The worst job you had before becoming a Nurse?

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 25, 2016

Hmm...it is a toss-up between McDonald's and working for a catering business. The food industry is rough, and I am SO glad to not have to work at another fast-food joint again!

At least now, when patients/visitors/family members disrespect me, I am making more than 3x-6x minimum wage with benefits.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Mar 25, 2016

My worst job was the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college. I was the sole employee on the overnight shift in a 7-11 convenience store just outside Gary, IN. I was 19. The guy who owned the franchise was a Gary city cop. When he got off duty (midnight or so) he would stop by the 7-11 and leave his gun with me. I was robbed twice, and almost raped (saved by a late night steelworker). The fact that my dad let me take this job in the first place makes me think less of him to this day.

My best (non-nursing) job was selling bras and 'housecoats' with my cousins at a department store. My Aunt Jean was the dept manager, and so every girl in the family had this as their first job. We had a blast - for $1.11/ hour. (early 70s)

calivianya, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

Honestly, I kind of feel like the worst job I've had is being a nurse. The worst and best, I suppose.

All of the other jobs I've had were tons easier than being a nurse. I worked at a movie theater, a ritzy hotel, at a dry cleaner (might have been the worst, it got 120+ degrees in the summer and I was breathing in all kinds of nasty bleach, but it was still an easy job), and briefly at a publishing firm as an accounting clerk. Really hated that one - couldn't stand to sit there and push papers in a cubicle all day, but that wasn't hard work either.

SC APRN, DNP, APRN, NP · Mar 25, 2016

PCA worst job ever.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

My very first job in fast food was absolutely disgusting. You all don't want to know what happens to your food or the fact we washed dishes in cold water only. The management rationed my dishsoap as a cost cutting measure. It was gross.

I worked for a long time in retail management. And guess what, I still cleaned up poop, and was attacked by customers. I've had guns pulled on me, keys thrown at my head, all kinds of crazy stuff. I was threatened for not going along with a straw gun purchase one time. I get lots less lip from patients than I did in a retail store. Plus, the amount of hours I worked did not even equal min wage. That was over $10 years ago if you want to remember how little it was then.

So yes, nursing is a physically demanding and tiring job, but so were all of my old jobs. All of them. I just get to think more with this one, which is what I like!!

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

Check out clerk at a grocery store when I was 16. I lasted maybe 5 months. Things got better when I switched to the OTHER grocery store in town and was a stocking girl. I barely had to interact with the rude customers except to help find things. I could just keep to myself and restock the shelves. It was great.

When I worked as a checkout girl, it was truely amazing how ****** people treat you. Over things you have zero control over/ the customers lack of ability to read a sign. And the lines were always so busy you could never just go do other things. You had to be there, standing in the same damn spot at your till. Ugh it was awfull. My legs never hurt so bad.Not even as a nurse.

HopefulRN7 · Mar 25, 2016

Accountant at a stuffy corporate office. Great perks, awesome salary, 4 weeks paid vaca but crunching numbers and going through dusty boxes for random audits wore on me after a while.

Becoming a nurse was the best decision I have ever made even though I will never make nearly the amount of money I did before.

CardiacDork, MSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

Some of those "luxury bags" are paid from "off the truck"...just sayin'

I'm afraid to ask - off the trucks???

Farawyn · Mar 25, 2016

It's a term for a knockoff or a way to buy bags under the table.

Lots of women who can't afford "real" Lois Vuitton, or what have you, will buy a bag "off the truck"

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

My worse and most gruesome job was working at a sugar-cane factory as an electrical apprentice. I hated the foul "industrial language" and the smell of making sugar is horrible, like it really stinks, dare I say worse than C. Diff. The smell got into your clothes in your nose, skin everywhere and was difficult to wash off the smell. What finally did it for me was when a worker was killed after a high pressure steam valve broke loose and struck him in the head. He died instantly. It was the first time a saw someone die live. That was the last day I worked there.

Coming in close 2nd was at a plastic bag factory worker. I stood at the end of the line and loaded them unto pallets. I lasted 2 weeks...just didn't show up for work one day.

Coming in at a close 3rd place was my shortest employment ever was 1 week, repairing arcade video games...you'd just think you'd be playing games more than working...not!

CardiacDork, MSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

It's a term for a knockoff or a way to buy bags under the table.
Lots of women who can't afford "real" Lois Vuitton, or what have you, will buy a bag "off the truck"

I thought it meant something totally different involving truckers and exchange of money. / :

Farawyn · Mar 25, 2016

I thought it meant something totally different involving truckers and exchange of money. / :

Not in my 'hood.