2bNurseguru

Why did you change from OT? Was it unfulfilling? My personality style does not like surprises. I thrive well in a structured environment where I know what to expect. I also like routine jobs. Dealing one-on-one with people is my strength. I don't like groups. A desk job like human resources or accounting would be best for my personality, but think you can always learn something new. Those field are not promising with this economy. It seems like OT would be a little bit more structures than nursing. I don't like to think on my feet--I am not very good at it.

I have come to realise that most of the people who complain about foreign born workers have a personall problem with immigrants. America is not an Island and cannot exist on it's own. If all foreign born workers were eliminated, it would be the first country in the world to do so. All countries in Europe hire foreign born workers. In fact in UK, international students are allowed to work unlike in the US. If the US keeps pushing others out, it will never have good relations with other countries. Wake up Folks!! This is the 21st century and we are in a global economy. We need to accept what we cannot change and move on. By the year 2030, caucasians willl be the minority in the US. I went for a conference and I heard something that was very austounding. By the time people in their 40s retire, minorities and immigrants will be paying their social security. If you haven't stepped out beyond the US borders, you may not realise that we have Americans working in other countries all over the world---yet those countries have very high unemployment rates. Most hospitals like to hire immigrants coz they have very high work ethics and are very hard working. They don't call in for minor reasons. They are also very respectful especially with seniors since they have been taught to respect their elders. I think having them here may be good since they can teach us a thing or two about work ethics, respect and appreciating our differences.

I think blaming foreign trained nurses for low wages is just unreasoble. Thousands of foreign trained OTs, PTs and MDs are hired every year, yet their salaries continue to climb compared to nursing. So pointing fingers at the wrong issue is not going to help. The problem is that nursing is still viewed as a helping career and people can go to school for as little as 2 years and become nurses. Nurses get to take orders from doctors but cannot authorize a treatment plan. So the pay can never be competitive. People in other health profesions moslty need a Masters (like OT) or Phd (Like PT) to be licensed. They can also recommend treatment plans so they are not under doctor's orders. So raising the level of education required to become RN may help.

My company might be laying off employees and my prospects of getting another job in nutrition are pretty grim since I have a masters in Nutrition but no RD credential. I have been here for almost 10 years but my pay is in low to mid 40s (about $21/hr). I am thinking about going back to school for either accelerated BSN or OT. One year OT program would cost me about $80,000. RN would take about the same time, but the starting pay for OTs is higher than RNs. RN program is about $10,000. Working hours for OTs are also better that RNs--no nights. Right now I am in a dilemna. Does this seem like an outrageous amount of student loan at my age? I am in my mid 30s with a young family. I don't mind either RN or OT since it seems like they pretty much deal with the same type of issues and stress. OT work is also somehow similar to RN since they also have to deal with bodily fluids. You can't escape this in either profession. My main concern is the huge student loan for OT and 1 1/2 years of full-time school but the starting par for OT would be about mid-upper 40s. RN would be about mid 30s.

Do you mean you were an occupational therapist Registered? If so, I would like to chat with you as why you switched to nursing since I have an interest in OT--Pros and cons.

Divorce is not answer for marriage problems. When I am stressed, I take it out on my kids and husbands. I have tried to be more intentional in my marriage by showing more respect for my husband. He doesn't do dishes or cook, but he mows the grass, plays with my kids and helps clean although he does not do as much as I would like. But hey, I would rather have a dirty house with a happy marriage, than a clean house and a miserable marriage or lonliness. Being together is more important than a clean house. When talk to him, be very respectful. If you don't respect him he will be defensive. Say" honey, there are some things that I would like us to talk about when you have a minute. I feel really stresses out with school work, taking care of kids, and cleaning the house, do you have some ideas on how we can help each other more? Talk about we, and I, not you. Divorce never works--before you realize you will with husband number 4 with tones of kids who have no firm foundation who will end up becoming just like their mother. For me, the word divorce is not part of my vocarbulary ----unless there is physical abuse or continually unfaithful partner.

Have you had to make such a choice? I don't think so. Even people in third world countries don't come across such scenarios, leave alone a country like America. Your tax dollars will not be less if you don't treat illegals. They will keep climbing up no matter what. I don't think you will get a rebate if you don't treat illegals--just a thought.

Some people would be upset that US taxpayers are footing the bill for the medical care for an illegal alien as you describe. Alien or not, life is life. If one experinces such a tragedy in their family and realize the pain associated with it, perhaps this can help change attidudes about other people. Even the Israelites were aliens in Egypt hence were mistreated by Pharaoh. I don't think most US citizens would treat foreigners like the Egyptians did. Most of them are pretty civil and God fearing. But if they did, God would find a way to rescue them from their tomentors.

Is this doable? I mean if you were in school during the day and worked nights, when did you get to sleep and do your homework? I would like to do this but I wnat to hear from someone that it is doable. If I go to school all day, do homework and sepnd time with my kids in the evening, and then work nights, when will I ever sleep?

The whole point is--nurses are very lucky. They get to make good money with little or no student loans. Count yourselves very blessed. The stress is there but I don't know how many people make $40,000 from a two year degree. If you have a financial need, you can easily work an extra shift. You can pay off 5-year car loans in a year if you plan well---may be work an extra shift each pay period and use the extra money for a specific project. I just spoke with a student this morning who wanted to pursue dietetics. I told her that the choice is completely up to her but If I was to do it all over again I would have gone for nursing. You can have a masters in nutrition and still make 13 or 14 dollars an hour, with very few job opportunities. Some careers may have less stress, but lack of stress will not pay your bills. I would rather be stressed three days a week and live a confortable life the other 3-4 days a week.

Well, I am the opposite as well. I have been thinking about OT but after shadowing and researching the tuition cost, I am changing my mind. Most OTs don't seem to enjoy their job. Cost for tuition for OT is $80,000 at schools closest to me (can't relocate due to personal reasons). I currently make close to the starting pay of OT graduates, so I am wondering why in the world I would add $800 per month in student loan payments and end up being poorer than I am. I have concluded that OT is not worth if financially for me. But your situation may be different. I a not sure RN may be worth it as well. I just visited one OT school today. This is the infor. I got: Cost of two year program 75k-80k. Average student is able to work only 16 hours a week. Average starting salaries in St. Louis, MO--Hospitals $44,000, Long-term care $48,000 ,which everyone hates because you become more or less of a glorified CNA---wiping butts all day, community setting $30,000, school districts $40,000. Those salaries are pretty dissapointing. Average monthly loan payment: $850 per month for 10 years, plus two years of tremendous stress. This is prety much what I am making right now with no student loans. I guess I would end up poorer as an OT. I was going for it simply for the diversity in employment opportunities and money as well. Relocating is not an option due to family obligations. I guess I will stick with what I got or go back to the drawing board for BSN. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

I have a friend who is planning to apply to Mizzou for an OT program. It's the only public university in the state offering this program. She lives in St. Louis and has two young kids. The husband has a good job in St. Louis and can't relocate to Columbia. Is it practical to commute two hours each day one way for 3 years? The program is full time. Has anyone had to commute to school and how stressful is it?

Are agencies genuine? they seem to pay alot higher that hospitals---up to $30 an hour. I am just wondering why most people don't choose agency nursing whic can sometimes pay twice as much per hour. Sometimes I wonder if they are a rip-off. They seem desperate for people.

Is any one familiar with Temps Inc? It's an agency and when I called them, they asked me what salary I expect and when I mentioned a figure, they said that they will try to get me a client that can pay in that range. Is this a ligitimate agency? I am a new grad looking for a quick way to pay my students loans without breaking my back. They said they have a lot of opportunities and most contracts are 13 weeks long but can be extended at the same facility. Are agencies genuine or do they rip you off?