whittwhitt

Hi! I never said I wanted a desk job but I am interested in a "behind the scenes" job or possibly a technical health care career, then again I'm not sure anymore about what I'm going to do. This week has been tough for me. I have social anxiety and while it's getting better I'm going through school currently trying to figure out how to handle it. I was hoping that nursing would be something that could really transform me into someone who is more social and comfortable around other people. I've always been interested in health care but just don't know what career would be best for someone like me. I've read online in SA forums that some people went into nursing (despite being scared) and came out more confident and comfortable around people; it gets better with time and practice like anything else. Another reason I was doubting nursing was the stress, but from what I've learned this past week all health care jobs are stressful, so I guess I'm just going to have to take that on to do something that I'm actually interested in for the rest of my life. Still haven't committed to nursing yet though. I'm going to shadow an LPN (if I can) this week or the next and see if I think it would be something I could do in the future.

Ok thank you for clearing that up for me! Do you know what kind of work experience would aid in getting a health care job? I have about 7 months before starting the LPN program and am looking to get a job to add to my resume as well as some volunteer work. I was thinking housekeeping, preferably in a clinic or hospital environment, would be a good starting job. Or any kind of clerical work, also preferably in a health care setting.

After doing research for about a week I've decided I want a health care job that doesn't involve that much direct patient contact, so possibly something technical. I've looked into billing/coding and transcription but don't want a desk job either. I'm also extremely interested in helping with surgeries. The programs offered at my technical college and careers that I think would be a good fit for me are: diagnostic medical sonographer, radiologic technology, and surgical technology. From what I've read in all of those careers it is very hard to find a job. If it would be a good fit for me I'd go for it and take my chances at finding a job, but since I know there are so many opportunities for LPNs to do multiple things in several different health care settings, I was wondering if anyone knew of an LPN specialty that would be similar to any of those careers? Do you know if an LPN can work as a CST (I believe it depends on the place you work). Possibly working in the PACU or the OR would be a good fit? Possibly first assisting? Any other LPN specialty positions or other health care jobs? Any help would be much appreciated! I've been getting on the computer every day this week for hours until my eyes burn trying to find something that would be a good career choice for me before I head down the LPN path

Thank you! I think I'm more interested in doing something with less direct patient interaction. I was looking into billing/coding or transcription, but I'd want something that's not a desk job. I've been doing research on radiologic technicians, surgical techs, and MRI technology for about a day now. I was looking into surg tech and found out I would be extremely interested in helping with surgeries. Possibly a first assistant as well. Do you know of any other jobs in a hospital or small clinic that are "behind the scenes"? Surg tech, rad tech, and sonography tech are the only things offered at my technical college that fit that description. I think any others you'd have to become an LPN or RN first and then specialize in something technical?

Thank you for replying! I love doing that too, especially after a bad day. I've never tried to think about going back to my "safe place" while being in a stressful situation though, probably because I'm too overwhelmed, but I can definitely see how that could calm you down - I'll try it next time! I haven't considered reading anxiety books before so thanks for the recommendation and good luck with your volunteering!

I've completed all of the pre-requisites for the LPN program and am going to take the NLN-PN in July and start the program in January (if becoming an LPN is what I really want to do). I keep having doubts about becoming an LPN because of the stress. I also have social anxiety, which I am getting a lot better at and is nowhere near as bad as it used to be, so I think I would be able to handle the social aspect of nursing after a while of practice. I want a career where I can push myself to become more social and I've read that other people with SA have actually became more confident and talkative after the first couple months of becoming a nurse. I'm also going to start doing research on vitamin supplements for SA or medications, if needed. In the meantime I'm going to set goals for myself to start talking more and become more confident. While I think I would be able to handle being an LPN socially, I was also interested in learning more about "not as stressful" health care positions (if they exist), just as another alternative. I admit I signed up for LPN classes without really knowing what they do every day or the effect it would have on me in regards to having to take on more stress. I just know that I love the health care field and want to do the best I can, I'm just not sure where I fit in. I've read that billing/coding, medical transcription, and medical assisting are jobs that are not as stressful (???). Could you guys let me know if that's true in your experience (maybe you know someone who was in one of those fields or perhaps you might have done that before becoming a nurse) or if you have any more program suggestions? I'm doing research on those careers at the moment and comparing them all. These are the other programs offered at my technical school: diagnostic medical sonography, radiologic technology, and surgical technology. Maybe some of those would work? I'm in the process of doing research on those programs. Or if I was to keep going with the LPN program ... I know LPNs can work in lots of different environments. Maybe some are less stressful than others? Or maybe become an LPN and specialize in something (I don't know what though). Thank you guys for any help! I should've done adequate research before taking any of the classes for the program, I just thought I'd be able to handle it only to have a breakdown after completing everything. I'd love any career suggestions. I'm going to email some places today and see if I can shadow an LPN if possible. ------------------------------------------ Also, this is a follow-up from the last post I made. I decided not to go into dental hygiene after talking to people about their job and asking them what they liked/didn't like about it and decided it wouldn't be a good fit for me. Vet Assisting was my first career choice but I decided a long time ago I didn't want to do that.

Thanks!!

Thank you for the help!!

Could you tell me what the daily routine of an LPN is at your hospital? I was going to message a few LPNs or RNs on here but I can't private message yet because of the 15 post minimum ... I'm 5'1" and was wondering if that would prevent me from getting hired. I've read posts on here that it didn't matter and most of the time LPN's got other people to help them move patients when needed. But the main thing I'm concerned about is the stress. My life is already very stressful at the moment. Neither of my parents work so I've really only got one chance to chose the right career and be able to take care of myself. I was wanting to do the LPN to RN bridge when I get older, although being an RN would be more stressful, but I think I could handle it after I become an LPN and make enough money for me to have something to fall back on. But an LPN doesn't have nearly as many stressful situations as an RN, right? From what I've read, they do injections, help patients with day to day needs, and change bandages. Basically I don't want to be completely responsible for someone's life at the moment and put more stress on myself, especially since there's so much already on me succeeding. I was thinking about being a dental hygienist and then becoming a dentist later on if being an LPN would be too much for me. That would be something less stressful and less physical and would also still be a health care career. Basically I want a health care career that makes good money but doesn't involve too much stress/responsibility. I've already taken all of the classes needed for the LPN program and am going to apply to take the NLN-PN in July this year, then hopefully start the course in January. If I was going to go into the dental hygiene program it would take about a semester to take prerequisites and then two years for the course (I believe, if you're able to take classes during the summer). But if dental hygiene was something I would be more comfortable with then it would be worth it of course. I've switched many times by the way. I started college wanting to be a vet assistant then switched to LPN then switched back to vet assisting then back to LPN and now I'm having doubts about being able to be a good LPN ... so any help would be much appreciated!

Sorry for the confusion; I'm about to apply for the LPN program next fall 2016. The Intro to Healthcare isn't required for the LPN program (for some reason?), it's just an extra class you can take while waiting for the LPN program to start. I'm wanting to become an RN eventually, but am going to wait until I get some more experience in healthcare before doing the bridge. I'm also wanting to live on my own and get a job as soon as possible, so I'm planning on doing the LPN-RN bridge when I'm older. Thank you for the help! I think I'm going to spend next year getting some work experience volunteering instead of getting the HCC. I believe other healthcare students (in dental assisting, HIT, etc.) aren't concerned with getting it either.

Ok, thank you!

I was wondering if anyone else has the option of getting a Health Care Certificate at their college and knows how useful it is on a resume? I attend Athens Technical College and can take 3 classes in the spring/summer to get the HCC, but was wondering how important completing it is and how much does it help in getting hired? The classes I'm thinking about taking which would give me the certificate are Intro to Healthcare, and two social work classes; Human Behavior/Social Environment, and Behavioral Health. The way my adviser explained it to me, it's just another credential to add to your resume but it is not required. He said the Intro to Healthcare class would be helpful if I just wanted to take that class while waiting to apply for the Nursing program in August. HOPE/Pell pay for all of my school costs, so another issue is using my HOPE money to go toward those classes when I could use it to do the LPN to RN bridge program in the future. I was planning on using my spring and summer to study for the NLN-PN and get a part-time or full-time job (preferably HC related) since I've never worked anywhere before. Obviously any extra healthcare classes would be helpful, but has anyone specifically had any benefits?

Thank you! This is the site, correct? https://lionsden.molloy.edu/ICS/ Could you help me find the nursing part of the site? I can find everything else from there, but don't know where to start!

I start college in Jan. and then Nursing school next Jan. I know you don't have to know anything to be accepted into the program, but while I have a few months to a year before I start I'd like to learn a few things ahead of time! Could you tell me some basic things I could learn? Maybe if there is a website that goes more in depth than high school that I could start learning (maybe anatomy/body system/things that I could begin memorizing?).