artemis527

Ah! Boy have I been there! I've had years and years of that stuff.. and I have gone from crying when I got into the bathroom at work every night, to being able to just let it roll off my back for the most part. In fact, I remember thinking, a few months ago, during one such moment, with a dawning glow of revelation: 'I am doing the best I can. I am working as hard as I ever have.. this profession is so complex -the learning curve never stops- and this work is so intense and high-stakes - that everybody feels at some point something could have been done better (in hindsight)' and I thought about the people in my life who *really* care about me, like my family and my closest friends, and they aren't many, but at the end of the day, I care about what *they* think of me, and how I 'm doing in *their* eyes, instead of how I seem to be doing in the eyes of some superior-level colleague who doesn't know me at all. It's kind of cool, to have actually had that revelation *while* in the thick of the situation. I guess I've finally gotten over my sensitivity to it... :wink2: So even when *you* have these impossibly high standards for yourself (I know I do, can't help it) and your own disappointment in yourself is mirrored (vocally and loudly, too) by some person who just doesn't have a clue about your work ethic (etc.)... you *can* learn to handle it a bit more gracefully than you would ever imagine... I know I *never* thought I would. And here I am, I've done it! I've also found that it's easier for me to crumple under criticism when I'm chronically fatigued.. too many all-nighters in a row, that sort of thing. And when I've had a good night's sleep (sleep mask, neck pillow, no caffeine in the p.m., no eating a few hours before bedtime, and maybe some yoga or meditation), it's like I'm made of teflon at work. I'm serious! Everything bounces off me - my sense of humor is stronger, my guard is back up.. I think also that maybe starting to meditate has helped me, too.. it makes it easier to stop replaying the criticism in my mind, over and over... I went to an Intro to Zazen orientation at our local Zen organization here, in New Orleans. It was pretty painless and now I can practice on my own, if I want to.. Another good resource is _Thinking Body, Dancing Mind: Taosports' - a book that has some good, short images you can remember in a pinch, which can calm you down in ten seconds flat. It was written as a resource for athletes and uses visualisation to improve their performance, lessen the kind of self-criticism that can hurt performance.. a pretty fun read, overall. Hope this helps!

Wow, thanks! I see it says reg is closed except in special instances for Spring I, but I will definitely check that out. I'm wondering whether the additional cost of the books and lab kit costs more than $200? Just curious as to whether the whole thing would be over $1000..

I just wanted to salute you, not because I have any answers but because I totally understand. I've worked as a woman in a man's world (a camera assistant in the film industry) for the last decade, and while it was ok when I was in my 20s, it has certainly changed now that I'm a grown-up woman. So much so that here I am, changing careers, becoming a nurse, and (in theory at least) leaving it all behind.. From my experience, it has never gotten easier. But I have grown so much. For me, the back-handed comments about 'Giving up' and leaving that business behind are yet to come, but I know they will. As far as I'm concerned, each moment I worked as a woman, who looks like a woman, in a very technical, stressful, intense, cut-throat competitive, and super horny (can I say that here?) field, was worth it. I've contributed ten very solid years "representing" minorities in my field.. and honestly, I am excited to be moving toward a field where it's more acceptable for me to be a woman, with breasts. (I'm working toward my Lactation Consultant's Credential, which is ironic, right?) Just had to let you know I've been there. I'm *still* there. I hear ya chirpin' Big Bird, as they say down here in New Orleans... Keep your chin up!

I'm living in New Orleans right now, but I'm probably going to have to move to California before summer. I'm aiming to apply to UCSF MESPN program in June/July, so I wondered if there would be any advantage to actually being in SF during the time I'm waiting to find out if I've been accepted or not. My family lives in L.A., so it might be slightly less expensive for me to be there (I still have to pay rent there). But L.A. sucks all my energy out of me, and I really am unhappy there. I lived there for 7 years before I came out here to Nola, so I know this is not likely to change for the better.. On the other hand, I know I love living in the Bay Area. I did my undergrad up there, and have never lived in the city. I know everyone says it's super expensive, but how much worse can it be than L.A. finances-wise? Of course I am also considering the fact that it would be fascinating to get to know the city beforehand, and the populations up there, and get involved in the health care field somehow before school comes onto the horizon. I'm working with mothers and newborns, anyway! There are tons of them no matter where you go, but the challenges they face can change according to the region they're in.. I can tell you that in post-K, Gulf Coast New Orleans, there are going to be different issues going on than in California, for example.. Does anyone have any insight into this? Thanks!

I'm considering the online U of New England Physio class... it sounds amazing. Does anyone know about this one?

I recommend the UCSD Extension Lactation Consultant program! I'm doing it right now, and it's not as hard as it sounds to get all the clinical hours... I love it!

Actually, casn made a great point.. it's important not to forget about the dads out there. I would imagine that, in this day and age, (depending where you are, of course) a guy could be accepted as a Lactation Consultant. A guy might be able to reach fathers where a gal might not... just a thought hoping to keep you optimistic! :wink2: In my Lactation Consultant class, we're talking about all sorts of interesting challenges that come up - men haven't been nearly as big a factor as same-sex parents who both want to breastfeed, transgendered parents, invitro, and surrogate situations! I say, go for it!

Hi! I'm doing my cert through UCSD Extension. You can do the pre-req for that online, which I'm doing while still living in New Orleans (I do clinicals here).. but for the year course to prep for the exam, you have to get to California for a M/T every month or so, for about seven months. The great thing about it though is that the prof has a handy worksheet you can figure your clinical hours up on... super useful! She was instrumental in determining what Lactation Consultants need to do, so what she says should pretty much go... Hope this helps!

Hey there everyone, Does anyone know whether the UCSF MEPN program accepts online A & P? Do they need labs? On their website, they explain they are too busy to review pre-reqs courses, but that we should "be sure" we are taking a "rigorous" course, since in the first year students are expected to be able to put a strong A & P to use in clinicals. Honestly, I'm not trying to get out of anything... I'd love to take an on-ground A & P, but logistically it may set me back a year, since I have to re-locate and re-set up my life in the next few months. I've seen some potential A & P online courses with U of Phoenix, and U of New England, and Intro Physio with UC Online, and then a couple more through Corexcel and Calcampus. What the heck do they mean, they 'don't review pre-req courses'??? Shoot. Thank you, guys!