please vote--change career mid life?

2bNurseguru · Jul 28, 2006

I am not upset, neither I am suprised for Gabie reacting that way. She probably had a bad day. There are also a number of nurses and dietitians who can't stand each other. I am not sure why. But I shadowed a clinical dietitian when I was at school doing clinical rotations and some of the nurses were really mean to the dietitians. The two disciplines do not respect each other. That is where I chose never work as a clinical dietitian in a hospital because they also do not recieve the kind of respect they deserve. Half the time no-one listens to their recommendations.

I would not be surprised if Gabie doesn't have a dislike of dietitians where she works.

2bNurseguru · Jul 28, 2006

mshffr vbmenu_register("postmenu_1754058", true); , i do have a problem with those issues. sometimes i feel like throwing up when changing my own daughter--i just can't help it no matter how much i try. i have a lot of respect for people who take care of others, including my own sister who is currently a cna in ltcf and hoping to pursue nursing.

Gabie Baby · Jul 30, 2006

I am not upset, neither I am suprised for Gabie reacting that way. She probably had a bad day. There are also a number of nurses and dietitians who can't stand each other. I am not sure why. But I shadowed a clinical dietitian when I was at school doing clinical rotations and some of the nurses were really mean to the dietitians. The two disciplines do not respect each other. That is where I chose never work as a clinical dietitian in a hospital because they also do not recieve the kind of respect they deserve. Half the time no-one listens to their recommendations.
I would not be surprised if Gabie doesn't have a dislike of dietitians where she works.

I don't dislike dieticians, quite the opposite, actually. I have never had any problem with a dietician.

My problem is with you thinking Nursing pays well and that Nursing is about the money. You seem to have no understanding of what it truly entails, much of which is pretty smelly and slimy and physically hard, not to mention emotionally hard.

And your sarcasm didn't help. If you think nurses don't like you, maybe your being sarcastic is at least part of the reason.

Gabie Baby · Jul 30, 2006

Gabie, that was really mean!! , but I couldn't help not to crack a smirk because of the negative things you describe about nursing - I think you have covered pretty much all of them. This is how I feel sometimes on a bad day.
But I really don't think the OP is a horrible person, it wasn't right to slam her like that.

I don't think she's horrible. I don't know her well enough to figure out whether or not she's horrible. She's probably an ok sort but I am amazed that she thinks Nursing pays well, first off, and that she mentions not a single word about caring for people, secondly. That troubled me greatly. Also, I would hate to see her, decent sort that she probably is, waste her time, effort, and money on trying a profession that she probably is going to dislike anyway.

undecided · Jul 30, 2006

This is to the OP. If you want /need extra money ( believe me, I have three kids and know the feeling of wanting to do what you love vs making enought money to be comfortable) why not try either opening up a private practice on the side or hooking up with a physician's office. I worked with a dietician that was part of a physician's practice and was doing very well. Everytime I visited her, it was billed to the insurance as an office visit so I did not even need a referral. She made her own hours and probably made decent money.

There are so many people out there who need to lose weight, You could make a fortune in that alone. If you can get hooked up with a few insurance companies, than that could bring you additional clients. One dietician I worked with who had her own succcessful private practice charged $100 for the first hour and $50-75 /hour after that. Many people with out insurance were willing to pay because they were so desperate to lose weight.

I think it is a good idea to expand on what you are doing now - esp if you like it. Going back to school with kids Stinks. I just finished a 14 month program and it was hard balancing school and family life.

Monica

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2006

If making more money is your main objective, there are other areas of health care that pay better. For instance, you could consider PA or pharmacy school. PAs typically start at between 70-80K in my area. My sister told me that her classmates from pharmacy school received offers from the chain pharmacies for close to six figures. However, I agree with a lot of other posters that if you go into something just for the money you risk being very unhappy in your career.

2bNurseguru · Jul 31, 2006

i don't dislike dieticians, quite the opposite, actually. i have never had any problem with a dietician.
my problem is with you thinking nursing pays well and that nursing is about the money. you seem to have no understanding of what it truly entails, much of which is pretty smelly and slimy and physically hard, not to mention emotionally hard.
and your sarcasm didn't help. if you think nurses don't like you, maybe your being sarcastic is at least part of the reason.

god bless you gabie. when you are doing such a tough job, you will find comfort in god. he will help you get through the tough days and cope with tough situations.

you are right, i do not have an understanding of what nursing entails, and that is why i posted my question since i have never been a nurse. all the nurses i know are really wonderful people. for example, the nurses in this forum have provided me with wonderful feed back since they care about people whether they are patients or not.

i believe god works through them every day as angels to deliver special miracles. the job is tough and no amout of financial payment can be adequate. only god can repay them and i believe he does so both in this life and in the life to come.

i say a prayer for all the people in the medical profession every day. they are ministering angels!!

"whatever you do unto the least of these, you do unto me." (matthew 25:40)

2bNurseguru · Jul 31, 2006

I don't think she's horrible. I don't know her well enough to figure out whether or not she's horrible. She's probably an ok sort but I am amazed that she thinks Nursing pays well, first off, and that she mentions not a single word about caring for people, secondly. That troubled me greatly. Also, I would hate to see her, decent sort that she probably is, waste her time, effort, and money on trying a profession that she probably is going to dislike anyway.

We are all fulfilling our life's mission. I like to honor people who are doing all kinds of jobs since they are at the right place at the right time doing the right thing. We are all decent and this should not be depended on the kind of work that we do. Our greatest commission though in this life though is to LOVE ALL PEOPLE.

I like to focus on the positive even when things are tough in my job. Do not allow anything to touble you especially if it's something you have no control over. I love this quote:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,Courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

We are all fulfilling our life's mission. I like to honor people who are doing all kinds of jobs since they are at the right place at the right time doing the right thing. We are all decent and this should not be depended on the kind of work that we do. Our greatest commission though in this life though is to LOVE ALL PEOPLE.
I like to focus on the positive even when things are tough in my job. Do not allow anything to touble you especially if it's something you have no control over. I love this quote:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,Courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

I like your attitude. It sound like you might have made a pretty good nurse. One of our more useful skills is the ability to respond to rudeness with soft words. I happen to love my stupid job, but it isn't hard to see how it isn't for everyone. Lots of pros and cons, and it's a very individual matter to weigh them.

As for helping people, I once had an IRS agent go out of her way to help me correct an error that would have cost me substantial money that I could not afford. Maybe not a life-saving intervention, but it was important to me, and I appreciated it. Also a life lesson: if an IRS agent can help people, surely anyone can.

Best of luck with your career and family. Glad you found the forum helpful. Hug a nurse, sometime.

catlady, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

If making more money is your main objective, there are other areas of health care that pay better. For instance, you could consider PA or pharmacy school. PAs typically start at between 70-80K in my area. My sister told me that her classmates from pharmacy school received offers from the chain pharmacies for close to six figures.

I suspect that most of us who have been nurses for more than a few years are somewhat astounded at the people who are now considering nursing "for the money." These are the same people ten years ago who wouldn't have been caught dead within a hundred yards of a nursing school, for all the stated reasons plus one--it didn't pay squat. The idea that nursing somehow has a wage scale that is now attractive to newcomers blows my mind, that's for sure.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2006

I suspect that most of us who have been nurses for more than a few years are somewhat astounded at the people who are now considering nursing "for the money." These are the same people ten years ago who wouldn't have been caught dead within a hundred yards of a nursing school, for all the stated reasons plus one--it didn't pay squat. The idea that nursing somehow has a wage scale that is now attractive to newcomers blows my mind, that's for sure.

I think it depends considerably on what you're comparing it to. Personally, I have no problem with people seeing nursing as a way to make a better life for themselves. I'm making twice what I did while I was in nursing school. I'm driving the first new car I've ever owned. It isn't a Bentley, but I like it.

Certainly, if anyone had told me twenty years ago that I would be a nurse, someday, I'd have thought they were nuts. At that time, I would have been poorly prepared to be a nurse. I didn't lack compassion, but I'm not sure I could have handled the stress, the grief, the frustration, or the smells.

I sort of stumbled into health care, and after working with nurses awhile, it seemed like something I could enjoy, and make a decent living at. So far, it has been a great choice for me, but if it didn't pay better than bagging groceries, I'm not sure caring for my fellow man would be enough incentive to put up with the downside.

fleur-de-lis, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2006

Like others have mentioned, if you feel called into nursing, go for it! There are several Accelerated BSN and even MSN programs for people with degrees in non-nursing fields, so you might be able to get your RN quicker than you think.

Have you thought about private practice as a registered dietician? With the obesity problem in America, this is a needed service area where your expertise could really make a difference, and you would be less apt to see the pain and suffering aspect that is common in nursing. Just a thought!

If you really want to see if nursing is for you, volunteer in a hospital for a night shift or shadow a nurse for a few shifts. You will get a good idea if the career change is for you.

I am 29 with a bachelors in business and now I am in an accelerated BSN program - so "not quite mid-life" changes are possible! I am loving every minute of it!