Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 39

Thread: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

  1. #1
    Featured Member wednesday86's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    1,911
    Thanks
    2,498
    Thanked 6,402 Times in 1,573 Posts

    Duh Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Okay I'm gonna try to make this as brief as possible, but here it goes.

    I moved back to Chicago and got approved for fin.aid at my old school. I looked at my progress report (or whatever it's called) and I'm about halfway done with a degree in Computer Graphics Imagery (CGI.) I started that program because I really wanted to work in the video game industry, but as we know those jobs are competitive and maybe hard to break into. I don't know anyone who works in that industry either. Worst case scenario I could still work as a graphic designer or work in AutoCad (AutoCad seems boring as hell though. blaaaah.)

    On the other hand, my MIL is really trying to push me towards nursing. She's a retired nurse, knows tons of people in health care and I would have jobs waiting for me if I went that route. (She has already started networking on my behalf and I haven't even started my CNA license yet.) I like that my school has a clear progression of CNA-LPN-RN-BSN and I could work while I kept going to school. However I would almost have to start over, because only a few credits from my other program would transfer over...so we're looking at at least 2-3 years for an RN as opposed to 1ish year for the CGI degree. (I thought it was even less than that but I overlooked some classes.)

    So basically I'm stuck between the "fun, risky choice" and "longer but safer" choice. I keep going back and forth because they're so different.

    I'm just tired of being in school, changing my mind constantly. I ruled out Anthropology a while ago because there's no point unless you go to grad school-which I have no interest in. I just want to finish something and be done. Any advice y'all have would be greatly appreciated.


    Side note: One thing that kind of scares me about nursing is my stripping past coming up somehow. I did have to get an adult entertainment license at my last club. I know plenty of dancers go on to be nurses, teachers, doctors, etc but it's in the back of my mind.

  2. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to wednesday86 For This Useful Post:


  3. #2
    God/dess SnuffleUffleGrass's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2009
    Location
    HearstCastle, Rosebud
    Posts
    8,848
    Thanks
    22,676
    Thanked 17,513 Times in 6,696 Posts
    My Mood
    Angelic

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Nursing FTW. I know plenty of underemployed computer graphics types.

    I've already known a couple retired millionaire nurses. The choice seems kind of obvious.

  4. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to SnuffleUffleGrass For This Useful Post:


  5. #3
    Banned
    Joined
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    952
    Thanks
    839
    Thanked 1,337 Times in 600 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Lots of people have visual effects video game design jobs in LA and it pays well. They often do travel assignments to Vancouver for whatever reason, which is another hub. My friends that do it seem very happy with it but they do say it's definitely repetitive as a visual artist at a desk. If you are artistically inclined, it would be a good career path.

    Nursing is my realm and RN programs are 2 years with high pay. It takes at least 1 year minimum for pre reqs and most people take 1.5-2 years to do them unless you can do winter/summer classes. So that's already 3.5 years minimum. Then the waitlists are long to get in unless your grades are high or you apply to a dozen schools and get into a lottery program if your gpa is below 3.8. It's a ton of memorization and science has to be one of your strong points. Even I struggle with the insane amount of memorization. Nursing is listed by the Guinness book of world records as the hardest college major. You don't need a BSN to be an RN, and if you go BSN then tack on another 2 years to all that. Also with nursing, you need to have lots of connects unless you want to work bedside forever which most say is bitchwork. So working as a CNA concurrently is genius and will help build connections. CNA is low pay though, but think of it more as volunteering lol. I have a lot of plastic surgeon clients from pro domming since plastic surgeons are a time a dozen in my city, so meeting wealthy men and making contacts like that will also help you get a job.

  6. #4
    Featured Member wednesday86's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    1,911
    Thanks
    2,498
    Thanked 6,402 Times in 1,573 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Thanks for the feedback. Yeah I already have contacts in health care through my MIL. She's Filipino (obviously) and I think she knows every Filipino nurse, health care director, doctor and CNA in the state haha I've also heard a lot of people say that if you're serious about working in gaming you will probably have to relocate, which I wouldn't really want to do right now...I'm 'okay' at visual arts, not great. I'm a better writer than artist, but I don't like writing stuff I don't care for to make $$. I'm leaning more toward nursing now, but I have to make a final decision before August so that I can change my major and finish my pre-reqs before I can enroll in the ADN program. There's no waiting list here but it's competitive. I do have a high GPA though and good grades in my life science courses. Getting your CNA license first also boosts your chances of getting into the program, so I'll definitely do that first.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to wednesday86 For This Useful Post:


  8. #5
    God/dess SweetJulia's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Rolling in a BIG pile of money!
    Posts
    2,836
    Thanks
    21,633
    Thanked 6,196 Times in 1,978 Posts
    My Mood
    Yeehaw

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    I'll be honest I was a nurse for a while and an aide before that:you have no idea how many times I've literally been crapped on and thought, "wow, this would never happen in IT."
    Twitter:
    Cam profile: *Fave me, it's good for my ego
    General Pics:
    "Experience is a brutal teacher, but you learn. My God, do you learn!"-C.S. Lewis
    Quote Originally Posted by xStacey View Post
    Close contact, for an hour, for $40? And I guess I'll have to make conversation with them too?

  9. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to SweetJulia For This Useful Post:


  10. #6
    Banned
    Joined
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    952
    Thanks
    839
    Thanked 1,337 Times in 600 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Quote Originally Posted by SweetJulia View Post
    I'll be honest I was a nurse for a while and an aide before that:you have no idea how many times I've literally been crapped on and thought, "wow, this would never happen in IT."
    Lol!! Exactly why I have no intention to work bedside as an RN for more than a year. My area is dermatology/plastic surgery. You need contacts in those areas since it's hard to break into. But yeah a lot of nurses really dislike working bedside for those reasons!

  11. #7
    Featured Member wednesday86's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    1,911
    Thanks
    2,498
    Thanked 6,402 Times in 1,573 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Quote Originally Posted by Velveteen.Rabbit View Post
    Lol!! Exactly why I have no intention to work bedside as an RN for more than a year. My area is dermatology/plastic surgery. You need contacts in those areas since it's hard to break into. But yeah a lot of nurses really dislike working bedside for those reasons!
    That's a good plan...I'd like to work in the ER, ICU, Psych, Forensic or Burns. For some reason I like watching those burn specialists peeling off the patients' dead skin as it heals. I think I would love that. Blood, guts and poop don't bother me..Vomit bothers me a little bit but I think I could get over it.

  12. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to wednesday86 For This Useful Post:


  13. #8
    Veteran Member
    Joined
    Dec 2013
    Posts
    717
    Thanks
    1,880
    Thanked 1,415 Times in 521 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Can you go on fiverr and try some computer type gigs? Selling them.. just to experience it.

    Then volunteer at hospital/nursing type job for a day or more?

    I like trying out different options, I find out what I don't like quickly.

  14. The Following User Says Thank You to amberlly For This Useful Post:


  15. #9
    Banned
    Joined
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    952
    Thanks
    839
    Thanked 1,337 Times in 600 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Quote Originally Posted by wednesday86 View Post
    That's a good plan...I'd like to work in the ER, ICU, Psych, Forensic or Burns. For some reason I like watching those burn specialists peeling off the patients' dead skin as it heals. I think I would love that. Blood, guts and poop don't bother me..Vomit bothers me a little bit but I think I could get over it.
    I love ER and psych too! ER is ultra competitive here. Luckily psych in my area always hires CNAs and I think psych degree helps . I love the idea of forensics but I think it would be too depressing for me since it's mostly rape victims. And yes burns is part of dermatology. Skin/aesthetics is my fav by far

  16. #10
    Featured Member wednesday86's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    1,911
    Thanks
    2,498
    Thanked 6,402 Times in 1,573 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Quote Originally Posted by amberlly View Post
    Can you go on fiverr and try some computer type gigs? Selling them.. just to experience it.

    Then volunteer at hospital/nursing type job for a day or more?

    I like trying out different options, I find out what I don't like quickly.
    Can you sell animation clips on fiverr? The idea of making animated porn or videos for youtube has crossed my mind (in thinking worst case scenario mode.) There are actually some gaming studios near me. In fact one of my old strip club customers worked as a game designer for a bigger company about an hour away from here. (I googled him and he was legit lol. god that sounds creepy.) I believe most of the big studios are in California, Vancouver and London now though. Idk. I'm trying to make peace either way because I don't know if 1) My school will even let me change majors this far in (as in accept fin.aid for another major) and 2) if I'll get accepted to the Nursing program at all.

    Last time I went there I took some classes that were "off course" for CGI and they put me on academic probation for a while, and then pulled my financial aid (so I had to pay out of pocket for one of my classes.) They're weirdly strict about it. So I may not even have a choice. I have to talk to someone in person and see.

  17. #11
    Featured Member wednesday86's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    1,911
    Thanks
    2,498
    Thanked 6,402 Times in 1,573 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Quote Originally Posted by Velveteen.Rabbit View Post
    I love ER and psych too! ER is ultra competitive here. Luckily psych in my area always hires CNAs and I think psych degree helps . I love the idea of forensics but I think it would be too depressing for me since it's mostly rape victims. And yes burns is part of dermatology. Skin/aesthetics is my fav by far
    Yeah forensics could be depressing..I was thinking along the lines of working with the medical examiner, helping determine cause of death. I have a weird fascination with death and dead bodies, how they decompose, etc. I'm not sure how much investigative work those nurses actually get to do though (if any.)

  18. The Following User Says Thank You to wednesday86 For This Useful Post:


  19. #12
    Veteran Member Dominic.2's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    319
    Thanks
    2,521
    Thanked 482 Times in 208 Posts
    My Mood
    Devilish

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Hi wednesday,

    Interesting that you are thinking of computer graphics. I recall, or at least I think I recall correctly, that I believe you posted some samples of your drawn art in the Picture Posts subforum. You are pretty talented but I understand you are being modest. I also thought I recalled you thinking that you might also like to be a tattoo artist. I guess what I am saying is in the little time I have been here on SW I was hoping that you might get into art when you left dancing. I know the chorus (and rightfully so!) is saying nursing or health professions. But I'd hate to see your art talent go underutilized. But at the same time, you have a child and need to put food on the table and we live in a society that undervalues artists. So I wouldn't think badly of you for going into health sciences. Sometimes the advice: "do what you love and the money will follow" is a load of crap. It doesn't always work that way.

    RE: dancing past and nursing

    I know a few nurses (but not too many). Some specialties like nursing in pediatrics are highly competitive but others specialties like geriatrics and/or nursing homes are far less selective. So "nursing" isn't really a flat industry, but I think you know that. You're a smart woman and you research your options very well. However, if you have a fear of being crapped on or puked on, then nursing home care probably isn't what you are dreaming of.

  20. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Dominic.2 For This Useful Post:


  21. #13
    God/dess SweetJulia's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Rolling in a BIG pile of money!
    Posts
    2,836
    Thanks
    21,633
    Thanked 6,196 Times in 1,978 Posts
    My Mood
    Yeehaw

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    BTW I strongly suggest you work in a hospital vs long term care, where you'll break your back and not see anything or learn. Nursing homes vs hospitals are a night and day difference. I took a nursing home position for my first aide job cuz they called ten minutes before a hospital that would have let me float did. My entire life would have turned out differently if I hadn't made the wrong decision. In a nursing home, you get a two day orientation vs a month. Everyone is on their way out, you never help anyone get better. My coworkers were burned out, uninspired asshole and the entire second shift hated me cuz I got hired for day shift with no experience. Honestly, my day shift coworkers did as well. Sorry they were twice my age and had the same title and income. Also, they'd never hack it in a hospital, cuz they'd have alert patients they'd actually have to communicate with. I made so many anonymous phone calls to report abuse and neglect.
    Twitter:
    Cam profile: *Fave me, it's good for my ego
    General Pics:
    "Experience is a brutal teacher, but you learn. My God, do you learn!"-C.S. Lewis
    Quote Originally Posted by xStacey View Post
    Close contact, for an hour, for $40? And I guess I'll have to make conversation with them too?

  22. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to SweetJulia For This Useful Post:


  23. #14
    Veteran Member Dominic.2's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    319
    Thanks
    2,521
    Thanked 482 Times in 208 Posts
    My Mood
    Devilish

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    ^My wife has a friend from HS who went into nursing and started in nursing homes because it was so easy to get hired. She had a hard time working in nursing homes and nearly got burnt out on it. Yes, the patients are always dying. Like, she'd go into work the next day and see someone gone whom she'd shared thoughts with the prior day. That was hard.

    She works in pediatrics now. But that's hard in a different way. Sometimes a really young child will be really sick (sometimes terminally so). And it is VERY soul crushing to see a young child die like that.

    I think I would rather work with cadavers, too! You don't get the same sense of loss and grief like you doing seeing a live person one day then gone the next. It's something to think about.

    One more account ...

    I have college friend (pre-med) who worked as a paramedic during undergrad. He said the hardest point of the job was his first day. He had a call where he and his partner responded to an old woman in her house. When then reached down for her, she clutched his shirt fabric, making a fist, and said in the most frail, quiet voice: "Don't. Let. Me. Die." He's a doctor now and he still recalls that moment in time. It changed him.

  24. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Dominic.2 For This Useful Post:


  25. #15
    Featured Member wednesday86's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    1,911
    Thanks
    2,498
    Thanked 6,402 Times in 1,573 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Quote Originally Posted by Dominic.2 View Post
    Hi wednesday,

    Interesting that you are thinking of computer graphics. I recall, or at least I think I recall correctly, that I believe you posted some samples of your drawn art in the Picture Posts subforum. You are pretty talented but I understand you are being modest. I also thought I recalled you thinking that you might also like to be a tattoo artist. I guess what I am saying is in the little time I have been here on SW I was hoping that you might get into art when you left dancing. I know the chorus (and rightfully so!) is saying nursing or health professions. But I'd hate to see your art talent go underutilized. But at the same time, you have a child and need to put food on the table and we live in a society that undervalues artists. So I wouldn't think badly of you for going into health sciences. Sometimes the advice: "do what you love and the money will follow" is a load of crap. It doesn't always work that way.

    RE: dancing past and nursing

    I know a few nurses (but not too many). Some specialties like nursing in pediatrics are highly competitive but others specialties like geriatrics and/or nursing homes are far less selective. So "nursing" isn't really a flat industry, but I think you know that. You're a smart woman and you research your options very well. However, if you have a fear of being crapped on or puked on, then nursing home care probably isn't what you are dreaming of.
    Haha thanks Dominic but I don't think that was me (?) I don't remember posting any artwork on here...but my memory is crap so who knows. My brother in law did offer to apprentice me as a tattoo artist at one point, but he's retired from that now. Although that could be another option (maybe) if I continued in the arts industry. I've taken a lot of art classes already, and I'm okay. There were definitely students who were better than me though. The program I've almost finished is more on the technical side, learning to use 3DSMax, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. The program is centered on 3D animation, modeling, etc. but the skills can be applicable in other fields...so I think I would still find work, just maybe not a "dream job" if that makes sense.

    I would absolutely not want to work in a nursing home. I agree with you and Julia on that. I volunteered in some in high school and hated it. It was depressing. I've also heard a lot of nurses are straight up bitches, burnt out. I looked on some nursing forums and couldn't believe the cattiness. However, I know I'd be likely to find a good paying job right away. So, I don't know. I'm still going back and forth. I really appreciate everyone's feedback.

  26. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to wednesday86 For This Useful Post:


  27. #16
    God/dess SweetJulia's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Rolling in a BIG pile of money!
    Posts
    2,836
    Thanks
    21,633
    Thanked 6,196 Times in 1,978 Posts
    My Mood
    Yeehaw

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Oh Wednesday, he just reminded me that you can get your EMT pretty quickly and you'll get slightly better pay and way more experience if you want to go for ER or ICU.
    Twitter:
    Cam profile: *Fave me, it's good for my ego
    General Pics:
    "Experience is a brutal teacher, but you learn. My God, do you learn!"-C.S. Lewis
    Quote Originally Posted by xStacey View Post
    Close contact, for an hour, for $40? And I guess I'll have to make conversation with them too?

  28. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to SweetJulia For This Useful Post:


  29. #17
    Featured Member wednesday86's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    1,911
    Thanks
    2,498
    Thanked 6,402 Times in 1,573 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Quote Originally Posted by SweetJulia View Post
    Oh Wednesday, he just reminded me that you can get your EMT pretty quickly and you'll get slightly better pay and way more experience if you want to go for ER or ICU.
    I looked at that program here too! The only thing is, I'm terrified of having to drive to ambulance. If I could just be with the patient, I think I'd enjoy it. I'm not driving an ambulance around in Chicago though lol! Hell no!

  30. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to wednesday86 For This Useful Post:


  31. #18
    Banned
    Joined
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    952
    Thanks
    839
    Thanked 1,337 Times in 600 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Quote Originally Posted by SweetJulia View Post
    BTW I strongly suggest you work in a hospital vs long term care, where you'll break your back and not see anything or learn. Nursing homes vs hospitals are a night and day difference. I took a nursing home position for my first aide job cuz they called ten minutes before a hospital that would have let me float did. My entire life would have turned out differently if I hadn't made the wrong decision. In a nursing home, you get a two day orientation vs a month. Everyone is on their way out, you never help anyone get better. My coworkers were burned out, uninspired asshole and the entire second shift hated me cuz I got hired for day shift with no experience. Honestly, my day shift coworkers did as well. Sorry they were twice my age and had the same title and income. Also, they'd never hack it in a hospital, cuz they'd have alert patients they'd actually have to communicate with. I made so many anonymous phone calls to report abuse and neglect.
    Yeah this is the problem with nursing. The shitty nursing sectors are not competitive but the good ones are very competitive. So making connections really will mean the difference between a good job and a bad one. Half of all nursing sectors are really bad IMO, and half are really good.

    There's so much you can do with an RN degree! Don't let weird people who think bedside nursing is the only form of nursing talk your out of it. Someone above was talking about being a nurse coroner which is also pretty cool. Or a prison nurse. Or a flight nurse who works on call for 8 shifts per month as full time. Or a travel nurse who gets all expenses paid to where ever in the US and places like Australia, England, Ireland, and Dubai! There's so many really cool areas.

    I hate people who are like "eww why are you studying nursing? why do you want to work in a hospital and wipe butts forever?" Only the easiest to get nursing jobs are doing bedside or nursing home jobs. Those are some of the most common because they're the easiest to get due to high turnover. The good areas have almost no turnover so network, network, network!

  32. #19
    Banned
    Joined
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    952
    Thanks
    839
    Thanked 1,337 Times in 600 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Quote Originally Posted by wednesday86 View Post
    Haha thanks Dominic but I don't think that was me (?) I don't remember posting any artwork on here...but my memory is crap so who knows. My brother in law did offer to apprentice me as a tattoo artist at one point, but he's retired from that now. Although that could be another option (maybe) if I continued in the arts industry. I've taken a lot of art classes already, and I'm okay. There were definitely students who were better than me though. The program I've almost finished is more on the technical side, learning to use 3DSMax, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. The program is centered on 3D animation, modeling, etc. but the skills can be applicable in other fields...so I think I would still find work, just maybe not a "dream job" if that makes sense.

    I would absolutely not want to work in a nursing home. I agree with you and Julia on that. I volunteered in some in high school and hated it. It was depressing. I've also heard a lot of nurses are straight up bitches, burnt out. I looked on some nursing forums and couldn't believe the cattiness. However, I know I'd be likely to find a good paying job right away. So, I don't know. I'm still going back and forth. I really appreciate everyone's feedback.
    Omg there's even drama in nursing classes. Yeah they're called nurses who eat their young. It's to be expected. Nursing coursework is hard as fuck and you either know it or you don't, so put a room full of people who were always praised for being bookworms in a room together and many of them feel threatened because everyone there is a bookworm and it's no longer their special thing. In classes I have seen tons of elitist comments like "omg how do you not have at least close to 100%? This class is so easy!" to fat shaming to even borderline racist comments. It's really sketch. I'm mostly on good terms with everyone and I try to go out of my way to befriend everyone so none of it happens to me, but it's a thing!

  33. #20
    Featured Member wednesday86's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    1,911
    Thanks
    2,498
    Thanked 6,402 Times in 1,573 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Quote Originally Posted by Velveteen.Rabbit View Post
    Yeah this is the problem with nursing. The shitty nursing sectors are not competitive but the good ones are very competitive. So making connections really will mean the difference between a good job and a bad one. Half of all nursing sectors are really bad IMO, and half are really good.

    There's so much you can do with an RN degree! Don't let weird people who think bedside nursing is the only form of nursing talk your out of it. Someone above was talking about being a nurse coroner which is also pretty cool. Or a prison nurse. Or a flight nurse who works on call for 8 shifts per month as full time. Or a travel nurse who gets all expenses paid to where ever in the US and places like Australia, England, Ireland, and Dubai! There's so many really cool areas.

    I hate people who are like "eww why are you studying nursing? why do you want to work in a hospital and wipe butts forever?" Only the easiest to get nursing jobs are doing bedside or nursing home jobs. Those are some of the most common because they're the easiest to get due to high turnover. The good areas have almost no turnover so network, network, network!
    Sounds like there's gonna be a lot of competition either route I take. Lol! Honestly if it came down between a meh graphics design job, or wiping Granny butts in long term care, I'd go with the graphics job. Idk...Lots to think about. I really need to talk to an advisor and maybe take some kind of career aptitude test. I also worry about my bedside manner. I'm not the most warm and fuzzy person in the world. :/

  34. The Following User Says Thank You to wednesday86 For This Useful Post:


  35. #21
    Banned
    Joined
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    952
    Thanks
    839
    Thanked 1,337 Times in 600 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Quote Originally Posted by wednesday86 View Post
    Sounds like there's gonna be a lot of competition either route I take. Lol! Honestly if it came down between a meh graphics design job, or wiping Granny butts in long term care, I'd go with the graphics job. Idk...Lots to think about. I really need to talk to an advisor and maybe take some kind of career aptitude test. I also worry about my bedside manner. I'm not the most warm and fuzzy person in the world. :/
    Definitely! Art careers are also ultra competitive. The guys I know who do graphic design and visual effects are extremely good at drawing and illustration, as well as computers/CAD so I guess I didn't even factor that in. Most of them got their jobs off meeting the right person and showing him their portfolio, and on that alone. I've asked them. One guy met his at a school job fair right before he graduated with his BFA. Another cold emailed a guy whom he wanted to work for, with his portfolio on a website. It's also luck. Maybe do a 6 week CNA program while concurrently taking classes and see if you like healthcare or not.

  36. #22
    Veteran Member Dominic.2's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    319
    Thanks
    2,521
    Thanked 482 Times in 208 Posts
    My Mood
    Devilish

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Quote Originally Posted by Velveteen.Rabbit View Post
    Nursing coursework is hard as fuck and you either know it or you don't, so put a room full of people who were always praised for being bookworms in a room together and many of them feel threatened because everyone there is a bookworm and it's no longer their special thing. In classes I have seen tons of elitist comments like "omg how do you not have at least close to 100%? This class is so easy!"
    Quote Originally Posted by wednesday86 View Post
    Sounds like there's gonna be a lot of competition either route I take. Lol! ... I also worry about my bedside manner. I'm not the most warm and fuzzy person in the world. :/
    wednesday, you sell yourself short. I'd rather have the nurse who got near 100% on all of her tests and was curt than pleasant nurse who just squeaked by. Those are my feelings on the topic.

    --

    PS: thanks for sharing that anecdote, Velveteen.Rabbit. I hear the tests in the nursing program are very hard .. as they should be.

  37. The Following User Says Thank You to Dominic.2 For This Useful Post:


  38. #23
    Banned
    Joined
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    952
    Thanks
    839
    Thanked 1,337 Times in 600 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    What I've heard from professors and other girls in nursing is that the people who do really well on tests are usually the people that have a harder time implementing the knowledge on the floor to actually get things done properly. Since people learn different ways and have different strengths, this makes sense. I'm like a B/B+ student with nursing coursework but am excellent on the floor and if that were graded I'd be an A student on the floor. Also, most of what you learn in nursing school you don't use because you are focused on specialty area that you learn mostly with on-the-job training.

  39. #24
    Senior Member snakesandmonkeys's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2012
    Posts
    119
    Thanks
    52
    Thanked 214 Times in 78 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    Somewhat long time bedside nurse here. Don't don't do it just as a career path. It's really, really hard and draining and makes you question humanity in a somewhat different but somewhat similar way as dancing does.
    I went into it because I love that shit (and yes, who ever mentioned getting pooped on is absolutely correct. You will get up close and personal with poop on a daily basis. If you can't imagine wiping someone else's ass every day of your working career, don't even consider it).
    It's also physically and emotionally taxing. Compassion fatigue is a thing, and as a compassionate person it sucks.
    There are really great things about my job. I do get to help people and use my brain in new and exciting ways every day. It's nice working with a great team if you are lucky enough to find a floor with great people on it (I was). And the money is not terrible, especially if you work in a hospital in a specialty area.
    I would never ever, ever recommend it tho, to someone who was on the fence.
    Every day I see brilliant, kind, compassionate nurses so beat down by their job that they get sick to their stomach before they come to work.

    So yea, bedside nursing is probly not something your gonna love

  40. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to snakesandmonkeys For This Useful Post:


  41. #25
    God/dess ScarletKitten's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Hyperspace
    Posts
    2,208
    Thanks
    3,162
    Thanked 6,709 Times in 1,895 Posts

    Default Re: Feeling Stuck Between Two Career Paths

    ^^Precisely why I couldn't be a nurse.
    "Dancing tables, making deals with devils like a drunk beauty queen"

  42. The Following User Says Thank You to ScarletKitten For This Useful Post:


Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Feeling like my camming career is DOOMED because of IM.
    By anonsauce in forum Camming Connection
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 08-06-2016, 11:33 PM
  2. Feeling stuck and depressed
    By Elle:) in forum Life Support
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 04-12-2016, 05:45 PM
  3. feeling stuck...is it time to hang it up?
    By Liv. in forum Stripping (was Stripping General)
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 10-06-2013, 04:17 AM
  4. Feeling Bad About Your Career...DON'T
    By Optimist in forum Stripping (was Stripping General)
    Replies: 55
    Last Post: 03-04-2011, 05:43 PM
  5. Feeling stuck and broke
    By NikkiWest in forum Stripping (was Stripping General)
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 01-03-2007, 10:31 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •