Those Who Have Left Nursing

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Do you know a nurse who decided to settle for a lower-paying job like a cashier because they were desperate to leave nursing? Know anyone who has successfully left this career field? If so, how did they do it? I'm interested to know these kinds of stories. Feel free to share them and other stories related to these questions.

Specializes in Dialysis.
2 hours ago, harumi22 said:

It seems that the stars aligned for me, and I'm forever thankful. I found something way better than bedside, and it pays well, too. 

That's going to be dependent on how much you were being paid as a nurse. Some with 30ish years are going to not make anywhere near as much outside of healthcare without a new degree. With ageism in the workplace and the thought of returning to school for a totally new career, it's not a tasty option for most of us. For someone a few years in, it can be an attainable situation 

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When I got completely burnt out after years as a CNA then as an RN I went PRN and was seriously looking for something either outside of nursing or super chill and away from people like a job with animals, etc. What ended up happening was I stumbled on a listing for a Poison Control nurse, looked into it, applied, fell in love, and the rest is history. I've never been happier and I will NEVER go back to the dog-eat-dog world of the floor ever, ever again!! !

I LOVE toxicology: it doesn't stress my body, (so no 3rd knee replacement at 40yo), I always get my lunch and bathroom breaks, the subject matter is fun, my doctors are the nicest/ humblest people you'll ever meet and they respect me, no direct (physical) patient contact (all done over the phone) yet I still get to utilize my ICU nursing knowledge and I tell doctors how to treat their patients. Yes you can have bad days like any job but the bad days at Poison Control are still 1000x better than the bad days I had on the floor. I work in an office setting and pretty much get to hang out all day with my friends, taking calls and following up to make sure the hospitals are doing what we've recommended. The patients who call us from home are much more polite than the ones on the floor and I don't have to deal with their rude family members.

Also, they send us to Toxicology conferences (on the poison center's dime!) to learn more about poisons and you get to meet other CSPIs (Certified Specialists in Poison Information) and talk to each other about your centers. I'd never flown on a commercial flight before this job and now I've been to 2 cities I never dreamed I'd get to visit. Super fun! I love poison. All that to say: If you're tired of nursing give the poison world a try and you might like it.

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I do understand that this post is dated December 2017.

This Covid epidemic has really shown us how very important Grocery Store cashiers are highly important. 

When many have not been availble for essential work, Grocery cashiers have had to accept the brunt of people and their annoying behaviours. 

My daughter is a cashier, and she does a damn good job.  

I had hoped she would be an RN like me, but with all the Chit that is handed out to us by micromanging people, I often wish to leave Nursing.  

I have always let people know I am thankful.  People have feelings and need to feel acceptance and know that they are valued.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
On 2/13/2022 at 3:14 PM, Bexx said:

I have always let people know I am thankful.  People have feelings and need to feel acceptance and know that they are valued.

Yes, I hate when nurses trump another profession with "I save lives", "I've held the hand of the dying", "I've hugged a mother after her baby died".  

We are all of equal value. 

As far as leaving nursing, I never considered it, but I worked with a man that left a Human Resources job to become a nurse and lasted a year before going back to the corporate world that he thought he hated.  Just like someone said...the grass isn't always greener.

 

 

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
6 minutes ago, Tweety said:

We are all of equal value. 

Absolutely. I can't think of any jobs in our society that don't have value, and everyone should be appreciated for what they are doing in their line of work. Just this afternoon I saw the oil delivery man drag hoses up my snowy yard while my dogs barked like crazy (while I was trying to sleep) and I wasn't so upset about being awoken so we could stay warm. 

Even in the hospital I always make sure to thank to environmental services colleagues, the security people, the kitchen staff, etc. It takes ALL of us to provide patient care and do what's best for our patients and their loved ones. 

 

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I know this is an old post, but I’m taking a medical coding course online through a major local university. It’s a professional certification program and we test for our CPC if we pass the class. I’m done with nursing after a few years of wrestling with it and I’m looking forward to much less direct pt care.  But yes, I have looked at cashiers with envy, people who call to ask about your car warranty as having an easy job, even the guy who drives the kid’s train through our local mall nearly got an employment inquiry from me. LOL. I’ve been ‘done’ since before COVID and have only stayed because we’ve been perpetually short-staffed but I’m counting down the days until I can get out. I know I’ll take a pay cut but the options of working from home and my sanity are worth it. 

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