What did you do before nursing?

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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.

I'm not in nursing school yet. I plan to get my CNA by the end of the year and start prereqs in January. I will pursing my ADN in fall 2016. Oh and right now, I'm a legal secretary and have been since 2000. I am so looking forward to pursing my passion and not looking back on this dead end job. I regret staying in the field this long. There is light at the end of the tunnel for me and I'm happy about that!

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I was a software engineer for 15+ years. Held positions from programmer, design team lead, to project lead. Sat at my desk, drinking coffee, and worked with my other techie coworkers. When I was project lead, I install a dart board in the office so workers could take a break and renew their creative thinking. We used a method call extreme programming in my last position before my career change. It was an awesome career, I learned a lot, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I pursued nursing to work with the people in my fairly small community and to do work I felt was more enriching and rewarding rather than just coding to make some company money. The other big draw was the flexibility. I work two 12-hour shifts a week and have plenty of down time to find more balance in my life. Lastly, the education I am getting as a med/surg nurse has been helpful to lead a healthful lifestyle and will be helpful as my wife and I age and potentially face some disease states. 3 years in, I still love nursing and my med/surg job at a small rural hospital. The work is much harder physically and mentally, but I feel both will have a positive aspect on my life. I took a pay cut to change careers, but I strongly feel that money is only a part of the big picture when it comes to quality of life.

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Specializes in L&D, CCU, ICU, PCU, RICU, PCICU, & LTC..

Seems many bring a wide variety of experience to the nursing field.

I worked first at 12 as a companion for a demented blind lady, who did not realize she was blind. Her family was afraid she would leave the nursing home following her delusional visions of her home, town, etc. I was paid $20 for Mon-Fri of 9-5.

I had my own used bookstore at 13. Did that off and on until I was 17.

Worked as a nurses aide the summer I was in LPN school. Became an LPN in 1972 and worked all the critical care areas I have listed. Also took the exam to be an insurance agent with my husband at the time. (Not my cup of tea.)

I worked as a Census enumerator in 1980, 90, and 2000 in Florida and New Orleans.

I became an RN in 1982. Studied for becoming a Real Estate Agent as my elective while in college for nursing. I continued working, becoming a supervisor and an MDS Coordinator after that.

In 1985 I became a ballroom dance instructor for Arthur Murray and Fred Astaire Studios. Taught that off and on till 1994.

I also had 5 children, from 1970 -1992, so life was never boring.

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I was a veterinary technician for 10 years. Let me tell you there are as many veterinary technician programs in Pgh as there are nursing schools! Anyway did that for 10 years, loved working with the animals, but got completely burnt out on the lack of advancement and pay. Decided since I had to deal with people so much in that field anyway I might as well go take care of them and now I'm an RN working on my BSN and likely going to pursue a DNP. As you can see.... Much more room for advancement!

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I am only 23 so its not like a second career for me but before nursing I went to school to be a hairdresser, I worked at places like Dunkin Donuts and grocery stores, a deli, as a receptionist, etc. Nursing is definitely a good field to go into. I am very glad I picked it and have a career now. Good luck, you'll do great!

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I worked at a bank as a teller and then I was a stay at home dog mom during nursing school. It was the best job I've ever had but unfourtanately it didn't pay well and my husband forced me to get a nursing job.

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I milked cows, trimmed pine trees, dishwasher in restaurant, mechanic, machinist, welder/steel fabricator, radio account executive, horse trainer, etc. Was never happy with my job. Got married and had a child, quit my job and went to school full time for nursing while working as a CNA. Became LPN then RN, and now going to school for BSN. Currently work as a Psych nurse and I love my job more than any others I have ever done!

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Before nursing and during school I did sales, server, bartender, receptionist jobs. I had the same sales job for about 10 years and liked doing the restaurant stuff on the side for extra money. Included in that experience was management.

I have always liked working with people. It makes me happy to make someone else happy.

The management experience is very beneficial in nursing. Managing problems, delegating, handling difficult people and doctors.

I think my prior jobs are why I never gripe about getting people coffee and little stuff. To me, it's those little things that make a patient or family member feel more comfortable in the hospital.

I miss my old jobs sometimes, same hustle and bustle but no codes.

(Busy day yesterday 😕)

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Factory work- soldering wires, pc boards, assembling huge main frame computers. Also some machining, and surface finishing with caustic chemicals.

Pay was low, kept losing jobs due to factory closings and out-sourcing.

The advantage was working alone, and not having to deal with people.

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Specializes in Emergency.

In nursing school now, but currently a 26 year firefighter and 17 year paramedic. I have two years to go with fire, then I leave and go into my new career.

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I turned 40 this year - and decided to go back to school. RN bound. I am finishing up STNA classes right now, and will work in long term care while I go to school. Before - a life of Restaurant Management. I made GREAT $$, but it wasn't much of a life. I want to feel like I am doing something to make an impact.

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Marine Corps Straight out of High School, after the Marines, went to school to teach, was in my Senior year at FSU, and got a letter from the GI Bill informing me my benefits had been exhausted. I knew this was coming, as the GI Bill and benefits for Marines in general were dismal, I believe I only had a total of $10,000 available, so I knew it wouldn't take me all the way through to my credential.

The letter continued on to also inform that I had been overpaid by about six months or so, oh and by the way, we have overpaid you about $80 a month... THE ENTIRE TIME YOU HAVE BEEN RECEIVING YOUR GI BILL.... and we want the money now. NOW!

So until you pay it back, no financial aid, no student loans, no federal grants, nothing, and of course, no more GI Bill, obviously. So that in effect ended my academic career. I was barely getting by with my two part time jobs and financial aid and the gi bill and various grants. I was also in the middle of a furious custody battle that lasted for 8 years, so I went to work for a DME company as a driver, made pretty good money with overtime and started climbing the ladder there. Moved to customer service, then branch QA, then Corporate QC then was director of the QC dept, managed a small staff, things were going good, made good money, equal to what I would have made teaching had I finished, and competitive bidding hit us as part of the affordable care act. Thats when things started getting worse and worse, I made it through the first round of layoffs, and I prepared as best i could saving and saving, cutting my bills to the absolute bone. Company folded after I was with them 14 years.

Didn't receive so much as a thank you letter, just a final check and we need the keys back.

Got a job at the local hospitals home health department as a coder, and the Nurse manager right after hiring me pulled me into the office. She had just announced her retirement, and she told me that I needed to do more. I had what it took to be an RN and it would be tragic if I stayed in an office pushing paper. She wrote me a letter of recommendation to nursing school and here I am finishing up my prereqs. My uncle was a nurse and I never would have thought it possible for me to pursue nursing because most schools are m-f 8-5, but with the new online options available, its finally a possibility. So I guess, heres to a third career.

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