Veteran looking to serve again

[unclebriz]

Hi I was scared to ask here. I am a "disabled" veteran and I am looking into going to school through the Vocational Rehabilitation program offered by the VA. I want to serve others again but I can't do it in the military. (I have actually tried but the answer was a huge no) Why am I telling anyone who reads this all of these things? I have heard people say helping others is one of the best therapies out there. I simply need a few questions answered from as many who are willing. Tell me the good the bad and everything in between for each. I figure, I have nothing to lose by asking so... help me allnurses.com you might be my only hope because I don't know enough people to ask another way. Thank you so very much to anyone who can just answer the following... you could even just PM me...

1 - I have trouble in some work environments that, to some degree, always seem to have "drama". I was a computer programmer. I've been pulled into drama before. What is the typical working environment for someone at the LPN level? I do well with taking orders. What are the day to day stressors that I might need to watch for?

2 - The first question was the biggest but this ties in. How difficult would a nursing career be for someone with a mental illness. Say depression with irrational paranoia at times who has been stable with meds and therapies for a good number of years now? If I pursed a nursing career, what kind of support system should I have in place if I don't already have it?

3 - Would I need to disclose my "disabilty" to an employer and or am I barred in any way from working at places that I have been inpatient in the past or barred for ever being inpatient psych. I was told I would be by an old psychiatrist.

4 - Finally, is it hard to find a job in a large metro area like say Charlotte NC? If I had a choice I would work with Vets and/or/maybe Active duty as a civilian.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me. Like I said, PM might be the way to go so I can get a first name and last initial and I hope this isn't against this forums rules...

Brian

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Best of luck to you.

This is a slow moving forum, if you'd like us to move it to the general forum where there's more traffic, let us know and we can do that for you.

[angelique777]

Its really something you have to decide. Only you know if this is going to interfer with your work. I can tell you that nursing is a tough profession and a nurse is subject to a lot of abuse at times although not always depending where you work. I can say as a floor nurse the abuse has been heavy. From co-workers who personalities are extremely demanding at times ( you can see post by other nurses who discuss bullying at the work place) , some nurses say from providers (In that area I have not experienced to much abuse I have a good rappor with my providers there is always one or too who I could live with out) (see post from nurses about being yelled at by doctors ) abuse from patients who sometimes from being sick are abusive and some times because they are addicts and have abusive manipulative behaviors and then there is always from management who you want to believe or supportive but who can hang you out to dry.

If you feel your past medical problems of depression and paranoia can withstand the on slaught from all these area than you know if you can pursue the career or not. You have to have a clear seperation as to when your own personal weakness are kicking in and when your are on target about what your are perceiving I think thie a a key point. Conducting your self as a professional and being a safe practitioner is key to nursing and key to your choices that you make.

If you become a nurse the work in environment you choose can also be important. Some times working enviorment makes a difference. In another job I have as a nurse I work in a clinic setting and although at times people can become difficult it not half as bad as a hospital setting. Therefore more tolerable and I definitely feel in the clinic setting I am helping others as well. The clinic setting is my happy place while my hospital job is the place I go to challenge my self.

So, if you can endure nursing professors that is your first hurdle( you can read what nursing students have to say about them and how nurses eat there young lol) this is something you have to know about so you dont develop paranoia because I believe its just part of a culture and process you have to endure to make it through school. It unfortunate but reading about what others experience is key to knowing negative stuff exist and that with patient, perserverance and not taking stuff to heart many of us has survived it to live and tell about it lol So why not you. You can one day tell us of your over coming it too. So to answer you question why not only you know your self and know what you want to subject your self too.

However you and only you know if you have over come your own personal problems in order for you to safely help others and be clear enough to know when you would have to step away. Now a days who has not suffered from some depression or paranoia. Todays society full of consipiracy theories etc. The key here is patient safety and if you can function as a safe practioner and not take to heart all the abuse that occurs in this profession and if you can also not internalize it so that it does not take a toll on you emotionally then this is the hurdle you need to ask your self if you can do.

The past is the past how are you today how much can you handle today. This is the key question for you. Look always for an work situation that can maintain quality of living for your self and still allow you the energy to help others in a safe manageable way.

I wish you the best I think your right a carreer that takes you away from your self and helping others is always a great direction to go. I wish you the best in your search

Angela