"Professional Dancer"

Nurses Men

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So this thread is gonna stay in this forum cause I know I will get so much flack if this showed up in the general forum. Well fellas what do you guys think about a "Professional Dancer" transitioning into the healthcare field by paying her way through school by "Dancing". Keep in mind I don't mean interpretive dance, ballet, break dancing, the robot.. hahaha..etc get the idea yet. This popped in my head as my friends and I were celebrating a divorce party.

I know most of these stories about them doing this for school is fake... but let us entertain the idea for a moment. Imagine you heading off to the ICU , or where ever, to start off your shift. You open the door and there she is standing in front of you is Candy, Mandy, Riley, Sandy....insert stage name here, that you got a lap dance from. Obviously she wont remember you but let us entertain the other idea that she does and gets that OMG look on her face LOL. How would that scenario run? Would you think less of her as a professional? Feel free to throw in any thoughts.

I just had to put the scenario up today, and yes I know I will most likely get some hate flame on this.

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
2. Don't do Stupid Things

I heard that this is the way the 3 Wise Men got their name.

Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.
Not trying to validate a personal fantasy at all. I have run in to the poisoned well scenario before, and I know how the work environment quickly turns into an ugly rumor mill. I would rather not relive that adventure anytime soon. If it seemed like I was trying to get with the stripper in the closet then I must apologize for the confusion. I hope this clarifies things.

I didn't think you were, but examine the "poisoned well" for a moment, and "how things play out".

1) It embarrasses you, but not her. If that is the case, why go to the strip club?

2) It embarrasses her, but not you. Regardless of the limited decision making that puts her in that spot, by going to the club, you have put her at a disadvantage.

3) It doesn't embarrass either of you, but she decides to make your location of mutual assosciation very public. Not the best situation for a man, in a predominantly female profession.

There are a couple of possible alternate iterations, but their commonality is the club. Just getting back to that cardinal rule I emntioned.;)

Do people have fun at clubs? Sure. I also readily admit my bias- I've carried out too many pieces and parts of people to view clubs and bars as anything other than predispositional arenas for "bad things".

Specializes in Telemetry & PCU.

i really don't quite get this post???? so what? i applaud her, as many of her colleauges probably will choose or fall victim to a darker path.

if you are a true professional you wouldn't tell anyone about this lady's past. did this really happen?

here is the criteria that will get you far in any career you choose to go into when you speak to someone about another:

1. is it kind?

2. is it true?

3. is it necessary?

you follow this and people will think that your one of the nicest people they have ever meant.

i know of a Media star going to RN school here. idk if she finished or not.

equally as acceptable?

Specializes in Telemetry & PCU.

Absolutely!! Who are you to judge?

I applaud her effort to contribute and move on to a different life?

back in the day one of my buddies in nursing school worked as a "dancer" for years before becoming a nurse. she is open about it so there was no "secret" for anyone to find out. She is one hell of an ER nurse now.

Another friend of mine from high school was a pin up girl and "video star" before getting into nursing. but the thing that seems to work for her is that she is open and not apologetic about the matter.

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
i know of a Media star going to RN school here. idk if she finished or not.

equally as acceptable?

Perhaps you mean Nina Hartely a nationally known Media star and sex educator. She started doing Media to get through her BSN program, and then ended up sticking with Media.

I would think nothing less of a nurse, female OR male, that had a past life in the sex industry. It doesn't affect nursing so why should I care. That being said, I can understand that some nurses might want to keep this under the table as I know some more conservative areas I've worked in would not be so keep on putting it behind them.

Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

If that's what it takes to get through school that's fine. I'd have no problem with someone dancing, or doing any other legal job to get through life.

But would she list it on her resume? How will she answer questions in the interview? To some, dancer= loose morals or prostitute. And unfortunatley, some moralistic recruiter or manager would move her resume to bottom of the pile rather quickly.

Ive seen "Adult Film Star" listed on a Resume.. No joke. It was in Las Vegas so I chalked it up to the area and hit the "Print" button and fwded to HR. Of course they made up an excuse on why she couldnt even come in for an interview! I still wonder to this day if anyone hired her.

I've talked to a bartender about this. She used to work at a strip club (as a bartender, not dancer) and I asked about putting it on resumes... She said most don't list it on resumes, and just say they were being supported by their parents as the reason for the "gap" in their work history.

I don't judge people for being strippers or working at Hooters or Twin Peaks or what have you, but personally I would feel uncomfortable with listing something like that on my resume.

Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

I once worked with an RN who proudly announced to anyone who would listen that she was a Playboy Bunny back when Playboy Clubs were prevalent around the country. She had - shall we say - "enhancements" and "improvements" that no doubt assisted her in her former career, and helped her to belie her current age.

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

OK Guys -old broad here. Haven't you learned that nothing is really 'new'?

In my BSN program (~1979-81-ish), one student was working her way through school as a dancer/performer at the biker bar that served as HQ for the Banditos (Tx version of Hell's Angels). She was very studious, made wonderful grades and was a single mom. I got to know her quite well, and we were both hired into a neuro-trauma ICU as new grads. Found out that she opted for this because she could support herself & child by working 2 nights a week, as opposed to working full time and not having enough $ or time for school. Worked out very well for her. She only shared her story with close friends & based on pictures she shared, she was not recognizable IRL as her 'stage persona'. There was also a male student who worked at a local Chippendales-type thing. Word got out after another classmate's bachelorette party (at that establishment). He was also a really great student - he did not share much about personal life, but I would assume it was the same sort of motivation.

I guess it was easier in those days, before the "everything you do is immortalized for life in digital format on the Internet" fear. I didn't stay in touch, so don't know how either of them ended up. Sometimes there is a good reason (at the time) for life choices that aren't readily apparent to outsiders but in this day of no-hold-barred social media and consequential lack of privacy, the degree of consequences is much more severe. Kind of a shame really. Very difficult to make a new start if you've allowed your life to be chronicled in a public venue that will (literally) be accessible forever.

Yea - there's nothing new. Flo Nightengale's gals in the Crimea even included a few 'fallen angels'. So go easy on the snark.

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