to do, which is nursing. I find it funny how many people think teaching is an easy profession. Summers off, vacation time during the year, work ends at 3ish, etc., but it is much different. If you are a great teacher, you put in countless hours of work (weekend, holidays, and summers especially) and don't leave until way after the children have left and you spend all your free-time preparing for class.

[Wishinonastar, BSN]

OKaay. Wait until you try nursing. Personally, I have taught before and I prefer nursing, but nursing is definitely harder. The thing I do not like about teaching is you always have to be "on", like an actor. At least with nursing if you are not feeling up to snuff you can just kind of be quiet and do your work, or you forget about it because of all the drama surrounding you. I am also a one-on-one kind of teacher so I prefer teaching a patient to a class. Being up in the bright lights on display and trying to entertain a class enough to keep them paying attention is just not my idea of fun.