EnigmaticRN

No, MOVE...

Ya know, I really can't get over how every one thinks government intervention is the answer to everything. Medicare is what got the ball rolling in the wrong direction to begin with. What makes ANYBODY think they can make things better by getting more involved? I am 51. I have a cardiac condition that is treated by medication. I cannot go without my medication. I am uninsured (by choice) and I pay for my meds out of pocket ($12/mo). I do not go to the ER unless it's for an emergency (there really are very few emergencies, you know). I do not expect others to pick up my tab. People need to get a grip. There are so many people up in arms over this health care debate. I don't understand it! If you cannot pay for a service, you cannot have that service! Healthcare is not a right! ACCESS to healthcare is a right, but you have to PAY for that access! You better pray that the health care bill DOESN'T pass... Kevin

Sounds to me like you need to go to your local community college and get some straight scoop. You cannot plan a career they way you appear to be going about it. How, for example, can you possibly want to be an ultrasound tech without knowing anything about it? You can't make a sound judgment by going to a nursing web site and expecting to get career info on an imaging profession. Good luck! Kevin

Well, I kept to my word! I ended my nursing career at the end of June! I am LOVING it! I am now a cook in a "Beer Pub" in Montana. It's great! I really like all the people I work with. Of course, every one thinks I'm nuts for leaving Nursing Started out washing dishes and got a "promotion" to cook after a week or so. Got my 90 day raise at 45 days. I make $32 less an hour than I did as a nurse, but I have just about zero stress and am learning a lot! It's great! And one of the coolest things is that I can smoke a little "Mother Nature" now and NOT worry about my career being ruined! THERE IS LIFE AFTER NURSING!!! Really!!! Kevin (The Cook!)

Yes. Good idea. I have been thinking about med equipment. Either sales or service. Maybe one of the companies that deal in ICU type monitoring equipment. Design? Hmmm..... Kevin

I intend to end my "clinical" experiences by the end of June. Not sure if I'll maintain my license or not. Sure, it was tough to get, but I feel like if I keep it, I'll end up back at it again. I just want out. I appreciate all the suggestions and advice given so far. I may give it a shot. Dunno! But, thanks to all again. Don't mean to come across so bitter. I'm just so ready to have only my life in my hands. Me

How do you figure that to be positive???

... I neglected to add the final line to my posting: Any ideas??? I'm willing to try almost anything!

Gone is the activism. Gone is the mentoring, under-the-wing, supportive person I used to be. I see the serious downgrading of the health care professions through a growing socialist agenda. The usurpation of the hospital setting by administrators that couldn't care less about patient care, so long as JCAHO gives them a "thumbs up" and the profits continue. I started out my career as one of the few men in the field. Most people thought we (male RNs) were gay. Most nurses held deeps suspicions that "we" were trying to "take over" nursing. I've had more than a few managers that made me feel like I was their own personal whipping post, working off the frustrations of an over-bearing husband, father, brother, boyfriend, etc... Now that most of those growing pains in nursing are past, where is the relief? My shifts each hold more and more stress: worrying about taking PROPER care of my patients, having help to accomplish what I need for my pts, having more to accomplish than one person should, no breaks, maintaining multiple certifications - recertifying every 2 years, physicians that don't listen, management that doesn't care, going home each day and for the first hour or two running through the day's events trying to remember if everything got done, signed, noted, checked, co-signed, consented, documented, copied, cleaned, counted, etc... ER was my love for many years and now each shift is the beginning of 12 hours of quick decisions, occasional assaults, sour stomach, self-doubt, watching out for what my co-workers do, etc, ad infinitum... I want out of nursing SO bad. But, at 50 years old, people think something is "wrong" with me for trying to leave nursing. Can't even get a job interview for anything non-nursing. I've been in industrial sales, a machine-tool electrician, medical equipment repair, programmer, computer sales/service. No one will give me an opportunity to move on to something else... Well, thanks for letting me vent... Me...