How I Left Nursing and Started a Blog (and you could too!)

I left nursing and it was all ok! Honestly it was! Here’s a little about my own journey from a healthcare career spanning more than 2 decades, to becoming a stay at home wife and blogger, in case you’re in the same stage of life and in need of a little encouragement.

Is it Time to Leave Nursing?

Have you ever asked yourself “Is it time to leave nursing?” Or any career, really? This question had been on my mind for quite a while, and if you’re reading this, it might be on yours too. After 20 years in the healthcare system, I recently transitioned from being a full-time nurse to a stay-at-home wife and aspiring blogger.

This wasn’t a decision I took lightly, and it wasn’t because nursing wasn’t fulfilling. It’s just that life has a way of pushing us in directions we never expected.

**Read ‘7 Tips for Setting the Tone in Your home as a Stay at Home Wife’ HERE!**

Failing Health

Nursing is an incredibly rewarding profession, but it’s also physically and mentally demanding. You need to be in fairly good shape to cope with the long shifts and constant stressors to work in an acute needs hospital setting, nevermind the many holidays and events you miss over the years because you chose a 24/7 profession. BUT gosh, I just loved it.

Until I went through a particularly rough period of illness during the pandemic and life changed considerably – I could no longer do the back to back 12 hour nursing shifts flipping from days to nights to days and knew that an adjustment in my life was necessary.

In the same season I got married and felt a calling to stay at home, and I’m incredibly thankful that I had a supportive husband who helped me transition to this new chapter, who encouraged me to follow my dream of becoming a stay at home wife and setting up a blog, which is why you’re reading this today (thanks Honey!).

How to decide if the time is right to leave?

Leaving a career, especially one as all-encompassing as nursing, isn’t an easy decision. There are some considerations beyond the obvious financial aspects that might help you decide:

Feeling the Call – Are you feeling the call to be a stay-at-home wife or mom? Have you been struggling at work for health reasons or felt the pull to be elsewhere? I am a Christian and pretty much after my husband proposed and we were talking about marriage and going through marriage counselling with our chaplain, I knew that the traditional role of a stay at home wife was going to be something that we would work towards making a reality.

Fulfillment – Are you finding yourself not as fulfilled with your role as you once were?

Support Network – Do you have a support network beyond the nursing profession? That’s integral to your success and happiness once you leave. If you’re not sure just have the conversation with your husband, partner, or support network. Be brave and let them know what’s on your heart—you might be pleasantly surprised by their reaction! I prayed a lot during this season, and my husband could not have been more supportive. I needn’t have worried at all!

**Read ‘9 Reasons Why Blogging is Perfect for Stay at Home Wives’ HERE!**

Practical Steps To Take Once You Decide to Leave

Again I’m going to skip the routine advice everyone gives out about saving money and transfer pension funds etc, here’s some real bits of advice that helped me get through the adjustment from nurse to stay at home wife (and newbie blogger).

1. Honor your character and leave well

Start with a kindly worded resignation letter explaining the reasons why you’re leaving and thanking your employer for the time and opportunities your time with them afforded you.

Remain grateful and avoid any temptation to gloat about leaving to colleagues who remain or become bitter about less than ideal experiences you’ve been through.

2. Stay hopeful

There is life after the uniform! Your identity is not just tied to your profession!

3. Expect an Emotional Wobble (or two!)

After I pulled the plug and handed in my resignation letter, I remember having almost mini-panic attacks several times a week wondering how I could leave my established two-decade-long career for a dream.

This is normal and all part of leaving something that’s been tightly woven into your fabric for so long. I’m sure it’s the same in lots of career fields, but nursing especially is difficult to leave because it is an all-encompassing career field where colleagues become friends and family, where you experience the highs and lows of life and are bonded together tightly—so wondering how life after nursing will be is all normal.

4. Missing Colleagues

Setting up your new life and making new connections is important to avoid loneliness when you’ve been used to working with a large workforce of ready-made friends. I joined lots of facebook groups which helped me to bridge that gap initially.

Embracing Your New Life!

Once you’ve made the decision and taken the steps to leave your career, it’s time to embrace your new life. Here are some tips to help you transition smoothly:

1. Enjoy Setting Your Own Schedule

One of the biggest adjustments for me was setting my own schedule. After years of working shifts, having the freedom to plan my day was both exhilarating and daunting. I found it helpful to create a daily routine that included time for self-care, household tasks, and working on my blog.

I’ve very Type A and so this structure helped me stay productive and focused and prevented a lot of the overwhelm I hear other new bloggers suffer.

2. Learn a New Skill

I dove headfirst into blogging, starting from scratch. I took it slow and set up this website with basically zero IT skills in about four months. My fabulous husband, who is a website wizard, was my greatest resource. We had many a date night spent with a laptop and snacks as he taught me WordPress, Canva and Pinterest skills. If I can do this, so can you!

3. Make New Connections

Building a new support network is crucial. I joined online communities of bloggers and stay-at-home wives, which provided me with support, advice, and friendship. These connections helped fill the void left by my former colleagues and made the transition much smoother.

How I left nursing after 20 years and started a blogging business from home.

4. Celebrate ALL the Small Wins

Transitioning to a new role and lifestyle can be overwhelming, so it’s important to celebrate small wins. Whether it’s publishing your first blog post, learning a new skill, or simply getting through the day with a positive mindset, acknowledge your achievements and be proud of your progress.

5. Take Care Of Yourself Physically and Mentally

Make sure to prioritize your health and well-being. This might mean setting aside time for exercise, hobbies, or simply relaxing with a good book. Taking care of yourself will ensure you have the energy and positivity to embrace your new life.

6. Look Forward at What You’re Gaining

It’s about holding on to your ‘Why’ even when you feel lost and sad at first, or that you’re missing out somehow. Leaving nursing and becoming a stay-at-home wife and blogger has been a transformative journey for me. It’s been filled with challenges, but also incredible growth and fulfillment. If you’re considering a similar path, know that it’s possible and that you’re not alone.

Resources

If this topic has touched your heart in any way, and you’d like to know more about how to transition from the workplace to the home – the following resources available on Amazon.com might come in handy for you too [ad]

‘You Can Stay Home With Your Kids’ book

‘Detoured: The Messy, Grace-Filled Journey from Working Professional to Stay-at-Home Mom’ book

‘In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms’ book

The Takeaway – Becoming a Stay at Home Wife is Equally as Important and Rewarding as any Career!

Your career, or lack of one, will never define you. Staying home also doesn’t mean you can’t earn an income – READ THIS ARTICLE about why blogging might just be perfect for you too, as a stay at home wife. Don’t let the naysayers or your own doubts sway you from this most important of callings, there’s a host of us ladies out here that would love to walk this journey with you and offer encouragement along the way.

If you liked this article and want to know more about my personal journey from Career Woman to Homemaker read this article below:

From Career Woman to Homemaker A Christian Wife's Guide to a Faithful Transition — **Read ‘From Career Woman to Homemaker’ HERE!**