writer2nurse+

haven't read all the posts, so forgive me if this has been covered on this thread. am wondering about a new poll question: how many of you are willing to go on strike to maintain OT?

BA in English. Worked in the record industry (when there was still vinyl!). Now I'm a magazine editor. Hope to continue writing, but w/ health & wellness as my beat.

acid reflux/GERD can cause a chronic cough

I've been checking into San Diego, too. Has any one heard about the working conditions at UCSD Med Center? Thanks for your time!

What about second-career nurses? Would love to hear from folks who started nursing in their 40s....

Hi Karen, I'm so glad to have found your post. When you worked as an editor/writer, weren't you worried about ageism? I know too many talented writer/editors who have been downsized out....only to have their jobs snapped up a year later by someone fresh (and cheap) out of college. Those folks have yet to find comparable work. That's why i'm looking for a second career where I'll be in demand no matter my age. Perhaps, I'll get to make a difference. And that UC pension looks pretty attractive, too. I've been blessed to find my current job. But over 9 years, the workload just increases. Work weeks are freq. 55-hours w/ no OT pay. If i work nights and weekends, there's no compensation. As for vacation, I get 20 days, but I can't take more than a 5-day weekend (or else face a mountain of backlog). I'm lucky to enjoy 10 minutes to eat lunch at desk, and breaks, forgetaboutit! Yes, I get to learn new things and attend some interesting events, but that by-line costs me money! There's no financial security in the long run. The only thing that's keeping me is ego. Admittedly, this BB scares me. Few people seem happy with their nursing careers. I'm wondering if I'm just leaving one unhappy situation for another. So, how are you feeling today after all of these responses? w2n+

Good to hear from all of you! I appreciate the feedback! for Kona2: CAADAC is California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors. It's available via UCLA Extension (2 year program).

Hello! I've been lurking on this website. What a resource! Am considering nursing as second career. I have a B.A. in English from UCLA and am getting a CAADAC. Next step: pre-reqs, then A.D.N. I want to work at my alma mater in neuro-psych (p/t in med-surg to maintain different skills). I'm worried that my No. 1 frustration in the work place will also exist in the hospital environment. Over the course of my professional life, I've grown disheartened that so many people don't get details right, much less delivered on time. Maybe this laziness and inattention to detail represents a decline in the American work ethic. Is the hospital environment the same? Or, since the stakes are higher, do RN's feel supported by staff, peers, management, union, etc? Are RN's surrounded by people who do the job right? Or are you hard-working folks constantly trying to get the people around you to care about the jobs at hand? I want to work in an environment where people possess a strong attention to detail and do whatever it takes to get the job done right. Is nursing the way to go, or am I going to be endlessly exasperated in this environment, too? Thank you for your feedback in advance. I appreciate your time.