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I understand that you're burnt out, it may be to the point where it's beginning to have an impact on your employablility in your field, and you want a radical career change, but are you *certain* that you'd be able to take the hit financially? Retail wages are low and the amount of hours a store may want you to work per week can change radically. Turnover is high and seasonal employment is common - for instance, if you wanted to get hired on around now for the holidays, you probably could, but they may lay you off in mid Jan. unless you're a top performer. Do you have a paid off mortgage? If you rent, are you comfortable with the idea of moving into a less expensive apartment/home? Are you in a very stable marriage with someone who makes decent money, is fine with having the responsibility of being the primary breadwinner and downshifting his/her lifestyle so you can choose to make near minimum wage? If you're trained as an RN and have extensive experience, there are positions that involve negligible patient contact that you could look into. Two decades of experience as a medical professional should be worth way more money than the 15-25k you can rake in at Wal-Mart.
I have worked at a hospital for almost 17 years. One of our ER RN's started her own business selling cosmetics. Yes it is a multi level marketing business but it is something that she loves doing. She wants to do something to get herself out of here. LOL. Which is funny because I am taking the classes I need to get into a pre-licensure BSN program. After close to 17 years on the side line I want in to Nursing. My wife works on our Telemetry floor, two of our six kids want to be RN's. For me I just want a change but I don't want to leave this hospital that I love working at.
As far as pay, RN's start at $33 an hour here and can go up to $50 an hour. They work three 12 hour shifts a week and can get paid a lot more if they are working with our in house registry. I think that the regsitry starts at $45 an hour and many will pick up an extra day a week for the extra pay. That brings them to almost $90,000 as a first year RN.
Just another suggestion, a lot of high schools want someone to teach health science courses like "Medical Terminology" or "Anatomy & Physiology". All you'll need is a teaching certificate and you're good to go. They want people who have been in health science professions.
I used to be an RN, I now work as a pharmacy tech in a large retail store. I really enjoy it, the money isn't as good, but I am MUCH happier. I don't want to do anything that has to do with nursing, and I had much less experience than you. Good Luck, I'm sure you will find somehing. BTW, I was 54 when I started out in my present job, I started as PT, then went FT. I became a nurse in my 40's. Life is too short to work at something you hate!
As an RN for 22 years I completely understand. I think you should sit down with a therapist and work through some of the issues, because this will help you decide another type of job. Working in retail will still require you to work with people and people are one of the reasons for burning out in nursing, along with the healthcare environment. It might be a case of out of the frying pan, into the fire with a whole lot less money. I know you want out of healthcare entirely but if you can hold out for a little bit longer and get some professional guidance I think you will feel much more in control of your destiny.
And just to let you know you are not alone in your despair, anxiety and depression about nursing.
You should consider teaching at the community college level. With your experience you would have a lot to offer upcoming nursing students. Teaching at the college level is about as easy as it gets. There is definitely intrinsic rewards that come from helping students succeed in their career aspirations. Pay won't be great, but benefits will be decent. Worth a try.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinkmani
Just another suggestion, a lot of high schools want someone to teach health science courses like "Medical Terminology" or "Anatomy & Physiology". All you'll need is a teaching certificate and you're good to go. They want people who have been in health science professions.
Sure, you can work in retail, but have you thought of doing something with your nursing degree other than nursing? Selling medical supplies, administrative work, grant writing? It might be easier to break into than a completely new field but still bring you the change you need.
I have been an RN for almost 25 years and I need to get out of healthcare ASAP. I am struggling with anxiety and depression over this because I just need to be done and I can't take it anymore. I just want a simple job where someone's life is not in my hands every time I go to work.
I have started applying at the large anchor stores at our local mall such as JCPenney, Dillard's. and Macy's. I realize that I will have to take a large pay cut, but I am not trained to do anything except nursing and I have to get out. I have job hopped for the past five years (three jobs in five years) trying desperately to find a job that I can stand so that I can make it to retirement age, but it ain't happening. Does anyone know if a middle-aged, burned out RN would be considered for retail positions at the mall?
Please don't laugh, this is really what I want to do. I cannot express how burned out I am.
and how do you plan on surviving on minimum wage??
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