What did you do before you were a nurse?

Published

Nurses come from all walks of life. I'm just curious about other jobs people have help before they began their nursing careers. The more obscure the better. :)

Do tell...

started in fast food at 16, manager by 18 stayed for 5 more years untill I figured out what I wanted to do when I grew up.:idea:

Then was a deli clerk for 2 years while working on pre-reqs:uhoh3:

CNA in LTC for a year then the ER while trying to get into school and during nursing school.

Passed NCLEX yesterday;) and am now educated but unemployed:yeah:

Congrats!:yeah::yeah: on passing the NCLEX, not the unemployed part... lol, it's late forgive me:p

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatrics.

-Subway Sandwich Artist @ 15

-CNA @ 18 (studied to be CNA while still in high school)

-LPN @ 20 (got my license 6 weeks after turning 20)

-RN @ 21 (got my license 2 months after turning 21)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
I was a lineman for twenty years....

I bet someone else already said "for the county?", didn't they? :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.
Before I was a nurse, I was a nursing student, and before that I was a high school student. :)

But I have done odd jobs as secretary and waitress. I could do the secretary thing again easily (although I'd be bored) but waitress...oh helllll no!

LOL. Nursing is becoming more and more like waitressing. Give it a few years, they'll have the nurses going to Denny's for two days during orientation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I worked at McDonald's at age 17, which lasted for about 8 months. I worked at a hot dog fast food joint called Wienerschnitzel, which lasted for about 3 months. I then worked at Target, the 99 Cent Store, two supermarkets, and a couple of group homes between the ages of 18 and 20.

I was hired at a paper products factory at age 20 and worked there until age 23. I quit the factory job to attend an LVN program full-time. It was a calculated risk and a plan that could have failed at any time, but I succeeded.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mom/Baby.

Ugh...Human Resources Generalist for 6 years...:uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
I bet someone else already said "for the county?", didn't they? :D

Guilty!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What did I do before I was a nurse?

Same thing I do now: Whatever I want.

:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

Went to college on a continuous basis from the time I graduated from high school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
LOL. Nursing is becoming more and more like waitressing. Give it a few years, they'll have the nurses going to Denny's for two days during orientation.

Well, at least my pay now isn't dependent on tips.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, cardiac, addictions.

I was an unemployed foreign language teacher working at minimum wage jobs (including substitute teaching). My family, friends and old schoolmates were all surprised when I applied for nursing school, saying things like, "I can't imagine you as a nurse." I couldn't quite imagine it, either, but I needed a good job---and knew I wasn't likely to find one with the credentials I had.

That was over 30 years ago. Despite all predictions, I did make it through nursing school, and have worked as a nurse ever since. Just last week, one of my patients said to me, "You seem like someone who was just born to be a nurse." :nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have worked as a customer service rep.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion