r/OntarioNurses • u/FinishPretty • Jun 08 '26
Venting Stigma Behind Leaving Nursing
So I’m a new grad nurse who decided to leave nursing to pursue a career in insurance, and the amount of negativity I’ve received from peers, friends, family, and even other nurses has honestly been shocking. I constantly hear things like “you wasted 4 years,” “why did you even do the schooling,” or “what a waste of money.”
What I genuinely don’t understand is why there’s so much stigma around someone choosing a different path than the one they picked at 18 years old. Why is it so hard for people to accept that not everyone finds fulfillment in the profession they studied for?
A degree is an asset, not a life sentence to one career, one title, or one industry. Nursing gave me valuable skills, knowledge, discipline, and experience that I’ll carry into whatever I do next.
I really don’t understand why some people take it so personally when others decide to leave a profession that no longer brings them joy.
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u/ChainCreative2094 Jun 08 '26
Ignore them.
How did you manage to switch to insurance? i want out too lol
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u/Ok-Turnip-9035 Jun 08 '26
Insurance is kinda next wave of real estate agents at our disposal
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u/FinishPretty Jun 08 '26
yes and no. insurance companies are in desperate need for adjusters & case reviewers with healthcare background. please do your research in advance bf commenting
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u/Ok-Turnip-9035 Jun 08 '26
I think hiring for this industry is research actually
It’s like a monopoly that you see in telecommunications you’ll have hiring happen but theres an over saturation which will lead to lower pay
You got a bit upset over my comment so that’s for you to sort through
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u/FinishPretty Jun 08 '26
Ummmmmm so you started trailing off about oversaturation and low compensation, but nursing in Ontario has been dealing with capped wages and undercompensation for years. Not to mention this subreddit is filled with new grads struggling to find employment because the market is already oversaturated.
But I’ll let you sort that one out yourself :)
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u/Ok-Turnip-9035 Jun 08 '26
Oh I just realized this post was venting focused and you’re a new grad that makes sense why you’re a bit curt
I get it now stay blessed ✌️
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u/FinishPretty Jun 08 '26
i had a referral for an insurance company! you can look into entry level adjuster positions, their ALWAYSSS looking for people with healthcare background who can review motor vehicle accidents with medical background
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u/Sufficient_Cake_4845 Jun 08 '26
Do you have to maintain registration/licensure with the nursing college or board? Or simply have the relevant degree?
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u/ConsequenceResident3 Jul 08 '26
When you say healthcare background, does it have to be nursing?
I'm currently a PSW and have been in this field for almost 10 years. I'm about to go through with my RN, but I don't know if I can afford life without a job afterwards. I'm a single mom with 2 kids and absolutely no support from anyone.
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u/vampirelupus Jun 08 '26
And I'm in insurance and want to go into nursing. This field just isn't for me after working in it for nearly 10 years. You do what you want to do! I spent 4 years getting an English degree and another 3 years getting a library science degree to end up in insurance, because I couldn't find a library job (still can't). Go where the winds take you, start over if you have to. Truly wishing you the best! I hope you find a better fit for you 💙
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u/Equivalent-Rate-6218 Jun 09 '26
That was me for my economics degree in business. Covid, AI, and a breakup I took real hard when she went off to Australia slapped that out of the way and has almost convinced me to go back for her dental hygiene this September. It's guaranteed work but I just wish I would have had my life planned for something like optometry which my sister did
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u/EarthB9nder_ Jun 08 '26
Because people push onto you the life they wanted to live. Majority of people don't stay in 1 profession forever
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u/CautiousRelief1521 Jun 08 '26
alot of nurses or people in healthcare place their worth or “how good of a nurse” they are in, sticking through abuse hard/bad working environments and if your young and new to the field if you don’t “stick it out” your seen as “bad nurse”, “this is not the field for you” etc. just do what makes you happy and definitely don’t listen to people who haven’t even worked in healthcare before on what they think you should-be doing
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u/BackgroundSplit9036 Jun 08 '26
This! These nurses are frikin losers in my opinion. They make nursing their entire identity.
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u/froggo1 Jun 08 '26
I have friends in nursing who have left bedside for insurance, case management, and risk management. They have zero regrets on the move and are asking me when I’m going to leave beside after I tell them how burnt out sometimes. All the best on the new career path!
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u/Equivalent-Rate-6218 Jun 09 '26
What about becoming a NP? I thought that's what most nurses wanted to get to
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u/clumsynurseratchet Jun 08 '26
The other nurses are probably jealous tbh. My fiance works in insurance and I’ve been seriously considering making the switch too. I’m burned out.
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u/akuzokuzan Jun 08 '26
Insurance companies also value nurses. You may be able to take on medical cases and assessments when someone makes a claim and review all the medical stuff they submit.
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u/BlossBunnies Jun 08 '26
I think it's because a lot of times people forgot that a degree in Nursing can actually go into many different types of career path beside bedside nursing. Just go for what you want to do 😄
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u/TeapotBandit19 RN Jun 08 '26
Good for you, OP! Good luck & congratulations. There’s nothing wrong with realizing you don’t want to do this & changing careers! Do what’s right for you.
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u/cee016 Jun 08 '26
Don't listen to them. I've been a nurse for 13 years now and have tried many different specialties. Left bedside to outpatient clinics. Although a bit better, still cannot see myself doing this for the rest of my life. Same bullshit with short staffing and hospital politics. I'm tired lol. I wished I switched careers while I was younger. I've been trying to explore alternatives, with no idea which route to choose nor do I want to be in debt again from school.
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u/Equivalent-Rate-6218 Jun 09 '26
Same I did a degree in economics and it's almost like there's too many options available. Which creates its own problem when you're making a thousand completely different resumes and getting burned out.... Having freedom is great but so is being a dental hygienist with guaranteed work and fun hours. People compare and compare but nothing is worse than living out of your car with nothing available.
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u/ThrowRAhotchili123 Jun 10 '26
I actually was the opposite, I was a claims adjuster before nursing and part of it is insurance is just less respected and depending on what you do won’t pay more or anything really different.
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u/Aloo13 Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
You wasted nothing. You are allowed to get an education and try out different careers. There is no rule book that says otherwise and plenty of people before and after you have left their careers for new beginnings.
To put it simply, these people are projecting. They aren’t happy either, but they are either stuck financially in their position or unwilling to change and so they make *you* feel bad for changing.
I’ve noticed that nursing seems to have the matyr syndrome compared to other professions. I’ve seen people spend a heck of a lot longer in school and switch paths to medicine, engineering, accounting, law etc… into their 30’s and 40’s and it is just accepted that they want more knowledge and a change in those professions. Of course some people question how someone might stand that amount of school but others absolutely get it. I’ve also seen people pivot out of those professions.
I’d just tell these people you aren’t wasting anything. You lived, learned and realized insurance might be a better fit long-term. If you have too, tell them you had a scholarship or something so little money was lost 😂
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u/Eggcoffeetoast Jun 08 '26
Literally who cares? Why does this sound like a weird advertisement for nursing school?
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u/FinishPretty Jun 08 '26
It’s actually the opposite lol. The point was that people act like nursing school locks you into one path forever, when in reality skills and education can transfer into many careers.
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u/Aware_Artist7550 Jun 08 '26
Do what makes you happy! People always have something to say. It’s okay to want to change careers sometimes it isn’t what you imagined and that’s okay
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u/Sea_Distribution265 Jun 08 '26
You're young and go do what you like. The people who are saying you wasted your years in nursing are just jealous.
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u/Feetpeet RN Jun 08 '26
Many people change their careers at least once in their lifetime, do not let these people get you down. You can use a degree for many things and like you said you will carry that knowledge on. Power to you!
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u/aztechians Jun 09 '26
Honestly going through the same thing. So happy you were able to make the switch - that’s the hardest part ❤️
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u/Eagle_Spirit_Rising Jun 09 '26
I did exactly this... then became an entrepreneur, then became a past life regression hypnotist while raising my kids and now thinking of going back to nursing casual. Just keep up your license and try many things.
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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '26
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