Nursing and couples.

researchrabbit · Aug 27, 2002

Although I don't work in Canada, I know that here they want nurses and it doesn't matter who they're married to. My sister and her husband are both nurses, and for awhile they even worked the same unit.

PS Even though you are not in college now and are saving for it, you might take a course each semester (a little done now means less to do later) and the cost isn't quite so horrible one course at a time (plus less money to pay out later).

renerian, BSN, RN · Aug 27, 2002

Hubby and I are both nurses. You probably can't work in the same chain of command, ie) your his boss hehehe. It works well for us. WE both worked at the same hospital on different floors. Go for nursing. I love nursing..................most days. No job is perfect.

renerian:roll

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Aug 27, 2002

Yes, we have husband and wife nurses in my unit. It's allowed, they just don't allow one to be in a postion of mangement to another. I'm also thinking that you might not have much trouble in a rural hospital. But maybe I'm wrong. ????

renerian, BSN, RN · Aug 27, 2002

We worked in a huge teaching hospital that started with over 1000 beds but was downsized to about 750. Good luck.....

renerian

duckie · Aug 27, 2002

My husband and I not only work the same facility but the same days off and same shift. If they need one for OT they know it's both or neither. He frequently works my unit and I am his boss. This has never caused us a problem for even administration has acknowledged that when we work as a team, things get done in less time and we usually leave on time cause we're a great team. We have a great home relationship, never argue and the staff loves having us together cause we're much more laid back. It can be done, just don't give up! Good luck!

Hooligan · Aug 27, 2002

I've read a lot about the pro's and con's of nursing, listened to people complaining and telling me not to do it; it's not worth it they say. But this is what I want and I'd really appreciate if those pessimists or other who don't enjoy their career would refrain from trying to bring me down. I'm set on this. If I end up hating it; then that's ok. But I want to find out on my own.

Ditto! I can't really answer your question but I just had to let you know that there are others of us who have heard all this crap before! I'm a student right now just finishing up my pre-requisites...a lot of the real nay-saying has stopped now that they realize I'm serious about my future career. I think that when it comes to nursing... you're either gonna love it or hate it...and you really won't know till you get there. I'm sure there will be things about nursing I won't like (politics, etc...) but overall I think I will be one of the ones who love nursing. And you know what...If I listened to all those folks who said poo poo to nursing, I'd never know and I'd always wonder! Always wondering "what if?" is far worse in my book than trying something out and realizing it isn't for me. Anyway...that's just my $.02. Good luck to you and all your endeavors!

~Bean

NurseDianne, ADN · Aug 27, 2002

My husband and I are both LPN's. We work at the same facility, although rarely work side by side. We intentionally request the same days (or nights we worlk 7p-7a). It works out great for use. We are also attending college together and plan to bridge together in the next Summer. Most of the time it works. It will work for ya'll if you let it.

Scavenger'sWife, RN · Aug 27, 2002

I am friends with a couple who work together in the same LTC facility. Both were STNA, then she worked more while putting him through LPN school. He is now working the extra hours and putting her thro school. They have two kids too. They are very happy working at the same place. I know my hospital, which is not very large, has several husband/wife employees. I don't think there should be a problem.

And *welcome* to nursing! I love it! Wish I had done it a long time ago.

Mama Val, ASN, RN · Aug 27, 2002

We need nurses here in Alaska !!!

Neither one of you should have any trouble finding a job at a facility but sometimes there is only one position offered in the village clinic. You could work a deal out with the village coucil to hire the both of you as a team, you might have to split the work schedule. Check with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or Indian Health Service they always have nursing positions open and they will work with you, sometimes they will even pay back loans for school if you work for them in one of the villages (esp nurses). You sound like someone with a good head on their shoulders. If you want to go up north to Barrow, east to Ft Yukon, or out on the islands to Dutch Harbor, the pay is great but the area is very cold and wet and isolated.

Get some exposure working with the culture before you jump into this though. Its a long ride home if you find out later you don't like it. It can be a 180 degree change of life for some.

Don't let me scare you though, I do love it up here, the people are great and really take you in when they get to know you. If you are an outdoor peson you will love it. I work with a new grad nurse from Boston who loves it here. She lives in a log cabin and loves her life. I am trying to recruit you, can you tell.

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium call 800-528-6680 or go online at http://www.anthc.org or try

Indian Health Service at http://www.ihs.gov

colleen10 · Aug 27, 2002

I just wanted to say Double Ditto to what Bean said.

I got all kinds of nay saying when I started telling people that I wanted to go back to school for nursing. But I have been taking my pre-req's now for 3 semesters and a lot of it has died down.

And like Bean said, you'll never know until you try.

And to be honest with you, you will hear a ton of reasons why you shouldn't go into Nursing. But, if you were to ask anyone in any career most of them would probably tell you not to go into what ever profession they are in. Also, no matter what field you are in you will always run into mean people, rude people, politics, etc. In whatever profession you are in you will have to learn to deal with all of it. Although, I think it may be worse in nursing just because most medical facilities are short staffed and many things are a little hard to put up with because you are working with sick people and have their lives and health in your hands.

Anywho, good luck and take care and I also agree with research rabbit in that if you can find a way to start taking a class here and there it may be more beneficial to you. That is what I am doing now and because I can work full time and take a class or two a semester the cost of the classes and books isn't so overwhelming. I am also getting really good grades in part to only having one or two classes to worry about, rather than a full load.

Best of Luck to you!

Col

Willh · Aug 28, 2002

Originally posted by Mama Val
We need nurses here in Alaska !!!
Neither one of you should have any trouble finding a job at a facility but sometimes there is only one position offered in the village clinic. You could work a deal out with the village coucil to hire the both of you as a team, you might have to split the work schedule. Check with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or Indian Health Service they always have nursing positions open and they will work with you, sometimes they will even pay back loans for school if you work for them in one of the villages (esp nurses). You sound like someone with a good head on their shoulders. If you want to go up north to Barrow, east to Ft Yukon, or out on the islands to Dutch Harbor, the pay is great but the area is very cold and wet and isolated.
Get some exposure working with the culture before you jump into this though. Its a long ride home if you find out later you don't like it. It can be a 180 degree change of life for some.
Don't let me scare you though, I do love it up here, the people are great and really take you in when they get to know you. If you are an outdoor peson you will love it. I work with a new grad nurse from Boston who loves it here. She lives in a log cabin and loves her life. I am trying to recruit you, can you tell.

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium call 800-528-6680 or go online at http://www.anthc.org or try
Indian Health Service at http://www.ihs.gov

First, thank you everyone for your responses. Definitely helps to put that worry behind me. Thanks for your time and your responses. :)

mama val: That's really cool.

thats exactly what we want to do most(work in either Barrow or Kotzebue).

Alaska has been my dream since I was in first grade...back when Susan Butcher was so popular. Ever since then my obsession has only grown, and it's perhaps the thing I've studied most in my life. I love Alaska and the far north.

Do you know much about the job markets up there?

I'm currently planning to try and enroll in the nursing school up at the University of Maine at Fort Kent as I've heard great things about the school. I'd like to attain, along with my soon to be wife, a bsn and either work for a year there, saving up money to move up north, or, preferably, just have a job and go!

So, yep.

That's my plan, it's not a whim, it's my dream.

Been that way for years and years, as long as I can remember.

Thanks again everyone for your responses and advice!

~ Will