Second Career (in addition to nursing)

Does anyone have a second career (FT, PT, or PRN) in addition to nursing? I want to work in an animal related field, maybe a biologist of some sort, in addition to nursing. Also, I'm wondering how you don't get caught up in both so much that you don't have time for anything else (I'm a workaholic).

If I wanted to be a veterinary technician for my 2nd job, do you think I would have trouble with remembering that animal nursing and human nursing are different in regards to procedures, etc.? Hopefully that makes sense, I can't seem to word it right.

Please don't reply if you don't have/want to have two careers. Thanks!

ETA: I was thinking of maybe doing two part time careers so it would equal FT hours but then you would miss out on benefits and such. Any thoughts? Last edit by WorkofHeart8 on Jul 4, '10
I do freelance writing (mainly advertisements for local businesses) and editing. I have the freedom to do as much as I want and I can do it at midnight if that works best for me. I have had trouble taking on too much, but I'm learning to say no, and keeping my workload to a manageable level. With a nursing schedule (odd shifts, call), it can be hard to work a day job.

Hi Sage:I do a couple of different things in addition to nursing - though there is some overlap in my other jobs with nursing. In addition to nursing, I am a clinical social worker so I do some therapy and assessments at a mental health agency on a part-time basis as well as teach a couple of social work or nursing courses at a local college every semester. I do psychiatric evaluations/assessments at an emergency room on an on-call basis. I actually don't have a "full-time" job but rather several part-time jobs. This works for me mainly because I am in a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program right now and because I like to have flexibility to spend time with my family, travel, etc. In terms of not having benefits...that is a draw back. I find that the arrangements I have are lucrative enough that I can buy insurance for my wife and kids. Not having paid-time-off is the probably the biggest thing to take into consideration, but if I am planning to go on vacation, I just plan to work a few extra hours somewhere in the weeks prior to the vacation and it all balances out. About being a workaholic - I actually spend more time at home doing several different things than I did with one full-time job. I guess it is all about finding an arrangement that works for you.If you can find a balance between nursing and a second career - go for it! I feel that it has kept me current in both professions while keeping me from burning out.

Thanks PetiteOPRN and PsychNM! I would rather have several PT jobs than just 1 FT job because I get bored doing the same thing and because I have several interests that I don't really want to have to choose

I do a full time Nursing position (ADON & MDS)IN LTC. My Husband and I have a Catering business. He does custum lawn and landscape. AND he runs a Organic gardening Co-op.... and he also works full time.... but in the Past 3 years we have Put away $50,000. HE is what is called a workaholic. I help him. but he is the one that does this....

I too, have several part time jobs that I do. I am a nanny at resorts (I live in a resort area) for babies and children, and occ. seniors. I am a baby nurse that helps new parents out for the first 1-2 mths after the birth of their baby, I do medical standby for special events such as company open houses, festivals and athletic events. I do short term senior care, too. And I work camps during the summer, as well as during spring and Christmas break. And soon I may restart teaching CPR and BFA.

I have a 2nd part-time job. It's in nursing, but is in a different area of nursing. I wish it were in an entirely different field instead of nursing. I think it would be healthier for me to have my 2nd job be something totally different.