5 answers
Samantha
Student
Monterey, California
5
Questions
Asked
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Was this career your first option? Do you ever get stressed/bored of your job?
9th grade, did you always want to do this job and did you like this job a lot, Was it harder than you thought or easier
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5 answers
John Levesque
Clinical Quality Nurse
75
Answers
Waterville, Maine
Updated
John’s Answer
Samantha - In high school I never considered becoming a nurse. I was very interested in business and finance and while I initially went to college to study these fields, it took almost no time for me to realize that my thinking around work and life had changed. As we gain experiences and exposure to different things, possibilities open up and new options for work and a career become visible. As a part of a business class I took my senior year of HS, I was required to do a 1 week internship with a business owner. My original planned internship fell apart a couple of weeks before it was to start and I had to scramble to find another. I wound up interning with the owner of a whitewater rafting company where a distant cousin worked. It was glorious, and I enjoyed it so much that I became a guide myself and spent the next several years there foregoing college for several years.
While working as a guide, I took a wilderness EMT course and that led me to working in EMS and then returning to school and becoming a paramedic, which then led me to another return to school a few years later and nursing. It was a very non-linear route for me, as it is for many people, and while no single job I've ever held was ideal or a dream job, all of them have been wonderful for different reasons and have provided me with a lifetime of varied and unique experiences that I have used to further build a career. I currently work as nurse, from home in a role where I do a lot of oversight and education for multiple teams. This could not be further from the rivers I used to run, but it's a really great role with a lot of autonomy for a good company that values me, and I'm not sure work gets much better than that.
Parts of all jobs are hard - nothing is without its challenges - but I have tried to approach every opportunity I've had as a chance to learn and grow. It never stops, and whether learning is formalized like in HS or college, or experiential obtained by working in a particular field, there will always be more you can learn. Some of it will be easy and some of it will be difficult, but if you enjoy what you're doing and put in the time and effort, then there's no end to where you can go if you keep your eyes open to possibilities and opportunities.
Best of luck to you.
While working as a guide, I took a wilderness EMT course and that led me to working in EMS and then returning to school and becoming a paramedic, which then led me to another return to school a few years later and nursing. It was a very non-linear route for me, as it is for many people, and while no single job I've ever held was ideal or a dream job, all of them have been wonderful for different reasons and have provided me with a lifetime of varied and unique experiences that I have used to further build a career. I currently work as nurse, from home in a role where I do a lot of oversight and education for multiple teams. This could not be further from the rivers I used to run, but it's a really great role with a lot of autonomy for a good company that values me, and I'm not sure work gets much better than that.
Parts of all jobs are hard - nothing is without its challenges - but I have tried to approach every opportunity I've had as a chance to learn and grow. It never stops, and whether learning is formalized like in HS or college, or experiential obtained by working in a particular field, there will always be more you can learn. Some of it will be easy and some of it will be difficult, but if you enjoy what you're doing and put in the time and effort, then there's no end to where you can go if you keep your eyes open to possibilities and opportunities.
Best of luck to you.
George Ducach
Podiatry
32
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
George’s Answer
Hi Samantha,
I am a licensed Podiatrist (Foot Doctor) who just retired from 40 years of private practice. Did I always want to be a Podiatrist? No, I did not start out that way. I always wanted to be a doctor and I thought I wanted to deliver babies and leaned towards Obstetrics. Life can throw different things at you that literally force you to change plans. After College, I tried working for a very large Pharmaceutical Company which led me into a Podiatrist's office and he became my mentor. I was introduced to a Profession and Medical Specialty I knew very little about. Turned out I loved just about everything about it. I applied to several Podiatry Medical Programs and the rest is history. Did I ever get stressed and/or bored? Stressed? Yes. I am certain every job has stress related to it. Bored? No. I can tell you that I was so busy performing surgeries in the Hospitals and Surgicenters, full office days, attending interesting Medical conferences, serving on Hospital Committes, teaching Podiatry Residents, etc., that there was no time to be bored. Furthermore, life in general keeps you busy and there are days when there are not enough hours in a day to think about being bored. It is important to do your best academically so that, if some career plans do not work out for you, you can choose other pathways that you can take and have a productive and happy life. Good luck with your future.
I am a licensed Podiatrist (Foot Doctor) who just retired from 40 years of private practice. Did I always want to be a Podiatrist? No, I did not start out that way. I always wanted to be a doctor and I thought I wanted to deliver babies and leaned towards Obstetrics. Life can throw different things at you that literally force you to change plans. After College, I tried working for a very large Pharmaceutical Company which led me into a Podiatrist's office and he became my mentor. I was introduced to a Profession and Medical Specialty I knew very little about. Turned out I loved just about everything about it. I applied to several Podiatry Medical Programs and the rest is history. Did I ever get stressed and/or bored? Stressed? Yes. I am certain every job has stress related to it. Bored? No. I can tell you that I was so busy performing surgeries in the Hospitals and Surgicenters, full office days, attending interesting Medical conferences, serving on Hospital Committes, teaching Podiatry Residents, etc., that there was no time to be bored. Furthermore, life in general keeps you busy and there are days when there are not enough hours in a day to think about being bored. It is important to do your best academically so that, if some career plans do not work out for you, you can choose other pathways that you can take and have a productive and happy life. Good luck with your future.
Julie MSN, RN
Registered Nurse
6
Answers
Sacramento, California
Updated
Julie’s Answer
I did not always want to be a nurse. After realizing my parents could not afford (and I had in no way prepared for) an education to become a veterinarian, I floundered, Not knowing what I wanted to be, I went to junior college, got a job and moved out on my own. One of the only jobs that required zero experience that was available at the time was as a nursing assistant in a skilled nursing facility. So I applied, got the job, became a 'certified' nursing assistant (CNA). In that job, I learned so much about taking care of people, and my interest in nursing developed. Now, 30 years later, I still have a deep bond and love of geriatrics. I grew as a person, and learned how to be a compassionate, high quality patient care giver.
It took me a long time to get my degree, mostly because I was young and unfocused. I was also very afraid of choosing 'the wrong career'', being unhappy and regretting my choice. Then, I learned that nursing is not one job, but rather an endless number of jobs. Jobs for people who are detail oriented, or for those who are big picture thinkers. For people who love 'blood and guts', and for people who cannot stand the thought of them. There is no One Nurse. Nursing is a phenomenal choice for someone who wants to have the securing of knowing they will always be able to work (nursing shortage is here as projected, with no end in sight). In school, you have the opportunity to try many different kinds of nursing, which helps guide you toward the path that best suits you.
I did not get the exact job I wanted right out of school, but it was good for me to have a general kind of role in which I learned more about this profession, and to develop all of the other skills needed to do it well.
Nursing, for me, is both harder and easier than I anticipated. School was not hard for me, I enjoy learning and was interested in the subjects. Beginning my first jobs in nursing was not hard for me. I love people and my role let me interact and provide support and caring in the way I enjoy. As I grew more experienced, I was asked to move up the ladder in responsibilities (management). This was a whole new side of my profession. I chose to think of my staff as I did my patients, people who entrusted me with their well being, who needed me to help them do their best. It was incredibly difficult for me to become accustomed to staff not appreciating my role, and for senior leadership to also not show appreciation. When providing direct care to patients, compliments, thank you's and kindnesses are in constant supply. You know you are appreciated, because people tell you this many times every day. Management is not like this. In fact, job satisfaction is lowest among middle managers. After 10 years at the patient's bedside, and another in management, I decided to try something completely different and begin my own business as a nurse, helping hospitals develop programs to improve the quality of care they deliver to patients.
My experience has confirmed what I thought 30 years ago, that if a nurse is in a role they are no longer enjoying, it is easy to change direction and try a new kind of role.
I hope you enjoy any path you choose. It's really about choosing the one that you want to choose. And there really are many right ways to do that. So trust yourself, try out many things and work hard in whatever you choose to do.
It took me a long time to get my degree, mostly because I was young and unfocused. I was also very afraid of choosing 'the wrong career'', being unhappy and regretting my choice. Then, I learned that nursing is not one job, but rather an endless number of jobs. Jobs for people who are detail oriented, or for those who are big picture thinkers. For people who love 'blood and guts', and for people who cannot stand the thought of them. There is no One Nurse. Nursing is a phenomenal choice for someone who wants to have the securing of knowing they will always be able to work (nursing shortage is here as projected, with no end in sight). In school, you have the opportunity to try many different kinds of nursing, which helps guide you toward the path that best suits you.
I did not get the exact job I wanted right out of school, but it was good for me to have a general kind of role in which I learned more about this profession, and to develop all of the other skills needed to do it well.
Nursing, for me, is both harder and easier than I anticipated. School was not hard for me, I enjoy learning and was interested in the subjects. Beginning my first jobs in nursing was not hard for me. I love people and my role let me interact and provide support and caring in the way I enjoy. As I grew more experienced, I was asked to move up the ladder in responsibilities (management). This was a whole new side of my profession. I chose to think of my staff as I did my patients, people who entrusted me with their well being, who needed me to help them do their best. It was incredibly difficult for me to become accustomed to staff not appreciating my role, and for senior leadership to also not show appreciation. When providing direct care to patients, compliments, thank you's and kindnesses are in constant supply. You know you are appreciated, because people tell you this many times every day. Management is not like this. In fact, job satisfaction is lowest among middle managers. After 10 years at the patient's bedside, and another in management, I decided to try something completely different and begin my own business as a nurse, helping hospitals develop programs to improve the quality of care they deliver to patients.
My experience has confirmed what I thought 30 years ago, that if a nurse is in a role they are no longer enjoying, it is easy to change direction and try a new kind of role.
I hope you enjoy any path you choose. It's really about choosing the one that you want to choose. And there really are many right ways to do that. So trust yourself, try out many things and work hard in whatever you choose to do.
Christine Robinson
Nurse Case Manager
10
Answers
White Creek, NY
Updated
Christine’s Answer
My first dream was to become a vet. I went to an ag program that was supposed to direct transfer to Cornell. Of course I fell in love with a Farmer. I went to the University of Maine at Orono and got my degree in Animal Science. I loved genetics. I married that farmer, and planned most of the sire selections. Loved it. Then the market tanked and I had to work off the farm. So I became a CNA which lead me to go back to school to become a RN. It was easy, but I had to redo some of my courses in Anatomy and physiology. (side bar, it was pretty much the same as what I had done before) I became a RN and loved my jobs, especially gerontology. Then I got into case management. As with all jobs, there is politics involved, and that was the hardest part to deal with. My career ended due to politics, and health reasons. I am struggling now to find a job I can do. But Ag and nursing were my favorite jobs and both were hard work
Take all your requirements for a degree first, but volunteer for positions in what you are interested. I was a candy striper and a volunteer at a vets as a teenager. The CNA job showed my I could do more than that and went for the RN. However I took the psych and sociology courses first to see if I could go back first
Christine recommends the following next steps:
Renea Gott
Medical Transcription
36
Answers
Memphis, Tennessee
Updated
Renea’s Answer
Dear heart,
To answer your question was this job (Medical Transcription) my first option, actually no. I worked one year before trying to enter college and I did attend and got over 100 credit hours but decided to leave school (big mistake because I wanted to be a teacher) however I have managed to work in medical transcription since 1994 and I do like it a lot. I learn a new word, English or Latin medical word every day! It's also interesting because there is a challenge every day of using the correct English word, too, to and two and sound-alikes in medicine, Yes there is stress involving my job when I am responsible for typing 46 reports in two days and on the next day it starts all over again so while the rest of the room is asleep (medical secretaries) I am typing my brains out. This is what I get for quitting college.... to be honest. It was harder in the sense that typing like this, 7 cents a line, is very taxing and my wages never really went up but I did put my daughter through college with this career. I have done eye transcription, cardiology, ER, radiology, acute care (hospital), neurology, clinic medicine and now I am doing pathology where I could possibly do autopsies! When there is a word I could not discern I called up to my heavenly Father and asked that he help me with discerning the word and HE DOES! I hope this helps you in your decision. Godspeed,
Sincerely,
Si'van (my Hebrew name).
To answer your question was this job (Medical Transcription) my first option, actually no. I worked one year before trying to enter college and I did attend and got over 100 credit hours but decided to leave school (big mistake because I wanted to be a teacher) however I have managed to work in medical transcription since 1994 and I do like it a lot. I learn a new word, English or Latin medical word every day! It's also interesting because there is a challenge every day of using the correct English word, too, to and two and sound-alikes in medicine, Yes there is stress involving my job when I am responsible for typing 46 reports in two days and on the next day it starts all over again so while the rest of the room is asleep (medical secretaries) I am typing my brains out. This is what I get for quitting college.... to be honest. It was harder in the sense that typing like this, 7 cents a line, is very taxing and my wages never really went up but I did put my daughter through college with this career. I have done eye transcription, cardiology, ER, radiology, acute care (hospital), neurology, clinic medicine and now I am doing pathology where I could possibly do autopsies! When there is a word I could not discern I called up to my heavenly Father and asked that he help me with discerning the word and HE DOES! I hope this helps you in your decision. Godspeed,
Sincerely,
Si'van (my Hebrew name).