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

[Mesomorph]

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!

[DaretoDreamRN]

Ambulatory centers

Medical Spa

[inland18mempire]

I was reading through this post casually and saw someone mentioned an RN working for Blue Cross with no experience? Does it pay well? Normal hours? That's fantastic! Any more information would be appreciated!

[oslogirl]

You bring up some really good questions. I'm looking forward to reading replies, too.

[koala_bear]

Research maybe? Or work as a clinical trial nurse....I hear that's a pretty laid back environment.

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

I was reading through this post casually and saw someone mentioned an RN working for Blue Cross with no experience? Does it pay well? Normal hours? That's fantastic! Any more information would be appreciated!

From what she told me she gets paid more than I do in a hospital setting. Better hours than I do. She works like 7 to 5 or something. I do know that some times she is on call but its very rare. How she got it I don't know but her title is Workers Compensation Nurse Consultant, look at their website and see if you can find it.

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

I hate the hospital as well and have no plans to ever work in one again. I would rather work at Walmart or Starbucks than go back to the hospital.

Right now I work nights in a residential psych facility and it is GREAT! I would even call it easy, sometimes boring (I can live with boring)....and I get paid great. I get paid more at this job than I did killing myself everyday in the ICU.

It is through a hospital in my area, but it's in its own building across town.....lets see we have one doctor who is only there during the day (he is great) but I never have to deal with him or anyone really. The patients for the most part are asleep and I do a lot of paperwork and listen to the radio and stuff.

Look into something like nights at a detox center (usually through a hospital but not hospital type work), certain psych jobs, outpatient surgery (though most require experience), home health, clinics, etc.

Good luck finding something you enjoy. There are good nursing jobs out there, but they can be kinda hard to find at times I know.

[deyo321]

Corrections is a blast.

[AvenueQT]

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?

I'm a student, so I'm unable to tell you from firsthand experience what jobs I know to be "safe" and "easy," but I'm not a completely unaware first year either, so my suggestions are somewhat informed.

- According to a friend, insurance companies, like Humana hire nurses as clinical advisors, and she has described that job as "boring."

- I knew of a couple that both graduated with BSNs, but did not go into nursing: One became a pharmaceutical sales rep, the other, a Clinical Research Associate (CRA). CRA is not a clinical job either. They go to Phase I-IV sites to ensure standard operating procedures, and protocols are adhered to. Other possibilities:

- Sleep lab

- Dermatologist Office

- Health Educator

- School, or camp nurse

- Blood Bank Consent Coordinator

- Electroconvulsive Therapy

- Travel Medicine Clinic

I hope that helps. I have also been scouring the job ads for a job that is a good fit with my personal strengths, and low boiling point for stress. Good Luck, and please let all us curious cats know where you end up.