I am about to retire from the NYPD. Over several years I have chipped away at the prerequesits for Nursing. I am qualified to enter a program but having second thoughts. After 22 years in the PD, I don't know if I am up to another high pressure rat race. I am considering other health field options such as x ray tech. I don't mind working hard in school if the reward is worth it. What is the hot health field these days as far as pay and quality of life?
Originally Posted by LGS
I'm not sure pay and quality of life go together. But after 28 years of Nursing I'd still say Nursing is worth a shot. After you get out try Dialysis. Many men like it because of the technical aspects of the machines and you certainly can jump into management quickly be it as charge or higher up. No Sundays and no nights unless that's what you like.
Good luck
Those suggestions sound great but don't they require years of experience?
Nope the Big Two dialysis companies are so desperate for RN's that they are hiring new grads now. Do I recommend you work in Dialysis as a new grad. Nope. But you could try to get a tech job. Learn the nuts and bolts and have the company pay for you to go to school. If you've been a tech for them and owe them $$$$ they'll take you on as an RN.
Or you could go the other route and get your RN do 1 year of M/S and then apply to a Dialysis unit.
If you'd like to see the openings you can check out these two sites.
Fresenius Medical Care North America
www.davita.com
Both have over 1000 RN jobs in the country. Heck you could do your 1 year in HD and then travel like I have ( for the last 5.5 years) Every travel position I've had has resulted in an offer for a perm job.
Heck you could take a dart, throw it at a map of the USA and have a CM's job with one of those companies.
PM me for more info if you need it.
Like a previous poster said, the Nursing field is wide open! Seeing as you are a retiring plice officer, I doubt you'd want ER. Yet, there are openings in Home Health, wound care, Hospice.....the jobs are endless. IMHO, go for nursing!
'Cat'
I have been in Dialysis (FMC) 5 years after nearly 30 years of Nursing. I find it challenging, yet rewarding. It pulls together everything that I have experienced in my prior experiences (except OB). We do take new grads at my company, because we can train them how we want them. Some Dialysis Co. will pay your way through Nursing School if you commit to them for a couple of years afterwards. If you want to observe, some Managers will let you come in and see what the job entails before you apply.
I would not call my profession a "rat race". Yes, there are some hassles, but I find the rewards great. Everyone has a different perception of their job, and I find those that are overwhelmed and feel that Nursing is a rat race are really not cut out to do their job adequately, or are in the wrong area of Nursing.
Hey LGS
My friend got her associates as an x-ray tech 2 years ago and she makes $30 an hour on 2nd shift. It took her 2 years to finish her program but since you already have prereqs out the way you would probably have less school to complete.
If it means anything to you though, shes going back to school to get her RN licence because she works with nurses who work less time than her but make more money and they have more flexability to work more places, more or less time and travel more... I think you should look into nursing first because both fields take the roughly the same amount of time to complete but in my opinion nursing seems to have a larger payoff both (financially and in other aspects) GOOD LUCK!!
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