No Experience Necessary

An older nurse whose career is essentially at its end contemplates her next act, despite not having the foggiest idea whatsoever of what she wants to do or the financial ability to chuck it all and retire. Should she try to find something in healthcare support, informatics, case management....or should she simply go to work at the closest gas station? Nurses Announcements Archive Article

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DidiRN

3 Articles; 781 Posts

Specializes in ICU, step down, dialysis.
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Ok --- worst job ever --advertised on Craig's list

Detailed person wanted are you nit-picky? We have the job for you. Xxx lice management company

No Kidding. Really

Wow! I thought the one I saw was bad the other day on Craig's List... They were actually advertising for nurses to work as cleaners for $11.00/hr! Yes, they specifically wanted nurses!

dansamy

672 Posts

Specializes in Going to Peds!.
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Ok --- worst job ever --advertised on Craig's list

Detailed person wanted are you nit-picky? We have the job for you. Xxx lice management company

No Kidding. Really

There's actually good money in nit picking.

Sent from my HTC One X using allnurses.com

copeRN

31 Posts

Begin within; you will find what you're searching for.

SinikRN101

70 Posts

Specializes in Lvn to RN, new grad med/surg.

Thank you!! I've been wondering what else would be out there for someone who "shouldn't be a nurse." But then it's not so easy to just quit. Especially when you are the sole supporter of a family. I certainly couldn't go back to retail and support my family at half of what I make as a nurse. I don't consider any job beneath me either, because I've cleaned public bathrooms and have asked, "if you want fries with that." But after spending thousands on education and I know I'm not where I wanted to be, I wonder if it's all going to be the same when I get there.

Fuzzy

370 Posts

I too am looking for a career change. However I wouldn't be taking much of a pay cut since I work in veterinary medicine. In fact I'll probably will get a pay raise. I have though about jumping to the other side maybe as a lab tech; pharmacy tech; or even a house keeper in human medicine. I wish you well in your decision and I hope that soon your life will calm down.

Fuzzy

CapeCodMermaid, RN

6,090 Posts

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Admission nurses are real nurses and it is real nursing. One certainly needs excellent assessment skills as an admission nurse.

Specializes in Correctional, QA, Geriatrics.

I believe you have the heart and soul for crime victim advocacy but....you might find it to be emotionally overwhelming. I volunteered for about six months with my local PD's victim services. We had very extensive training and the officers were very supportive. However I had to step away after about 6 months because I found the emotional stress too much for me. Specifically when I had to stay, usually for hours upon hours, with the family of a victim of violent crime or suicide. Their grief, shock and anger is constantly directed at the advocate and I personally found myself wanting to be elsewhere after one experience in which I had to call the entire extended family to do the death notifications because the surviving spouse was basically incoherent. Having to repeat the story again and again and having to deal multiple times with the shock, denial and grief wiped me out.

So Marla please keep in mind that victim advocacy has the potential for being extremely intense and sometimes a no-win situation in that one can't really detach because one of the primary purposes is to be an emotional support system. You are alone after the officer delivers you to their home and you are frequently there for hours on end until family or friends arrive to be with the victims family. If you are accompanying a rape victim to the hospital you have to stay until the SANE nurse finishes, the investigating detectives get a statement and you are usually asked to accompany the rape victim through the trial process (if there is an arrect and trial) in addition to being available via phone for questions and emotional support throughout the whole process.

Believe me after my stint of volunteering I have a deep appreciation of victim services advocates. My hat is off to anyone who can do that job and stay emotionally balanced and happy. Personally I simply found it overwhelming as heck.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
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Recently I applied for my first non-nursing job as a crime victim advocate;

Intense job....you have SO MUCH on your plate.....this is an intense job.....I am not so sure you need that energy expended when you have all on your plate at home....((HUGS)) Have you treid insurance companies help line positions or home triage? Maybe look into disability SSDI

miasmom

103 Posts

Hugs sweetie! You are an idealist! You are also a realist! Never let someone else thoughts of you take you down. You are a smart passionate understanding women. Do not let others determine your self worth. So Let you character show, not your reputation. You are upfront. You have compassion for patients and coworkers.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN

22 Articles; 9,987 Posts

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
txredheadnurse said:
I believe you have the heart and soul for crime victim advocacy but....you might find it to be emotionally overwhelming. I volunteered for about six months with my local PD's victim services. We had very extensive training and the officers were very supportive. However I had to step away after about 6 months because I found the emotional stress too much for me. Specifically when I had to stay, usually for hours upon hours, with the family of a victim of violent crime or suicide. Their grief, shock and anger is constantly directed at the advocate and I personally found myself wanting to be elsewhere after one experience in which I had to call the entire extended family to do the death notifications because the surviving spouse was basically incoherent. Having to repeat the story again and again and having to deal multiple times with the shock, denial and grief wiped me out.

So Marla please keep in mind that victim advocacy has the potential for being extremely intense and sometimes a no-win situation in that one can't really detach because one of the primary purposes is to be an emotional support system. You are alone after the officer delivers you to their home and you are frequently there for hours on end until family or friends arrive to be with the victims family. If you are accompanying a rape victim to the hospital you have to stay until the SANE nurse finishes, the investigating detectives get a statement and you are usually asked to accompany the rape victim through the trial process (if there is an arrect and trial) in addition to being available via phone for questions and emotional support throughout the whole process.

Believe me after my stint of volunteering I have a deep appreciation of victim services advocates. My hat is off to anyone who can do that job and stay emotionally balanced and happy. Personally I simply found it overwhelming as heck.

Thank you and Esme12 for this perspective!! I had no idea.....all I was thinking of was being an advocate, which is something I'm definitely good at, but I didn't even consider how stressful such a job might be. That is the LAST thing I need at this point in my life (or any point in my life). I'm not too worried about getting the job---I probably won't even get an interview, because with my RN license and wages they'll probably think I'm over-qualified and would ask for too much money.

See, this is one of the many reasons why I come to Allnurses. I mentor a lot here, but I learn far more than I teach. My thanks to all of you!

Specializes in Registered Nurse.

Amusing article. I too have searched my state's job posting. It's incredible. Some non-nursing jobs require Bachelor of Arts degree and pay little more than minimum wage. Then there are entry level jobs requesting the job seeker have a college education, for what appears to be a job as a clerk? The nursing jobs demand that the nurse is able to leap buildings, like spider man. Yes, I'm exaggerating, but just a little. I have a BSN, but many nursing jobs advertise for a MSN, certification in the specialty and experience in the nursing specialty. What ever happened to training employees? I'm sure you will experience many exciting, disappointing, and humorous occasions on your journey to success. I hope you continue to share them with us. Thank You. :yes:

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN

22 Articles; 9,987 Posts

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Success........what a concept. At my age and stage of life, I'm not even sure what constitutes success anymore. My view of it certainly has changed......it used to be moving up in the world, earning more money, having prestige and authority. Now I only want to keep body and soul together and still make a difference in peoples' lives, even in some small way. And I want to do it without activating my MI. I wonder if that's too much to ask.