Career Advice Please! Nursing vs business/IT/Beauty

LillyLaur89

Hi all,

I'm new to boards.ie so excuse me if i'm not posting in the appropriate forum. Basically my story is that I am going to graduate this Oct in nursing. However, I do not want to be a nurse anymore. I am extremely disappointed and confused as to what else I can do as I had always wanted to be a nurse. I don't want to be bad-mouthing the profession cause I have a lot of respect for nurses, trust me. But I cannot tolerate it anymore.

I know that there are postgraduate conversion courses into other areas in healthcare or even business and IT. If at all possible I really want to get away from the healthcare side of things but have no knowledge, experience or a notion of business or IT.

Obviously, this is ultimately up to me to decide but I was hoping to get some input from others' perspectives on whether they themselves have been a nurse and branched out into something completely different or if any business/IT professionals out there think I'm mad trying to pursue those areas without experience/knowledge.

On the other hand, if I am to be truly honest about my passion and interests, it would be in beauty preferably makeup. I am so obsessed with it and have always dreamt to a makeup artist. Yet the unstable job prospects and salary have put me off. I feel like I need to also hear from some of ye who have just followed your dreams.

I know I want a 9-5 kind of job and one that pays well. I'm sorry this is long winded, complex and convoluted. I am very grateful to have a degree to fall back on etc but I am so lost and disheartened by it all. Any input you guys have would be much appreciated! Thanks X

Rossin

If you don't have an interest in IT I would stay away, it's hard to make a a decent wage from it without having any real interest.

BigCOB

Well, beauty therapy and such can all be done part time in most PLC's, so I would be inclined to engage in work in your field (support work maybe, child hearing assessors (recruiting for them recently) or something like that) and get your beauty quals in the evening. If working in your field is totally out of the question, consider a conversion course to something cross transferable with your skills eg psychology, teaching etc, those would be 18 month courses, however again, jobs are limited enough. To be frank, the most common job title I come across when I'm searching daily for jobs is.......Nurse......... If you want a good paying job, IMO, IT/Business isn't really the way to go unless you intend on specialising

monflat

Cosmetic surgery nurse or a medical \ pharmaceutical rep

Jamaican Me Crazy

Would you consider something like medical sales rep? I know other nurses I met said they were leaving nursing to take up jobs like that or things like sales rep for baby product companies. Good money in it if its your thing.

The thing with beauty therapy is that you can have a steady job, the money may not be great but you would get tips plus you could also work from home on your days off for some extra cash.

monflat

Could I make a suggestion!

I have gone through that phase you are going through.
In.my early to mid 20 s I hated it and the politics involved in nursing.
I travelled when I qualified and travelled again 3 yrs after that

Is there any way you could work for a while as a newly qualified nurse?
I know there are major issues regardin. Graduates low pay etc.

However twice over the yrs I left nursing to pursue other careers even for short times and I have always returned.
However I do know how you feel when you say you don't like it.
I remember before goin into work crying and crying and feeling sick to the stomach.
But 12 yrs later I'm still at it in a different area pressure is bad but it's bearable!


However I have not yet secured a job in an area I'm passionate about but I'm hoping that will be soon!
But I have settled somewhat as to what I was yrs ago.


Nursing will always stand to you and even if you could work in an area for a few months may be good while you save up and partake in other courses.

I found agency work great when I studied on the other days.

Hope it works out for you

LillyLaur89

Thanks for your replies guys. I have thought about rep work but I thought I'd need X amount of experience for that. I also don't know how well I would be when it comes to selling stuff as I don't know anything about marketing etc. It would be out my comfort zone if I'm honest plus travelling all over the country would put me off too. I know i'm so fussy! Lol.

I hate saying it put I will probably do agency nursing at home for the first 3-6 months when i'm qualified. It will be horrific and scary as a new grad in the Cork city area as I trained in a not so busy private hospital in a different County and I feel I've been limited in terms of experience. I'm also holding on to the hope that things will be better in the NAVY PANTS! As students you stand out like a sore thumb and it's quite tough. We wear bright blue pants. They'll be burnt in Sept I think that once I am qualified I might get a little more respect and trust. I just hope I can handle it.

I was going to travel in Jan to the UK but am afraid to do so cause seeing as I don't like it now, I would be putting a lot of pressure on myself in terms of the transition to staff nurse being far from home, no relatives there and that stuff is important to me and I'd have to be committed to work at least 2 yrs there i'd say. Maybe if I stay at home gain experience and then travel, at least then I would feel a little more competent.

But then again, I know in my heart that I do not want to do this forever and am scared I will never escape cause it is like ye all say a stable job with good income and that is attractive. I know I should prob hang on hold tough and get more perspective and then specialize but I am so stubborn. Like TBH the job affects me mentally and physically as do all jobs but personally nothing compared to this. I want to be able to unwind after work and have time to exercise/commit to other projects/hobbies but I find the 13hr shifts a killer. Especially 3 days in a row. I suppose I can help this when putting myself available x and y when agency nursing.

I guess I am just a bit of a mess that can't focus at the moment. Thinking way too much. Maybe I'm freaking out cause the whole college thing is over, but I am truly delighted about that cause it was painful... Hmm i just don't know. I have seen my career guidance counselor but they only tell you the options that cost a bomb BTW. I wish someone would tell me what to do but that's not realistic and not gonna happen.

Thanks again guys, hopefully I'll figure it out soon!

InReality

I'm sorry your in a bind , but at least your facing it.
I think a nursing degree would be a huge plus in the beauty skin care area.
I'd read "what colour is your parachute" , its great advice in choosing career/job.

Best advice is to try and keep an open mind as to what you think you'd like and to try as many jobs as you can.

Sugar Free

A lot of pharma companies will take on graduates/no sales experience people if they've the right attitude (and sometimes looks).

More often than not you'd get their OTC/consumer health (which could include beauty products) or off-patent ranges if they have them, which aren't their big revenue drivers.

Decent money, better perks and for the right people, great earning potential.
I've known a few nurses who have gone down the rep path though I find they tend to go into MSL/product promotion more so.

Just something to consider, best of luck.