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.
Well, your journalism style is a great read and put a smile on my face! A couple of things come to mind when reading this.
1. Welcome to the real world! First career job and all the BS that goes along with it. I called this period of my life the Great Disillusionment.
2. Anxiety/stress/therapy: Career change and the realities of nursing may be something you want to explore with your therapist.
3. Salaries for nurses vary greatly from region to region.
4. Have you talked to any nurses to see what they like/don't like? I don't just mean your instructors at your school.
5. There is a great variety in nursing jobs as far as the wear and tear on the body, however most nursing jobs do remain emotionally challenging.
6. What if you hate it as much as your current career?
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 would love to add more to my opinion about your continuing thoughts of DFW, but won't go to that level. I refuse to believe that native texans feel ill toward their state. I would have to actually hear that with my own ears to believe. IMO, maybe you should adopt a better attitude and meet a nice Texas friend that can show you the lovely and fun parts of Ft Worth and Dallas. Ft Worth, for example; stockyards, downtown Sundance square, wonderful art museums, botanical gardens, etc. I could just go on about the wonderful city I live in. Don't know too much about Dallas. Dallas is a little too fast paced for me, but I still LOVE IT!!
i just glanced over your posting but got the drift.
i believe you can be unhappy in any career. i would consider giving yourself another try in your current field. YOU'VE ONLY TRIED ONCE!
you have a great degree behind you. there is so much you can do with a J-Degree.
i will tell you that a lot of my nursing friends, and new grads who have came after me are getting very burnt out.
so, that is a real possibility in nursing as well.
i am glad that i am getting out of the bedside... i felt very oppressed. at least, where i was at, i did. no one seemed to value each other.
what is nice about nursing is that there are so many things you can do... you can move on if you don't like one place. but i have seen nursing who have worked since i graduated four years ago have 10 jobs now.
sad.
so... i would give yourself another go. you worked hard for your degree, and you've done ONE job with it. try again sister. maybe texas is not the place for you. i visited New Jersey once... the place I was, I thought it was the ARMPIT of the United States. just saying...
I would love to add more to my opinion about your continuing thoughts of DFW, but won't go to that level. I refuse to believe that native texans feel ill toward their state. I would have to actually hear that with my own ears to believe. IMO, maybe you should adopt a better attitude and meet a nice Texas friend that can show you the lovely and fun parts of Ft Worth and Dallas. Ft Worth, for example; stockyards, downtown Sundance square, wonderful art museums, botanical gardens, etc. I could just go on about the wonderful city I live in. Don't know too much about Dallas. Dallas is a little too fast paced for me, but I still LOVE IT!!
Hi Brealynn. On one hand, I understand why you were offended. Perhaps the OP didn't use the best choice of words. However, I think perhaps their intention was to convey a sense of how difficult it has been for them to move into a very new place (and honestly Texas is very different from MA. Texas is unique, almost like it's own country in the US, and I mean that in a good way). The OP probably feels that the background of where they are coming from right now is important for us to consider when giving our advice as to what he should do with his career now, and the background includes feeling "different" and a little out of place from his surroundings.
I don't think the point of this thread is to change their attitude about where they live. They feel how they feel. I don't think the point of their post was to offend either. They just want some advice towards their career. Let's try to focus on what is relevant to our forum.
Ok folks just caught up with this thread and it seems to have calmed down and sorted out the personal problems so I will let it ride for now. Please no more insults regarding peoples states thank you
there are collaterial jobs you might find interesting such as respiratory therapist or physical rehab, most of these schools will accept a student that has a degree in any field
nursing home administrator is another that i have seen offered to people with degrees...these usually are attainable in 1 1/2 to 2 years usually have very good schedules and the pay is above average no matter what that average might be according to area
by the way i have lived in hawaii, so calif, ark, la, some what a shorter time in minn - people are pretty much the same or you can find people that you ar comfortable with
I can relate to this post. I recieved my BFA in Photography in 2006 and I am thinking about becoming an RN. There are aspects of any job that are stressful. The key is to trust yourself and find your niche. Nursing brings a lot of opportunities and securities and that's why I am thinking about making this decision. You don't even have to work in nursing full time if you don't want to. There are tons of areas you can go into, and perhaps the stress level depends on which hospital as well. So continue to research.
My mother passed away from a brain tumor in 2006, so that is part of the personal reasons for me. If I go into it I want to work in neuro for awhile. Good Luck! This is such a greate forum!!:)
No advice on going into nursing, but from one hardcore Yankee to another, move to Austin. LOL I have a lot of family that are all born and bread Yanks who live in Austin now and they swear they love it but can't stand being outside Austin.
Whatever you decide, I hope things get easier for you. I'm sure it has to be hard.
No advice on going into nursing, but from one hardcore Yankee to another, move to Austin. LOL I have a lot of family that are all born and bread Yanks who live in Austin now and they swear they love it but can't stand being outside Austin.
quote]
I LOVE Austin. If I ever leave my home area, I'm moving there. It's like the Village (the NYC one) but everybody is relaxed and takes it easy. It's an amazing place.
SunnyAndrsn
561 Posts
Well, your journalism style is a great read and put a smile on my face! A couple of things come to mind when reading this.
1. Welcome to the real world! First career job and all the BS that goes along with it. I called this period of my life the Great Disillusionment.
2. Anxiety/stress/therapy: Career change and the realities of nursing may be something you want to explore with your therapist.
3. Salaries for nurses vary greatly from region to region.
4. Have you talked to any nurses to see what they like/don't like? I don't just mean your instructors at your school.
5. There is a great variety in nursing jobs as far as the wear and tear on the body, however most nursing jobs do remain emotionally challenging.
6. What if you hate it as much as your current career?