Anyone in healthcare?

Salem

Just wondering if anyone in the group is in healthcare in any way. RN, LPN, Paramedic, anything like that. I'm an RN and though I enjoy it, It is an extremely taxing job on your mind and body. I've been an RN for almost 19 years now. Who else is in healthcare? Tell me about your job.

roland_7707

I'm an LPN at a walk in clinic, basically people just walk in to be seen. We do not make appointments. Have alot of peds and geriatrics, rashes, stuff like that. I am however going to get into P.A. school and become a physians assistant. Thats my goal anyway.

The Colonel

Physical Therapist, second career after retiring from 22 years in the Coast Guard..after 12 years in the clinic have move on to Patient Safety Program Manager.. which is primarily education, quality/safety improvement and monitoring outcomes.

Salem

LPNs work as hard as an RN and do almost the same thing I've always thought. PA school will be great!

Salem

The Colonel:

Physical Therapist, second career after retiring from 22 years in the Coast Guard..after 12 years in the clinic have move on to Patient Safety Program Manager.. which is primarily education, quality/safety improvement and monitoring outcomes.

PT is in high demand these days!!

docbp87

I'm a tech at a compounding pharmacy.

Krieger

Paramedic. I think I will be moving on eventually. Always wanted to be a MD, but feared I would hate being in school for half my life... but I think after proving to myself I can pull down 100 hours or more a week for a year solid, I can get through it... My overall goals are to open my own practice and do that half the year, while I do charity care the other half, or as much as is feasible for me. Too many people go without even basic care, and I want to fix that. Well, that's my hope anyways. Travel the country, help people, learn new stuff.

smoke em if you got em

I install and repair medical equipment (cardiac monitors) in hospitals all over VA. I also work on defibs are various rescue squads.

The Colonel

Salem:

The Colonel:

Physical Therapist, second career after retiring from 22 years in the Coast Guard..after 12 years in the clinic have move on to Patient Safety Program Manager.. which is primarily education, quality/safety improvement and monitoring outcomes.

PT is in high demand these days!!

Yes.. and absolutely loved the profession.. but, it can be physically stressful.. and as I approached 60 my back and hands recommended a change..

Direwolf

My Dr office uses PA's . My favorite one left and got a better job. She was the best doc I ever had. Still talk to her on facebook. She bitches at me about the cigars and beers all the time.

Salem

Krieger:

Paramedic. I think I will be moving on eventually. Always wanted to be a MD, but feared I would hate being in school for half my life... but I think after proving to myself I can pull down 100 hours or more a week for a year solid, I can get through it... My overall goals are to open my own practice and do that half the year, while I do charity care the other half, or as much as is feasible for me. Too many people go without even basic care, and I want to fix that. Well, that's my hope anyways. Travel the country, help people, learn new stuff.

You can do it!! My daughter is in her first year of med school. She loves it, but it is hard. You have some very commendable goals.

Salem

Direwolf:

My Dr office uses PA's . My favorite one left and got a better job. She was the best doc I ever had. Still talk to her on facebook. She bitches at me about the cigars and beers all the time.

It seems like PAs spend more time with you than an MD does.

jlmarta

Salem:

Direwolf:

My Dr office uses PA's . My favorite one left and got a better job. She was the best doc I ever had. Still talk to her on facebook. She bitches at me about the cigars and beers all the time.

It seems like PAs spend more time with you than an MD does.

It's all about the bottom line, isn't it?

Salem

jlmarta:

Salem:

Direwolf:

My Dr office uses PA's . My favorite one left and got a better job. She was the best doc I ever had. Still talk to her on facebook. She bitches at me about the cigars and beers all the time.

It seems like PAs spend more time with you than an MD does.

It's all about the bottom line, isn't it?

That's right, lol!

Salem

smoke em if you got em:

I install and repair medical equipment (cardiac monitors) in hospitals all over VA. I also work on defibs are various rescue squads.

That's a very important job!!

Salem

docbp87:

I'm a tech at a compounding pharmacy.

Pharmaceuticals are big time. As I'm sure you know, lol!!

Salem

The Colonel:

Salem:

The Colonel:

Physical Therapist, second career after retiring from 22 years in the Coast Guard..after 12 years in the clinic have move on to Patient Safety Program Manager.. which is primarily education, quality/safety improvement and monitoring outcomes.

PT is in high demand these days!!

Yes.. and absolutely loved the profession.. but, it can be physically stressful.. and as I approached 60 my back and hands recommended a change..

Oh how I know what you mean!!!

Rhamlin

My wife is a medical coder she hates her company but when she was having her mastectomy and going thru chemo and all that it turned into a life saver. They pretty much covered everything that my insurance didn't , kept us out of bankruptcy.

Direwolf

I've been fortunate to find a Dr, and my PA who care about my health and not the bills. Had a big infection in the veins and arteries of my legs earlier this year. The PA ( Christie) gave me her personal cell number to call her anytime I was heading to the Er. She really kept, and still keeps an eye on me.

docbp87

Salem:

docbp87:

I'm a tech at a compounding pharmacy.

Pharmaceuticals are big time. As I'm sure you know, lol!!

Yeah, and the pharmacy I work for is one of the highest volume retail pharmacies on the east coast (we do between 1,000 and 1,200 scripts a day). It's a zoo, but I love it.

Direwolf

docbp87:

Salem:

docbp87:

I'm a tech at a compounding pharmacy.

Pharmaceuticals are big time. As I'm sure you know, lol!!

Yeah, and the pharmacy I work for is one of the highest volume retail pharmacies on the east coast (we do between 1,000 and 1,200 scripts a day). It's a zoo, but I love it.

I used to work shipping for a Pharmaceutical company. Luckily I got out of there before the FDA put them on lockdown for awhile.

Salem

Rhamlin:

My wife is a medical coder she hates her company but when she was having her mastectomy and going thru chemo and all that it turned into a life saver. They pretty much covered everything that my insurance didn't , kept us out of bankruptcy.

That's amazing! I hope your wife is doing fine now.

Salem

Direwolf:

I've been fortunate to find a Dr, and my PA who care about my health and not the bills. Had a big infection in the veins and arteries of my legs earlier this year. The PA ( Christie) gave me her personal cell number to call her anytime I was heading to the Er. She really kept, and still keeps an eye on me.

You're lucky. It's hard to find one that is caring, but they do exist.

Direwolf

I think she adopted me because I'm goin through everything by myself lol

The Colonel

Great post.. just when I thought all we had in common was cigars... any other folks work in a VA Hospital... I am out of Togus (Near Augusta) Maine...

Salem

The Colonel:

Great post.. just when I thought all we had in common was cigars... any other folks work in a VA Hospital... I am out of Togus (Near Augusta) Maine...

Admirable job to have!

Rhamlin

Salem:

Rhamlin:

My wife is a medical coder she hates her company but when she was having her mastectomy and going thru chemo and all that it turned into a life saver. They pretty much covered everything that my insurance didn't , kept us out of bankruptcy.

That's amazing! I hope your wife is doing fine now.

Going on 7 years cancer free so we've been blessed.

Schrooz

smoke em if you got em:

I install and repair medical equipment (cardiac monitors) in hospitals all over VA. I also work on defibs are various rescue squads.

Interesting . What kind of training would one need to get into this field? Can one just get a certification or does one need a 4 year degree?

Toombes

Paramedic/Fire Fighter. I've been in the field for 14 yrs now, with the last six as a Paramedic. I'm currently awaiting for acceptance to med school, but if that doesn't work out I'll be going into a Nurse Anesthesist program. My wife was an EMT/Fire Fighter for 10 yrs before she changed careers and became a licensed PTA. My oldest son, who lives in Hawaii, has decided to become an EMT as well. Guess it runs in the family...

Amos Umwhat

Salem:

Just wondering if anyone in the group is in healthcare in any way. RN, LPN, Paramedic, anything like that. I'm an RN and though I enjoy it, It is an extremely taxing job on your mind and body. I've been an RN for almost 19 years now. Who else is in healthcare? Tell me about your job.

I've been an RN for almost 17 years now, (started college at 35) 15 of those in either ICU or ER. It's interesting that you mention the toll on the body, as well as the mind, because a lot of people don't understand that. I interviewed for a job once at a company that was going to need an RN, after turning down an offer to work 3x as many hours as I'd been working, for about 1/2 the pay, the fellow says "You're a nurse! How hard could it be? What, you have to put a band-aid on every once in a while? If someone's missing an arm you have to take the BP on the other arm? I'd work your piddly little ER job AND this one."

I never said a word, just got up and walked out. But, for the record, I've done all manner of construction, worked as a truck driver, Tank crewman in the Army, and more, and NONE of those jobs were as mentally or physically demanding as what I do now.

Salem

Toombes:

Paramedic/Fire Fighter. I've been in the field for 14 yrs now, with the last six as a Paramedic. I'm currently awaiting for acceptance to med school, but if that doesn't work out I'll be going into a Nurse Anesthesist program. My wife was an EMT/Fire Fighter for 10 yrs before she changed careers and became a licensed PTA. My oldest son, who lives in Hawaii, has decided to become an EMT as well. Guess it runs in the family...

Your experience will help you get into med school. It's a HUGE job doing all the things it takes to get into med school. My daughter just got done doing it all. Good Luck!!