The worst job you had before becoming a Nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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What was the worst job you had before becoming a Nurse? How has Nursing changed your life?

As a HHA/Homemaker, I had some assignments that were not as pleasant as others. It's hard to say that the job was the worst one I've had, since there were some people I worked with that were extremely pleasant. One was an elderly lady who lived alone in an apartment; she was always very gracious and adaptive to whatever schedule worked out for me. However, there was one client I worked with whose apartment reeked of so much smoke it almost made me sick to work there. Half of the time, she did not have work for me to do, and she barely had any cleaning supplies. With the smoke, I guess I should be thankful that I was almost never there for more than 10 minutes. Because of this, finding a smoke-free place of employment is very important to me. Also, I never knew from week to week whether or not I would be needed or not. Many times I would show up to her apartment only to be turned away, even though she had my phone number and could have just called to let me know whether or not I should come.

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Oh man, I was an ice cream scooper at a very busy beachside cafe, the chiller was set on a very cold temp, so the icecream was rock hard! After rolling all day one after the other, my arm was dead! At one point I said *** this $^#*! And threw the scooper down and walked out! Of course I came back to apologise later 😁. On a positive note a built up a great right arm muscle

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The worst job I had before becoming a nurse would probably have to be when I was a deli clerk in a grocery store. The customers and managers always talked down to me and I barely made any money. Nursing changed my life because this is the first job I have had where people treat me with respect (well, the vast majority of people). I am able to pay my bills and it makes life a little easier. Knowing that I'll have a lifelong career makes me happy. I feel like with nursing there is so much to learn and experience. I am glad I did it, even though some days are very stressful.

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Worst job was as a tobacco field hand - high school summer job. Next worst was as an assembler in a small capacitor factory. From there I went to nurses' aide in a nursing home. This was the late sixties/early seventies, when turning sixteen meant they had to pay me minimum wage: $1.10/hour.

My first job was suckering/harvest tobacco. It was nasty work but as a teen, it paid great. My parents were dirt poor so being able to earn my own money felt like finding a gold mine.

Their deep poverty was great motivation to get my act together and pursue a career that I had passion for. I can't wait to finish and begin working!

As for worst job, front-end manger in training at Kroger. Horrible shifts, rude customers and a witchy boss made the nasty tobacco fields look appealing.

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Specializes in I/DD.
Oh man, I was an ice cream scooper at a very busy beachside cafe, the chiller was set on a very cold temp, so the icecream was rock hard! After rolling all day one after the other, my arm was dead! At one point I said Eff this s^#*! And threw the scooper down and walked out! Of course I came back to apologise later ������. On a positive note a built up a great right arm muscle ������.

My high school job was an ice cream scooper, but at a frozen custard place. I didn't realize at the time how lucky I was to have picked that particular form of ice cream. Not hard to scoop at all :) that was one of my best jobs ever. Free ice cream to take home, fun environment, and the customers were always happy!

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

Pre-nursing jobs were pretty boring but stuffing Tampons into the box was most dull. Thus was in the 60's. Nursing gave me a good retirement. Awesome.

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Specializes in LTC, LTAC, REHAB, MED.ONC.

I've worked all types of "service" jobs over the years, retail, fast food, receptionist, customer services phone rep etc. I have been a CNA for over 7 years, and currently a nursing student. I can honestly say the worst job I have ever had is my current CNA job.

Today the census on our medical oncology floor was 28. We had 6 rn's and 3 aids. Charge nurse tells me and another aid if we don't get another admit before midnight I'm sending a CNA home. I say well the staffing grid calls for 3 aids at 27 patients. According to staffing grid a nurse is supposed supposed to go home, there are 2 nurses with only 4 patients, the rest of them are at 5 (max pt. to nurse ratio 6:1) She says well what if the ER starts sending people up. I'm like exactly each aid will already be at 14, then having to deal with new patients too, and I'll have at least 3 nurses to assist. She says well that doesn't matter.

I had to walk away cause the next thing's out of my mouth would have gotten me fired. She just told me I didn't matter.

Between 4-6:30 am I'm expected to get vitals on all my patients,empty all the foleys, garbages give at least 3 bed baths, check blood sugars (had 6). Make sure all my I&O'S and baths are charted. I had 2 neutropenic chemo patients one is puking the other has the runs and insists on walking to the bathroom making a mess every time. Oh let's not forget the positive TB patient.

And to top it all off she told the house supervisor the aid volunteered to go home!!!

:facepalm: Sorry this turned into a vent but if I didn't let it out I was gonna explode.

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My worst job was working as a cashier at a grocery store. Some people are just rude and mean.

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I was a bottle cap inspector one summer during college. Yes that's a real job description.

I worked in a chemical plant. I'd open a box of 1,000 battle caps and inspect them under a magnifying class for dirt and damage. Then I'd put them in another box. Apparently, if there was dirt in the bottle caps and the bottle caps were used on sulfuric acid battles, the dirt would fall into the bottle and make the bottle explode.

Do you know how boring it is to look at bottle caps under a magnifying glass for 8 hours a day?

Mind numbingly boring. :p Was this in the days before ipods and audiobooks?

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Night shift server at a 24 hour diner. Oh how I miss the drunks, perverts, and bad or no tippers. The other nights I didn't get enough tables to pay the bills.

Drunks and perverts? Sounds like a standard shift in the ER! :laugh:

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I was a telemarketer for 2 days. Never heard so much choice language in such a short amount of time. Oh and a hotel housekeeper. That lasted for 2 weeks.

On the flip side I was hurt on the job and was placed in registration for a month. Best job ever. I only had to talk to people for a couple minutes on the phone and I was fast and efficient. I was also able to answer some medical questions the patients asked. I didn't mention I was a RN because then they really would have asked a ton of questions. Looked into working there part time while I'm in school but it would be a $35 an hour pay cut. Darn it!

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Waitress at an fancy retirement place The people would come down to the dining hall. Rudest people ever!! Never be rude to a server. They handle your food

I was a waitress too but at a chain restaurant. It wasn't a bad job but yeah I agree with being nice to your nurse and your waiter.

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