Any Nurses that changed careers?

[npmommie]

anyone a nurse that does not work in healthcare anymore? what do you do now? why did you leave nursing?

Just having a moment where I am thinking I would like to do something different. But I don't know what. Its not that I hate nursing, I don't....... just feel a little like when I do go back to work I would like to do something different.

 

[jaminmd]

Well, I took a much needed break, several years in fact. During that time I considered teaching & worked as a sub. I decided that I like dealing with adults much better, lol. Those poor kids come in with too much family "baggage" & I'd want to fix it all. Teaching was not my calling.

My hiatus taught me a few things, though. I was older & wiser. I knew what kind of nurse I didn't want to be anymore. I speak up for myself immediately if there is an issue that needs to be dealt with. I won't be taken advantage of or be passive-aggressive.

The great thing about our profession is the variety of things we can do. I'd like to teach nursing, so getting my master's is in my future. Have you thought about trying something new?

 

[clarabelle]

I quit nursing when my DD was born 13 years ago and became a SAHM.

But even if it weren't for motherhood I still could not picture it as my "forever" career.
I had to work sooo hard. I wanted something less physical (which is ironic because now I teach spinning) and less well scary. I was often afraid as a nurse. Afraid of getting yelled at (I worked in OR part of the time)
afraid of getting sued, afraid of hurting someone.

I do not regret one minute of nursing. I think it is a wonderful career -but I think it is hard to do it your entire working life.

 

[belle_of_the_ball]

My Anatomy teacher used to be a nurse. Now she teaches high school anatomy, genetics, and biology. She started at applied bio and has worked her way up to honors anatomy. She really is the best A&P teacher in the school because of her involvement in the medical field! She says she left because she was tired of it. She was constantly being sued and it was just too much stress. As she got older she decided to go teach future nurses. Although I'm not going into the medical field, about 4/5 of the class is.

 

[johnsontrio]

I haven't worked in Nursing since 2001. I don't need to work for financial reasons at this time nor do I need to work to feel like I'm a contributing member of society or to keep my sanity like I hear so many Moms say.

I have managed to keep myself busy with running my household, supervising and transporting my teenaged DD, plenty of volunteer work, and spending time with DH when he has days off during the week.

I think about returning to nursing but am discouraged by several factors. Despite the nursing shortage, many employers have not truly instituted creative and flexible scheduling. There are very few short shifts available such as 4 or 6 hour blocks. My last job was a casual position, no guaranteed hours. You had to be there in person at midnight the first day of the month to fill in whatever time was available. My DH finally told me that it was crazy to spend a couple of hours signing up for 3-4 days per month. And of course, if there was a holiday in that month, they wanted you to work that as well. If I wanted a commitment to work holidays I would take a part-time position with guaranteed hours and benefits.

I have people approach me about positions all the time. I may be looking to go back into nursing after DD goes to college. It will depend on the flexibility of the job then as well. I won't want to take a job that prevents me from having time off when DH has time off. I'm thinking a couple shifts per week in a PACU or Pre-Admission testing area. I have always loved working in big hospitals and can't really imagine working in an office environment.

Then again, I do think it might be nice to take a job for fun, like retail or something similar. With the economic climate, that won't be happening anytime soon. Good luck figuring out what you want to do!

 

[NotUrsula]

A lot of the pharmaceutical sales reps I encounter turn out to be former nurses.

 

[ToddyLu]

Well I have been a nurse for 15 years now. I had a B.A. in Psychology and was in a bad car accident. While getting well it occurred to me that nursing would be a great field because I really liked helping people, even when they weren't at their best. I was not able to find employment after looking for several months in 1990. So I decided to go to nursing school. I have an ADN from a local Jr college. Several years later after working med-surg-oncology I got burned out. I tried Home Health and hated it. That only lasted 3 months. Thankfully I was given the opportunity to work with an Enterostomal Therapist at our hospital. I had pestered the h*** out of her when she would see patients on my floor. It was such an interesting field and I was the one in the back of the room (when she lectured in my nursing classes) that had a million questions about ostomy patients. SO I found my niche and talent with her. After doing that for 2 years the hospital paid for me to attend Emory University to get a specialty in Enterostomal Therapy. I am now a Certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse. It is a great M-F job where I get to really do something that Drs don't know a lot about or care about. The patient's really care about your knowlege with this specialty which is why I got into nursing in the first place.

I do not know your situation--I just know that this is my calling and it kinda found me in a wonderful way. For a female living in Southern Mississippi it has proven to be solid source of income and stability. After 15 years I am at the point where I have now doubled my salary that I had at the beginning. Your heart will help you make the right decision. Have you thought about doing a specialty or teaching, is there a type of patient you really like caring for?? I am wishing you the best.

Most of my nursing friends have stayed in the field and the ones who are the happiest found what they liked best and stayed in that area. My concern was "would the grass be any greener if I were in sales or teaching??" Sometimes we do need to make a change--the cool thing is that you can always return to it easily if you decide not to nurse for a while.

 

[*Fantasia*]

my sister is an RN. she's been an RN for about 25 years, being a regular nurse and then she worked in kidney dialysis dept. i guess she got tired working in the hospital, so changed career. she is now working for bc/bs health insurance. she said it can get really hectic working with insurances.

 

[npmommie]

The great thing about our profession is the variety of things we can do. I'd like to teach nursing, so getting my master's is in my future. Have you thought about trying something new?

I have thought about teaching, I have a Masters deg, some of my NP friends do part time teaching at the local community college, they do the clinical for the nursing students. I have considered this.

I have only worked minimal part time hours since my dd was born, I did 4 hour blocks 2 x a week when my hubby was home........with a Physician in solo practice,( internal medicine/endocrinology)..... I would see his over flow patients. when my ds was born, i didn't go back at all. now i occasionally do per diem either as NP for a physician friend to help her out, or I do it as an RN at a hospital on a cardiac tele floor. its all very flexible.
But I guess I have not ever found my niche. before I went for the Masters, I always worked acute care, in large teaching hospitals. Mostly in cardiac.
but I am not sure that is my niche. it could be.
I was thinking of looking for something part time in a cardiology practice. My SIL is also an NP and she works in a cardiology practice and likes it a lot.

 

[ToddyLu]

My brother is an NP for a pain management physician here on the Gulf Coast. He has recently completed his MD through a foreign medical school in Antigua near the Dominican Republic. He does not plan to practice as an MD--his wife is also a nurse/SAHM. He started this a few years back before child #4 and #5 arrived. So he enjoys the flexability his NP gives him and as you know allows the Dr time to do more procedures while he does the H&Ps. I recently attended orientation for my new job with an NP from NJ. SHe had specialized in Women's Health and was starting a job with our Hospitalist doctors. She likes it so far even though it initially was outside her comfort level. All in all that is the great thing about nursing--you have soooo many options. Good luck to you.

 

[SydSim]

One cool profession is being a medical advisor for tv shows/movies or industrial videos. I haven't done this, but I know people who have. I still work as a nurse at a hospital, but I also am a baby wrangler on soap opera sets. When there's a baby or small child in a soap opera, you must have an RN there to ensure his/her welfare. We also try to keep them happy while they're working

 

[npmommie]

One cool profession is being a medical advisor for tv shows/movies or industrial videos. I haven't done this, but I know people who have. I still work as a nurse at a hospital, but I also am a baby wrangler on soap opera sets. When there's a baby or small child in a soap opera, you must have an RN there to ensure his/her welfare. We also try to keep them happy while they're working

See now that sounds kind of fun! LOL
hmmmm I think Hollywood East is underway in Plymouth.........

 

[npmommie]

My brother is an NP for a pain management physician here on the Gulf Coast. He has recently completed his MD through a foreign medical school in Antigua near the Dominican Republic. He does not plan to practice as an MD--his wife is also a nurse/SAHM. He started this a few years back before child #4 and #5 arrived. So he enjoys the flexability his NP gives him and as you know allows the Dr time to do more procedures while he does the H&Ps. I recently attended orientation for my new job with an NP from NJ. SHe had specialized in Women's Health and was starting a job with our Hospitalist doctors. She likes it so far even though it initially was outside her comfort level. All in all that is the great thing about nursing--you have soooo many options. Good luck to you.

sounds like he has a great job and flexibility too

 

[imabrat]

You guys are scaring me about the whole 'suing' thing. I'm only in high school, but I want to be a nurse because I have extra background in that field.

I've thought of staying in school a bit longer to go for my masters so in the future I could be a nurse manager or teach future nurses.

 

[npmommie]

You guys are scaring me about the whole 'suing' thing. I'm only in high school, but I want to be a nurse because I have extra background in that field.

I've thought of staying in school a bit longer to go for my masters so in the future I could be a nurse manager or teach future nurses.

Oh don't be afraid of being sued!!! Thats what malpractice insurance is for
Seriously, you do your job to the best of your ability, you don't intentionally cause harm, there is no negligence, you are good

I never worry about that.
It did freak me out one day when I came in for my 3-11 shift to find risk management waiting to talk to me about a pt I discharged who was suing because the resident doc left a drain tube inside of him that had moved so it was completely in, not part out, it was discovered later on xray
I was told if it went to court I would be called in because I was the last one to see him ( he was suing the Urologist not me)
but they settled out of court.