Busy Lamentation

Published

Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

I have no free time. I'm presently eating lunch at a small coffee house juggling school related tasks, work related tasks, and some personal business matters. I walked up to the counter to get a refill, and I see some handouts on the counter - one from a fencing academy, and I think "OMG, I want to learn to fence!" In fact, I always have so I Google the site, and yep two nights a week when I absolutely can't go. My feelings become hurt, and I reflect that I no longer have time to go weight lifting. I recently moved to a city that offers a Krav Maga academy, and I can't do that either. I don't have time to get out to the range and shoot anymore. I like to run and sometimes find time to run a couple of miles which isn't enough, but it's something. Last night my wife and I went "walking" since she won't run, and I'm thinking "it's nice to be walking with my wife, but I could tear out of here and burn up this pavement." I think "what hobbies do I actually have," and it dawns on me that the ONLY things I do are hop online to a few web forums and read books when I have mere moments that I can't do anything else. Will psychiatric advanced practice be worth it? No clue presently. I have no free time, and I am sad.

PG

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hey. Here is my boat. One full time job at an acute mental health hospital on Sat-Mon, Part time at another acute psych hospital, another part-time as a flu shot giver, a 15 month old son, 2 dogs, my wifes in-laws (in which the husband ****** me off beyond comparison (oh I failed to mention doesn't pay rent)), a wife that just had back surgery, and issues with my own family never stopping by (they live five minutes away due to mentioned father in law)......and to top it off I am enrolled in part time PMHNP.

Douglas Adams said it best- "Time is an illusion. Lunch time doubly so".

I have on a rare occasion free time, yet that's when the wife wants to get her hair done, eyebrows done, take a nap, and that list can go on. Now how the hell do I have time to do school? I make time. Its like nursing school all over again. Up all night reading, studying, trying to make a B turn into an A, and it doesn't always work.

Is it worth it? I believe so. In the end I can stop focusing on three jobs and just have one. The pay will be substantially more and then I can finally get back to my hobbies. Yet, now what were my hobbies? I fenced (if your near vegas you can have my equipment: electric foil, lapel and a standard foil), I raced Honda ( herniated disk killed that), take pictures with my Cannon (my phone is much more convenient). So, who am I. Before nursing school I was a street racer, after school I was artistic, so now its time to find the next me. The evolutionary process of finding one self in this lifetime. If i logged the hours I waste sitting at home doing nothing but pet the dog I probably could have accomplish so much so far in life....yet I think sitting down and relaxing with my dogs is fulfilling; just as much if not more with my son.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psychiatric.

psychguy, I think I remember you have a year left of school? I am getting ready to start in a week at my Brick and mortar for my pmhnp and I am savoring every last drop of free time because I remember nursing school and I know that grad school will be like that but on steroids. It's exciting yet depressing. Do you have any idea about where you will end up working? I troll the indeed dot com job boards and pay special attention to the M thru F, 8-4, psych NP, with no call job listings just to keep my hopes up lol. I will undoubtedly find nothing like that unless I move but it keeps me entertained.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

Hey. Yep, classes start next week and stop December 4th. Then they'll resume in mid January and stop in early May. I can't wait. As puravidalV, above, said I'll make more money and presumably have more free time. Then I can do what I want to do, and my wife and I actually relocated to this region so I could do my clinical preceptorships in the region I want to work in. This natural and fast growing area is where I've wanted to move for 12 years, and we're finally here. There's so much to see and explore, but it's driving me wild that I haven't the time! Jobs abound in this corner of my state, even for PMHNPs, and that's a good thing. I troll the jobs as well and have recently started working with a head hunter and have started the meet and greets with future employers. Ideally, I will get a job in private practice working out of an office unaffiliated with any kind of hospital. That probably won't happen, but I can dream. I really don't like the hospital environment. Your program may even seem faster if it's all in person and a B&M school. Mine is a B&M school but has opened up all of the didactics to in-state distance learning.

psychguy I think I remember you have a year left of school? I am getting ready to start in a week at my Brick and mortar for my pmhnp and I am savoring every last drop of free time because I remember nursing school and I know that grad school will be like that but on steroids. It's exciting yet depressing. Do you have any idea about where you will end up working? I troll the indeed dot com job boards and pay special attention to the M thru F, 8-4, psych NP, with no call job listings just to keep my hopes up lol. I will undoubtedly find nothing like that unless I move but it keeps me entertained.[/quote']
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion