Navigating back into the full-time workforce

In a world that’s taught me that changing jobs is a failure, it seems hard to admit that, once again, I’m heading back into the workforce in a full-time role, but what’s happened in the last six years has been nothing but a series of learning opportunities that I haven’t taken for granted.

I began my career as a nurse, drawn into the field by the desire to help others; although I was a great nurse, driven by my perfectionism, I never truly loved the career, and in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, I shifted into business ownership, which took me into the world of professional connections and learning the ins and outs of becoming my own boss. Running my business taught me invaluable lessons about myself and what I truly wanted. It also made me look hard at what I value and what I’m working for.

I learned that my deepest desires revolved around writing and creativity, and yet, I was stuck in a career that focused on strict guidelines and was based on scientific facts. Although I love rules, I needed to break away from the barriers of my nursing career and sought writing to hone in on my creative side.

Writing became a part of my life, and I easily picked up freelance writing opportunities across several online platforms and magazines. I finally felt like I was getting somewhere in my career; even though freelancing wasn’t great money, I still felt valued for my natural talents, which far succeeded success in my nursing career.  

Although freelancing was going so well, I needed to support my family and sought a more permanent opportunity at my local newspaper as a reporter. I loved working as a news reporter, but as an introvert, the events, evenings, and weekend work were draining - although I did love it. When the business model changed in the company in January 2024, I started to recognize that I still desired to somehow be involved in healthcare, and putting my freelance health and wellness writing on the back burner didn’t feel right to me anymore.

Even though I was writing, I no longer felt creative and engaged in my work, and I wanted more of the feeling I felt when I initially started freelancing as a health and wellness writer.

I know it’s hard to make a career out of freelance writing. With thousands of writers available on content platforms, freelancers work for pennies on the dollar, and I didn’t see that building a career in this field was feasible (not in the timeline I wanted, anyway).

When an opportunity arose at Rotary Hospice for communications and marketing, I knew I could fulfill this role with my newly developed career skills while still being involved in the healthcare industry. I could also focus on my freelance writing outside of working full-time hours and know that I could still support my family while also supporting myself in my creative side hustle.

Transferring back into a full-time role was filled with mixed emotions. Part of me worried it was a step backward in my career, a departure from the entrepreneurial world and all of the fantastic connections I’ve made throughout my community, but with time, I realized that this was a chance to blend my passion for writing with my love of healthcare while still supporting my family financially.

This journey has taught me that change is not synonymous with failure and that no matter my age or where I am in life, my ability to adapt and grow into new opportunities is a testament of who I am as a person. Returning to the workforce doesn't diminish the entrepreneurial spirit that once drove me. I am still passionate about my freelance career, even though my work no longer revolves around it.

In my new role, I find myself at the intersection of creativity and compassion, where I can make a meaningful impact, support my family, and pursue my passion. It’s a balancing act, but it’s one that brings me a sense of peace and fulfillment.