^^^Need Advice: Unsure of what job to take... ^^^

Published

Hey everyone. I could write a novel on this subject but I'm going to try to be relatively brief and you all are welcome to ask questions as necessary.

The Good:

-Graduated from Nursing School May 2008 with a BSN

-Passed NCLEX first try November 2008 and am now an RN

-My college education is totally payed for

-I'm a male, which is probably good as far as marketability

The 'Bad':

-Nursing school ruined me as a person and I just now feel like "me" again.

-I have no desire whatsoever to dive into nursing as a permanent career and have been pursuing photography, but the economy is garbage and full-time photo jobs are very very difficult to come by. I will never accept nursing as "me" or my "identity".

-I have about $1,000 in my bank account and it's dissappearing fast.

-I'm to the point where I'm desperate enough to consider nursing again.

At this point you're probably thinking, "Hey man, if you're not passionate about nursing then you don't need to be in it!" To an extent, I totally agree, which is why I've avoided it. I cannot stand hospitals and cannot take the stress or miserable hours in nursing. But, I need money...

I'm hoping some of you might know of a job where I can use my nursing degree, but where I'm not going to be overwhelmed all of the time.... Maybe some job where all I have to do is start IVs all day or something? I question the amount of knowledge I've retained since I graduated... I'm definitely not going into ICU or ER, and I really have no desire to work in a hospital period...

Does anyone know of a job that, while perhaps monotonous is rather "safe" and "easy"? ...A job that isn't some holy grail that I have to have 15 years of experience and a gray head of hair to have?

Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work in public health now, and it is much easier than when I worked in the hospital (to put it mildly). I miss the excitement of the hospital, but I also enjoy my job now. The hours are excellent. A few problems for you, though - you usually have to have hospital experience before you can be hired in public health. You might have to suck it up and get through a year in the hospital.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

A year in the hospital = not happening.

I'm not saying that to be stubborn, but I'm being realistic... I'd rather work at Walmart than in the hospital, so if no one can present some viable options then I will have to look elseware, but I just wanted you to know that there will be no "gritting my teeth for a year" or whatever. I did that for 2 years in nursing school and got to the point of having suicidal ideations so I can assure you I will not be working in a hospital.

That being said, continue brainstorming please everyone! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Maybe a doctor's office. There isn't a lot out there that doesn't require some kind of hospital experience first. I saw an ad a few weeks ago for an RN that marketed pharmeceuticals. I didn't pay much attention as far as experience required.

Maybe you should look for a job in a Walmart or something. There are nurses out there who want to be nurses, even in a job that isn't in a hospital.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

doctor's office nursing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Mesomorph,

I was hired into a physician's office that was located in a hospital. I was paid hospital wages for being an office nurse. It was an easy job. It was pediatric GI, and I mostly had to return phone calls to parents, and call in prescriptions to the pharmacy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

Try insurance companies. They like to hire nurses, my friend just got hired into blue cross and blue shields. No experience behind her. All she does is looks at cases and decides if this is something the insurance covers. Or at least that is what I understood from what she said. (I wasn't paying attention. LOL)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also, we have sometimes had difficulty hiring nurses at the health dept where I work, and I think sometimes even a nurse with no experience would have been hired, esp a BSN (you have to have a BSN where I work).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't know..... you may like home health. I didn't have any hospital experience and got hired right away. Try checking out some home health agencies (there are ones for geriatric and peds patients). You get to focus on one patient at a time and really become an expert in their health rather quickly. I love what I do. You might, too!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would look into Pharmaceutical sales.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Blood Center Collections, Quality and Regulatory A.

Check out your local blood center - I have a great job reviewing info of healthy people for eligibility and starting blood draws (like IV's only one way - outbound!)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Home health continuous care cases.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion