What Else Can I Do For A Living?

anitalaff, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2017

My mom's licensed massage therapist is an RN who worked at the bedside for years. Obviously that would require more schooling, but this woman's nursing knowledge puts her a cut above other LMTs in the area. She also does diabetic foot care in her practice.

I can't decide which career is worse for your back.

anitalaff, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2017

Hey,
I'm not sure really what to advise because nursing is very specialized. However, I will make an attempt. Ok here goes: Teaching, work in plastic surgery/dermatology doing botox injections and such, medical device or pharmaceutical sales, insurance, contractor, blogger, writer, youtube, consultant and business. I would recommend starting your own business. You have a skills set obviously. Decide what you love and use your nursing experience and business savvy to make yourself marketable to the public. Nurses have so much knowledge but we can easily get caught up in only seeing where we fit traditionally. I would advise you to sit down and take stock of your skills, the life you want to live, how much money you feel you want and create a business around it. If you are not able to do that, then continue to work your job. When you are finally miserable enough, your creativity will kick in. Ignore the negative comments. Many nurses are miserable but just as many are afraid change their lives for the better, hence the overwhelming negativity. Nursing is a vocation and it deserves to be loved. If someone does not love it, there needs to be positive encouragement to leave. Good luck!

Yes to all of this!

TitaniumPlates · Dec 18, 2017

THIS. This is a very thoughtful, coherent response. She's frustrated, the OP. We all have those days. But she's coming to a point where she's questioning her decision to go into nursing, which means something. That's huge, considering what we all went through to get here. She asked a serious question and got what....kicked in the teeth for it? Yeah, she could have been a little less....um....nebulous...about WHY she doesn't like nursing and didn't mention what her strengths are...

But seriously. Conflicts like this are common and if we all just turn on the person experiencing this and say..."GTFO" this isn't for you if you dare to complain or question...you're not reallly looking for a team or a full staff, are ya.

Nursing offers a lot of doors, OP. Education. Teach staff nurses (um, how to act like civilized humans in some units, it seems, needs refreshing) CPR/ACLS/PALS. Consult with attorneys. Be a public health RN. A school RN. Work LTC or another unit in your facility may be a better fit.

You can also use your BSN to launch into another career altogether and use nursing to pay for it. Law. Medicine (but if you hate backstabby whiners, that isn't the way to go). Engineering. Abstract and critical thinking is essential for these types of jobs.

What about administration at the VA? A BSN goes far, as does an MSN. Give back to veterans. Be a diabetes educator or a lactation consultant.

There's lots to do. If handling people isn't your thing, then you do need to reconsider medicine.

However, on a side note--nursing has a reputation for eating it's young for a reason. It's not an unwarranted label. It's an accurate cross section of high school, only higher pressure. But then...so are MANY other professions.

This is life. Taking offense to everything and everybody, all the time isn't a good strategy for getting thru it. If the problems are real, then you need to confront what they are and make changes.You control you.

xtina334 · Dec 18, 2017

Thanks for the snarky response. Exactly the type of attitude that is widespread in this field and another reason I want to move on.

Side note to your thread: Why is this kind of attitude so prevalent on this website? It seems a lot of people on here are bitter, sarcastic, condescending know-it-alls. I have 1 year left of school and if this is what awaits, I am not looking forward to it.

Flatline, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2017

Side note to your thread: Why is this kind of attitude so prevalent on this website? It seems a lot of people on here are bitter, sarcastic, condescending know-it-alls. I have 1 year left of school and if this is what awaits, I am not looking forward to it.

It is mostly because people who are happy and satisfied are too busy being happy and satisfied to whine on a website.

You will find in life people who are happy willy tell 2-3 people those who are unhappy will tell 10-15.

CaffeinePOQ4HPRN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Dec 18, 2017

Hi everyone:
I'm having a rough time with this field. I have been a nurse for 7+ years and have worked in many different settings. I just got another job that I thought I would like, but I absolutely HATE it (and it's not just because I'm new, the job/benefits were complete lies from what I was promised) anyway, The more I think about it, I hate every available job in nursing. I want to quit but I don't know what else I can do with my degree/history.
I'm finishing up a MSN in Leadership/Management which I hoped would open some more doors, but honestly I just don't want to do nursing at all or healthcare. Every job seems like a deadend and the pay is crappy and I'm already in one of the higher paid nursing positions out there.
Has anyone done something else with their nursing background? I don't think I can keep doing this, but at the same time I have to pay my bills... help!

I empathize with you. The current incarnation and direction of the nursing profession is extremely abusive, burdensome, and burning out nurses faster than it takes to become lisenced. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. I'm in the process of escaping now and even though I still have one foot in nursing I feel liberated already and brighter about the future knowing soon I won't have to tolerate anymore. I wish you the best of luck. I know so many nurses who had to take a hiatus from the profession because it became so interolable. One day I might return, but I'm not even entertaining it because I've never been happier to be (almost) out! I wish you good luck.

Flatline, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2017

I empathize with you. The current incarnation and direction of the nursing profession is extremely abusive, burdensome, and burning out nurses faster than it takes to become lisenced. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. I'm in the process of escaping now and even though I still have one foot in nursing I feel liberated already and brighter about the future knowing soon I won't have to tolerate anymore. I wish you the best of luck. I know so many nurses who had to take a hiatus from the profession because it became so interolable. One day I might return, but I'm not even entertaining it because I've never been happier to be (almost) out! I wish you good luck.

LOL.

That's a big ol' bold sweeping generalization statement there.

Please do not confuse profession with job. There are certain jobs that suck but to cast out the profession is somewhat shortsighted and silly.

There are far too many specialties, job opportunities, modes of employment to be universally unhappy with he profession.

"I worked for a bazillion years at this one job at this one place and I hated it so the entire profession must be terrible!"

xtina334 · Dec 19, 2017

It is mostly because people who are happy and satisfied are too busy being happy and satisfied to whine on a website.
You will find in life people who are happy willy tell 2-3 people those who are unhappy will tell 10-15.

That's so true! I'm not talking about OP though, I just meant a lot of people on this forum. I guess the happy nurses are too happy to spend their time on this little unhappy corner of the web

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Dec 19, 2017

I feel burnt out myself. I was about to start a Nursing leadersip/management MSN program and backed out. Instead I think I'm going for my MBA so I can pursue my desire to open my own business. I've still not entirely checked off a Healthcare Admin MSN either.

MissHaleyDawn · Dec 19, 2017

I'm in the same boat. I've been a nurse for 4 years. While I do like the nursing aspects of things, I did not sign up for all the drama between management and pettiness of staff and favoritism. This isn't high school, yet everyone sure acts like it. I've worked in a nursing home as an aide during school, and have been at 2 different hospitals in 4 years. Was the same everywhere; toxic, not feeling appreciated or heard, trying my best but still not good enough for some people...just a body to fill the payroll. It makes me sad, because when we are properly staffed, management isn't on a power trip, and no one is squabbling or ******** about someone on the unit...it's a very enjoyably day and I enjoy my patients. But most days I just feel like the life is being sucked out of me.

I've considered going back to school for a masters of nursing in management or education. I do like to teach. Students actually brighten my day because then I'm distracted from everything else for a few hours, but pay would be a concern for me. Management I feel like I would be good at, but again pay concerns (salary vs hourly with OT options) and I have a fear I'd eventually turn in to the machine I feel like I'm at odds with everyday. I've also considered just going back for an MBA, but have no idea what area of business I would even want to venture into.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Dec 19, 2017

What is your role in the insurance company?

Utilization management, I took an early retirement offer, but not worried at all. I know with that background I could go to Aetna, Humana, or UHG.

Flatline, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2017

I'm in the same boat. I've been a nurse for 4 years. While I do like the nursing aspects of things, I did not sign up for all the drama between management and pettiness of staff and favoritism. This isn't high school, yet everyone sure acts like it. I've worked in a nursing home as an aide during school, and have been at 2 different hospitals in 4 years. Was the same everywhere; toxic, not feeling appreciated or heard, trying my best but still not good enough for some people...just a body to fill the payroll. It makes me sad, because when we are properly staffed, management isn't on a power trip, and no one is squabbling or ******** about someone on the unit...it's a very enjoyably day and I enjoy my patients. But most days I just feel like the life is being sucked out of me.
I've considered going back to school for a masters of nursing in management or education. I do like to teach. Students actually brighten my day because then I'm distracted from everything else for a few hours, but pay would be a concern for me. Management I feel like I would be good at, but again pay concerns (salary vs hourly with OT options) and I have a fear I'd eventually turn in to the machine I feel like I'm at odds with everyday. I've also considered just going back for an MBA, but have no idea what area of business I would even want to venture into.

The compensation will depend upon your level of leadership, organization, and negotiating skills. You can either make terrible money or fantastic money, 100% up to you.

A lot of nurses discount salary because XYZ reason but sometimes it is really nice. Being salary myself, it is nice working banking hours, not worrying about the holidays, and the bonuses and other benefits are really nice as well.