When I began nursing school, I was a young, 21-year old woman who was eager to heal the world. I wanted to become a travel nurse and work all over the United States. I also never wanted to have children.
Then, after I graduated nursing school, I began working in the field. I loved my job and was still very invested in being the best employee and caregiver possible.
However, soon after starting my new nursing career, I met and fell in love with my husband, and we married in three short months. Nine months later, we had our first child. It’s funny, ironic, and also grounds for a nervous breakdown for someone whose life just changed in the blink of an eye.
So, back to the drawing board. It was time to consider different options for my new, improved life.
I kept asking myself, “Do I really want to leave nursing?” Part of me knew that I wanted to be the main caregiver for my new bundle of joy. However, I would risk losing my nursing skills and would undoubtedly fall behind in the fast-changing medical field.
The cost of daycare is usually the game changer for many new parents. I know it was for my husband and me. But it wasn’t just the price of daycare that had me worried. The guaranteed “what if’s” seemed to be right up there with our financial worries.
- Who goes home if the baby gets sick?
- What if the baby gets sick a lot?
- Who takes off work to take the baby to their regular check-ups?
Some call it worrying, but I call it planning.
Like many people, I wanted it all—a family and a career. Even if it meant that I had to change my career, I was determined to make it work. That’s when I realized that I needed to become a work-at-home mom.
So, I got to work.
I Got Organized.
First and foremost, I tackled our finances. We cut back on our spending, stuck to a strict budget, and I began couponing.
Next, I created a list that included everything I knew how to do well, whether it was a skill that I acquired from a previous job or something that I considered a hobby.
I Compared My Skills.
Even if you don’t think you could ever make money off of your hobby, it’s still important to include it on this list. Hobbies are also something that you can consider an “expertise.”
Trust me; even the craziest hobbies have money-earning potential. My first writing gig was for an extreme couponing website, where I got to showcase my mad money-saving skills.
On the flip side, I have also been fortunate to find several jobs in which I could utilize my nursing degree. I have written several articles as a freelance writer for nursing-related websites.
I Revamped My Resumes.
You read that right: I had more than one resume. In fact, I had about five resumes saved to my computer. Each resume was for a different type of position: Nursing, clerical, couponing, writing, etc.
That way, I didn’t have to edit my resume each time that I wanted to apply for a different position. I mean, my perspective couponing employers wouldn’t have cared about how well I could draw blood.
I Never Gave Up.
“When One Door Closes, Another One Opens” is a very important reminder for any work-at-home mom.
Although I consider myself extremely lucky to have landed so many work-at-home jobs, I will never forget the struggle that is involved when you’re starting fresh.
I did a lot of “trying.” Some things worked out, and some didn’t. While I’ll admit that I have been discouraged more times than I’d hoped for, I can proudly say that I never gave up.
Although I am no longer in the nursing field, I still keep my nursing license active. I still have my stethoscope and scrubs that I used seven years ago. And I am still interested in the medical field.
I know that I can always go back to nursing, which is comforting. I may start back as a brand new nurse, but there is security in knowing that I chose a field that is in high demand.
Conclusion
On a personal end note, one thing that I learned when I became a mother is that life is too short to be anything but happy. Raising my children makes me happy and fulfilled, while others find happiness in other avenues in life. So any job, no matter what it is or if it’s done at home or outside of the home, is just a job to me. Do what makes you happy—whatever that may be.
Wondering how to become a work-at-home mom? This post will give you an excellent place to start your journey!
I have been a nurse for 10 years now and go back and forth from loving it and hating it…….more often than not I am now having panic attacks and really don’t want to go at all. I want to work from home and be there for my family and sleep next to my husband instead of leaving they are all just getting together and enjoying their night and having dinner together……I feel like I am suffocating. I’ve applied to almost every at home job I can find and haven’t heard a word back. I’ve been a trauma ER nurse for nearly 5 years and don’t understand why I have no callbacks…… I need to get out of this. I don’t know what to do.
Hi Tiffany,
I can totally relate. I left floor nursing because I was having awful panic attacks.
If you want to stay in the nursing field, there are lots of remote positions available. This post covers all the options and some other ideas if you’d like to leave the clinical environment behind. https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/remote-jobs-nurses/
Good luck and please keep me posted!
how long did it take you to transition out of nursing completely?
Hi M,
I’m not sure how long it took Emily, but I quit my nursing gig in March of 2007 and I started working from home in December of 2007. I then launched The Work at Home Woman in March 2009. You can read more about my transition here: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/full-time-blogging-income/
Are you working as a nurse?
Hey Emily Thanks for the Courageous Content because in the beginning,i had FEAR to change career.
Actually you can, that’s just an excuse – a valid one but not a good enough one in my mind. However we both know how hard that decision is to make. To let go of that safety net and 100% commit to you an idea you have.
I did this 4 years back with absolutely no safety net behind me, no back up plan and no savings – I can tell you I have faced fear head on and it was scary and it was also hands down the best thing I ever did.
Giving up the security of a full-time job to start your own business is a risky, often stressful move. ..
In such a situation ,i talked to a friend who used to send me his Ads,message about the current opportunity.Had nothing to do,i had to pay the $18 no monthly fee and i thank God the outcome ,results,income is not bad ,so i want to join a bigger programs because i have trust in the person who referred me to this One.Thank for your Content Emily
Hi! You are so right– it is extremely scary to let go of that safety net. I am so glad that your endeavor has worked out for you! You sound like you are very driven to succeed. Thank you for the comment! Best wishes!
Hey Emily…
This is inspiring. I love it! I see people stay in careers their whole lives just because they’re afraid of what people will say when they decide to stray from their chosen fields. It’s awesome that you had a plan and made it work.
What’s your advice to people who are too scared to leave their “secure” careers to take the leap to self-employment?
Thank you! You’re right, a lot of people are afraid of the backlash that they would receive if they left their secure careers for something as nontraditional as what I do. My only advice is to remember that you only live once so make sure you spend it doing what you love :-). Thanks for the comment!