What did you do before nursing?

Nurses General 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.

Specializes in Pharmaceutical Research, Operating Room.

I worked for a large credit union right out of college (the first time), then was a medical assistant for almost 6 years before deciding to go to nursing school - figured it was the natural progression of my healthcare career, it would give me more autonomy and develop my skills as a professional, and I would be making more money than I'd ever made in my other jobs. I graduated from nursing school at 31, started working in OR, and am now counting down EVERY second until my notice is up in 2 more weeks!!! I'm going to be working for a pharmaceutical research company, and while I'm nervous about transitioning back into a corporate environment, my nursing school friends that already work there say it's a lot less bull***t to deal with, a lot more money to be made, a *gasp* positive workplace/culture, and a better work/life balance. I can't. freakin'. WAIT :woot:

Bartender and stripper by night, nurse intern by day. All the way through nursing school. True embodiment of the stereotype that every stripper is in nursing school.

Specializes in L&D, OR, ICU, Management, QA-UR, HHC.

I was a bartender/cocktail waitress in a hole in the wall joint. Tips were decent but always had to watch for the ABC guys (alcohol & beverage control) because I was underage (19). I worked there while in nursing school as well as Church secretary part-time. Interesting times.

I'm not quite a nurse yet, but here goes. I worked on a blueberry farm during summers in high school. In college (as a journalism major) I worked in the payroll department for federal work study students at my school. I worked for a plastic surgeon as an office assistant--borrowing the doc's Porsche for Starbucks runs, selling cosmetics, making appointments, watching procedures on my lunch break. I taught preschool at a horrid corporate daycare chain, then worked as a nanny for the same family for a few years. Once the children were too old for a full-time nanny, I took a free CNA course, not really even knowing what a CNA was. And here I am, 7 years later...

Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

Worked as an executive secretary/ administrative assistant in a number of industries. Became a Paramedic, after about a year on the streets blew out my knee. Got into computers, did a number of things in that arena including report writing and data warehousing. Decided to get back into the medical field as a mid-life career change and went to nursing school. Now am looking to merge all my disparate skills and experience into healthcare informatics.

Pros of the IT field: flexible work hours, good pay, weekends and holidays off (mostly)

Cons of the IT field: cubicle life, repetitive work, stuck in the M-F 8-5 rut, having to keep up with changes in programming/ technology

I don't regret it, and personal issues are pushing me back to the computer field, but I'm excited about being able to improve healthcare delivery with my mix of skills as it will be more fulfilling than just contributing to a company's bottom line.

I became an RN at the age of 50. Prior to this I worked in advertising. This is a good switch because I am already used to working long hours and getting pooped on.

My education has been all over the place: I started off as a Philosophy student with the intention of teaching, then got rejected from an interior design program, almost went to Vet Tech school, and eventually graduated from university with a degree in African Studies and musicology after switching majors a few more times. While at school, I've worked as a pizza-maker, library assistant, and a nanny.

I recently landed a job as a physiotherapy receptionist, and this September I'm starting a second degree in nursing. I'm not a nurse yet, but I'd have to say that the biggest advantages are the flexibility and the sense of purpose. Everything else I've done has a pretty limited scope and doesn't help anybody in a real way. Nursing is something I'm actually excited about doing.

I started working for an emergency road service company right out of high school. Decided when my daughter was 4 that I wanted more for our lives and decided to become a nurse. Had to do a year of community college before I could apply to university. Going into second year of a 4 year BScN degree. Love it. Wanted a career and not just a job, something that was respectable and would challenge me.

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

I think I was definitely born to be one!

I was so obsessed with bandaids as a kid, my mom made a rule that I had to be actively bleeding to get one! (I stuck them everywhere...on myself, my dolls, stuffed animals, etc!)

School teacher! Hated it.

But LOVE the teaching aspect of nursing. Go figure.

That's because you're not dealing with hordes of unruly, disrespectful kids on top of the other 10,000 things a teacher juggles on a daily basis!

My husband is a teacher and the incredible stress he deals with every day isn't the actual teaching! It's everything else that is piled on top of it! (As he tells me often, you'd just have to be a teacher to understand...)

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
I actually was a music major before I got into nursing.

Cool, I was too! Vocal, with secondary flute and piano. Two years in I was getting burnt out, but I loved my CNA job, so decided to go that route.

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
Bartender and stripper by night, nurse intern by day. All the way through nursing school. True embodiment of the stereotype that every stripper is in nursing school.

But no camming?

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