New male thinking about nursing

Kabin · Oct 18, 2005

I had a buddy that was considering crossing over to pharmD from law. At that point I also started thinking about pharmD and came to the conlcusion that many of their clerk like jobs could be eliminated by technology/automation. If there's a need to get cost out of the system, it'll happen.

More recently there was a news story of a new ATM-drug dispenser being used in doctors' offices to encourage generic drug use. Things like this will get more sophistated and will ripple through the industry eliminating needless jobs. It wouldn't be the first time.

jls485 · Oct 18, 2005

I had a buddy that was considering crossing over to pharmD from law. At that point I also started thinking about pharmD and came to the conlcusion that many of their clerk like jobs could be eliminated by technology/automation. If there's a need to get cost out of the system, it'll happen.
More recently there was a news story of a new ATM-drug dispenser being used in doctors' offices to encourage generic drug use. Things like this will get more sophistated and will ripple through the industry eliminating needless jobs. It wouldn't be the first time.

Oh my gosh, I had the similar conversation w/ other software engineer two weeks ago. i mentioned to her that what if pharmacist replace by automated system. But then I heard pharmacist are still on demand, aren't they? I know the days will come w/ the advanced technolgoy, where there will be no pharmacists work behind the counter; and I can totoally see that; every prescription can be automated by system.

Can you send me the ATM drug dispenser story? If it's possible?

Kabin · Oct 18, 2005

I googled "Drug ATM" and there were several sources. Here's one of them:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05285/587250.stm

I had a chance to listen to a medical futurist speak at my school last year and he planted the seed to be careful about any career path selection.

jls485 · Oct 18, 2005

I googled "Drug ATM" and there were several sources. Here's one of them:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05285/587250.stm
I had a chance to listen to a medical futurist speak at my school last year and he planted the seed to be careful about any career path selection.

Thanks Kabin, that's a very interesting story. Are youself a nurse?

Kabin · Oct 18, 2005

Former embedded software enginerd, now a lowly Jr1 nursing student. :)

jls485 · Oct 18, 2005

Former embedded software enginerd, now a lowly Jr1 nursing student. :)

Really? I assume you're in a BSN program? Do you mind to share why the career change? Do you like your classes so far? Do you plan to go further than BSN?

Kabin · Oct 19, 2005

jls, I pm'd you.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Oct 27, 2005

I've been a nurse for about six months, and it just totally sucks. I work three 12-hour shifts, and while I do usually spend a good part of my first day off sleeping, I find that I have a lot of free time for hobbies, playing on the internet, and just hanging out with my cats. My floor has a disproportionate number of males, but most of my co-workers are still women, and a lot of them are quite good-looking. The work itself is often hard, and it seems like I have to learn something new every freakin' day. I hardly ever get a chance to just sit around and complain about how bored I am. Bummer.

As for the money, what can I say? I worked eight hours of overtime in the previous pay period, and my combined tax withholding were as much as my entire paycheck used to be. This pay period, I had to call off sick one day, and still my take-home for two weeks will be over a thousand dollars. A couple of months ago, my 92 Subaru was just about shot, so I went out shopping for a good used car and wound up buying a 2006.

It's true you can get into nursing with a 2 year degree. I did. But it was two years of a lot of studying and stuff. It went by pretty quickly, but a lot of my classmates were women, and, again, a lot of them were really pretty, which can get distracting, at times. Also, some of my instructors were very attractive.

And then there are the patients, with all their annoying gratitude and crap when you waste your time listening to them, or help them into a more comfortable position in bed, or call the doctor to adjust their pain meds. And the doctors! Need a mention that an increasing number of physicians are female and--you guessed it--some of them are very cute. I tell ya--it's hell.

But, seriously, while there have been moments when I've thought that the next time I feel a need for a challenge in my life, I'm going to pick an easy one, on the whole this has been one of the best things I've ever done. It's a lot of work. It can be frustrating, overwhelming, and downright scary, but it can be profoundly rewarding, the pay is decent, it's air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter, and if I someday get a notion to live in New Mexico, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to find a job there. (I suppose there are hospitals in the Virgin Islands, too...)

NurseMatt · Oct 27, 2005

I've been a nurse for about six months, and it just totally sucks. I work three 12-hour shifts, and while I do usually spend a good part of my first day off sleeping, I find that I have a lot of free time for hobbies, playing on the internet, and just hanging out with my cats. My floor has a disproportionate number of males, but most of my co-workers are still women, and a lot of them are quite good-looking. The work itself is often hard, and it seems like I have to learn something new every freakin' day. I hardly ever get a chance to just sit around and complain about how bored I am. Bummer.
As for the money, what can I say? I worked eight hours of overtime in the previous pay period, and my combined tax withholding were as much as my entire paycheck used to be. This pay period, I had to call off sick one day, and still my take-home for two weeks will be over a thousand dollars. A couple of months ago, my 92 Subaru was just about shot, so I went out shopping for a good used car and wound up buying a 2006.
It's true you can get into nursing with a 2 year degree. I did. But it was two years of a lot of studying and stuff. It went by pretty quickly, but a lot of my classmates were women, and, again, a lot of them were really pretty, which can get distracting, at times. Also, some of my instructors were very attractive.
And then there are the patients, with all their annoying gratitude and crap when you waste your time listening to them, or help them into a more comfortable position in bed, or call the doctor to adjust their pain meds. And the doctors! Need a mention that an increasing number of physicians are female and--you guessed it--some of them are very cute. I tell ya--it's hell.
But, seriously, while there have been moments when I've thought that the next time I feel a need for a challenge in my life, I'm going to pick an easy one, on the whole this has been one of the best things I've ever done. It's a lot of work. It can be frustrating, overwhelming, and downright scary, but it can be profoundly rewarding, the pay is decent, it's air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter, and if I someday get a notion to live in New Mexico, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to find a job there. (I suppose there are hospitals in the Virgin Islands, too...)

This post is awesome. I really liked the part about learning something new everyday. I recently quit my job and am really excited to go back to school(WHAT???). I think this is what my life was meant to be like and I look forward the challenging and rewarding lifestyle.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Oct 28, 2005

This post is awesome. I really liked the part about learning something new everyday. I recently quit my job and am really excited to go back to school(WHAT???). I think this is what my life was meant to be like and I look forward the challenging and rewarding lifestyle.

You're obviously not at all well, mentally. You'll probably love it. You'll probably kick yourself and feel like giving up at some point, but hang in there. Once you slide into full-blown dementia, it really is an exciting career, and often downright fun. School is tough, and it turns out that's the easy part, but suddenly you find yourself juggling 5-6 patients, getting pretty much everything done more or less on time, and actually doing stuff you learned about in school, and that's great. Ideally, you won't be saving lives on a regular basis--it's best if you can start out on patients who aren't all that sick--but you do begin to notice yourself making a difference--helping someone feel more comfortable, or holding a med that might not be appropriate, just now, or catching something that could turn serious if it wasn't caught, and all the times you've felt hopeless, inept, and stupid just don't seem to matter.

Plus, the decent pay and flexible hours could come in handy, if you decided to go to truck-driving school,

papawjohn · Oct 28, 2005

Hey Guys!!!

I thought NurseMike's post was terrific. I've been doing this crazy s##t for 25yrs and never have gotten over the thrill of doing a job that actually, literally means the difference between pain & comfort, illness & health, life & death for some poor soul. The 'meaning' of doing the highest quality work in nursing--so much better than high quality roofing.

And all the benefits and freedoms he mentioned--it's true. I'm a sailor. Had a little boat on a lake in Tennessee. Was able to pack up and move to Maryland for a bigger boat on the ChesapeakeBay. Had friends with much more money--lawyers, real estate cats. They were envious of my 'richness' in having the ability to pack up and follow a dream which they could only pursue on vacations because they were rooted in that location professionally.

And even at this point in my career there's new horizons--moving to Open Heart specialties, Emergency Room, Cath Labs. Kinda reminds me of what Jesus said about Heaven: In my Father's house there are many mansions.

What you'll be doing as a nurse is IMPORTANT and frequently INTERESTING and most of the people you'll be working around are smart and decent people.

Papaw John

Painslayer505 · Oct 28, 2005

I was looking for another subject posting when I came across this subject. I had to stop and take a look.

I have been a nurse for twenty years. I'm starting a new career path soon, so I find myself thinking about why I quit nursing.

The pay's not bad, but when compared to workers with much less responsibilty...the pay sucks.

I'm tired of hearing people complain about twelve hour shifts. When I started eight hours shifts were the norm. I and many fellow nurses never left on time. Eight hour night shifts created many thoughts of suicide. The creator of twelve hour shifts, three days should be immoralized!

When I work at least 40% of the patients do not speak English. I find it very frustrating trying to inform a patient about their care when they don't speak English. It really ticks me off to know that my inflated taxes and insurance rates are paying for their medical bill.

As for working with women...can you say CASTRATION!!!

Like I said above I'm leaving nursing for a better life. To all the self congratulating enablers...have fun.

P.S.

New Mexico....like Mexico only cleaner