Trapped in this office job and waiting for nursing school...

Nurses General Nursing

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I was accepted to nursing school and I am ridiculously excited to get moving. They just can't process my paperwork fast enough, and as much as I love summer, I want it to be coming and going already!:lol2:

In the meantime I have THREE MORE MONTHS of cubicle labor to get through here. It is torture. And nobody in the office knows I am leaving yet, so I can't say anything!!

How do I survive the tedium?? I can only daydream about my new career ten thousand times without becoming completely restless!:yawn:

Is anybody else in a similar situation? Let's comiserate!

Specializes in Government.

Hey! I'm a 22 year RN and I'm back in a cube farm! :)

Glad there is something for everyone out there.

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Oh my gawd, this is my life. Right now I am writing from my cubicle as a senior copywriter for a medium sized cosmetics company (been here for 15 years). I work FT days and go PT evenings to nursing school. I am 1/2 way thru a 3 year program as of end of this semester.

You're lucky it's only 3 months, I've been working on this part time since 2005 (pre-reqs etc.) Even though my bosses know I'm leaving eventually, I'm totally confused lately, I feel like I'm living a double life. I tolerate the intolerable during the day, then go to class or clinical and come out of there absolutely HIGH because I love it so much. When you're dealing with people in hospitals in life threatening and/or life changing situations, it's really hard to have someone in the office complaining to your face that the printer isn't printing or hey we're launching yet another frikkin' nail polish or who didn't do menial task #874 correctly without wanting to slap them or just laugh in their face. I have officially emotionally removed myself from my job and just do what I'm supposed to do, letting others worry about climbing the corporate ladder.

I do like my bosses and want to make their lives complication free, they've been great about letting me leave early for classes. However, after doing what I need to do, I myself make it a point to go on mental vacations as much as possible.

Start thinking/planning out what you'll need to do or take care of for school. Physicals, uniforms, equipment, Amazon for textbooks, whatever - make some lists and check them twice. Go on nursing websites like this one and get a feel for what's going on in the nursing universe. Look into different specialties and think about the kinds of situations you think you would thrive in based on your current work experience - do you like autonomy or close teamwork? Late nights or early mornings? Fast pace or slow & steady? Working with people one on one, in groups, or minimal people contact?

It will fly by, believe me, just keep yourself as busy as you can so those days fly by. Good luck!

:nurse:

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

I work part-time in a very "cush" office job for the county. I am a mediation specialist and actually enjoy my job. I graduate nursing school in a few months and am already thinking about taking on a full-time position as a mediation specialist (would make similar wages to a nurse). I've worked as a nurse apprentice since the 2nd semester of nursing school and see what nurses are put through every shift... usually during the end of my shifts, I think to myself "god.. why don't I just stay with my desk job!?". haha

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Specializes in psych, ltc, case management.
Ug. Am I ever there with you!

I just got my rejection letter (2nd year in a row)

My school has a "freshman guarantee" so the students who started as freshman are given priority, and any spots left over are given to transfer students (me).

So, after scrambling around for a few weeks, I am going to start LPN school in the fall. Not what I wanted, but it's a start. Then I will do the LPN to RN classes at the community college, and then come back here to the college and finish up the RN-BSN. I have all the liberal arts credits done, so that won't be hard.

I'll get there, even if I have to go in circles!

But, yep. In the mean time....

more waiting in a job I don't like, more time waiting to buy a house, more time spent waiting to start a family.

Sigh.

Maybe I should just have a baby now anyways. I don't want to start when I'm in my 30s (Not that that's super old or anything, I just always saw myself as more of a young mom)

Yep. Sick of waiting.

Good for you for not giving up!!

I understand the waiting...waiting for everything. I feel the same way- but I try (sometimes in vain) to remind myself of what John Lennon said: Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.

I actually also saw myself as a young mom, but I am putting school before everything else. I will better be able to provide for a child with some money, and I will be able to provide better for school without a child under my belt!!:bugeyes:

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Specializes in psych, ltc, case management.
Oh my gawd, this is my life. Right now I am writing from my cubicle as a senior copywriter for a medium sized cosmetics company (been here for 15 years). I work FT days and go PT evenings to nursing school. I am 1/2 way thru a 3 year program as of end of this semester.

You're lucky it's only 3 months, I've been working on this part time since 2005 (pre-reqs etc.) Even though my bosses know I'm leaving eventually, I'm totally confused lately, I feel like I'm living a double life. I tolerate the intolerable during the day, then go to class or clinical and come out of there absolutely HIGH because I love it so much. When you're dealing with people in hospitals in life threatening and/or life changing situations, it's really hard to have someone in the office complaining to your face that the printer isn't printing or hey we're launching yet another frikkin' nail polish or who didn't do menial task #874 correctly without wanting to slap them or just laugh in their face. I have officially emotionally removed myself from my job and just do what I'm supposed to do, letting others worry about climbing the corporate ladder.

I do like my bosses and want to make their lives complication free, they've been great about letting me leave early for classes. However, after doing what I need to do, I myself make it a point to go on mental vacations as much as possible.

Start thinking/planning out what you'll need to do or take care of for school. Physicals, uniforms, equipment, Amazon for textbooks, whatever - make some lists and check them twice. Go on nursing websites like this one and get a feel for what's going on in the nursing universe. Look into different specialties and think about the kinds of situations you think you would thrive in based on your current work experience - do you like autonomy or close teamwork? Late nights or early mornings? Fast pace or slow & steady? Working with people one on one, in groups, or minimal people contact?

It will fly by, believe me, just keep yourself as busy as you can so those days fly by. Good luck!

:nurse:

The cosmetics business you say? You aren't in NY by any chance are you? I happen to currently work as a sales assistant for a company that makes bags for the cosmetic and fragrance industry. Huh!

Lots of good advice, thank you! I have indeed been trying to figure out what kind of nursing I would like. I feel like I have a general idea, but that I won't really know until I try my hand at it. You ask some good questions though, about how I work with others, or when I work best...good food for thought!

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The cosmetics business you say? You aren't in NY by any chance are you? I happen to currently work as a sales assistant for a company that makes bags for the cosmetic and fragrance industry. Huh!

Lots of good advice, thank you! I have indeed been trying to figure out what kind of nursing I would like. I feel like I have a general idea, but that I won't really know until I try my hand at it. You ask some good questions though, about how I work with others, or when I work best...good food for thought!

Yes, I'm in NY - we do a lot of promos, I'll bet you've done bags for us!

When you do your clinicals, you'll definitely get a sense of what you like. Nothing is definitive, but I went into the program hoping I'd like psych because my BA is in social & behavioral sciences. I'm finishing up my psych rotation now and LOVE IT! But I also found I like perioperative, especially post-op (PACU), which I never considered.

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Specializes in Endoscopy.

Yep - that's me too! I was just accepted into an ADN RN program, to begin in September - yippee!!! Do you know how I am making the time go by? By taking two non-nursing courses of my curriculum this summer at the local comm college, for two reasons:

1) I am SO excited and am ready for school NOW! and

2) to lighten the course load for the fall semester so I can focus more time on the nursing course, since I am married with 2 kids, 10 and 12, who are into a different sport every season. (I have awarded them the title "my study-buddies", which elicits groans...:chuckle)

I too still have to work and have not yet told my boss. I am FT, but have to cut back to PT, and want this job as a back-up in case I don't find something in hospital customer service or admin while I am in school. The local hospitals let nursing students fill paperwork positions at hours to suit their school schedule.

Take a class if you can!

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I was in the same boat until last Friday when I could finally give my notice. I started the process about 9 months ago and the closer I got to my notice date the more miserable I was, I agree with the person who said it's like living a double life. What got me through was a lot of surfing on nursing, A&P tutorial sites, dosage calc sites and complaining to husband and friends about how I was sure I would die of terminal impatience.

My last day of work is 5/23 and I start A&P 5/27. Nursing school starts 9/2. Woohoo!

Hang in there. While we may someday miss an office job it's no consolation now as you are so close to an exciting new chapter in your life. It will be here soon, I promise!

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Specializes in Volunteered in an ER.

I can relate to the double-life situation. When I was a secretary my former boss got wind of my interest in nursing from a two-faced employee who I thought was a friend. He didn't get rid of me, but started giving my work away, treating my co-worker with preference, and making me uncomfortable.

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Specializes in psych, ltc, case management.
I can relate to the double-life situation. When I was a secretary my former boss got wind of my interest in nursing from a two-faced employee who I thought was a friend. He didn't get rid of me, but started giving my work away, treating my co-worker with preference, and making me uncomfortable.

Ugh, that is horrible!! That is exaclty what I am afraid of! I plan on my last day being July 31st. I was thinking about giving notice right after the 4th of July weekend. This gives them almost a month to find someone new. I wanted to give plenty of time so that I don't burn my bridge, and they appreciate my trying not to screw them...but now I am starting to wonder if I might be screwing myself over. Maybe I should give the traditional two weeks. I think once I give notice come July they wouldn't fire me, but my boss would try to make my life a living hell!!

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Specializes in HH, Med/surg- liver & kidney transplant, ortho, ++.

Thats unfortunate that you are afraid of your employer for furthering your education. They should be happy for you and understand that you are doing this to better yourself.

I got my acceptance letter a few weeks ago. I am in the same boat as you and am not as focused at work like I was before I got my acceptance.

I work as a medical assistant in a busy and large pediatric clinic. I absolutely love my job. You would think it wouldn't be a problem because it is related to my ultimate education/career goal.

I am really excited to start school too. I can't wait for it to begin. But at the same time I wish I could enjoy the summer a little more. I am not going to get a chance to even go camping and do some fishing this summer. I do that every year and I look forward to the summer just for camping and fishing.

Unfortunately I wont get that chance because I dont have the time or the money to get out of town for just a few days. I am getting married this summer. Which I am incredibly excited about. We go on our honeymoon (a cruise to alaska) just a few days after we get married. When we get back we have to move. The school I am going to is about 2 hours from where we live now. There is no way I am going to commute, especially with gas prices as high as they are right now.

I plan on working until about 2 weeks before school starts, unless some loose ends dont get tied up. I informed my provider right away. One, because I wanted to share my excitement with everyone. They new I was applying, and two, I wanted to be totally honest with them. I knew I was going to have to take some time off work for dr appoinments, drug screen, and what not. I didn't want to have to explain the reason why I was taking so much time off. Plus, I wanted to make sure they could train someone to replace me. They are pretty picky with who they hire and sometimes spend WEEKS looking for someone. There was a receptionist that was hired. She lasted a week because she wasn't getting the basic concepts down. I know that a week isn't very much time but there were a lot of simple things that just weren't clicking.

Not saying that telling your employer is the best thing for you but it is something to think about. You have to do what works best for you. If they don't understand then that is their problem. This is a great opportunity for you. Good luck and congratulations on your acceptance.

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Specializes in Volunteered in an ER.

Only you know in your gut if you can trust your employer or not. If you can find a way to be fair and protect yourself at the same time, it's ideal, but it's not always possible, and again; only you know.

In my case, most of the time I didn't listen to my instincts in the corporate jungle. I like putting other people first. It's taken me a long time think in terms of self preservation; I was always trying to be fair and treat others as I would want to be treated, which was good, but I never took measures to protect myself. I was taken advantage of, sexually harassed, singled out, and nudged out.

"Nice" never worked for me in the corporate world, that's why I decided to become a nurse; being nice to patients is preferred!

There were two employers in my past that would have said, "I hate to lose you, but I'm so happy for you; what's your target date, and would you help me train your replacement?"

Good luck, and congratulations! Hang in there; it's just a matter of time now; before you know it you'll be knee-deep in your new career and your current job will be a faded memory.:nurse:

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