Hi all! I just happened to stumble onto this site and it has been a godsend so far! After lurking for a day I decided to sign up and start posting.
My background/story: I am 24 years old, and currently living in Texas. Originally from MA.
I have had a LOT of stress/upheaval in my life in the last two years since I moved to TX. After graduating from Umass Amherst with a journalism degree (which, unfortunately, seems to be flushola now since I don't want to be a journalist), I moved down to TX. I've had to deal with the constant stress of culture shock (I do not identify AT ALL with the average Texan), my first real job (backstabbings, ****** boss, having to prove myself a few times to my coworkers, earning my first raise), my first apartment, my first new area/state, and my first real relationship. Add to this some oily black depression and teeth-rattlingy good panic attacks which I've had to white knuckle at work and in my personal life as well (thankfully therapy has helped TREMENDOUSLY). I still haven't made any friends here in TX and this DFW area is a toxic bore to a Yankee like me used to the intensity and stimulation of the Boston area.
And into all of this stress I'll add my fairly recent decision to try my hand at nursing. I'll admit I don't think nursing is my "calling," (I'm a thorough believer that it is a luxury to find a job you believe is your calling. I second Studs Terkel's affirmation of "that's why they call it work.") but I'll settle for "sustainable job" I guess. My friend is currently in a nursing program for the same reason as me: he too was embittered with his useless journalism degree and was tired of working barfbag unskilled jobs and out of desperation flung himself into nursing. Both of us are far from quixotic about nursing. I started taking prerequisite classes last January and have since completed a Chem course and a Math class. The schedule of working and studying sometimes had me pulling 16hr days 4 times a week.
*My question is: I don't know if I have the emotional fuel to keep on this nursing track after all this special joy of panic attacks and stress. I still have the bulk of my prereqs to take (Anatomy and Physiology, Microbio, Human Development, etc) and then obviously nursing school. Thankfully, I do plan to quit work to study full time next semester (that WILL reduce my stress markedly as I have a visceral hatred for my current job and its atmosphere of maudlin imbecility). But beyond that, I'm mostly worried if I can hack it as a nurse. I've read a fair amount of posts here from nurses who seem to paint a picture of nursing as a pantagruelian daily task sopped with bodily fluids, ****** patients in varying stages of death and tyrannical management and understaffing that would provide most muckraking journalists with a full three course meal with extra wheat germ. I just don't know if I could handle that kind of wear and tear on the old corpse and coconut, considering I have anxiety issues (although I will say I don't consider myself particularly squeamish). **However, I must admit I am excited about the material I will be learning in the classes and find biology and science entirely fascinating.
But maybe I'm wrong? Perhaps I could tough out my first year in a hospital setting and then branch off into a special field like a medical librarian? I'd like to be a librarian but from my research it seems like a solitary MLS degree is another bucket of sand. Or perhaps it's not ALL that bad and it just depends what hospital you end up in. I mean, I could definitely see myself as a nurse at a gp's practice or something, but the "adrenaline junkie" aura of hospital nursing does NOT appeal to me. I tend to be a quiet, thoughtful person who appreciates his free time in which I'm watching a good film, reading a good book, or listening to a good album. I'm also the kind of person who fails to see the current American wisdom in doing 10,000 things poorly when I could be doing just 10 things well; it seems nursing is all about scatterbrained multi-tasking. I'm just wondering if the $ is worth it if it leaves me totally wiped emotionally and physically on my days off. I'd rather work to live, not live to work, to be pithy.
I just wanted to add that a friend of mine from highschool got a job at Brigham and Women's as a radiology tech I believe, and she has a bachelors in something non-medical. It might be worth looking into.
" it seems nursing is all about scatterbrained multi-tasking."
Hmm - I am really sorry you have adopted this essentially negative perceptionof nursing. If that is how you see it, you should choose another option.
Nursing will always be about multi-tasking because people are not widgets & we care for people. We do not have the luxury of deciding "now I am going to restrict my focus to measuring your cardiac output". Instead, we take the opportunity to also assess their physical, emotional (and yes, spiritual) status at the same time. We frequently have to interrupt our 'plan' because reality intrudes.
When we're 'on the job' our own interests come second to those of the people we are caring for. Imagine how you would feel if you or a loved one's life depended on someone who is prone to panic attacks in times of stress. Not a good situation.
Since you seem to like health science - why not explore a less patient-centric field like laboratory science or pharmacy? Those environments are much more controllable and predictable.
I relate to your post. I am about to start nursing school, but my former life has consisted of a painting degree/special ed art teacher/ fashion industry office worker on NY's seventh avenue. That's a big career change, isnt it?!
I think only you know what you want. If the radiology sounds good, go for it. I want to guess that you already know that you want to go into some sort of health field for sure, otherwise you wouldn't be posting here. You are just looking for a push, for some encourgaing "you can do its"! Everybody needs that, there is nothing wrong with it, and you definately are getting some here!
So take that push, gather your courage and go for it. if you really want it you can do it, you just have to let yourself know you really want it!
Radiology is a really good paying job as well from what I have been told. I have a friend that was working at Mass General as a radiology tech, and sometimes hospitals have the programs within from what I have heard. I know in Florida at the hospital I worked there was a great program. There are alot of areas to consider in the medical field promising alot more job security than the other fields out there..Best of luck to you! :nuke:
I totally agree with all of that. I was very overwhelmed in the beginning and burnt out at one point, but then fell in love with this profession all over again and hope to keep plugging away toward my masters one day! :") I say thanks to all the rest of us who still care and do our job with the greatest intentions, and congrats for staying in it! It is a hard job that you love :")
It's sad you don't want to be a journalist...you have a refreshing handle on language and totally sound like a writer on Dawson's Creek. I, as well, have fallen into nursing. It's a good, safe, reliable job that pays nicely. Don't worry...we all aren't some Florence Nightingale cultists. Some of us just want to pay the cable bill. Good luck on whatever you decide to do.
I moved down to TX. I've had to deal with the constant stress of culture shock (I do not identify AT ALL with the average Texan), my first real job (backstabbings, ****** boss, having to prove myself a few times to my coworkers, earning my first raise), I still haven't made any friends here in TX and this DFW area is a toxic bore to a Yankee like me used to the intensity and stimulation of the Boston area.
Thanks for any advice/info anyone can provide!
I take offense to the above statement you made about Texans. I don't understand why you don't identify with Texans. Is it the Cowboy hats or boots you don't like? Why don't you go into further details of what you don't identify with "Texans?" Last I checked, we are all human and from the USA, definitely no need for this sort of disrespect. I don't fuss or complain about people in other states. I honestly believe you owe "Texans" an apology for your rude comment. And maybe if you check, there are a lot of people that have moved to Texas from other areas of the US, maybe these are the people you're not "identifying with". You think?
Texans are very friendly people and have always been in my opinion. I don't like being so frank with you, but I believe you've crossed the line with your disrepectful attitude about Texans. I will not quietly sit back and read your post, I will defend my state!!
If you don't like Texans.....Why don't you take youself back to Boston, or where ever you belong, along with your nice big vocabulary of journalistic words!! Culture shock....please give me a break. This "AIN'T" another country you're in. I could go on, but I'm steaming mad about your post and the saying that our nice DFW area is "A TOXIC BORE" . VERY DISRESPECTFUL young lady!!!! And your screen name???
The first thing you should do is immediately move out of Texas. It's ridiculous for someone to live in an area that is so obviously beneath them.
Just the opinion of an 'average' Texan.
AGREE! The disrespectfulness of the OP disgust me. I actually wish the moderators would close this thread. And to think someone in the ministry, if that's the case, would actually be so disrespectful.
I'm a TEXAN and very proud of it. :redbeathe DFW is a wonderful, fun place to live. I guess that's why so many people are moving down here.....AIN'T IT??? LOL
I do not want to start a flame war. I will not defend my statements and opinions about Texas because that will just open more flame statements. I do not hate all of Texas. I admit I let the bile flow profusely in my op and I apologize. I LOVE Austin and think it is unique and will take with me its unique charms for a lifetime. I just don't like DFW (and most of the natural-born Texans I work with feel the same way or even more vehemently than me, for what it's worth). And I DO plan to get out of Texas via my health career, whatever it may be.
I will say this: as for culture shock -- it exists. To those who don't believe me, I hope you've lived in another area of the country (I don't mean the South or the Southwest, I'm talking the Midwest, Northeast or the Northwest) for at least 2 years (mere tourism doesn't cut it) and get thoroughly out of your comfort zone of Texas before you challenge my observations. You should plunge yourself into the chaos and uncertainty of a new culture and setting and re-evaluate the very values and beliefs you once used to lean on like I try to do (and yes, Texas HAS taught me some very good things and enhanced my character). I'm not indulging in petty narcissim here. Sometimes this challenge is too much for me (thus the panic attacks).
This is a BIG country and each part of it has its own heritage and culture born out of differing climates, agricultural techniques, immigrant cultures, dialect, infrastructure, and history. It's just like saying Northern Italy and Southern Italy have different cultures, or Northern and Southern Germany. And I'm not idealizing Boston; I left for Texas because I wanted something very different from Boston and its irritations which were becoming more and more of a hardened artery. But with all drastic relocations, risks are inherent. I just found out that this part of the country doesn't suit my personality. Everybody doesn't have to like the same thing.
And let's not judge prematurely. I'm a male and my screen name comes from a metal/industrial band I was listening to at the time of my log-in. It is not associated in any way with any religion and no disrespect was meant, if that is indeed what is being objected to.
But getting back on topic: thank you djc1981 for your reasonable post. I knew there were nurses out there who enjoyed their work but didn't see it as a lifestyle.
I am excited about the potential of radiology. I'll be researching it in the near future.
I don't understand why you don't identify with Texans. Is it the Cowboy hats or boots you don't like? Why don't you go into further details of what you don't identify with "Texans?" Last I checked, we are all human and from the USA, definitely no need for this sort of disrespect. I don't fuss or complain about people in other states. I honestly believe you owe "Texans" an apology for your rude comment. And maybe if you check, there are a lot of people that have moved to Texas from other areas of the US, maybe these are the people you're not "identifying with". You think?
RS0302
90 Posts
I just wanted to add that a friend of mine from highschool got a job at Brigham and Women's as a radiology tech I believe, and she has a bachelors in something non-medical. It might be worth looking into.