chgoreid

It depends on what you want to do and where you want to work. I have a bachelors in health promotion. I also have the CHES certification. Jobs are not plentiful, but I was lucky enough to get a job at the state level. Awesome benefits and guaranteed raises 3 times a year. I make WAY more than I did as an LPN. So it's not all bad!

Luxurious lifestyle as an RN? Probably as a Nurse Anesthetist you can.

RedCell: I am not fearful of your scrubs, but thanks for the concern. I think I said "some" might find it gross; I didn't say I did.

Well, I think running to pick up your son in a hurry is one thing. But wearing the full uniform, hat and all, to a school function after work is a little weird. Not to mention that some would think that its gross. I think it would be easier to just change, especially for something at the school. Just my humble opinion though. Let me ask this since I don't work in surgery...typically do you wear your street clothes in to work and change when you get there or do you wear surgical scrubs in to work? I guess I was under the assumption that street clothes were worn in and then you changed before you left for home usually.

So, along the same lines, are they supposed to wear their scrubs and hats out in public? I'm not talking about around the hospital, I'm talking about out in public at the grocery store, school functions, etc. I've seen it; someone out in full garb, scrubs and hat, at a school function. Didn't seem appropriate to me.

You need to get several people if you can to take him to the ER. If you have more than one person they will be more likely to listen and believe. If he is truely in a manic state, he will not be able to hide how he is acting. They have no control over their behavior and can't just "decide" to stop behaving that way. And most likely, when he "comes down" he won't remember a lot of what has went on. Good luck with this, as I know how hard it is to handle a family member with true manic episodes.

Good luck, and I definitely would pick pharmacy over nursing if I were you too!

Why not get a teacher's license? (if you don't already have one) Or go into health education? It is not a lot of money but you may like it. Good luck!

My best advice is..... look busy, even if you aren't! LOL

I worked in one for 14 years. Some years as a nurse and the rest as a health educator. It is definitely mostly psych nursing. Where I was, there was little medical management. Mostly, med passing or psych/behavioral issues. I think it is good and I'd still be there if the pay was there. However, after 6 years with no raise and a recent pay cut I had to leave. It was hard seeing people die from their addiction. Especially those young ones. It really just made you realize how important addiction treatment is. Good luck in your venture and if you have any other questions, just let me know.

I think it is good that you care. And for those that say "just because you cry, you're not a better nurse," I also think that just because you DON"T cry, it doesn't make YOU a better nurse. I would surely want someone to be sensitive to my family member. However, try not to let it get to you so badly. But I know how those bad days go, and sometimes you cry because there is a whole bunch of things that day that occur, not just one.

This is a time when the grapevine could be used to your benefit. I remember when a coworker of mine lost one of her babies and she wanted it to get around before she came back so there would be less questions being asked when she returned. I'm sorry for your loss. I can only imagine how hard this must be.

Very well said.

Yeah, and CRNAs make more than that.

I actually considered sonography recently and I would do it except that the closest school is 2 hours away. I say go for it if it is what you want to do. It is definitely different from nursing though. I would agree that your career options are limited with sonography but you could possibly teach later on. I'm sure there are more options I'm just not sure what they are. I know someone who is a sonographer and she loves it. She works part time and is paid well I think. For the most part they get paid as much or sometimes more than nurses. You also can specialize in OB or echo. Good luck in your decision!