What is your profession?

FosterHerpetological

FosterHerpetological

FosterHerpetological
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I am mainly asking this as a college student, making sure I am choosing the right career. Just curious as to what everyone else does, and if they made the right choices? Why or why didnt you? Pay? Long hours?

Im currently in Nursing. Haven't decided to get my BDN or ADN yet. There were two main reasons I chose nursing-You can work where ever you go. If I want to move, the local hospital will almost immediately hire me. And also, because of the pay and the fact that I like medicine and helping others.

If anyone is a Nurse, give me the pros and cons. I can take to gore very well, so that is not a problem.

But I was really just wondering what everyone else does. I am trying to make sure I choose the right career.

Any input is appreciated.

Stephen
 
There is a big push toward advanced degrees in nursing, so the BSN is a better choice if you have time and tolerance. That isn't to say you won't find work with an ASN, but you will be limited in the future (think: advancement & career opportunities).

For the record, no, I am not a nurse.
 
hhmoore said:
There is a big push toward advanced degrees in nursing, so the BSN is a better choice if you have time and tolerance. That isn't to say you won't find work with an ASN, but you will be limited in the future (think: advancement & career opportunities).

For the record, no, I am not a nurse.
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Yea, I have been thinking about that tons lately.

May I ask, what do you do HH?
 
I worked as an actuary (mathematician) for 12 years. Bad choice, regretted every second. In college, math came easily and I got swept along by counselors into a math/biology degree. You really can't do much with a 4-yr bio degree, so...math it was.
I walked away 15 years ago and started my pet sitting business. Much happier. Only a tiny fraction of the money, but I'd rather deal with animal s*** than people s*** any day.
My sister is an RN. She worked ER and critical care for many years, and is now a high school nurse at a rather 'difficult' school. She deals with gang-violence, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, all the good stuff. She loves every moment of her job.

Noelle
 
rcarichter said:
school nurse
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After some years as a psychiatric nurse, and also a few years with being a jail nurse, I was an elementary school nurse in several inner city schools. Many of the families were very poor.
I used to write checks for prescriptions once in a while when the moms had made it in to see the doctor but could not afford meds for their sick kids. For now, programs like Medicaid help with those expenses, I hope those programs are not completely cut back.
I love little kids and families and I loved nursing. I did not like some of the politics and cover ups that seem to be more and more common in schools with their increasing emphasis on standardized testing and job security depending on test scores. It does, and it did, lead to corruption and environments not conducive to holistic learning.

I think what Noelle did was awesome. At some point when the thrill is gone, having the courage to look further and give up some things to have the career you want is an awesome step. And I tend to think that people who are enthusiastic and happy in their work contribute more.
 
Lucille, I'm often worried for my sister's safety. She tells me how much she cares for these kids, and in return they have truly bonded with her. You must have experienced the same bond with those in your care. You have my utmost admiration. They really have no way out of their situation, and it breaks her heart. One of her more common situations is talking to kids whose family members have been shot/stabbed by other family members. I can't even begin to understand how hard it is. She gets tough when she has to, but mostly she hands out love and understanding.

Noelle
 
Former trucker. Loved the work, it was just time to move on to another phase of life. While I was young and wanted no responsibility, it was perfect. Good pay, great travel benefits. It can be long hours, and depending on what I was hauling there were times when it seemed like I was always filthy, but I did enjoy it.

Now I just hold the couch down. :D
 
Medical field...Great choice. I work in a behavioral unit. hehehehe....i see the interesting things. Hense as to why im on the computer AAAALLLLL night on the Fauna page from 11-7am. I wouldnt change this career for anything. I am be only a tech but i plan to go to school in a little while. And your right. You can go anywhere in the country and even out of country with a nursing degree. I JUST moved to florida from NYC. But i also got 17 years with mentally ill and addicts. Anything in the health field.....great.
 
I am finishing up my BSN. I don't really like it. Some of it is the people that I have to deal with, some of it is the profession. I am kind of a health nut, and in the case of nursing, it doesn't work well. Basically, I learned that we are trying to cover up the repercussions for the poor health decisions that we make. So, I never want to work in a hospital again. I am a tech and I hate seeing people eating greasy and unhealthy food, followed by their beta blocker for their blood pressure. I may work as a school nurse to promote wellness. But once I finish paying my loans for school, I want to start an organic farm homestead thing.

Back to your question:
Pros of nursing-pay?, if you feel like you are helping people (I don't feel that at all by continuously encouraging poor habits and some nurses partaking in these poor habits as well), possibly finding a wife, learn about the corruption in the political side of health care
cons: a lot of the people I don't like/get along with, a lot of nurses are in it for the $, not actually helping people?, stress, legal liability of all sorts, working with nearly all women, long hours? (I am a workaholic so I don't mind this)

Now, I do enjoy the psych/behavioral unit. I feel like I am helping people there.

I think in this country, one of the large problems is "making" people go to college to simply get a degree and make lots of $ but possibly be miserable. Do something you love to do, even if you don't need a degree for it. Feel free to ask me if you have any more questions.
 
keithy said:
I am finishing up my BSN. I don't really like it. Some of it is the people that I have to deal with, some of it is the profession. I am kind of a health nut, and in the case of nursing, it doesn't work well. Basically, I learned that we are trying to cover up the repercussions for the poor health decisions that we make. So, I never want to work in a hospital again. I am a tech and I hate seeing people eating greasy and unhealthy food, followed by their beta blocker for their blood pressure. I may work as a school nurse to promote wellness. But once I finish paying my loans for school, I want to start an organic farm homestead thing.

Back to your question:
Pros of nursing-pay?, if you feel like you are helping people (I don't feel that at all by continuously encouraging poor habits and some nurses partaking in these poor habits as well), possibly finding a wife, learn about the corruption in the political side of health care
cons: a lot of the people I don't like/get along with, a lot of nurses are in it for the $, not actually helping people?, stress, legal liability of all sorts, working with nearly all women, long hours? (I am a workaholic so I don't mind this)

Now, I do enjoy the psych/behavioral unit. I feel like I am helping people there.

I think in this country, one of the large problems is "making" people go to college to simply get a degree and make lots of $ but possibly be miserable. Do something you love to do, even if you don't need a degree for it. Feel free to ask me if you have any more questions.
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks for all the information! That is one thing I have been most worried about is the legal liabilities. Personally, I think I would like the hours. In the two main hospitals here in the city you have a choice, 4 10hr shifts a week or 3 12hr shifts a week. I guess time will tell.
 
Nursing school is very little like hospital nursing - hitting "the real world" is a shock to many new grads, because they get hit with a much larger patient load than they are used to; and they need to develop time management skills on the fly (a lot of people are very weak in that area). On the plus side, there are many specialties that might be of interest...as well as more out of hospital and/or non-clinical possibilities than any other branch of healthcare. Traveling is a great option, once you get a bit of experience; especially if you would like to relocate, but aren't quite set on where (even if you are, it can afford a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with the area and the hospital before you commit to the big jump).
 
I am a cook by trade and have worked in a variety of capacities of the food industry. I'm 31 and have been earning my pay checks from kitchens since I was 14, cooking since I was 19 and dropped out of college due to my own inability to control myself. I've worked in restaurants, retirement homes, hotels, country clubs, and even a Christian missionary camp. I've worked in settings as low as roadside shacks all the way up to fine dining, and I've worked in capacities from managing my own station in the kitchen to managing an entire kitchen. The change in the industry has been like night and day from when I first started, but it's been a fun ride. The pay scale ranges from poor to just OK. In my experience, private country clubs are where the money is to be made, and as far as cooking for a living goes, are a rather tame environment. Summers are 3 months of hell, but the rest of the year is a breeze. Plus, we get 2-3 months off in the winter, and have health coverage, 401k, vacation and sick pay. I've worked in restaurants where 10+ hours a day, 6 days a week was the norm, with no benefits at all...if you took a sick day, you seriously risked losing your job or being replaced by one of the lower guys who adequately filled in at your station. I've gotten more serious about it the past few years and am advancing...and although I have no regrets, a change of career is always on my mind- though I'd have no idea what, since other than a few odd jobs and one summer of landscaping, the only checks I've ever earned have been in kitchens.
 
I have a bach degree in fine art.... I work as a 3rd shift shift runner/ CSA at wawa. Basically, cashier/foodservice at a gas station. way to put my degree at use...lol. ;) i was a screen printer til got laid off during the drop in the economy- it hit us later on, not as soon as it dropped.

I am, however, much happier, and more job security at wawa, and chance to move up later on.
 
U.S. Army Field Artillery Officer, soon to be Medical Service Corps Entomologist. I'm definitely glad I joined, the benefits are great and you are kept up to date with current training. There are nurses in the Army BTW.
 
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The legal liability issue can be managed by taking out an independent nurses liability insurance policy. There are ads for these companies in many of the nursing journals.

My wife (BSN at the time) worked 17 years in labor and delivery, and it only cost us a few hundred dollars a year. She eventually got her masters online, and is now working as a women's health NP. In her current position, they even pay for her independent policy! She loves the work, and is making very good money.
 
isn't there some statistic that the average person changes their career 4-6 times in their life?

I should be getting near to my final job then. Maybe that one will be one I enjoy... right now I work to live and have since high school. Wheee what fun.

I currently spend my days supervising a customer service department. Previously spent 7 years making digital maps for in-vehicle navigation systems and 5 years selling property and casualty insurance. Fascinating! My fun jobs as a teen were at Taco Bell and assistant manager at Hot Topic.
 
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