Whats your career change story?

Nursing2102 · Sep 5, 2012

Congrats on your decision to start nursing school!

I have not actually been in my 1st career yet, considering I recently graduated college with a BS in Criminal Justice. I had planned on getting into a Police Department in my area and passed all the tests, ready to get into their July 2011 academy class..... however I had already kind of figured out around my sophomore year of college that the PD might not have really been for me, along with other doubts about going into this field.

I decided to go into nursing because nursing had been my first choice right out of high school but I didn't think I would have been able to do it so I went for Criminal Justice which I figured would be easier. I wish I would have made the choice to go to nursing school 5 years ago, but it's too late now.... Thankfully I am going into this program as a transfer student so 98 of my credits from my BS degree transferred leaving me 3 years to complete a BSN instead of 4. I am starting classes tomorrow am I am so excited and nervous!

Anyway good luck to you!

Ansumana · Sep 5, 2012

I felt the EXACT same way when I had my job, granted it was working at Walmart when I was 19 , now I'm 21, and the thought hit me all of a sudden. I, too, felt as if I wasn't really contributing to the world. All I felt was that I was making the rich richer and serving people deli food that they often complained and fussed about how thin it should be. I knew even if I got another entry job, I would just be doing the sane thing and spinning my wheels but at age 19, I had no idea what to do. I was fired September 26th 2011, but before I was fired, three months prior I answered the telephone and I and this woman had a conversation about cancer and t cells. She was a nurse and told I'm too smart to be working in Walmart. I told her I couldn't go to college because money didn't grow on trees. She told me about pell grants and how they were free money and didn't have to pay them back...

And today, I'm thankful for getting fired, for me picking up that phone when anyone else could have, and for pell grants. You're absolutely right. Things happen when they need to happen and not when we think we are ready for them to occur. I'm just happy to actually do things that matter rather than waiting in shallow customers who often tell and complain about meat and cheese that's not even important.

NightNerd, MSN, RN · Sep 5, 2012

I studied English and Psychology in college with hopes of getting my Masters in Counseling and, perhaps, being lucky enough to churn out a bestselling novel by the time I graduated. By the time I was a junior, I realized that this probably was not the best way to support myself, or to have any interesting life experiences that would mean as much to the rest of the world as they would to me. So I knew I wanted to try something different.

I decided on nursing for a few reasons. The classes I enjoyed most in Psych were more medical and physiological, and focused on how to improve the client's life in more practical and tangible ways than doing research or attempting to provide insight. I was very drawn to that, even though I'd previously considered myself too "creative" or whatever for things like that. I knew I wanted a career that would allow me to interact with people, and I loved the fact that there is so much variety in the nursing field - you can make it into as much of a job vs. career as you want. I didn't want to spend my days in an office watching a clock; I wanted something where there was enough excitement to keep me moving and focused until I realized it was time to go. Finally, my grandmother was a nurse in the Army, and my mother is still a nurse (hospice), and I know they love(d) their jobs and were able to be proud of everything they have accomplished. So let's hope nursing skills are genetic. :)

I've been working as an admin assistant for about a year and finishing my pre-reqs by night, and I'm hoping to start working as a CNA once my license comes through. I too wish I'd gotten started with this earlier in life, but I'm glad I figured it out sooner or later.

Thanks for starting this thread; I love hearing people's stories!

Red35 · Sep 5, 2012

My career change came like this...I never knew what I wanted to do with my life. I drifted from job to job. Finally ended up with a finance company. Deep down I wanted to be a nurse or a police officer, I knew that life was about helping people and making a difference. I was making great money so I kept dreaming from a far.

Well the economy tanked-was laid off twice and my life started to go backwards..making less and less while companies were hiring unskilled and uneducated people..I have a BS degree and proud of this accomplishment. However, it seemed like it meant nothing...one of my managers told me " a monkey can do your job!" It really hurt me but it also made me think about what I wanted with my life. Do I want to work at an industry that believes you have no skills or do I actually want a skill and do something worthwhile for the next 30 years of my life?

Well I save my money along the way, so now I'm going to nursing school ( either for an RN or LPN) next month. I'm thrilled and happy things didn't work out in my former career or I never would have had the guts to make the leap.

JillyPlot · Sep 5, 2012

My career change is happening this way... I had always wanted to be a teacher, so I went to college for education. I taught for 5 years in various positions, including 3 in an inner city setting. Unfortunately, in my district, principals at "failing" schools were told (unofficially) to find teachers who "weren't doing their jobs" and get rid of them. I was an unfortunate (or fortunate) pick by my principal. There are some reasons why I feel I was one targeted in this way (commonality with other targeted teachers at my school).

Nursing had always been in the back of my mind as something else I wanted to do, but teaching had always been my first choice. The morning after I lost my job last summer, I woke up feeling as if a HUGE weight had been lifted off my shoulders b/c I was at a job I hated due to my administration and the leadership in the district. I had NO IDEA what to do with my life after that, but I knew I didn't want to go back to teaching. I decided I should look into pursuing the other dream I had... becoming a nurse. I decided to start researching schools and programs in the area, and took some pre-reqs. I am taking my last pre-req this fall (ethics), and start my 11 month accelerated BSN program in April. I can't wait to finish!

I'm still not sure what type of nursing I want to go into, but I think I may go into something pediatrics (due to my love of working with children- the part of teaching I loved) or possibly GI since I was recently diagnosed with a GI disease.

pamelacnj · Sep 5, 2012

My change of career story goes like this...

Like many, I was never sure of what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was always interested in singing and acting but never had the confidence to pursue the entertainment business. In addition, I was always encouraged to "use my brain" by my parents. I was interested in medicine and would spend quite a bit of time reading my mom's medical books (she was an RN). My mother did not want me to be a nurse because back in those days nurses were GREATLY underpaid with no assistance. It was pretty difficult back in the 60s & 70s.

So, I worked and went to college which was a great thing because I have a BS in Business Administration that was completely paid for by the corporation I was employed by. I'm proud of the accomplishment but even as I took the courses, I wasn't thrilled with my major or with the corporate business career choice overall.

I left work and raised our children while working as a substitute teacher. I love working with children and with people, in general. I have spent the last several years considering going back to school to be a nurse. It is only now that I am biting the bullet and taking the handful of pre-reqs that I don't have with my BS in Business so that I can apply to an ABSN program. I'm in my 40s so I don't want to take a longer route.