What did you do before nursing?

I've met more than a few people that have made or are pursuing nursing as a second career. What did you do before? What are the ups and downs in comparison?

I'm not a nurse yet, but since I'm the OP, I'll go first. After being a fast food worker, a pizza cook, and a warehouse worker for Best Buy, I was an intel analyst in the Army, serving everywhere from infantry battalions all the way up to division headquarters. Later, I was a targeting analyst for an established defense firm, and later still for a an upstart company that took the contract from my original bosses. 10 years down the road and seven countries later, I'm knocking out the rest of my pre-reqs before I begin nursing school in January.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I started my first nursing job just shy of 24. Before that I was a CNA. While in high school I was a church organist.

[golson]

I started my first nursing job just shy of 24. Before that I was a CNA. While in high school I was a church organist.

Ever dream of making it big and being an organist/keyboardist for a pro hockey team?

[PghRN15]

I became an LPN at 48 and an RN at 50. Prior to that, I lived in Florida. I was a park ranger then promoted to manager. I worked for the state. It was a great job. Free housing, free vehicle, excellent benefits that salary was not super but hey I lived on the ocean for free. I was on call 24/7 because my housing was on the park I worked. I would have retired from there had I stayed in Florida. I moved up north and those types of jobs do not exist. As a kid and teenager I wanted to be a nurse, now I am. I have been blessed in life to have two careers that I love.

[NurslingNicole]

I became an LPN at 48 and an RN at 50. Prior to that, I lived in Florida. I was a park ranger then promoted to manager. I worked for the state. It was a great job. Free housing, free vehicle, excellent benefits that salary was not super but hey I lived on the ocean for free. I was on call 24/7 because my housing was on the park I worked. I would have retired from there had I stayed in Florida. I moved up north and those types of jobs do not exist. As a kid and teenager I wanted to be a nurse, now I am. I have been blessed in life to have two careers that I love.

I bet that was an awesome job!

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

I was born a nurse, fully clothed from my pin, cap, and cape.

Actually I did retail. But the first sounds better.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I traveled and then worked in various hotels as a concierge and later guest services manager. I became an RN at 36.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

School teacher! Hated it.

But LOVE the teaching aspect of nursing. Go figure.

[BertG77]

I was a musician and recording engineer for almost all of my 20's, then got into cooking and worked as a chef in various restaurants in San Francisco for about 8 years or so. The whole time I was having fun but always felt like I was selling myself short, unhappy, kind of just doing what came my way. I had always wanted to go to college but had a nagging voice in my head that told me school wasn't for me. It was only after a few failed relationships that I was forced to really evaluate things and conjure up the guts to pursue what really mattered to me.

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

Phone CSR for 13 years which included getting my insurance license. Got sick in 2010 and laid off when my FMLA was up. Had always wanted to go to nursing school, so I graduated in 2013 at age 39.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Ever dream of making it big and being an organist/keyboardist for a pro hockey team?

Hmm that's an interesting idea! If you ever get wind of the Wild looking for one, let me know.

[LabRat3]

Just left my job yesterday managing a cell therapy lab to pursue nursing. We performed cell processing for blood and marrow transplants. My biology degree is still precious to me but I'm ready for a change! School starts on Monday!