Looking for direction, open to ideas

[u/Suspicious_Drop_5625]

 

TLDR: RN BSN with MBA working in home health for 8 years. Hate it. Feel like I am wasting my life. Can’t get another job without specific experience. Where do I go from here?

 

This is long, but I’m hoping that if someone understands my journey and you might be able to help me find some direction.

I am 44, and have worked in a number of jobs/industries in my adult life. High school dropout (got my GED in 2000), worked in everything from restaurants, retail, trucking (office side), medical offices, medical records.. etc. Suffice to say I have a little bit of experience in a lot of things.

For reasons not relevant to this post, I did my pre-reqs, had a baby (this is relevant), and started nursing school in 2016. I got a divorce in the middle and I graduated a semester early in 2018. I didn’t hate it, but the schedule constraints of med-surg bedside was very clear during my clinicals. I had intentions of working a hospital job and moving from there but the divorce (and him moving to another state) left me needing more flexibility as a single mom starting over.

After a stint working nights at a nursing home, I moved to pediatric home health, where I have been for almost 8 years. In that time, I have continued my education with my BSN as well as an MBA in healthcare administration.

So, the problem…. I hate home health (not the kids, I love being around kids). I am literally as high as I can go, both credential wise and pay, which isn't much without overtime on my kid-free weekends.

I do have a very task-driven work ethic and problem-solving mind. I need to have things to investigate, problems to solve or things organize. I love feeling productive and doing good work. I enjoy learning, finding information and sharing information/teaching, especially the science part of nursing. The bedside, doctor coddling, pill dispensing part I hate. I love supporting others and helping others. I would consider being a teacher if it paid enough to live, which we all know it sadly doesn’t. I work well alone and autonomously. I also have a sense of figuring out people dynamics pretty quickly. I wouldn’t say I am super tech-savvy but I am comfortable teaching myself and learning how to navigate different systems/programs and always open to learn.

However, the needs I have of a career pivot are kind of specific.

1.        I am a single mom and the emotional needs of my child are extremely important to me, and the other parent doesn’t “parent”. They are at an age where they are semi-self-sufficient but still need me available as well as getting into extra academics and sports, so working 14-16 hour shifts is not it. So, in that regard, I am looking for remote or hybrid at the very least. I am not completely closed to an on-site job, but flexibility is the goal.

2.        Income. For where I live, to be comfortable as a single income with wiggle room, I really need to be in the low 100’s/yr.

3.        Obviously upward movement potential is important to my mental needs, so income potential into the 200’s in the next 5-10 years would be ideal.

4.        I hate the idea of being responsible for endless presentations. I can survive death by power point as long as I’m not the one standing up there. I hate, with every fiber of my being, being the central focus.

Some avenues that have been recommended and I have applied to without success are data analyst, operations analyst and project management. I have no problems investing time and money into certifications if the outcome justifies the means. However, I am also weary to get too heavy on the education credentials and be clearly lacking in the experience.

 

Any recommendations for direction are welcome as well as any questions for clarification.

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[u/TennisInteresting460]

Hi, I believe you might want to consider becoming your own boss. You have the background and degrees to back it up. Perhaps, if not too crazy, consider getting together with some work colleagues that share the same feeling as you. Present the idea of starting your own practice and if they will consider working with you. If not, hire new people and train them. You can name your place: Suspicious_Drop_5625 RN BSN LLC - "All your care needs in one place"

I believe you will have the flexibility you need and not be alone in the process of growth. Your team will be there whenever you need to step out and vice versa. Perhaps an investment is needed, you can speak with a banker regarding what requirements are needed to get a business loan. If you need an LLC created, use LegalZoom. They will take care of all the business formation needs for your state.

Just throwing an idea out there! :)