hobo

. Not only does California have the highest wages for RNs, they also throw around political muscle in doing things like getting nursing ratios legislated in... How do you feel about being a nurse in California? I am desperate to move back but just can't afford the housing while going to school. Well ... maybe I'll find a way. I'm going to try living in Pittsburgh (PA) this winter and see if I can stand it. If so I'll go to school there (houses are very cheap to buy and really gorgeous - it's a great community as well). But California is absolutely where I belong and I can't even think about it without starting to get teary-eyed. Arrgghh I miss it!

I'm a new NA (= limited experience) so it's really great for me to realize that everyone has things they can't stand! I'm going to go on and get my RN, despite all the people telling me I'm too old, too inexperienced, too much of an old trucker, etc. None of that worries me, but the one thing that has given me pause is ... I HATE NOSEBLEEDS!! Colostomies? I find them interesting. Poop? I worked in daycare for a long time - no prob. Same with pee. Wounds, trachs, etc. are just all too interesting so I forget to even be grossed out. But my deep, dark secret is that I absolutely cannot handle nosebleeds. The one time in my life when I thought I had one (turned out the blood was from the outside of my nose!) I actually threw up! Now THAT has made me wonder about myself. "If I can't handle nosebleeds do I really have what it takes to be a nurse?" So reading these replies is great. I guess we all have our weirdnessses. It's really funny reading what sets us each off. Makes me smile over my chemistry book.

Have you worked 'in jail' long? Have you worked other types of places? How does it compare? I'm a curious nursing student - just got my NA license and am considering options for where to work while I get the rest of my RN.