Anyone in here a Nurse? (Job related question)

[DigitalCancer]

I turned 27 yesterday and I have yet to get a degree (or a decent job really, although I'm in programming right now) I was originally wanting to go for a Radiography Tech since they make some decent money and then move on to Nuclear Med at some point. The problem is, the closest (decently priced) school that has the program is a good 3-4hr drive for me so that might not be an option but I'm not 100% sure just yet.

I have been debating going into Nursing, they make good money. My aunt has been a nurse for years (although she's had a back issue and had to quit work a few years ago) so I know quite a bit about it I guess but I want to know, how is it for a GUY to go into? My aunt tells me that guys are needed in the field since the women can't always lift the patients.
What's the money like for an LPN vs RN? Would it be worth it for me to pursue over Radiology? I want to work in a hospital as opposed to a nursing home and I know I can do that as an LPN/RN and the RN makes a pretty considerable amount more than an LPN right?

 

[ViviTheMage]

If you're only goal is money $$$$, I think you'll end up wanting to kill yourself.

 

[DigitalCancer]

My GOAL isn't money...but obviously, it'd be nice to actually make some. My aunt always made pretty decent and her last job she made over $20/hr at a hospital.

I'm just looking for $40-50k/yr...anything above that is a plus but really I just want to have a decent income that I can still save up for retirement with and manage to not live check by check. I would like to be in a situation to have kids soon. ^_^

 

[ViviTheMage]

I know a few nurses/medic's and they seem like they want to shoot themselves sometimes ... horrid hours, have to deal with a lot of shit, but hey ... at least they'll be useful in an apocalypse/zombie crisis. Me on the other hand ... computer skills will be worthless!

Granted, some of them like it, but they went in, wanting to help people.

 

[DougK62]

Judging by your post, you're not cut out to be a nurse. The only nurses I have known that DIDN'T want to put a bullet in their head went in to the field because they were just passionate about nursing and helping people. Good pay was just a bonus. If you're not in that frame of mind I think you will find it miserable.

 

[Genx87]

GF is a nurse. She is a BSRN. Got a 4 year degree. She is saying for the most part LPNs are going away. If you are looking to make decent money then become a traveling nurse or work in a hospital. Men are needed because there is lifting needed. And often times patients weigh too much for even a couple women to move. My GF is 5 '3" 103 pounds. Im sure the legs on these patiens can weigh more than her lol.

There is a lot of stress involved with the job however. So know that compared to most jobs, your stress level will be through the roof and sometimes worse.

 

[DigitalCancer]

No, I've been thinking about the 'medical' field for awhile...I used to go with my aunt to the nursing home all of the time and even the hospital a few times when she worked there and I liked it.

I genuinely want to help to make people's lives less painful and I like interacting with people.

Why do you say I'd want to kill myself anyway? What's so bad about it? I never once heard my aunt complain of anything besides some of the other lazy nurses that were around that didn't want to do their jobs.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Judging by your post, you're not cut out to be a nurse. The only nurses I have known that DIDN'T want to put a bullet in their head went in to the field because they were just passionate about nursing and helping people. Good pay was just a bonus. If you're not in that frame of mind I think you will find it miserable.

My thoughts exactly ... goes that way for any job too.

 

[vi edit]

Radiology is a VASTLY different gig than nursing. I'm not sure I can even give you a proper analogy it's that different.

The biggest problem with Radiology right now isn't the drive or cost, it's likely the waiting list. Many schools have a 2-3 year wait to get in. Have you even checked to see how backed up the application pool is?

If you want a quick route into healthcare that isn't flooded, then check out Respiratory Therapy. It's a two year program, it doesn't have the same type of clinical pecking order and submission that nursing has, and you still will get favorable acceptance/assitance since you are a male going into a primarily female dominated profession. Just hope you can deal with spetum, hacking, oozing, blood, and be able to trache somebody in really rough situations. Income ceiling isn't as high as nursing or radiology, but most of the RT's I work with are pretty happy people. I can't say the same thing for nursing.

 

[Kirby]

*paging Man Whore PliableMoose

 

[Gooberlx2]

I don't see the big deal about being a male nurse. The vast majority of Rad techs seem to be women too, so I doubt it'll much different in terms of gender "stigma".

That said, I have a neighbor who's a rad tech and it took her a very long time to find a part-time/pool position. I know my hospital hasn't posted a rad tech position in forever, and neither have our cooperating hospitals and offices. The field is saturated in my area. Nursing positions, however, are not.

 

[DigitalCancer]

I don't see the big deal about being a male nurse. The vast majority of Rad techs seem to be women too, so I doubt it'll much different in terms of gender "stigma".

That said, I have a neighbor who's a rad tech and it took her a very long time to find a part-time/pool position. I know my hospital hasn't posted a rad tech position in forever, and neither have our cooperating hospitals and offices. The field is saturated in my area. Nursing positions, however, are not.

Yes..this is something else that I have researched a little and found that the profession seems to be getting more and more saturated so I'm shying away from it.

What is your profession, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Yes..this is something else that I have researched a little and found that the profession seems to be getting more and more saturated so I'm shying away from it.

What is your profession, if you don't mind me asking?

I'm the sysadmin for our image analysis/research lab.

 

[preslove]

Nursing schools are also often backed up, too.

 

[CRXican]

I'll be 27 soon and just became a lowly EMT. Hoping to get a job just so I can have some experience. I'd prefer to be an ER Tech but it looks like I'll at least need a 12 lead class before that happens so that will be next on my to do list.

The jump to Medic isn't even the easiest. I already have a useless BA degree and the thought of trying to go back to school and take chemistry and such to possibly become a nurse is a scary thought.

Then I contemplated trying to learn a thing or two in the military but it seems even that can be very tricky and even though 30 is the new 20 I'm not sure how excited they'd be to have me.

It's a shitty time to try anything new thanks to the economy. But it might pay off in the long run as healthcare isn't going anywhere as people are living longer lives.

 

[DigitalCancer]

I'll be 27 soon and just became a lowly EMT. Hoping to get a job just so I can have some experience. I'd prefer to be an ER Tech but it looks like I'll at least need a 12 lead class before that happens so that will be next on my to do list.

The jump to Medic isn't even the easiest. I already have a useless BA degree and the thought of trying to go back to school and take chemistry and such to possibly become a nurse is a scary thought.

Then I contemplated trying to learn a thing or two in the military but it seems even that can be very tricky and even though 30 is the new 20 I'm not sure how excited they'd be to have me.

It's a shitty time to try anything new thanks to the economy. But it might pay off in the long run as healthcare isn't going anywhere as people are living longer lives.

I hear ya...

So how's the EMT gig working out for ya? How long have you been on? A friend of mine is looking to do that in a few months. He starts his clinicals next month I believe.

 

[WelshBloke]

No, I've been thinking about the 'medical' field for awhile...I used to go with my aunt to the nursing home all of the time and even the hospital a few times when she worked there and I liked it.

I genuinely want to help to make people's lives less painful and I like interacting with people.

Why do you say I'd want to kill myself anyway? What's so bad about it? I never once heard my aunt complain of anything besides some of the other lazy nurses that were around that didn't want to do their jobs.

I remember in my first month of work I had to sit with this guy that had a tumour round a major artery (cant remember the details it was years ago).
Anyway it was going to pop at somepoint and when it did he was going to bleed to death into his respiratory system.

He knew this and so did I, that was fairly "bad". Just sitting chatting waiting for him to choke to death on his own blood.

It was pretty horrific when it did happen.

Thats when I decided that maybe assisted suicide wasnt such a bad thing.

 

[CRXican]

I hear ya...

So how's the EMT gig working out for ya? How long have you been on? A friend of mine is looking to do that in a few months. He starts his clinicals next month I believe.

Not working yet so it's not working out lol. I just finished in December and the tests, fees and paperwork all to make $10/hr is really quite absurd. Finally just got my state cert yesterday.

The good and bad is that there are plenty of private transport companies around here. Good and bad because there are plenty of people that want the job but there seems to be a fair amount of turnaround. A couple of the local places are hiring right now but with zero experience it might be hard to get in.

The EMT course is fairly quick and cheap so I won't be super devastated if things don't happen quickly, just more annoyed. Certification has to be renewed every two years.

 

[steppinthrax]

Every nurse I've ever came in contact with was a straight up bitch. My wife and I knew two nurses; her 5yo son had some sort of behavior problem. The relationship ended promptly when my wife caught her son pressing our daughter into the corner of a glass table, leaving a deep bruise (she defended her son). Previously we invited her to our community swimming pool, where she dived off into the 3ft end slitting her scalp opened. I asked the lifeguards what happened, she was running around with blood running down her face as lifeguards tried to get close to her assessing the situation, she kept screaming “I’m a nurse, I’m a nurse leave me alone”. The other nurse we knew kept making a big deal how he only worked 3 day work weeks and how “I don’t value a man by how many hours he stays at the office” WTF!!!!

 

[DigitalCancer]

Every nurse I've ever came in contact with was a straight up bitch. My wife and I knew two nurses; her 5yo son had some sort of behavior problem. The relationship ended promptly when my wife caught her son pressing our daughter into the corner of a glass table, leaving a deep bruise (she defended her son). Previously we invited her to our community swimming pool, where she dived off into the 3ft end slitting her scalp opened. I asked the lifeguards what happened, she was running around with blood running down her face as lifeguards tried to get close to her assessing the situation, she kept screaming “I’m a nurse, I’m a nurse leave me alone”. The other nurse we knew kept making a big deal how he only worked 3 day work weeks and how “I don’t value a man by how many hours he stays at the office” WTF!!!!

LMAO!! Seems pretty crazy, not sure what to make of the last one though..haha.

My aunt has been a nurse for over 20yrs and she's the sweetest person in the world. In fact, she helped everyone out (primarily family) so much while she was working (paying their bills, etc.) that now that she's been forced to go on disability, she just barely scrapes by. =/

 

[preslove]

I remember in my first month of work I had to sit with this guy that had a tumour round a major artery (cant remember the details it was years ago).
Anyway it was going to pop at somepoint and when it did he was going to bleed to death into his respiratory system.

He knew this and so did I, that was fairly "bad". Just sitting chatting waiting for him to choke to death on his own blood.

It was pretty horrific when it did happen.

Thats when I decided that maybe assisted suicide wasnt such a bad thing.

This kind of shit, plus the fact that other people's blood & urine kind of make me squeamish are what prevented any thoughts of becoming a nurse I may have had. Too bad, too. I know specialist nurses who make 6 figures and have really flexible hours.

 

[vi edit]

I know specialist nurses who make 6 figures and have really flexible hours.

Nurse Anesthetists can easily make $120k+. I know a few that work in really, really rural area's(like upper Wisconsin, northern MN, ect) where they are essentially the only person in the region that gas people. They are on call basically every minute of their life and pull in close to 250k. Do that gig for a couple years and bank it and then move someplace else, pay for your house in cash, and then work part time for $60k or more. Not a bad life...work 2-3 days a week, have no house payment, and still rake in over $60,000 a year.

 

[slightlyhuman]

LVNs around here(texas) make $12 or so after insurance/benefits in surgery(scrubbing). RNs boost up to about 22$ish(GNs). scrubbing in OR as LVN/LPN without deductions get you around $17. the pay is better in nursing homes around here. males usually get an extra hand in class being the minority(especially if you're good with the ladies). if you're considering nursing don't plan on stopping there. get you first assist and buddy up with a local surgeon. better yet, get your masters and become a CRNA(200K/year around here). floor nursing should come with a bullet. surgery and ER are fun but not all facilities let LPN/LVN in the ER.

radiology has the hotties usually.

 

[steppinthrax]

LMAO!! Seems pretty crazy, not sure what to make of the last one though..haha.

My aunt has been a nurse for over 20yrs and she's the sweetest person in the world. In fact, she helped everyone out (primarily family) so much while she was working (paying their bills, etc.) that now that she's been forced to go on disability, she just barely scrapes by. =/

The last nurse was trying to 1UP over me. What he didn't realize was that he 3 days of 11pm - 7am resulting in 60 - 70K while I was making over 100K. While some nurses can achieve that kind of salary, I didn't see him in that area.

 

[slightlyhuman]

This kind of shit, plus the fact that other people's blood & urine kind of make me squeamish are what prevented any thoughts of becoming a nurse I may have had. Too bad, too. I know specialist nurses who make 6 figures and have really flexible hours.

nothing like being under sterile drapes doing 200 chest compression with a gun shot victim(even if he was a gang banger who doesn't deserve to live). floor nursing is bull shit.