Profound question of the day r/t work...

kids · Dec 11, 2002

I know its time to move on when I lay in bed in the morning and realize that if I don't get up and go and don't call that they will fire me...and I just don't care anymore.

You like HH...how do you feel about Peds HH? I will PM you the name of the company I work for, I *think* we have offices in NJ. BTW, after having 6 jobs in 14 years I finally found one I love and hasn't totally burned me out in a year (I've been here 3)..

researchrabbit · Dec 11, 2002

Have you thought about research studies? It can be a very flexible, self-directed job. Soft money -- but usually the MDs that do it are never without another study in the wings (I've done research for 14 years now and am constantly being offered work with other MDs).

There's pharmceutical research and government grants; both have their good and bad points. Plus you can usually avoid weekend and holiday work. There are private companies that do research and university-affiliated research. You have to like paperwork AND patients.

hoolahan, ASN, RN · Dec 11, 2002

I looked into research, but there was a lot of travel involved, to Boston for overnights 3-day IRB meetings, and then to facilities, etc...

That is food for thought though.

Thanks Wendy, I don't think so, but I will hold that thought! :kiss

Audreyfay · Dec 11, 2002

Almost the only job that I liked, that I didn't get bored with, was agency nursing. I didn't have to work, if I didn't want to. I could choose the shift I wanted.

The best job I ever had was working afternoon shift in the operating room as a circulating nurse. The worst job I ever had was when I was the only caucasian on my shift, and I was the assistant nurse manager.

I have had 10 different positions in my 27 years of nursing. I've worked as an employee at 14 different hospitals/facilities. That's what's so great about being a nurse. Get bored/tired? Try something else. Maybe OR nursing. It really was quite interesting! And quite a different arena of nursing.

sjoe · Dec 11, 2002

Hoolahan writes: "My real dream is to be a librarian, immersed in books at the library."

If I had this as a goal, I'd do a google search around library-related topics that sound interesting to me.

I'd take a local public librarian to lunch, then a research librarian at a university, then have coffee with a dean of library science to get some new perspectives and ideas, taking notes and getting suggestions for other interesting interviews.

These people probably have leads about your connecting with corporations, newspapers, TV stations, etc. which do a lot of research for their own purposes.

A degree may not be necessary for what you might wind up wanting to do, but computer skills ARE, so you are starting off well already.

Enjoy the holidays.

sjoe · Dec 11, 2002

Re CHEESE:

There is a "DON'T MOVE MY CHEESE" thread now on this forum.

(As Dan Rather has now taken to saying at the end of each broadcast, "What next?")

Dr. Kate, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2002

As an RN with a MLS, I can speak a bit to your dream of being a librarian.

Preparation for librarianship (ugly word, isn't it?) takes from one to two years at the master's level. I went to a 2 year program at UCLA and worked FT 3-11 the frist year and FT 12 hr nights the second. The second year I also did a 20 hr/ week internship for three quarters, and one quarter as a TA (10hr/week). Yes, I went to school FT (usually taking 16 units, a couple times 18.) Yes, I am nuts, also single without kids. I loved every minute of it. And in truth there were things I would have done if I had had more time but my work schedule got in the way.

I can only tell you about UCLA, so there may be sensible schools out there, I just don't know them. UCLA firmly believes that grad students should not work FT. Not that they give you money to live on, they just make it really, really hard to go to school and work FT. And they get really cranky about not going to school FT. They make that almost impossible. I have to be honest and say that they are a bit better these days, but not much.

LIS (Library and Information Science), and especially the library side of things, is a field almost frighteningly like nursing. The rank and file of librarians are women. If you think nurses are poorly paid, librarians are even more poorly paid. I estimated (in 1989) that it would take me 5 years to make as a librarian what I was making as a nurse then. By the time I graduated in 1991, worse. The market for librarians was down in 1991, it is up right now. The area that has remained steady and will increase is in LIS faculty positions. Most of the current faculty members are baby boomers and that means there will be positions opening in the next 10-15 years. The number of PhDs produced in LIS is not sufficient to meet the projected needs. Entry level faculty salaries are in the 40K range, max tends to be around 60k. If you think the politics of the hospital are nasty, they're nothing compared to academia. My friends in public libraries say they're nothing the sneeze at there, either.

There's a need for archivists, business and legal librarians, and the need for medical librarians tends to be steady.

LIS is a dynamic, exciting field. Just like nursing it is a practical and theoretical field. It's not just about reading in a quiet library anymore. If you'd like to talk please feel free to PM me.

KP RN · Dec 11, 2002

Hoolahan, maybe you could consider going back to HH on a prn basis WHILE you start your own private pay RN service where you make the visits.

There are a lot of people out there who either don't qualify for medicare HH because they don't have a skill or they're not homebound. There are lots of people who are willing to pay you to come to their homes once a week or so to fill pill boxes, draw labs, cp assessments, etc. They want the convenience of having their "own nurse" and they're willing to pay.... Targetting clientes who are on waiting lists for admission to ALFs can be fruitful as well. I see people whose children are so busy with work, or live out of town, that the kids pay me to check on Mom.

I agree with you, however, in that I love HH but I hate the politics. This is what I did, and I feel much more satisfied.

Good Luck!!

AHRN · Dec 12, 2002

Hoolahan,

What about teaching pediatric patients and their parents/caregivers? Is there a pediatric hospital or clinic near you that might have position for case management for chronic illness such as diabetes or even preventative wellness education?

You mentioned teaching 7 y/o's and not wanting to go back for MSN and I started thinking. I'm doing telephone triage now and love the teaching-educating part of the care advice. Just a thought to get you started thinking about what you really want to do.

hoolahan, ASN, RN · Dec 12, 2002

You guys are so creative!!

Dr Kate, that is interesting. I was under the impression that they would start at 60K, from ads I have seen around here.

But again, to go back for a nasters, when my kids will be nearing college age too soon, can't do it.

I am giving serious thought to the HH private biz tho, have been for awhile actually.

I glad I posted my whiny question now!!!

Furball · Dec 12, 2002

never whiny...