What did you do before nursing?

[golson]

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.

[djh123]

I was a computer programmer for a long time - too long - but at the time, I stayed for this reason, that reason, etc.

[a_farley]

Wow! it seems like everybody had such interesting backgrounds before nursing. I am not a nurse yet but right now I am a secretary at a county jail. I cannot wait to start nursing school!!!!

[rabiamirou, BSN]

I worked in international development for 20 years, following my passion to live in and help poor countries. Then I wanted to come home and live in and help my own. I was a massage therapist and a yoga instructor for 4 years and found myself curious about disease and illness. I start my second year in a BSN program this fall. I feel like a kid. I love my program and am a CNA at a hospital. Who knew I would would end up in nursing but it fits me like a glove. I am 46 years old.

[dnw06]

I always wanted to be a veterinarian and graduated with a bachelors and masters in Animal Science and 8 years experience as a vet tech. I applied twice and didn't get in (even with >10,500 of experience). I took a chance and moved across the country and into the research field after finishing my masters and worked in clinical research with both animals and humans. That job was when I realized I actually loved the nursing aspect of working with our human patients. I felt drawn to nursing after that and I am finishing pre-reqs now and hope to start in January 2016. Sometimes taking a chance can turn your life into a completely different direction and I'm so glad it did!

[guest914868]

I was-

an operator for directory assistance

stay at home mom

subscription service customer service

started court reporting school but moved to Alaska before I could finish

donut shop

trip arranger for a transit company

JoAnn fabrics

lawyers office

Public Defender admin in Alaska

moved to Colorado and worked as a police dispatcher were I made $25 an hour. My husband got a job in Indiana so we moved. Here you can't work for the police unless you live in the county you work in. The county I work in hasn't hired because of disputes and anyway they start out at less than half of what I made. Who needs the stress for that low pay? So I ended up making 10 an hour at a sock factory - going from essential personnel to an admin was pretty depressing. I was highly trained but uneducated. So at 45 I am waiting to hear if I got accepted to the nursing program. I have wanted to do nursing for years. The high school I went to said they would pay for nursing or cosmetology but I was dumb and picked hair - hated it. Then I picked court reporting instead of nursing - dumb. Now I am finally doing it!!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Can't hardly recall...it was 34 years ago. All I know.. is I was much happier.

[traumanightsRN, NP]

I was a Division I college volleyball coach before I became a nurse. Talk about a major change! #noregrets

[missy26]

Before nursing I worked @ Wendy's for a really long time and went to school for Medical Assisting. I then worked as a Medical Assistant for about 2 years in a fairly large doctor's office while planning on going back to school for the LPN and then RN nursing degrees. I did both within a 5 year apan

[traumanightsRN, NP]

Hey OP...love your profile pic although Bubbles is my fave! #knowwhatimsayin #JtothaROC

[AnnaFofanna]

I got my BA in English in 2008 (non-teaching), and spent the better part of the following decade trying to figure out what to do with that. Medical records clerk, respite care with children on the Autism spectrum, medical secretary, bank teller, mailroom clerk, and grant writer. I became inspired to become a psychiatric nurse during my last job as a direct care professional in a group home for dual-diagnosed adults, and will sit for my PN boards this Friday.

[hope_is_w_feathers]

I have a degree (BA) in English (in 2006).

All through high school and college I worked in two different nursing homes. Loved every minute of it. Loved working so closely with the residents.

After college, I worked at a Humane Society with the animals for about a year and a half, then I used my degree and edited court cases for a few years, and now I edit books for a book publisher, but only do that on contract. If I have time to edit a book, I will accept the work. If I don't have time, I don't.

I never really put the two and two together -- how much I loved my time working in nursing homes. My first passion was and will always be English. But I absolutely love and adore working with people, especially the elderly.

[CarolinabornRN]

I got a summer job right out of high school working for an MD/internist. That summer job turned into 11 years. Best job I ever had. He was a great teacher and I learned so much about the medical field. During that time I also took night classes to obtain my CNA and then my EMT certification. Finally I decided to go to nursing school to become an RN. I have lived in several different states in my nursing career and held many different positions. Going to nursing school was the best decision I ever made.