Why am I stuck in a job I hate? How can I transition into nursing?

I am desperate to move out of this job, working in a bank where I'm exploited, I have a bachelor's degree but can't seem to move past the assistant position. I want to quit because I hate coming here everyday...I feel miserable. I want to move into nursing, but don't know how. Does it make sense to work in a hospital as an admin/clerical position untill I become a nurse? Is that crazy? Please help. I can't take one more day here.

Hi, there is nothing worse than being in a job that you dont enjoy and think it would be a good idea for you to pursue something you are more interested in. Nursing is a great challenge, difficult situations and people to deal with, long hours, a lot of brain work and physically demanding but the rewards outweigh the negatives, you come home feeling as though you have really achieved something and that you have made a real difference to someones life. You have a lot of responsibility and people count on you to do the right thing. I moved into nursing from being an accountant and have never regretted it, it gives me so much more fulfillment, I've never been so tired in all my life, but its a good tired. The route I took was to first volunteer at my local hospital, that gave me an idea about what the actual job involved, it gave me the chance to work alongside nurses without having any direct responsibility and I was able to assess whether nursing would be right for me. After a few weeks, I was asked to become a health care assistant as they could see I was keen and had a good rapport with the patients, (I'm in the UK by the way....) and whilst I was working for real money and getting proper hands on experience of dealing with patients I went back to college part time to do a health and social care course. This enabled me, with my previous qualifications, to apply to university to do my formal nurse training. I think the university were pleased to see that I was getting experience as well as gaining knowledge in the classroom and they gave me a place. After 3 years hard work I qualified as a registered nurse and I have been working on a ward now for 2 years and although its had its ups and downs I would not want to do anything else.

I would say that becoming a care assistant would be of more benefit than doing admin/clerical work in a hospital as there is more direct patient involvement, it gives you skills in patient handling such as washing, feeding, mobilising, doing observations, that sort of thing. And generally the money is about the same. Universities, which is where you would have to do your training, value people who have some experience of patient care as it shows you are more aware of what is involved in looking after sick people. You dont really gain that working in an office. And after all, you may realise thatit is not what you thought and hate it! You have to be able to deal with blood, vomit, faeces, urine, sputum, wounds, needles, putting suppositories in unmentionable places, horrible smells, aggressive people, dying people, care of dead people, you certainly cant have a weak stomach. Getting experience with things like that can help you decide whether it is for you.

Good luck with your decision!

There is something you can do that will continue to pay you once you find your dream job. Jennifer

I'll give you the same answer I've given to many others... and a few questions. What is about nursing that makes you think you will like it better, you'll still be exploited, work crazy hours, with limited reward. Rather than focus on your job to make you happy, focus on what you already know makes you happy, things you do for entertainment, or things and places you want to do and go, determine what kind of income you need to accomplish those goals, find someone who makes that kind of money, and learn to do what they do. So you can live the kind of life you want to live. It's a crazy angle of thinking since your whole life you've been taught to go to school study hard and get a good job. Why not get financially educated, get financially independent, and live the life you choose. Check out rdsbg.debtbloggers.com.

I think it would be a good idea to get a clerical position in a hospital. The hospital where I work helps their employees who are interested in nursing with tuition if you commit to working for them for a period of time. Go to some of your local hospital websites. Ours has all the info about tuition and everything. Good luck.
PS - dont stay in a job that you hate too long. You will become depressed.