Worked in telemetry over 15 years in Iowa. Took a travel job in CA and fell in love with CA. Work in a hospital about an hour north of San Francisco. I recently cut back to 3 days a week, but constantly ask myself if DH is still safe at home while I work. I have to work for my insurance, but concerned about losing everything I'm working for to care for him.
Well, I completed a year of a 2 year BSN program before realizing a career wasn't going to work for me since something seemed to be going wonky with my husband.
Marilynn I just about killed myself trying to do both. By the time I placed my FTD husband my mind and body were toast. I did give up my license-but that was after working for 49 yrs.
I graduated medical assistant in 1971, got married and back in Massachusetts they had never head of them. Worked back there and in Washington as a nurse's aide, but since I worked graveyard and swing did more patient care than bedpans. Started to do pre-nursing in early 80s, but kept moving so gave it up for hotel work, then bookkeeping, and now RV park work.
Nurse here also. Went back to college when my oldest son started and shared some classes with him. He was bright but I usually bested him on tests:-) He went on to excell in computer engineering while I changed over to get a nursing degree. Injured on the job and quit work about 15 years ago. Now seem to be doing it fulltime at home with a spouse with FTD and an adult son with a brain tumor that has devastated his life. I sometimes think that being a nurse has made this more difficult because I keep "trying to fix it". Thanks to you all on this forum I am learning better. Thanks for all of the info and insight you bring to us newbies. Jan
I'm so sorry you are dealing with FTD and a son with a brain tumor. My sister lost her husband to a brain tumor about 7 years ago. He was just 42 and they had young kids.
My husband was diagnosed with FTD in 2008 at the age of 59.
I'm not a nurse. You may have been wondering. Or not. I can however count. Better than that tribe in the Amazon who use only three numbers. One, Two, and Many. So everything more than two is many. So you would never bump into three people. You would bump into many people. Someone called them backward; but, they explained that they were here and it was now - so that's pretty current. I may be drifting off topic so I will just say that I am not now, nor have I ever been, a nurse. Just in case you were wondering.
mother nurse 40yrs sister nurse 30yrs brother pharmacist son dr brotherinlaw dr brotherinlaw dr brotherinlaw dr and most of my living aunts are nurses~
i FEEL like a nurse!!! you'd be surprised how much osmosis rubs off during the years after 12 yrs handson caregiving up close and personal.. HAHA!
Retired in 2005 after 30+years of nursing. Most years spent in ICU and admnistration. Support that caring for loved one gives you honorary nursing degree and more. I also agree that being a nurse has liabilities as well as benefits when caring for loved one....while it is easier to be a poop queen, chasing the holy grail for a cure and denial may be worse because we know too much. Nurses rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm still not a nurse; but, I do know that if I want to be sure that any new person I meet is a giver and not a taker, then I will go out with a nurse and treat her right. It's can't miss.
That is a compliment. The reason is that no one stays a nurse for the money. They are a type and the world needs more of them. Also you won't get a skeleton with buns like two little ho-ho's that look painful to sit on. Nurses tend to have the higher end padding which means there's more to love.
I agree. Nurses rule. And it's comforting to know that when I'm a strange old man with three teeth and a wild look, there will be nurses who will genuinely look after my well being, because even though it's their job, it's much more than that. Kudos to all nurses.
About salaries...when I started I made a huge $3.75 hour in 1962...nurses, registered bedside nurses can make well over $100,000 a year. Thank goodness we have come a long way.
And Wolf when you are a cute little old man with 3 teeth and a wild look....bet you get lots of hugs and kisses from "my nursing sisters", you deserve them.