Re: Carol, what did you used to do for a living?

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On 3/10/06, The Zephyr wrote:
> Carol, your discussion on your old job got me thinking of mine. You're correct about
> working overtime and on what you want. In the engineering firm I was guilt-tripped
> into working overtime and missed a lot of dinners with my wife and kids. I also
> received no compensation for the overtime (salary exempt); in fact "casual overtime"
> was expected by everyone. When I raised the issue of "casual undertime," I fell into
> disfavor with management and was labled a "rebel." Then I started getting my arrival
> and departure times monitored, my lunches were timed, and I ended up with all the
> headaches of an hourly employee with none of the perks of a salary employee. Big
> corporate life sucks! Bosses suck; I'd rather work for myself and worry about my
> business than work like a dog only to get told "if you think the grass is greener,
> there's the door."
>
> So what type of work did you used to do and what do you miss the most about it? What
> do you enjoy most out of running your own practice? We could use some Friday "happy
> discussion" on the forum for a change instead of all the negativity.
>
> ~Zephyr
>
Can't you tell? I was a nurse. For some reason was a little hesitant about coming right
out and saying that because it might give identifying info, but what the hell. What I
miss the most is the patient contact, working with and teaching people who really seem
interested in what you're saying to them. Of course they're interested, I'm talking
about something very personal and important to them, their health. Lots of clients do
not listen to me now. :) I also really miss the excitment, the adrenaline rush I
guess. The adrenaline rush I get these days is more like when I mess up and don't
object to something, not the same at all. Something else I miss is the feeling that I
really know what I'm doing. I was a nurse for many years and got very comfortable with
my knowlege and skills. It takes a long time to build up that kind of confidence and
knowlege base. I don't miss working Christmas, mothers' day, Easter, my kids'
birthdays, missing school events because I could not get someone to work for me or trade
shifts. I don't miss punching that time clock and having to work an extra shift because
after I'd just finished a grueling one because someone called off. I don't miss going
home at the end of the day and worrying about missing something because we were so busy
that I had twice as many patients as I should have had and didn't have time to spend
with them that I should have. If I had been able to practice nursing the way it is
supposed to be practiced without all of the politics and stress from being short-staffed
ect. I might still be doing it. But I realized that it wasn't something I wanted to do
for the rest of my life, wasn't something I think I could physically be able to do the
rest of my life. And I plan on working for the rest of my life, maybe even beyond. :)
What I enjoy most about what I'm doing now is the freedom. If I want to go to a school
function, I just arrange my calendar. If I want vacation at Christmas, I can take it.
At my old job vacation was given according to seniority, and none was allowed at
Christmas. It was 6 years before I could take a summer vacation because only so many
nurses were allowed vacation at one time! Six years without a family vacation. I like
the autonomy of working for myself. I like having the freedom to take a few minutes off
if I want to surf the net and answer questions on a chat board. I really like that fact
that if I make a really bad mistake (haven't so far, knock wood, just a couple of little
ones) no one is going to die because of it. That emotional and psychological stress can
really take its toll. And I like the challenge of learning something new, the variety
that I get with doing general practice. Don't care for civil work at all, it's all in
the pleadings, but around here you really can't make a living just doing one thing.
Criminal defense is my favorite but probate and other civil cases pay the bills. Oh and
the other thing I really love about this job is getting out of the office, going to
court, depositions, that kind of thing. Not being stuck in one place all the time. How
about you?